Unicorn Kid
It feels like maybe we were supposed to know Unicorn Kid before five minutes ago? It’s somewhat unclear, but regardless: Unicorn Kid is—perhaps unsurprisingly, given the unbelievably dopey nature of his chosen moniker—a Scottish dude who messes with the kind of chippy electronic music you listen to if the word “rave” doesn’t just make you laugh and go, “Wait, really?” He’s toured with the Pet Shop Boys and, ha, also Owl City, which makes sense. Like, the very, very worst type of sense.
Should You Bother?
It’s hard to imagine any situation arising where that would make sense. No.

Wooden Indian Burial Ground
If we were judging bands based solely on their name, these guys would get the highest possible rating. But we’re not. We’re doing serious stuff here! And, you know, they actually fare pretty well. A quartet from the Northwest, Wooden Indian Burial Ground play a ragged kind of surfy garage rock that also features some really nice psych flourishes. The recordings are on the lo-fi side, but it’s extremely easy to imagine this stuff coming to life on the stage.
Should You Bother?
Yes! They have a good name, and there’s a very good chance they’re going to blow the roof off the place.

French Camp
A New York band, actually (which, yes, makes us feel lame as fuck, thank you very much), French Camp is a throwback of sorts: they play carefully orchestrated songs that are recorded cleanly, with the vocals sitting way up top demanding to be heard. There are vocal melodies for miles and all sorts of unexpected twists and turns—it’s earnest, big-statement indie rock like the kind everyone suddenly stopped caring about a few years back. For fans of Summerteeth-era Wilco and, maybe for a more recent and local comparison, Caveman.
Should You Bother?
Well, not if you’re satisfied with indie rock’s recent love affair with half-baked tributes to the music everyone liked when they were 11. Otherwise, yes, definitely.

Ace Reporter
Ace Reporter is a guy named Chris Snyder from right here in the city. He’s in possession of a classically impressive singing voice, all smooth and warm and perfectly natural sounding. So that’s really nice. But he plays this sort of infuriating brand of low-stakes pop music that, while pleasant enough, lacks weight and will induce no shortage of eye-rolling. There’s something just a little too pristine about the whole presentation.
Should You Bother?
Well, homeboy seems super nice, so maybe go buy him a drink and tell him about, like, Shellac or something.

Wild Cub
Though garnering high praise from the likes of SPIN and Paste, the debut album from this duo of Nashville scene vets has an awkward “white guys can’t dance” quality to it. It’s full of whirring 80s synths and plucky beats that occasionally get smoothed out into full-hearted crooner ballads. Those, unfortunately, only dial up the awkwardness. White guys can’t dance or be Frank Ocean.
Should You Bother?
Assuming you don’t enjoy cringing uncontrollably, probably not.

Seth Glier
In the publicity photo posted on CMJ’s website, Seth Glier looks like Ryan Gosling in The Notebook; his music touches on that same earnest, 1940s free spirit as Gosling’s character does in the film. From a Google search we learned he’s a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, putting his education to use forging troubadour folk, mostly from piano, with inklings of jazz. It’s much more Broadway than Cake Shop.
Should You Bother?
Wellll, not really. But... Ryan Gosling!

Jensen Sportag
We thought the band name sounded familiar, chalking it up to what we assumed was a play on 90s standard JanSport backpacks, and hoped that Dinosaur Jr.-influenced rock would follow. But, oh, wait. It seems the familiarity stems from the Nashville’s duo’s work remixing the likes of Memory Tapes, Grimes and Blood Diamonds. According to a Facebook post, they won’t be playing any live sets during the festival but will be DJing their own music—glossy, R&B-tinged soundscapes equally informed by Michael Jackson, Washed Out and muzak. You people seem to enjoy that sort of thing. Get excited?
Should You Bother?
Well, everyone likes Michael Jackson, right? Right?

Blaudzun
Serious-faced Dutch folk crooner Johannes Sigmond (a.k.a. Blaudzun) sounds like he spent waaaay too much time listening to OK Computer. Especially since his solemn falsetto sighs and icy xylophone hits are only window dressing for songs just respectable enough to avoid being the few Eurovision Song Contest entries that went viral his year (i.e., actually gave a few people some fleeting joy). Facial hair by Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Should You Bother?
You should not. Listen to OK Computer on your way to see someone else way less embarrassing.

Nneka
Though she’s way bigger in Europe than the US, it’s semi-embarrassing that German/Nigerian rapper Nneka’s name didn’t register. She’s played Lollapalooza, toured with Nas. Her mix of soul, reggae, and political hip-hop isn’t totally groundbreaking, but does contain undeniable craft and personality. Wandering blindly into her show as a badge-holder might leave you blown away by an unexpectedly polished performance.
Should You Bother?
We say go ahead. Who doesn’t want to (potentially) be blown away by an unexpectedly polished performance?

Tunabunny
Easily one of the worst band names you’ll ever see belongs to a jangly Athens, GA, group that isn’t so bad, really. Their sound is chaotic in a way that bridges a gap between subtly differing strains of sloppiness: 70s post-punk, 80s indie-pop, 90s alternative. That jumble can sound cloying and affected at times, but it crumbles into something interesting just often enough.
Should You Bother?
Oh, you know... guitars, indie rock, etc. If you keep your expectations under control, this could be a fine way to spend 40 minutes of your life.

Baron von Luxxury
Post-Cut Copy, post-DFA, post-Chromatics disco with catchy synth lines and vocals that fall just short of conveying some kind of distinct character. There’s something ineffably missing from the Los Angeles artist’s tasteful blend of dance-floor influences. All his ducks are in a row, but seeing them there, in a row like that, makes us think that we might be kind of over ducks?
Should You Bother?
2012: The Year Ducks and Music That Sounds Like This Died.

Bikini Carwash
Based on the scant recorded evidence that could be found online, standard-issue Brooklyn pop-punks Bikini Carwash sound brand new. Not new as in novel, but like they just started playing in a band and are psyched to capture anything on tape. A couple of shaky demo versions seem like an awfully incomplete evaluating tool, though. They sound energetic? Which might come across live?
Should You Bother?
This could wind up being a little high school talent show-ish, but there are worse things, we suppose.

Fat History Month
This Boston band’s name gave us nightmares of Black Keys devotees in newly un-mothballed ska pants, so a lo-fi 90s slacker vibe was a welcome bait-and-switch. Non-sequitur Lou Barlow guitars, a Built to Spill whine that morphs into a sweet Unicorns smirk, rambling talking parts like a surreal Nada Surf—they still sound embryonic, but it could come together nicely. A little too sloppy to be this smug, maybe, but it’s diluted by a silliness that juts in unexpected directions.
Should You Bother?
Are you the slightest bit interested in determining who might be the next Yuck?

Technicolor Hearts
Among other dubious claims, Technicolor Hearts’ bio asserts that the Austin duo peppers their synth-pop with something called “arts and crafts rock.” What could that even mean? Mewling vocals that miss an intended Stevie Nicks-y hippie/witch zone slapped atop gimpy drum-machine beats might have you knitting double-tough ear cozies? File away for some future slushy March, when SXSW envy has you down on the Brooklyn scene.
Should You Bother?
No, this would be time better spent on Etsy.

Golden Bloom
More or less an expanded solo project for frontman Shawn Fogel, Golden Bloom sounds exactly how you’d expect a band called Golden Bloom to sound: catchy-yet-gently-earnest without being too, uh, catchy-yet-gently-earnest guitar-driven pop songs. There’s a very good chance at least one of these will find itself on the soundtrack to a beloved mumblecore romance or road-trip parable, so you may as well see them before everyone finds out and the tickets get expensive.
Should You Bother?
Only if you’re up for a heavy, heavy does of schmaltz.

Kings
Ok, so you may not exactly have been clamoring for a solid, country-and-punk-influenced band to finally, after all this time, come from the Brooklyn music scene, but let us not hold this against self-described “queercore country trio” Kings. They write nice music! Plus, they tend to focus on the kind of easy vocal harmonies that we’re willing to bet translate perfectly to a live show.
Should You Bother?
It doesn’t have to be your top priority, but intimate live shows do kinda seem like their specialty, so go for it.

Humans
Can you really say no to two attractive young men from Vancouver who just want to help you dance more? No, and nor should you. Their polished, synthy tunes are as aggressive as they are delicate, and definitely stand a cut above your average small-DIY dance-pop outfit. You can also use this opportunity to make lots of jokes about Canadians finally learning how to party. Ha, Canadians!
Should You Bother?
Definitely. Even if the music isn’t totally your thing, the dance party is guaranteed to be a good one.

The Midnight Beast
Just imagine a band who sounds like the end result of a songwriting collaboration between Weird Al, LMFAO and Lady Sovreign. Some might call it a “terrifying sonic harbinger of the end of days,” but this British trio just calls themselves “The Midnight Beast.” With songs just as calculated and self-conscious as their name, their most successful effort to date has been a YouTube parody of “Tik Tok.” There’s something to be said for honesty in marketing, I guess.
Should You Bother?
For boys 11 and under, yes. For anyone else, no.

The Front Bottoms
The Front Bottoms seem to specialize in the specific type of pining, poppy, high-aiming indie anthems that you either really, really love or really, really hate. They also sound very much like what they are, which is the punk-inspired result of a lifelong collaboration between two best friends from New Jersey. They have a lot of earnest feelings about finally getting out of that place, and they sing about them. Quite a bit.
Should You Bother?
If any small part of you has ever sympathized with Pete Wentz or unabashedly loved the indie playlist of a Prius ad, then by all means!

Foreign Fields
Truly, it’s hard not to warm up to a bunch of nice boys from Wisconsin making basically any kind of music. However, Foreign Fields’ particular brand of folky, ambient ballads—which we expect will draw no shortage of (deserved) comparison to Bon Iver—are particularly hard to resist. If the lush, careful production is any indication, it looks like they’re playing a long game.
Should You Bother?
Yes. As city folk it’s our obligation to give a warm welcome to gentle visitors from the Midwest. And, anyway, their music is good.