12 New Mexico Bands You Should Listen To Now
It took some searching, but I knew there had to be some interesting music coming out of one of America’s most interesting states. I was right. Though I was hoping to uncover something in Roswell, it turns out most of the action is in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. What I did find is that there are a lot of bands in New Mexico making music that’s all over the map. These ones are all worth checking out, and a few of them might even become your new favorite. As part of our 50 States Project, here are 12 New Mexico bands worth checking out.
1. Gusher
Hometown: Albuquerque
Members: Zacque Dana, Austin Morrell, Lee Sillery, Alec Wilkes
Current Album: Triple-Thick and No. 5 EPs (2013)
Gusher makes noise rock that’s soothing and massive—something they describe as “gruncle-core” (a mix of grandpa and uncle). Their wall-of-noise guitars are met with lyrics thick with irony. Cuts like the seven-and-a-half minute “New Fashion Fuck Song” will gently kiss your forehead before punching you square in the nose.
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2. Manuka Piglet
Hometown: Albuquerque
Members: Sam Roberts, Calvary Fisher, Ian Carrillo, Andy Herman
Current Album: Brain-Damaged Toon Underworld (2014)
There’s a lot going on on Mauka Piglet’s latest LP Brain-Damaged Toon Underworld. Actually, that title sort of typifies the four-piece’s off-kilter pop. Under the layer of blips and the ethereal production lie some incredible hooks. The band’s attention to detail makes a good case for OCD. Songwriters Sam Roberts and Calvary Fisher traipse through Vaudeville, psychedelia, folk and British Invasion, and a few listens will have you convinced a place called Brain-Damaged Toon Underworld really exists.
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3. Leeches of Lore
Hometown: Albuquerque
Members: Noah Wolters, Andy Lutz, Steve Hammond
Current Album: Leeches of Lorchestra (2013)
Aside from their great name, Leeches of Lore are masters of dark, atmospheric doom that sounds like it’s stranded on the set of an Ennio Morricone film. The band continues to expand outward from its early riff-heavy records. Leeches of Lorchestra delivers boatloads of ear candy (horns, Wurlitzer, accordion), while still retaining some of the doom-laden guitars heard on their excellent 2009 self-titled debut.
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4. Predatory Light
Hometown: Santa Fe
Members: Luke Sheppard, Kyle Morgan, Todd White
Current Album: MMXIV (2014)
On this Santa Fe three-piece’s two-song cassette release MMXIV, Predatory Light lure you in slowly with wiry guitars and guttural growls, building to an apocalyptic release. The 10-minute “Spiritual Flesh” is the proof. These blackened riffs will stick in your head long after the world comes to an end. One hell of a metal release for the year MMXIV.
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5. Lindy Vision
Hometown: Albuquerque
Members: Deedee Cuylear, Na Cuylear, Carla Cuylear
Current Album: Pink and Black (2014)
These three sisters have fully fleshed out the musical and visual concept of Lindy Vision, which mixes new wave, disco and punk rock into something otherworldly. The New Mexico natives grew up on Motown, and later discovered early-’70s glam and bands like Joy Division and The Clean. They formed Black Natives in their teens, and were reborn as Lindy Vision two years ago. The video for their single “Pink and Black” is a slice of Kubrickian weirdness set to a dance beat.