Lucky for us that this NYC centric blog also covers New Jersey based artists… Yes because in recent years the Garden State has been churning out a lot of really talented indie pop bands, and we would be sorry if we couldn’t highlight them. Lunch Ladies have been around since 2014 and belong to the "dream" branch of the most melodious of genres. Their music revolves around gentle, uptempo, electric orchestrations, but finds its overall tone through Cynthia Rittenbach’s uber melancholic melodies. The band just unveiled new single ‘Pick Yourself Up,’  from upcoming sophomore full length ‘Down on Sunset Strip,’ scheduled for a March release. New Yorkers will be able to see them live at Shea Stadium on February 15th.

DC electronic musician Nitemoves is starting 2017 on the right foot, opening for ambient electronic all-stars Tycho on a tour of East Asia and Australia. The Tycho+Nitemoves bill makes for a wonderful pairing of Tycho’s boundary pushing, emotionally charged ambient electronic, and Nitemoves’ blend of classic house sounds and pathos heavy futuristic soundscapes. With the music of both artists suitable for both bedroom listening and drug-laden trance fests, their work represents some of the best intelligence dance music has to offer. A promising and versatile artist, Nitmoves may be well on his way to joining the upper echelons of the international electronic music scene. Check out Nitemoves’ album “Don’t Ask” released in October, 2016.

Rambling/satisfying chord changes, perplexing lyrics, and downtempo grooves define the music of DC area art-rock musician Herschel Hoover.  Owing much to 90s avant-garde Hoover’s album “High-Grade Migraine” offers well thought out jams with driving instrumental solos backed by some nice interplay between the instruments in the rhythm section.  Melodically the music is driven in equal parts by guitar and vocals, with neither of the two straying far from the timbre of the rhythm section.

You can catch Hoover with Purple Orange, Hello Dharma, and Trajectories February 3^rd at Velvet Lounge. 

Having a stressful day today? Need something to calm your nerves? After all, it is the day after Inauguration Day.  Second Child’s psychedelic-folk music might just help you relieve all the anger and anxiety you’re going through with their EP, “Years End.” The album consists of soft, delicate tracks that will make you feel all fuzzy inside. Their music is uniquely composed of relaxing rhythms that incorporate a psychedelic twist. So let’s ease the pain together with Second Child’s songs and catch them at Pianos on February 11th.-Jocelyn Huggler 

Remember The Bravery? Well, they may be MIA, but there’s a new band in town producing a familiar vintage sound called The Textiles. The trio, hailing from Brooklyn by way of Chicago, have a decided new-wave influence, but their rock ‘n’ roll style makes you want to tap your feet and get up and dance. Their latest release, “Mood Revival,” is no exception (stream below), but The Textiles are a band to be experienced live, so catch them on February 4th when they play Pianos wit thelvnguage.-Jocelyn Huggler

The 90’s were a time filled with gritty, grungy, sloppy, yet wonderful alt-rock music and Supertouch was no exception. With a musical style in the vein of contemporaries like Mudhoney, Melvins, and Bad Brains, Supertouch still managed to have their own sound and left a mark on music with their powerful riffs and F-You demeanor. After reuniting in 2010 (and losing none of their 90s swagger) the band is still killing it and will hit St. Vitus with Into Another and High Discipline on January 19th. Check them out live, and be sure to stream them below.-Jocelyn Huggler

Stuyedeyed is serving up brash and brazen rock music with a major vintage vibe. With fuzzy layers so thick you can practically wrap yourself up in them, the Brooklyn-based band delivers a serious 70s guitar rock feel and loads of lo-fi goodness. Their latest single, "Mr. Policeman," deals with the themes of the BLM movement, and is sonically as unhinged as ever, offering up feral sounding vocal lines that compliment the frustration embedded in the lyrical content. Check out the single streaming below, and catch the band live at Drexler’s 1/24 with Best Behavior.-Olivia Sisinni
 

NYC’s self-proclaimed "hardest working band," Dirty Fences, is back at it again with a re-release of their first EP and two totally new tracks. The release delivers 8 songs worth of blistering garage rock, combining thumping beats with fuzzy, blitzed-out guitars to create devilishly danceable tunes that still manage to stay dirty. With tracks typically topping out at the two minute mark, their sound has the feel of a bottle rocket–short, explosive and end with a bang. Check out the Dirty Fence’s First "EP" Plus Two Xtra Songs streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

Two Inch Astronaut is an admirable attempt to pick up where 90s alternative left off. Twangy, out of tune, distortion heavy guitars mash against open hi-hat hits and restrained bass lines harkening back to the instrumental sounds of early Modest Mouse and Fugazi.  Cutting through the mish mash are somber, angsty vocals, of the Built to Spill variety.

While most of the big 90s bands have since broken up or moved on to new sounds, Two Inch Astronaut hopes to prove that 90s music is still relevant, and they are doing a fine job. 

Check out Two Inch Astronaut February 3^rd at Black Cat.

Attention Bad Religion and Social D fans: Are you on the hunt for new tunes? Well, call off the search party and check out the Vansaders, an upbeat, folk-punk band based out of Asbury Park, that are cranking out tracks with good time written all over them. With infectious licks, and toe-tapping grooves, the band’s energy is guaranteed to bring the party to your local dive bar. Check out the Vansanders playing Pianos January 24th alongside Bodyface, the Black Clouds, and Yorkshire Tenth, and listen to them below.-Jocelyn Huggler 

If you’re feeling bummed about the upcoming, presidential inauguration of one flamin’ hot cheeto, then why not treat yourself to a hot, heaping portion of some quiality rock blues? Danielle Grubb’s latest track, "Glue" has us feeling better already about the next four years (barring impeachment) with its grimy guitars, swampy drums and Grubb’s own leathery vocals. This track hits like a shot of whiskey, providing some nice sedation as well as some light jabs to the midsection to get one’s gears in motion. Grubb is currently rocking a residency at Arlene’s Grocery, where you can catch her live on scattered nights until 3/16. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

The name of NYC’s quartet Poppies is extremely appropriate, considering those flowers’ sleep (and high) inducing qualities – as all rock’n’rollers should know, all opioids like morphine, heroine and a slew of painkillers derive from poppy seeds. Both sleepy and dreamy, this band’s soothing, melancholic ballads feature the gentle and youthful voice of May Rio, and a tendency to find inspiration in old time pop melodies that’s somewhat reminiscent of Mitski (check out streaming single Eggheads in this regard). Their music video for “Told,” which features a man in a dog costume and an old lady resenting him, give us an example of their more "hallucinogenic" side. The quartet has a string of local shows scheduled, culminating with a show at Baby’s All Right on 02.01 with Baked and Soft Fangs (they’ll be also playing at Sunnyvale tonight 01.17).