2013 was certainly the year newly formed, Fever The Ghost, emerged. Quickly rising to the top of every promoter and blogger’s year end list of "Ones to Watch," and the like, with their engaging live shows and quirky image. They may have the antics to grab any usually skeptic listeners’ attention, but they also have the songs to back up the hype. Psychedelia is at the forefront of their sound, but pop is the glue holding it all together. Their very recently released debut EP, ‘Crab In Honey,’ is a journey into effects-drenched absurdism akin to early Zappa, but they never go too far astray as to take themselves too seriously. The first single, "Source," is a snappy, upbeat tune with layer upon layer of trippy textures, space-bound synth lines, and beefy guitar riffs. This February see them every Monday at The Detroit Bar for their free month-long residency.

Queen Caveat’s lead singer Lauren Little has a captivating and slightly gritty edge voice with a bewitching stage presence that makes heads roll – literally. She consumes the audience’s attention by moving around the stage, making a lasting impact on listeners and leaving them longing for more. Lyrics, in my opinion, are the most important piece of the music puzzle and are what hypnotize and pull me into a song. So when band member/lyricists Ben Epand and Lauren Little wrote "Resilient Me" and "Mr. California", it really struck me straight through the heart. Its capability to bounce me back from a daunting mood is enough to make me, and anyone else, buy the whole damn album. Mr. California’s theme seems to have a vendetta against men; not all men in general, but the atypical behavior of a drunk man in a bar, hitting on the women who clearly have no interest. Moving to L.A. at the young age of 19, Little was thrown into a culture where society had stamped men as a different type of breed. Lauren’s take on her own song was to, “Stop worrying about what other people think, be who you are and don’t listen to them. That’s what the song is really about, that’s the message; I won’t listen to you.”

The four-member group includes lead singer Lauren Little, guitarist Ben Epand, bassist Will Weissman and drummer Jesse Magnunson. Queen Caveat has been together since 2010 and has only grown more dynamic, with nationwide buzz spreading on this rock group; they’ve performed at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Moving right along, they have also played in L.A. at some exceptional venues such as The Roxy, The Viper Room, The Penthouse at the Hollywood Tower, and were even featured in a 2-hour documentary called ‘Sunset Boulevard’ that aired on ABC’s 20/20. Touring the country and living in a van is a preference the group has, but they also want, “… to become greater people, write better songs, reach out to as many people as possible and expand as individuals. This isn’t just about making money and becoming famous, it’s about finding out who you are.” Preparing for the release of their new record on February 11th , and contrary to the run-of-the-mill EP release, Epand talked about partnering with Swing House Studios to host a massive warehouse party for friends and family. Future plans? “We want to be the first band to play on Mars, and the moon – that’d be pretty cool, no one has done that yet.” I look forward to the day that happens, my friends. – Kayla Hay

Congratulations to Inner Wave for winning the Reader’s Poll portion of our LA 2013 Best Emerging Band Poll. The fans have spoken, and Inner Wave has risen to the top. Delicately walking the line between experimental psychedelia and indie pop, Inner Wave encompasses that youthful free-spirited ocean-splashing west coast sound. The all male quintet fill their songs with layers of guitars and quirky synth melodies, all while lead singer, Pablo Sotelo croons with raw passion like his voice is being beamed in from a bygone era. Their debut EP, III, is an impressive offering filled with pop gems and mature musical ideas. I’d give their potential for blowing up in 2014 a "Local Natives," you know, on a scale from "Your Dorm-Mate’s Ableton Side Project" to "Lorde." Stream III below from bandcamp.

LA, your unconditional, undying love for So Many Wizards has been made official. Winners of our Open Submissions and placing Second in the Reader’s Poll, it’s clear that if there was a prom king of the LA indie scene, So Many Wizards would be accepting the crown. Here’s to hoping the rest of the world catches on this year. Maybe they’ll be the first band to play on the moon! Until then, they will continue to rock our local socks off. So Many Wizards will be playing the Echoplex for Part Time Punks’ My Bloody Valentine Night on Feb. 9 along with Sisu, Tennis System, Heaven and Nightmare Air. An incredible line-up, that I’m sure will be a sweaty, noisy mess well-worth the Monday morning struggle. For now, continue streaming the band’s Lollipop Records released 7", which sounds delightfully more like Bradford Cox-style ramblings upon my third listen.

Third place in our Readers Poll goes to Alt-Rockers, The Cold and Lovely. Fronted by Megan Toohey and formed along with Nicole Fiorentino (who spends her spare time playing with The Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt), the female powered group shape every tone with intention and precision. As if calling forth the goddesses of earth and sky, they layer gritty, biting guitars, with hard-hitting electro-style drums, spacey synth lines, and the vocals of a dark angel. With the intensity ready to fill an arena or simply blow the PA at your local club, The Cold and Lovely are filling a musical space left vacant for far too long. Stream "Doll" from their ‘Ellis Bell’ EP released today and catch them at The Viper Room on Feb. 6 with Nightmare Air (who seem to be making the rounds with the best of the best in LA this winter).

Kevin Morby has been a quiet, yet prevalent presence in the Brooklyn local scene, making major contributions to psychedelic folk band Woods and noise pop duo The Babies. Morby is now a resident of Los Angeles, but the city of New York is still vividly alive in his creative endeavors. He most recently set his own course by releasing his first solo effort, Harlem River, presented as a homage to his temporary home for the past five years. The ruminative title track has now been turned into a music video, which displays randomized snapshots of Morby and presumably his partner (played by Jena Malone) making small gestures that depict their mundane eveyday experiences. It rumbles along leisurely akin to the steady rhythm of the track, spiritually entwined with the sensible wander of bustling folk. Morby will be performing at Carpenter House on Long Beach next Monday, February 3rd.  – Juan Rodríguez

Sympathetic Frequencies craft elegantly sculpted melodies with a touch of intricate detailing that’s simply alluring. "Only One" is the one track on their latest EP, Possible Oceans, that opens up with a clear, affective message, an instantly likable tune that shimmers with its churning guitar grind and soft, multihued radiance. It maintains a lush, crystal-clear tone without overcomplicating things, carried with a swiftness that’s fully commited to a sharp indie rock aesthetic. Which is always a necessity in one’s playlist when done right – this is joyfully assertive guitar-pop that’s straight-up accesible whilst creating a clever framework. The entirely of Possible Oceans can be heard on their bandcamp page. – Juan Rodríguez

The perfect music video to liven up the last hours of your Friday afternoon is brought to you by Hobart W Fink. The gritty indie rockers with dueling vocalists and bombastic energy are ready to melt your faces off with their latest single, "Final Fantasy 7." If you are into beautiful vistas, humping llamas and New Orleans street performers, you gotta watch this video. Filmed in Peru and Louisiana by frontman, Jayk Gallagher, the video clocks in at 5 minutes, but there is not a dull moment in sight. Gracefully managing the transition from lead singer Marie Bollinger to Lauren Lakis, the video features both blonde beauties, but don’t get too attached to Bollinger (who sings on the recording), for she has moved on to different pastures – perhaps ones filled with grazing llamas. The new line-up are continuing their jam-packed live show schedule in the new year, with upcoming performances at The Mint on January 27, and The Chinese New Year’s Festival on February 1. – Jacqueline Caruso

Vietnamese-American Hip Hop Artist, Michael Nhat, has been shocking audiences with his thought-provoking, socially conscious, tongue-in-cheek wit since before Miley Cyrus knew she had a tongue. Mixing eclectic samples with minimalist beats and monophonic synth lines, Nhat places his distorted rhymes front and center. His latest effort ‘Hyenas Because Hyenas’ is 9 tracks of upbeat angst guaranteed to make you think, while simultaneously shaking your booty. "I Remember When We Breathed Everyday" has some of the cleverest lines on album, ending in a cosmic freakout. Commenting on the internet age and concerns for future generations, Nhat manages to offer an in-your-face perspective without alienating the listener. Somehow his aggressive approach draws you in rather than putting up a wall to push you away. Perhaps it’s his unapologetic authenticity, or his sonic palette. Either way, ‘Hyenas Because Hyenas,’ is worth repeat listens. The entire album is Free on Bandcamp. At least buy a shirt while you’re streaming. – Jacqueline Caruso

No need to rub the sleep from your eyes, you read that right. Tomorrow morning, Saturday January 25, Jam in the Van will present a live taping session at the Bootleg. It’s apparently Free and open to the public. It’s as good a reason as any to work those day drinking muscles just in time to build up your stamina for SXSW and the rest of the festival season. Taping kicks off at 11am with The Silent Comedy, followed by performances from Great White Buffalo, Roses, Zig Zags, and Tara Fox. Our 2013 Emerging Band of the Year, Zig Zags, play at 3:30pm, which will surely give you enough time to shake off Friday night’s regrets. The band has been releasing singles, 7"s, covers (with Iggy Pop no less), cassettes, and re-issues over the past two years, but 2014 has come, and the wait for their full length release is anticipated to be over. Rumors, confirmed in interviews and from photos on their facebook page, of a Ty Segall-engineered album have been buzzing. From the looks of it, the as-yet un-named LP, set for release sometime in the spring, seem more real than ever before. Especially since they’ve been dubbed "One to Watch in 2014" by both LA Weekly and CMJ. Check out this live video of a brand new song, "Voice of the Paranoid," recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks Studio to get a taste of what you’re in for. – Jacqueline Caruso

In the simplest terms, Kan Wakan can be described as Orchestral Pop, but that would diminish the true breadth of their inventiveness. Their debut ‘Forever Found’ EP is filled with lush arrangements, and a soulfulness that creeps in like a whisper on songs like "Midnight Moon Pt. 1" or with a more forceful blast on "Forever Found." Kristianne Bautista’s sultry vocals are the constant throughout the band’s instrumental swells, containing the power to seduce any crowd. For those of us lucky enough to live in LA, we have the honor and privilege of witnessing their musical prowess live on the Echoplex stage for free every Monday in February. Proudly, The Deli LA will be presenting their show on February 10 with performances by MyPet, J. Laser and Tien. Stream the upbeat, spacey funk jam "Moving On," which could easily be the next James Bond theme song, below and head to the Echoplex Monday, Feb. 10 for an unforgettable night. – Jacqueline Caruso

Post-hardcore quartet Silver Snakes are one of the most exciting recent signees to Bridge 9 Records, a band that combines a driving guitar sound with pummeling aggression and heartfelt yet fraught vocal dynamics. Though their beginnings had more of a metalcore slant, the songs featured in their just announced debut full-length, Year of the Snake (out of March 4th), promise to feature a darker, grittier approach. There still hasn’t been an official single released yet, but judging by a demo they shared on their soundcloud page just a week ago, Secare, it seems as if they’ll be embracing a furious, gruff tone with a slight modern rock tinge that finds a middle point between Unwound and A Perfect Circle. As they prepare for the release of the album, they’re heading out on tour for the next few months, including a stop at The Lyric Theater on January 25th. – Juan Rodríguez