Best Up-And-Coming NYC Bands To Check Out In 2016
There are so many bands and singers out there, and it can be really hard to keep track of them all. You may already know some of the popular ones of today: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Old Crow Medicine Show, Arctic Monkeys, Fun and more. But what do you know about the up-and-coming bands? Whose name will you know a year from now? Here are the top New York City-based bands to listen to in 2016.
Antarctigo Vespucci
www.quoteunquoterecords.com
With a name that hardly rolls off the tongue, Antarctigo Vespucci is an indie rock band made up of just two people: Chris Farren and Jeff Rosenstock. When needed, other musicians join in on their records to provide drums, guitar and additional vocals. Based in Brooklyn, the duo are represented by record label Quote Unquote Records. Newly formed in 2014, the band has now produced three albums of fun, funny, and poppy songs. Keep on an eye on this new group, because there will surely be more to come in 2016.
Born out of an idea by a Columbia University graduate student, Bora Kim, EXP is a brand new band that tackles K-Pop -- or Korean Pop music -- a genre that has blown up in recent years. A fan of K-Pop music, Kim wondered what the music would sound like with non-Korean singers. She rallied up five male singers to form the group in 2015, and they have been making headlines ever since. The only NYC-born K-Pop band, EXP is definitely a group you will want to listen to this year.
Jack + Eliza
jackandeliza.com
A duo who has known each other since childhood, Jack and Eliza create cool, poppy music reminiscent, according to reviews, of The Beach Boys. Taking their cue from bands of the '60s, Jack + Eliza enjoy reconstructing old music and putting their own twist on it. Their debut album, "Gentle Warnings," was just produced in 2015. The duo has already had much success and continue to play in venues around the city.
Related: Best Jazz Bands In New York City
Candy Hearts
www.candyheartsband.com
You may know of Candy Hearts as a Brach's candy that comes out at Valentine's Day every year, but you should get to know them as the band that's going to change the face of pop. This pop/punk band is composed of singer/guitarist Mariel Loveland, drummer Matthew Ferraro and bass player John Clifford. Candy Hearts is a favorite of New Found Glory band member, Chad Gilbert, who took an interest in the band and produced their latest album, "All the Ways You Let Me Down." The group went on an international tour in 2014 and was featured in the Vans Warped Tour in 2015. They're primed for even better things to come this year!
Public Access T.V.
publicaccesstv.tumblr.com
This band is composed of guitarists John Eatherly and Xan Aird, bass player Max Peebles and drummer Pete Star. With movie star names like those, Public Access T.V. is bound to be the next big hit on the charts. Formed in the Big Apple in 2014, the band has already opened for big name bands like The Strokes and Weezer. With a single and an EP released each year, Public Access T.V. is on a roll. They also performed at SXSW this year.
Jennifer Eberhart is a writer, reader, crafter, traveler and New Yorker. She works in midtown New York City for non-profit organizations. Her degrees are in communication studies and art history.You can contact Jennifer on Twitter at @egyptologist. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
