It’s that time of year again, so assemble your crew and ready your checklist. Neon Reverb is back with four days of music from some of the nation’s burgeoning indie, garage, punk and hip-hop acts. Get acquainted with the lineup by browsing our list of 11 must-see touring acts, and don’t sleep on the locals, either. This year’s bill is loaded with homegrown talent, from the shadowy post-punk of Dark Black to the psychedelic sounds of Trevor and the Joneses, Ted Rader & The Magic Family and many more. Happy Reverbing!
Neon Reverb 2018
The Blasters
Who: Formed in 1979 by brothers Phil and Dave Alvin, these blues/rockabilly stewards rose up in the LA punk scene alongside frequent co-headliners X.
When & where: Saturday, March 10, Backstage Bar & Billiards.
Recommended if you like: Wanda Jackson, Reverend Horton Heat.
First spin: “American Music” (1980).
Current Joys
Who: Green Valley High School alum Nick Rattigan has been lauded by NPR and Stereogum as the singer/drummer of LA band Surf Curse, but he recently turned his focus to this ethereal solo project.
When & where: Sunday, March 11, Bunkhouse Saloon.
Recommended if you like: Frankie Cosmos, Blouse.
First spin: "Alabama” (2018).
Girl Ray
Who: A lo-fi, jangle-pop trio from London that has recently grabbed Rolling Stone and Guardian headlines for its soft, indie-washed retro-rock.
When & where: Saturday, March 10, Bunkhouse Saloon.
Recommended if you like: Cate Le Bon, Whitney.
First spin: “Trouble” (2017)
La Luz
Who: A Seattle four-piece making bold, doo-wop-inspired surf and garage-rock.
When & where: Friday, March 9, Beauty Bar.
Recommended if you like: L.A. Witch, Tacocat.
First spin: “Big Big Blood” (2013).
Mega Ran
Who: Former Philadelphia special ed teacher Raheem Jarbowho left the classroom to bring his positive nerdcore rap—which includes rhymes about education and video games—to a larger audience.
When & where: Friday March 9, Beauty Bar.
Recommended if you like: Richie Branson, K-Murdock.
First spin: “O.P.” (2015).
Monsterwatch
Who: A Seattle garage rock/post-punk three-piece brashly playing loud songs about not wanting to go to work.
When & where: Thursday, March 8, Beauty Bar.
Recommended if you like: Metz, Protomartyr.
First spin: 999 cover “Inside Out” (2017).
Sego
Who: A Utah-bred duo specializing in breezy, disenchanted indie rock with swirling guitar licks and synthy quirks to keep you guessing.
When & where: Friday, March 9, Bunkhouse.
Recommended if you like: Tokyo Police Club, The Wombats.
First spin: “Sucker/Saint” (2017).
Spindrift
Who: Longtime American psych-sters playing Western soundscapes feel retrofitted for ’90s shoegazing gunslingers.
When & where: Friday, March 9, Artifice.
Recommended if you like: Dead Meadow, The Warlocks.
First spin: “Speak to the Wind” (2009).
Tight Fright
Who: Experimental Brooklyn New Yorkers merging metal and hardcore punk for Captain Beefheart-eats-Melvins awesomeness.
When & where: Thursday, March 8, Beauty Bar.
Recommended if you like: Cows, Pissed Jeans.
First spin: “I Can’t Stop Being Hungry Today” (2017).
U.S. Girls
Who: Experimental musician and vocalist Meghan Remy deals out funky-chic, Euro-pop vibes.
When & where: Friday, March 9, Bunkhouse.
Recommended if you like:
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Metric.
Hear: “M.A.H.” (2018).
Wavves
Who: San Diego’s Nathan Williams has been defining his generation’s take on burnt-out garage-punk since his project’s debut 10 years ago.
When & where: Sunday, March 11, Bunkhouse.
Recommend if you like: Together Pangea, Fidlar.
First spin: “Hippies Is Punks” (2012).