Introduction by Matt Ashworth

Artwork by Tim Basaraba

Contributors Andy Bookwalter, Andy Perkovich, Frida Ray, Graham Isaac, Jim Toohey, Patrick Galactic, Rachel Bennett and Sean Jewell

OK we did it. Finally. Our yearly list of the 41 Seattle bands we’re keeping a close eye on this year is complete.

Quick review of the process:

1) Throughout the year, when we hear a track we dig from a Puget Sound area artist that hasn’t been on our radar, we log it in a shared Google doc.

2) In January, we put an APB out to our contributors and our network of local musicians, promoters, publicists, talent buyers, and other music scribes and ask for recommendations.

3) Beginning in February, 6-10 of our contributors listen to tons and tons of songs from hundreds of local bands and then debate, cajole and advocate for our favorites.

4) Usually the process completes in about April, but this year there were just way, way too many good bands that caught our ear.

So here we are in early August, sharing the fruits of those labors. We’ve included short blurbs on why we think you should check these artists out. We also included a link to our favorite single song or video so you can check them out and decide if you want to dive deeper.

As always, the process for 2020 starts now so please post links to two songs for any bands we you think we should check out in the comments below.

Witch Ripper

Now THIS is a metal band. Because metal should crush like all out war. All other metal bands considered for this list sounded like standing in the Schecter section at Guitar World compared to this. This is book of revelations badassery right here. We always feel compelled to include at least one sludge/doom thing, but Witch Ripper is as good as any band on the list. This rips. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “S.L.U. (The Hive)” from their 2018 album Homestead

TXR

TxR is an emcee/producer/engineer from Seattle and part of an artistic collective called “the Ambient Village” that features collaborators Destin Mai, Time, Othelle, and B-Rye, none of whom we yet know anything about. Self-described as “an awkward teen with no scholarships,” TxR peppered his 2018 debut album First Impression with unique beats, samples and sounds that recall elements from hip-hop’s classic era without sounding dated. On top of a sonic mix of hip-hop, jazz and neo-soul elements sits TxR’s nerdy, professorial flow that drips with authenticity and self-awareness. Big potential. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: “Earth Angel” from his 2019 album First Impression

Terror/cactus

Terror/Cactus @ Upstream 2018 by Jake-Hanson

Terror/Cactus is a unique gem within the Seattle music scene, led by Martín Selasco. The band creates groovy, experimental, electro-psych cumbia, blending genres and shaping a landscape of sounds within each song to provide a delicious aural experience. “Serpiente Nocturna” from their December 2018 release Impulsos is somehow calm and wild at the same time, with an entrancing flute melody laced over a methodical drum beat. Be sure to catch this one live; they perform in masks, often with a light show that builds a mysterious mood to converge the realms of music and visual art. – Rachel Bennett

Agreed. Guayaba (#41for2016) put me on to this, and we’re a bit behind the ball recommending they be watched in 2019, but it can’t hurt, either. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “Serpiente Nocturna” from the group’s December 2018 release Impulsos

Temple Canyon

Temple Canyon is the best band in Seattle right now, so it’s especially joyful to watch their rising imminence. Mariko Ruhle’s voice stings the air when she sings, and her band compliments it with shoegaze builds and psych rock crescendos. Their 2016 album and 2017 EP sulk as much as they soar. The band swings moods wildly from glitter and glisten to rust and rattle in a beat. LIYL: Heart (heavy, early Heart, not that late era folky shit), Jefferson Airplane, 90s Seattle Grunge. – Sean Jewell

One thing: You can’t go wrong with the live performance of “Elysium” at the Central Saloon. The song “Doris” from their BandCamp page is great too.

Summoned By Giants

Summoned By Giants @ Substation by Stephanie Oster

Are you sick of tough guys on stage singing about how tough they are? Good. Join three dudes and a lady singing about “frozen worlds left unknown” and other cool, cryptic shit. Summoned By Giants are a metal/hardcore band that is just spacey enough, just stone-y enough, just gruff enough and just sensitive enough. – TBASA

One thing: We sure love “Cryogenic Cowboy” from January 2019 release Azimuth

Spesh

“Fire fire fire!!” Spesh @ Capitol Hill Block Party 2018 by Eric Tra

Lots of underground buzz on Spesh, who released their debut Famous World 2018 debut on local label Killroom Records (home of other great bands like Acapulco Lips, Bread & Butter, Charms #41for2015). The record has a sophisticated post-new wave college rock kind of sound but their latest track, “Georgeous EBRDX,” was mixed by Erik Blood (Shabazz Palaces, Knife Knights) and makes it sound like they’ve been listening to a lot of Happy Mondays records lately. So there’s no telling where they will go in 2019.

One thing: The sweet, nostalgic “Tomato Rose” video the band debuted with the mighty KEXP late last year.

Shitty Person

Benjamin Thomas-Kennedy (Lesbian, Fungal Abyss) ‘s good songs about bad thoughts. He spun a dream catcher out of spider silk, hung it up and netted an orchestra of Seattle psych rock savants. He tracks the quivers, vibrations, and cries of the newly immobilized, and turns them into slurred, blurred, psychedelic drone. Terrifyingly good. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “Take Your Clothes Off” from the band’s 2018 album Judgement

Scorpiknox

Scorpinox @ Substation May 2019 by John Malley

Scorpiknox are one-part prog maestros and one part tongue-in cheek-bravado mixed with catchy songs that are usually only relegated to the pop genre. Make no mistake, though: this is heavy rock but not your Dad’s heavy rock… more like your cool uncle’s. – TBASA

One thing: Check out the track “Pirates”

Red Ribbon

Wow. “Great” might not be a strong enough word to describe how good this is, but I’m a photographer not a writer so that will have to do. Red Ribbon more text – Jim Toohey

Yeah. I loooove them. – Rachel Bennett

I’m not surprised that Red Ribbon is so good given it features two of our favorite local artists, Natasha El-Sergany (somesurprises, #41for2017) and Monika Khot (Nordra, #41for208 and Zen Mother, #41for2016). – Matt Ashworth

One thing: The official video for their excellent song “Your Car”

Also click the image below to check out Andy’s photo gallery of the band’s set at the Capitol Theater in Olympia earlier this year with the excellent Chastity Belt

Oh, Rose

Of all the hundreds and hundreds of songs we listened to while making this list, “Lottery” by Olympia’s Oh, Rose was my favorite. It sounds like a song John Peel would love, and for good reason. DESCRBIE It’s from a 2016 album that’s a bit uneven but shows flashes of additional brilliance and indicates their best work is probably still yet to come. Luckily we shouldn’t have to wait long, as the band recently debuted the first song and video, “25, Alive,” from it’s debut full-length album While My Father Sleeps due out August 25 on New Orleans label Park The Van Records. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: The delightful track “Lottery”

Nox Novacula

Wowee, this is wicked. So often “Death” and “Goth” rock mean sad boys singing about choking a woman, but this is womxn (a few?) putting both the “Goth” and “Rock” into it on every song. Holy shit this is cool. Like Bahaus/Joy Division cool. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “The Path” from their self-titled 2018 EP

Miscomings

When I think about pushing your potential as a band to the edge of understandability/likeability in order to be something worth listening to, this is what I mean. I like it, and anyone who stands next to the Fabulous Downey Brothers is cool by association. “Toad’s Revenge” oof, gorgeous. – Sean Jewell

One thing: Their March 2019 video for “BUTTJUICE”

Mirrorgloss

We told you guys about dance-pop duo Mirrorgloss back in 2015 when Wade from Seaweed included them in his “Top Talent from Tacoma” article. We probably should have put them on one of our “bands to watch” lists in 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018 but we didn’t because sometimes we forget things. – Matt Ashworth

Yeah, don’t sleep on Mirrorgloss like we did, dummies. Because there are few things more charming or congruent than the union of Del Brown and Najah Monique Todd. Forming like a dance-pop Voltron, the group sprang from Tacoma but quickly branched out to Amazonia and established themselves as a destination for a really good fucking time. Disarmingly genuine and devoid of pretention, Mirrorgloss fuse soul, R&B, and electro beats to create a pastiche of grooves that have helped them sell out shows across the city. – Patrick Galactic

One thing: Check out the new cut “I Feel Free” that the group released earlier this year

Matriarch

Another band we missed for #41for2018 list, Sean caught us up later in the year when he reviewed Matriarch‘s excellent debut record, which sees “four womxn in fighting formation, dealing with all manner of bullshit with guitar shrieks and urgent, stabbing riffs to accompany refrains like ‘Kill your local alpha male.'” Hopefully we get their follow up sooner rather than later. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: “KYLAM (Kill Your Local Alpha Male)” sound give you an idea of what Matriarch has to offer

Levi Fuller & The Library

After a decade of releasing literally every other person’s music via his quarterly Ball Of Wax project, Levi gathers his own songs into one stunningly aggressive EP. Fatherhood, and political malaise, seem to have motivated and transformed the group on the aptly named Such Bad Things Happen. – Sean Jewell

The new stuff Levi is doing is intense, compact, and really well realized. Killer live as well. – Graham Isaac

One thing: Start with “You Could Have Died”

Left At London

In five years of listening to hundreds and hundreds of new artists, Left At London may be my favorite one yet. So much variety, talent and personality in the Everett artist’s early work on BandCamp and YouTube, but my personal fav is “I Split My Ribs Open.” Looks like she has been rapidly gaining attention over the six months we’ve been working on this list, with legendary Seattle DJ Marco Collins championing her work. Watch out for Left At London. – Jim Toohey

One thing: The official video for the song “Revolution Lover,” which shows both the artist’s knack for songwriting and the sense of community they are building as the world takes notice of their music

Leava

Leava is the pseudonym of musician/producer Simon Nicol. His last release, TRUE BLVRS, excellently showcased his versatility and command of his craft. Glitchy electro is a constant, often in waves of detached minimalism. Bursts of electric guitar and Nicol’s fiercely experimental vocal delivery keep things unpredictable and fresh throughout. With production credits including Claire Michelle and the surging Actionesse, as well as many others, Nicol’s influence on the Seattle music community continues to grow. – Patrick Galactic

One thing: Try “CDT” from his December 2018 TRUE BLVRS single

La Fonda

La Fonda @ Big Ass Boombox by Andy Perkovich

La Fonda is an indie dream-pop band led by sisters Veronica and Valerie Topacio. Their latest single, “Time,” is the first piece the sisters ever wrote together. It’s a catchy song that reminds you to keep your head up and strive what brings you joy and fulfillment. The track also captures the band’s contagious energy and the positivity that fills the room when they perform. La Fonda’s live shows are where it’s at. The sister’s harmonies are especially powerful and beautiful live. La Fonda just finished a new album set for release this fall. Veronica and Valarie say it will delve into a raw, emotional place with a slightly darker, moodier edge than their previous releases but with the same vocal power, catchy pop-riffs, and relatable lyrics about love, heartbreak, and the struggles of being human. – Rachel Bennett

One thing: The video for the song “Time”

Haunted Horses

Haunted Horses @ Chop Suey by Andy Perkovich

Frankly, Haunted Horses scare the shit out of me. A cerebral blend of industrial noise and punk rock fuck it-ness, this isn’t music for just anyone. The opening track from their latest release, “Severed Circle”, “Desert in a Room” is an aptly-named 3 and a half minutes of carefully crafted chaos. Mike Pelly’s relentless, mechanized beats set the stage for Colin Dawson’s collage of dysphoric, horror textures. I highly recommend listening to this band UNLESS you have the urge to kill, serious mental illness or are gonna be in the dark by yourself. – Patrick Galactic

One thing: Check out the haunting “Desert in a Room,” the opening track to the group’s 2019 EP Severed Circle

Golden Idols

The last 10 years of pop culture haven’t been kind to smart, hyper literate indie rock. I’m not sure when that will change but you’re a fucking rube if you don’t give Golden Idols a spin. I’m positive there are at least 3-5 people in every major city who still listen to lyrics and Golden Idols will reward them with incisive sex jokes and clever observation. They’ve recently released their EP Uneasy, a collection of smart pop and crass wit. Don’t miss it. – Patrick Galactic

One thing: Start with the band’s March 2019 single “Special”

Garden Chat

G Kellen Grace is one of those criminally underrated Seattle artists. The kind with the talent, presence and songs that make it unsurprising when David Bazan shows up to see he and his band, Crazy Eyes, perform at #NadaFest 2018…the kind that seems destined for big KEXP support and a rapid ascension to bigger stages. While we wait for Crazy Eyes’ follow up to 2015’s excellent Ring Ring Jingalong and Dark Heart Singalong and the rest of the city to take notice, Grace offers up a 5-song collection of songs on BandCamp under the Garden Chat moniker. Like his Crazy Eyes work, these five songs demonstrate his innate knack for melodic songwriting. – Matt Ashworth

Yeah, Garden Chat would have been huge if they were birthed in the days when bands got record contracts after distributing a mixtape throughout the Seattle music scene. Alas, those days are over and you will just have to get your fix via BandCamp every few months or so. Lush vocals and reverb-drenched guitars with the occasional whistle solo makes for a great sound no matter what decade it is. – TBASA

One thing: Check out “I Will Follow the Spirit of You All”

Fruit Juice

When Fruit Juice was nominated for this list I instantly said they couldn’t be on it because they’d already been featured before…”right? RIGHT?! Fucking Fruit Juice?! We haven’t fucking featured fucking Fruit fucking Juice?!” If you’ve been under a rock the last 10 years, Fruit Juice is a tour de force psych pop group of weirdos who embrace all the trappings of psychedelic music while remembering to write incredibly good songs. If you haven’t seen them or listened to their music yet, I guess this list is for you. – Patrick Galactic

RIYL Of Montreal, Scissor Sisters. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: Try “Candles” from the group’s 2017 release Eat You Up

Fuzz Mutt

There are no more Fuzzed out Garage Bands with clear vocals! Can’t say that anymore, Fuzz Mutt takes special care to make the vocals front and center so you can hear what they have to say. What they have to say is mostly we young, we cool and you ain’t. Which is good for Everett because I mostly avoid that city unless I am going to a Steel Beans show. – TBASA

One thing: “Colorless” sure is a great song

Fretland

Snohomish (!) band that will make you listen to country and like it. Hillary Grace and Kara Belle’s sibling harmonies and guitar lead this band in songs that range from ballads to four on the floor boot stompers. Their forthcoming album (recording began in May) is highly anticipated. For now, whet your appetite with their 2018 EP At The Shabin. – Sean Jewell

Easy to love. I just want to chill on a back porch in the summer with them. – Jim Toohey

One thing: The gorgeous “Black N Gold” from At the Shabin

Forest Ray

As we work on this list each year, we’re used to finding songs by bands we haven’t heard before. That’s the whole point. Oftentimes it’s just a few solid songs that catch our attention and hint at an artist’s potential. It’s rarer that we discover a band we hadn’t heard before that has a whole BandCamp page full of excellent tracks, like Forest Ray. Their excellent 2018 album Laughing is solid top to bottom, employing a diverse range of guitar and organ-driven garage and psych rock peppered with tasteful touches of flute and vibraphone. Their newest track, March 2019’s “What Goes Down,” is from a 7-inch record co-released by Forest Ray Records in Seattle and and Cold Lunch Recordings in Nashville. Hopefully this means a new album is forthcoming. – Matt Ashworth

Two things: My favorite song is “Lucia” from the band’s excellent 2018 album Laughing and the band’s brand new song “What Goes Down”

Ex-Licks

This live video, my first exposure to three-piece garage rockers Ex-Licks, was enough to secure them a spot on this year’s list. Since then, the band released their excellent self-titled debut and it’s filled with urgent, melodic rock songs steeped in my favorite punk traditions and buoyed by inspired vocals. – Matt Ashworth

DYED

DYED sounds like a Patrick Nagel poster come to life. Infectiously cool, this Seattle 4-piece has been around since early 2017 and released their debut EP on May 27th of this year. On their debut EP, DYED offers 4 tracks that come together as one of the more sonically interesting and satisfying releases I’ve heard this year. Their sound can be perfectly summed up in this quote pulled directly from Nagel’s own website, “Nagel’s woman is complicated – which is the key to her subliminal appeal. She wants attention, sometimes flauntingly, but remains distant. She appears intelligent, self-possessed, but removed…[Nagel] imagined them as creatures of the night who drank and smoked too much. Perhaps, but they remain always in control.” – Andy Perkovich

One thing: The song “First Bourn” from the group’s self-titled debut EP

Dreamdecay

They say all the good band names are taken, but I don’t believe them. Dreamdecay is not only a solid name for a band, it’s the best possible name for this band. They’ve shared stages around the city with electronic artists, metal bands, noise rockers, and straight up punks and all of it makes sense; Dreamdecay create a sound that’s both a wall and a blanket. It can crush or envelop the listener with harsh atmospherics and textured blasts of sound. I’m not sure exactly what sort of dreams these folks have been having, but these songs give you a pretty good idea.– Graham Isaac

One thing: The title track from their 2017 album Yu’

Down North

Down North have been steadily churning out inspired soulful rock music for several years. It’s the kind of classic, soulful sound that unites audiences of all ages when they perform live. The band released their best record to date in late 2018, No Retreat Volume 1, and is out on a national tour through at least August. Catch them live this fall when they get back to town. – Paul Broderson

One thing: The “Stupid Man” video from the band’s 2019 album No Retreat, Vol. 1

Double or Muffin

Watching Austin Hunter front this band is like seeing Iggy Pop in his youth. With freudian slips showing, an unbelievably good band backs Austin as he barks and wails, kicks and flails. Everything about this band is the most polite fuck you to a collapsing Seattle, and their new album (coming in 2019 is amazing / hilarious). Hear their single Selkie / Lion Mane for a taste, caution: sharp wit! – Sean Jewell

One thing: “Respect,” which is one of three great songs on the group’s SoundCloud page that has us hungry for more ASAP

Debbie Miller

It is rare for a folk act to cradle whimsy in the arms of talent. Most come across as a Steve Martin ripoff, not Debbie Miller. The talent is definitely there — the multi-instrumentalist sings, plays piano and guitar — but so is the fancifulness. Her latest 7-inch, “Two Sides” leads with Patrick Bateman-like storytelling whereas side B is a heartfelt piano piece that should be credit music of the latest A24 film. – TBASA

One thing: The song “Inch by Inch”

The Cupholders

The Seattle supergroup of soul man Sam Russell (Harborrats, Doug Hood), natural born songwriter Bart Cameron (The Foghorns), and honky tonk hellraiser Casey Ruff. Specializing in dad-rocking country and revival tent ruckus, with outrageous live shows. The band is releasing a series of EP’s named after their favorite local bars. Catch their blasphemous spirit, drink these songs, and smoke something. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “Wedding Porn” from 2019’s Conor Byrne EP (Live)

Cold Soda

I remember back in 2007 when Derek Fudesco very politely and modestly emailed NadaMucho.com to inform us he was in a new band called the Cave Singers. Unlike the loud punk and post-punk bands we knew him for, Murder City Devils and Pretty Girls Make Graves, the Cave Singers would be a quieter, folk-ier sound. Because we’re kind of dumb, we didn’t pay immediate attention. Less than a year later they signed to Matador and the rest is history. So when Fudesco reached out in 2018 to tell us about his latest project, Cold Soda (which also features Cave Singers’ Peter Quirk and Marty Lund), I was quick to check out the advance copy of their self-titled debut album he included. It’s groovy, effortless pop/rock with just enough Cave Singers’ spookiness and mystery and it’s been in my heavy rotation ever since. Lovely to see long-time local musicians continue to evolve and release such meaningful records. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: The track “Anna May” from the group’s 2018 self-titled debut

Chad

For the first time in this list’s five year history, we’re including a band based on one thing only. This song and video. We didn’t find or hear any of Chad’s other music. No one we know has seen them live. In a world where even a volunteer, online music magazine receives more than 100 emails a week containing requests to watch and listen to new music from bands it’s a good reminder to emerging artists to get people’s attention with one really, really good thing and make them want more. Well done, Chad. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: It’s gotta be the song/video for “Full Weed Ahead”

The Carols

I feel like I heard this when it came out and I didn’t get it, but now that I’m listening again I’m way into it. Love that Cramps / B-52s vocal interplay over menacing Link Wray guitar chords. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “Saturated,” the opening track on their 2018 record Honestly, It’s the Carols

Black Ends

One sure fire way to make our yearly list is for us to hear your name from a couple of trusted local music collaborators, visit your catalogue of early songs and online demos and think “wow, this is really interesting and has great promise” and then release a fantastic debut EP right while we’re deliberating. That’s what Black Ends did. – Matt Ashworth

The new EP is extremely interesting. The choices in compositions are incredible. It’s as if she put the 90s in a reverb chamber, recorded it to tape, then cut and spliced the best hooks and riffs together. Really nice. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “Maybe When” from the group’s 2019 EP Sellout

Bad Optics

Everett’s Bad Optics play the sort of spikey, shouty guitar music that gets called “post” or “art” due to the musical debt it owes to bands like Pere Ubu and The Fall, but that doesn’t feel entirely accurate. Sonically, that’s a good starting point, but in Bad Optics’ hands this music feels less like a purposeful deconstruction than a natural reaction to the frustrations of modern life. Personal, political, on-point and absurd, Bad Optics make arty rock that may take cues from it’s musical forebears, but feels deeply and powerfully rooted in the now. – Graham Isaac

One thing: The band’s song “Personality Proxy” from their 2018 EP Warm Strokes of Pragmatism

ATHR

I don’t care what you guys do, ATHR is an artist I will definitely watch. Heavy Grace Jones vibes. This is what the world needs now. – Sean Jewell

Wow. Grace Jones vibes for sure but also Kate Bush and Laurie Anderson. – Jim Toohey

Yeah this is real, real interesting. The voices in the background repeating buzzwords combined with the sample from “Thriller” at the end of “Racism” give this a bit of a Negativland vibe too, which I obviously dig. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: Check out the track “Racism” from the artist’s SoundCloud page

Antonioni

One day, during the lengthy period while we were working on this list, after a long day of work followed by dinner with family and a city league hoops game I came home, took a shower, and put a playlist of the remaining artists in contention on random while I did some chores. Fifteen or twenty minutes later a beautiful song came on that captured my attention and stopped me in my tracks, even though it is very subtle. “What is this?” I wondered to myself. “It sounds familiar. It gives me the same warm feeling as Massive Attack, Cocteau Twins or Mazzy Star, even though it’s clearly not any of those artists.” As the song transports me through its warm tone and texture, I pick up my phone to find out it’s Anonioni and their track “Snow Globe,” which we debuted on NadaMucho.com in December when the group released their 2018 EP The Odds Were All Beating Me. A quick spin through the EP reminded me why so many of my collaborators were already endorsing this band: they are poised for a breakout year, and deservedly so. – Matt Ashworth

One thing: “Snow Globe” from the group’s 2019 album The Odds Were All Beating Me

Amanda Winterhalter

This band is the locomotive engine behind the Bushwick Bookclub, but Amanda’s ability and inspiration in recent years have gone wild, making her the standout leader of the group and an amazing musician to behold live. Equal parts 60s Nasvhille country and indie influence result in songs that uplift and mystify. Look out for the astounding new album What Is This Death, recorded by Johnny Sangster, to be release in late 2019. – Sean Jewell

One thing: “Run Like Hell” from her 2016 record Olea

AJ Suede

Despite having come of age during the advent of hip-hop and enjoying it in all its forms ever since, I still have no idea how to describe what I’m hearing or why it moves me. So when it comes to AJ Suede, let me keep it simple: I know for sure that I dig the first three songs that come up on his Spotify page. In particular, the piano loop on “Gas Light” recalls RZA and Kool Keith and seems real, real nice. And scanning the prolific producer/MC’s multiple albums and singles online is enough to know that he has a strong point of view.. It sounds like he’s an East Coast transplant who only relocated to Seattle in the last year or two, so let’s hope we aren’t the only ones watching in 2019… it would be nice for him to stick around.

One thing: “Gas Medusa“ from his 2018 album Gotham Fortress

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