There’s a time and place for bar-band or solo-acoustic covers of “Seven Nation Army,” “Purple Rain” and even that Ryan Adams song from “Old School.” There’s also a burning need for new music to soundtrack our Saturday nights. And Tuesday commutes. Here are 12 local acts writing, recording and performing vibrant original material - and what they’ll be doing to your ears in 2012.

G-Side

Thirty-two places ahead of Jay-Z and Kanye West, 14 in front of Drake and 36 before The Roots. That’s where Huntsville hip-hop duo G-Side’s LP “The One…Cohesive” landed on Spin magazine’s 50 Best Albums of 2011 list. (In other words, number eight.) G-Side’s name also appeared on the cover of Spin’s recent “Changing Face of Hip-Hop” issue.

The sound: G-Side is making some of the most orchestral hip-hop going. ST 2 Lettaz and Yung Clova float verses on top of the shimmering synth, space-out sax and soul-sister coos production team Block Beattaz dial-in.

Now and next: G-Side's first tour concluded Dec. 20 in San Francisco. "We cannot reveal anything about 2012," publicist Graeme Flegenheimer said via email. "All I can tell you is that there is new music from G-Side coming in the winter."

Alabama Shakes

The Alabama Shakes are on David Byrne’s iPod. Paste magazine named them their best new band of 2011, and the Athens quartet’s slow-fuse ballad “You Ain’t Alone” appeared in a Zales TV commercial. Alabama Shakes generated this buzz with just a self-titled, four-song EP and reputation as a smoldering live act.

The sound: A young Tina Turner fronting "Brothers"-era Black Keys. Brittany Howard's voice – equal parts juke-joint and church-house – draws comparisons to Janis Joplin and Robert Plant, while guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, drummer Steve Johnson have vintage R&B moves down cold.

Now and next: A national tour winding through venues including The Troubadour in Los Angeles and Seattle's Crocodile Club. In April, Alabama Shakes will release their yet-to-be-titled first full-length record on ATO Records.

Daikaiju

Forget those costumes and pseudonyms, what really makes Daikaiju memorable are their quicksilver instrumentals. These road hogs have been singeing ears since 1999.

The sound: Daikaiju gooses surf-rock reverb-guitar with metal licks and adventurous, prog-worthy arrangements. It's a style fitting their name, which means "giant monster" in Japanese.

Now and next: Guitarists Secret-Man and Rock-Man, drummer Rumble-Man and bassist Hands-Man will be stuffing their masks into carry-on luggage in March. Daikaiju's European tour will see the group playing shows in Italy, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Look for a string of vinyl 7-inch releases in early 2012 as the band continues recording the follow-up to their 2010 sophomore LP, "Phase 2."

Colin Bugbee

Huntsville-based Colin Bugbee spent 2011 working his EP of thorny folk songs, “Hallé,” released via Get Young Records. He toured the West Coast with assorted punk bands. He played the bustling Austin, Texas, music conference South by Southwest.

The sound: "Colin draws influence from songwriters such as Elliott Smith, Paul Simon, The Band," Get Your Records' Rich Goenne says. And Bugbee's wizened voice has character well beyond his 22 years.

Now and next: In March, Bugbee will release a split 7-inch with Dreamtigers, a Massachusetts indie-rock group he'll also tour with in 2012. In addition, Bugbee is writing songs for a full-length album, and collaborating with talented Scottsboro singer/songwriter Freeman Gray.

Oto Benga

Local rockers Oto Benga were recording their debut album “Bengawagon” last April when a tornado interrupted the sessions. They finished the LP in June. Singer/guitarist Alex Bransford, guitarist Steven Sergenti and drummer Johnny Wolfsberger then played gigs from Florida to Chicago.

The sound: Oto Benga draws from artists ranging from The Strokes and M.Ward to Townes Van Zandt and Parliament. The results fall on the garage side of indie-rock. Think pre-expensive-haircuts Kings of Leon.

Now and next: With bassist Michael Burgess now in tow, Oto Benga is working on their second LP.

Barnstormers

They call their music “doom country.” Singer/songwriter Ronnie Moore and multi-instrumentalist Chris Wilson perform under the name Barnstormers and release albums with names like “Switchblade Serenades” and “Graveyard Town.” Barnstormers’ revolving lineup currently includes Moore’s brother Daniel Moore on bass and Nate Emery on drums.

The sound: Quirky, atmospheric and acoustic-based with plenty of Southern gothic shadows.

Now and next: Barnstormers are eyeing a March release for a vinyl LP, tentatively titled "Strange Tales," which will also be available digitally. Ronnie Moore, who began Barnstormers as an outlet for his collegiate murder ballad obsession, describes "Strange Tales" as "more upbeat with new stories."

PT Prime Time

PT Prime Time has spent his life neck deep in hip-hop. Members of his family were in the rap group Ace of Spades, and as a teen, PT would freestyle, bang beats on school lunch tables and make cassette demos. He went on to record mirror-ball jams with local hip-hop duo Untamed, releasing their “Let’s Make A Move” LP in 2007.

The sound: On his solo cut "Crazy," PT Prime Time's rhymes philosophically on a Block Beattaz-produced track benefiting from velvety organ lines.

Now and next: Huntsville's standout hip-hop label Slow Motion Soundz will release PT's album "Thoughts of a Leader" in February. The rapper's touchstones include Tupac Shakur, Pimp C and DMX.

Or The Children's Crusade

“Love, death, porches, time travel and ghosts,” are just some of the subjects Or The Children’s Crusade songs explore, says singer/guitarist Alex Wright. His one-time solo project has swollen to a sextet, with Nathan Barnett (guitars, vocals), Jonathan Shrout (drums), Justin Edwards (keys) Jim Craft (bass) and Kyle Medlen (guitar).

The sound: "We've been described as 'post-Springsteen' and 'Tom Petty shoegaze,' but I'm not entirely sure what either of those mean," Wright says.

Now and next: The group is self-recording the debut LP. (OTCC released an EP, "Love As Always, Or the Children's Crusade," in 2010.) Look for the new album in late winter or early spring.

The Porcharitas

Helen Faulkner (bass, vocals), Ashley Vaughn (keys, vocals), Ashley Martin (guitar/vocals) and drummer Ben Rhyne started The Porcharitas as a winking ode to their drink of choice. The libation’s ingredients: eight beers, two limeades, tequila and a bag of ice.

The sound: Anywhere from brash guitar-pop (the song "Get Wasted") to dream-dusted indie ("The Clap"). "A couple of our songs are about love, some are about awesome TV shows, but most are about drinking with our friends," Vaughn said in an email.

Now and next: In early 2012, The Porcharitas will release a 7-inch single through Vertical House Records, the killer Huntsville vinyl store Vaughn and her husband Andy Vaughn run. The single will feature cover art by Huntsville illustrator Travis Thompson.

Amy McCarley

Decatur, Ga., songwriter hotspot Eddie’s Attic and Nashville’s Mercy Lounge are just two of the prime rooms Amy McCarley played last year. That’s a long way from McCarley’s start in music: rehearsing with her fifth-grade band in the attic of her grandparents’ barn.

The sound: Amber-tinted alt-country inspired by the likes of Lucinda Williams, Chrissie Hynde and Bob Dylan.

Now and next: Regional touring and possibly shows in Europe, where the Huntsville-based artist's self-titled debut LP has received airplay on Americana radio. On Feb. 20, McCarley will open for R. Ring, a project featuring Breeders guitarist Kelley Deal, at Crossroads. "Pretty cool right?" McCarley says of the Deal gig.

Bazooka

Hipster duo Josh Macero and Raidy Salmon – that’s right, it’s Raidy, not Randy – released a vinyl single (“Jupiter,” with the B-side “Back to You) in 2011.

The sound: British Invasion jangle and melody with touches of lo-fi fuzziness.

Now and next: Bazooka plans on issuing more 7-inch singles this year, as does another Salmon project, Really Loud Hamburgers, a band playing brainy punk-rock.

Brighter Things

Steven Jackson didn’t sing for five years. Becoming a father and stage fright kept him from performing the lyrics Paste magazine once called “beautiful, evocative and true.” He returned to music in 2010 under the moniker Brighter Things, releasing the album “Before We Land,” which featured contributions from musicians who’ve worked with Dave Matthews, John Mayer and Ray LaMontagne.

The sound: Jackson's polished folk-rock calls to mind that of the Counting Crows.

Now and next: A return to the stage after a seven-year hiatus will include regional touring and West Coast shows. Jackson says some iTunes singles are also on tap. "I don't know which (songs) we'll be releasing yet. I have 10 to 20 that I'll prune, then decide."

12 Local Musicians to Watch in 2012 35 Gallery: 12 Local Musicians to Watch in 2012

Story by Matt Wake, special to The Times