These are six bands that I’m happy to have discovered in 2012, and who I think are bands to watch in 2013. All of the bands below left an indelible impression on me, and I think are really onto something.

We’ve talked about Ava Luna a lot recently, and seeing this band live maybe should have been on my five best shows of 2012, but either way what these kids are doing is some amazing stuff. By far the best “nervous soul” pop band in Brooklyn and beyond, I think this band will only be even more amazing with their new material coming out in 2013.

Django Django is one of those bands that makes you feel like they put on a different show every time, with the way they improvise and roll with whatever their sound and crowd situation is. They’re also one of those bands that make you feel like they’re just beginning to scratch the surface of the experimental expression that they can unleash.

Doe Paoro’s performance at Glasslands is one that remains very clear in my memory, from that a capella and the way her voice carried through the room to her dancing to her super magnetic stage presence. She has the substance that resonates.

The Stepkids have already started to really bust out big time, and were headlining at Knitting Factory in early 2012 when I first really had the chance to take in their bold color block projections and sick performance skills. If any band caught my attention for musicianship alone, it was these guys, but combined with their visuals and compositions, The Stepkids are sure to keep blowing minds.

Karlie Bruce was my favorite unexpected discovery of 2012. When I caught her album release show at the performance and art space La Sala, the whole experience was surprisingly enchanting. The intimacy of the space was the perfect enhancement to her unabashedly honest songs, but it was her wittily humble stage presence that lent the sweetest aspect to witnessing her acoustic blues. She also gave out copies of her album, Paperback Lover, for free, and those tunes resonated for some time as well.

New Beard is by far the most eclectic and lovable band that I discovered all year, and as even MTVHive has picked up on their talents, and the talents of those this super creative group surrounds themselves with, I think this is just the beginning of what will be a major year for them.

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