DiCaprio
Over the past year, post-punk powerhouse DiCaprio have nailed down their debut LP, I Went to the Mall Yesterday and I Got Sick, all while maintaining a healthy stream of local shows and tour dates throughout the Southeast and East Coast. The Atlanta trio play with a slacker nonchalance while simultaneously tipping their hat to goth and handing out high fives in a very smoke-filled practice room. The two singles released from the album, “Ectoslavia” and “Return to Babylon,” have an upbeat yet anxious quality that is captured by jangly guitar riffs stacked against deadpan instrumentation that is well layered yet manages to feels stripped back and minimal. The remainder of the LP is equally riveting, but you’ll have to wait until March to hear it. After that, things get even busier for DiCaprio as the band embarks on an April tour of the East Coast and Midwest, followed by a 7″ to be released via Chunklet. – BC
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Bandcamp: dicaprioatl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @dicaprioband
Fuiste
Atlanta has no shortage of adventurous recording artists, but few in the scene possess the technical prowess or schizophrenic tumult of Fuiste. The local trio write songs with a freewheeling sense of abandon that includes forays into a variety of genres including math rock, jazz, funk, prog, and pop. That they manage to tie together such is no small feat, and it’s one of the key reasons we feel the group is deserving your attention. Although details are still scant, the band is currently writing and recording a new full length set for release in the spring. – Guillermo Castro
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Bandcamp: fuiste.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @fuiste.atl
SoundCloud: @fuistepleasestay
Twitter: @fuiste_atl
Glare
Although we’re not yet six months removed from Glare’s debut show at Eyedrum, we’re already foaming at the mouth for their first release. Featuring former members of Knaves Grave, Mood Rings, and the Clap, the group’s hard-boiled punk rock is rooted in a ’90s slacker aesthetic that still feels decidedly raw and of the moment. So far, the band’s exposure has been limited to their live audiences and enthusiastic word of mouth (Glare’s online presence is currently non-existent*), so outside of a handful of stirring performances, there’s really no telling what to expect from them in the coming year. It’s that glimmer of the unknown, coupled with the band’s mammoth potential, that make them such an intriguing selection, and we can’t wait to see (and hear) how it all plays out. – GC
*UPDATE: You can now follow Glare on Facebook.
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Facebook: @glareatl
Credit: Krishna Inmula
Harlot Party
Harlot Party may be just a duo, but don’t underestimate these two — behind the intricate weave of their dual guitars lies an explosive force. KyKy Renee Knight seems to float on a tightrope with her chilling vocals, swaying between wonder and despair with frightening ease. She and Garrett Knighon (ex-Juna) have only been Harlot Party since last August, but they’ve been quietly building their intense rapport with each other since they met at the University of Georgia in 2012. Fans of Mothers should definitely warm to these guys — look for their debut EP, I Want to be Recalcitrant, I Am Just Exhausted, later this month. – LA
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Bandcamp: harlotparty.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @HarlotParty
Tumblr: harlotparty.tumblr.com
Jock Gang
It’s only been two years since Kimberly Collins and Jared Collins founded Jock Gang in Athens, but the ever-growing band has established a firm foothold in Atlanta since their move and the addition of Jonathan Merenivitch (Shepherds), Adrian Benedykt Świtoń (Shepherds), and Garrett Burke (Art Contest). Following the release of their debut EP last February, the five-piece embarked on a national tour with Deerhunter. Not only did the tour broaden the group’s reach, it sharpened their sound from meandering art rock into more precise, yet eccentric territory. Currently, the band is working on a new album which will feature the same lo-fi style of their debut EP, but according to Collins the record is “generally more cohesive than our first release.” Though the details of the LP are still under wraps, the band plans on releasing a single soon. In addition, Jock Gang has recently signed with a booking agency and plans to tour in April after releasing the record. – RR
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Bandcamp: jock-gang.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @Jockgangband