Gospel Gossip
These college kids from Northfield, Minn., sound like a college-rock band from England in the late '80s with their swirling guitars and ethereal synth parts. Frontwoman Sarah Nienaber charmingly echoes singers such as Tanya Donnelly. The quartet's droning but hook-filled debut, "Sing Into My Mouth," came out in November.
Gay Witch Abortion
This all-oomph guitar/drums duo, featuring ex-Chariots member Jessy Bottomley out front and Chooglin's Shawn Walker behind the kit, churns out mostly instrumental tunes that somehow sound louder and more monstrous than many quintets do. The drums and guitar become one during their Stooges-meet-Sabbath jams.
Black Audience
Another rustic acoustic band, this one's a family act featuring Robin Kyle of the pop-rock group Valet, his wife, Jayanthi, and his brother Luke, plus their well-known pal Mike Gunther. They play old-timey gospel, blues and folk tunes with Jayanthi belting out the vocals and the guys backing her on banjo and bodhran.
A Night in the Box
Led by three high-school pals who dream of becoming hobos more than rock stars, ANITB earned a buzz with its debut, "The Hustle, the Prayer, the Thief." Their vagabondian story-songs sound like the White Stripes set to banjo and other acoustic instruments.
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