A controversial topic in the rock community is originality. Rock has been around for quite a few decades, making it difficult for new rock bands to claim a signature sound without some superfan claiming it's a ripoff of 'their' band and calling for a boycott. There's no denying that there's some serious talent making its way to the surface of the rock charts, but is the rock community ready for some fresh meat with familiar sounds?
Greta Van Fleet has received plenty of backlash for their apparent similarity to rock legends Led Zeppelin, with Robert Plant himself jokingly commenting on how the lead singer Josh Kiszka 'stole' his voice. With dialogues such as this one in the rock and roll community, it is more challenging than ever for young rock bands to make a name for themselves and receive the recognition they deserve.
Maybe it's time we stop and take a moment to appreciate some of the talent emerging in the rock genre. Some of these you've probably never heard of but isn't it time to give the new kids on the block a chance?
10. Larkin Poe
This badass female duo have something special going on. The two sisters, Rebecca and Megan Lovell, produce great bluesy rock sound with elements of psychedelic rock mixed in there. Rebecca has an incredibly powerful, and slightly gravelly voice with a southern twang. Megan primarily plays the guitar alongside her sister and provides backing vocals, and the two of them together form a powerful rock band.
Originally the sisters had a band, The Lovell Sisters, which they formed in 2005 as teenagers. They called it quits in 2009 but reformed in 2010 as Larkin Poe, named after their great-great-grandfather. Their band currently consists of the two sisters and Tarka Layman on bass and Kevin McGowan on drums.
The band has played at Glastonbury on two occasions, earning them the title of Best Discovery Of Glastonbury 2014. They have found success over the years and opened for artists such as Elvis Costello and have released five studio albums in the last 12 years. One of their hit singles reached number one on the Billboard blues album chart in 2020, but they have mostly stuck to cover songs since then. Hopefully, there will be some more original music; otherwise, defending this band for their original sound will become more challenging.
9. White Reaper
Formed in 2012 when most of the members were just 17 years old and still in High School, this American group has been around for a bit longer than others on this list. The band currently consists of members Tony Esposito on guitar and vocals, Ryan Hater playing the keyboard: Nick Wilkerson, who mainly focuses on drums; Sam Wilkerson, who plays bass and guitarist Hunter Thompson who joined in 2016.
This garage punk band first signed with Polyvinyl records in 2014 after recording their first two demos and 7-inch, which featured two of their hit songs, The Cut and Conspirator. After signing to the label, the band had a successful touring career opening for artists such as Billy Idol and Weezer.
In 2019 the band moved and signed with Elektra Records, and soon after that, they reached the top ten on the US Hot Rock Songs. They've appeared on Jimmy Kimmel and played alongside The Killers at Riot Fest. Their sound is more punk rock with some glam rock influences, and Tony's voice gives their music a modern edge instead of sounding like another classic rock band.
8. Joyous Wolf
If a country group went rock and roll, this is what it would sound like. These Southern Californians have vocals similar to Def Leppard without sounding like a tribute band. The group was formed in 2014 and started off with only two members, vocalist Nick Reese and guitarist Blake Allard. Within a short four years, they had expanded, enlisting the help of bassist Greg Braccio and drummer Robert Sodaro.
Blake Allard seems determined to create an original sound with his band and has expressed his desire to create a unique and fresh listening experience for music appreciators out there. They do this quite successfully with metal guitar sound that backs up some great vocals. If one had to find similarities in vocalists Nick Reese's singing style, it would be most similar to that of Def Leppard's Joe Elliot.
Their 2019 album, Place In Time, was well-received and managed to nab them a spot opening for well-known rock legend Slash as well as the band Deep Purple. It's great to see the legends giving the new bloods some airtime.
7. Glove
Instead of following a classic rock sound, this band leans more into the electro-rock side of things. The group consists of Rod Woolf, Brie Denicourt, Michelle Primiani and Justin Burns. When listening to their music, there's a definite correlation with groups such as Depeche Mode, thanks to the heavy synth elements and use of electronics.
Lead vocalist Rod Woolf gives major Talking Heads vibes, and when the other members join in, the monotonous singing style sounds very similar to the style of Depeche Mode. This young rock band is definitely bringing back that electro-rock sound that so many British bands had back in the day, despite the fact that they are based in Florida.
The group is currently touring the US as a supporting act to the band A Place To Bury Strangers. They have produced their own 7-inch vinyl that comes in a snazzy electric blue with artwork on the front which will definitely remind you of a particular synth-pop era that took place in the 80s. Electro-pop rock bands tend to be rarer nowadays, so a band such as Glove is definitely one that is worthy of recognition.
6. Dirty Honey
This band is making a name for themselves, and they're doing it quickly. In 2019 they reached number one on the rock chart with their single When I'm Gone. This put the band on the map as they were the first unsigned band to have a single hit number one. Soon after that, the group opened for Guns N Roses and The Black Crowes.
Lead vocalist Marc Labelle has the astonishing ability to switch back and forth between two powerful singing styles. As he turns up the heat, he is quick to change into his Angus Young style voice while being backed up by guitarist John Notto, bassist Justin Smolian, and drummer Corey Coverstone.
The young rock band still aren't signed and seems to be taking the DIY approach to their rock career. It's working for them as they're set to tour Europe this year while opening for Guns N Roses and Rival sons. The 2022 tour follows their successful 2021 tour, where they employed the help of another young rock band that received a mentioned earlier, Joyous Wolf.
5. The Nude Party
The next addition to the list is an indie rock band consisting of six rock and rollers from North Carolina. Imagine if Mick Jagger's kids got together and formed a band with Elton John on the piano and Eric Clapton playing the guitar; that's what it feels like when members Austin Brose, Alec Castillo, Shaun Couture, Patton Magee, Don Merrill and Conor Mikita are on stage.
The band was formed in 2012 and has released two full-length albums. Coming together while attending North Carolina's Appalachian State University, the band has produced many hit songs, with their current number one being Chevrolet Man. Patton Magee definitely has a Jagger vibe to his voice, and when his backing vocals join in, it reminds you of that one Bob Seger song, Old Time Rock and Roll.
It's rare to find a rock band of this size which is what gives them that unique quality. With five of the members providing vocals simultaneously, their music has some real depth and almost encourages you to join in as the seventh member of the band.
4. The Big Push
Brighton based buskers, The Big Push has made a name for itself on the streets in and around this seaside town. Their sound is unique, and their near-naked performances tap into that carefree rock element we all love. They love a good vibey riff but won't shy away from some punk or classic rock sounds. Members Ren, Romain Axisa and Gorran Kendall and Glenn Chambers all met while busking in Brighton and continue to do so, providing the locals with some quality jamming sessions.
The band is set to tour the UK in August following two very successful performances done in 2020, where they sold out both times. The band seem to find a lot of success within the online community with a few of their music videos going viral in the UK. Their unique sound almost has its own genre entirely. Lead vocalist, Ren, likes to mix his singing style up, often taking inspiration from The Police's Sting or The Beatles Paul McCartney.
They also capture that raw rock and roll energy from the crowd and encourage fans to join in while performing. Occasionally in the warmer months, the band like to perform in very little clothing which always gets a hysterical scream out of both the male and female members of the audience.
3. Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard
These Welsh rockers often make tributes to great artists of the past and have an alternative approach to music. Their unique sound is what makes them so special and one to keep an eye on. Their music tends to dabble in glam rock, pop and disco and they have released multiple versions of some of their songs in multiple styles. The members of this alt band include Tom Rees on vocals and guitar, Zac White on guitar, Ed Rees on bass, and Ethan Hurst on drums.
Their hit song Double Denim Hop is available in their signature pop-rock style and disco version, with Tom Rees adapting his voice perfectly to the two different styles. Zac White's style on the guitar will remind you of the Red Hot Chili Peppers while still finding a way to maintain a unique quality about it.
This band creates a unique narrative through their lyrics, with songs such as John Lennon Is My Jesus Christ paying homage to some of the greats. Their ability to comment on current affairs through their music is exactly what modern-day rock should be about. By using their sound to push against the system, they have nailed the memo when it comes to what being a rock band is all about.
2. The Lemon Twigs
This two-man band features the multi-talented brothers Michael and Brian D'Addario who have found a way to mash up a whole load of singing styles and make it sound great. The brothers are just 23 and 25 years old but have already produced a number of top quality songs and don't seem to be stopping anytime soon. The boys find many of their fans via their theatrical music videos on YouTube.
The best way to describe their style is that they have both the soft rock elements that bands such as the Wings and Supertramp display while also touching base with the same style the Ramones had. The boys aren't afraid of playing around with instruments and harmonies and will often incorporate unique sounds that are less common in the world of rock.
This duo has something unique and are just waiting to blow up in the world of rock. They have such fun and playful energy to their music and performances, which hints heavily at the direction that modern-day rock and roll is heading. Keep an eye on these two because they'll be big one day.
1. Greta Van Fleet
This band is perhaps the most successful of all the before mentioned young rock bands. They are also the band that has received the most backlash from the rock community. While they were starting off, the group were swamped with claims that they were a ripoff of bands such as Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. In almost every interview the same topic of discussion arose and forced the members of the band to defend their style of music.
In interviews, the four boys, Josh, Jake and Sam Kiszka, and Danny Wagner, displayed their vast knowledge of music and mentioned that this was thanks to growing up with music-obsessed parents. Their music truly does demonstrate an extensive appreciation and understanding of music as they touch on styles from a number of well-known artists.
They are currently doing their worldwide tour after releasing their latest album, The Battle At Garden's Gate, in 2020. After being nominated for four Grammys in 2018, one of which won for the Best Rock Album, the band has appeared on SNL and seems to be taking off despite the rocky start to its rock and roll career.
