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There will always be fans craving the sounds of the past. Something in the fuzzy, warm sounds of old soul and garage rock connects with them in a way that glossy, modern pop sounds just don’t. That’s why we want you to know that loving that old-school, retro sounds doesn’t mean only listening to dusty records and long-gone artists. There’s a whole crop of new artists keeping that throwback sound alive.
Leon Bridges
Though it sounds like 25-year-old Leon Bridges grew up idolizing old soul sounds and digging for rarities at record stores, Bridges admits he actually got into it through online streaming. This Texas-bred soul singer just released an excellent album called Coming Home that finds him conjuring songs that could have been Sam Cooke reference tracks.
It doesn’t hurt that his music blends surprisingly well with other famous Texas exports.
Curtis Harding
Bridges’ uplifting gospel-soul fusion is great, but some of the best soul music comes from artists who sounds like they’ve been through the wringer. Curtis Harding is that man. His garage rock-inflected neo-soul is perfect for when you want someone to commiserate with.
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
This band might seem like it’s coming straight out of the late ’60s, but Sharon Jones and her backing band have only been making music together since the turn of this century. The group’s love of the retro runs deep. So much so that they only record using analog equipment.
Nobunny
See? You garage lovers had nothing to worry about. This list isn’t all soul and doo wop. Nobunny is the stage name of Justin Champlin, who makes unpretentious “weed and guitars” power-pop. Champlin blows up the stereotype of boring, bedroom recording artists with chaotic live shows (and did we mention he wears a frightening, ratty rabbit mask on his face?).
King Khan & BBQ Show
King Khan shows are the most fun you can have on any given night for under $20, guaranteed. This Canadian duo make a racket far greater than their set-up would suggest, all in the name of getting the crowd’s collective ass in gear.
Royal Headache
Australian punks Royal Headache have made a name for themselves by being equally at home on garage rock and neo-soul bills. Lead singer Shogun layers his Motown croon over guitars ripped straight from Burger Records. The band has been steadily building buzz over the years, with their releases only getting better as increased budgets allow them to showcase their unique sound.
Har Mar Superstar
Har Mar Superstar is probably the strangest act on this entire list (and that includes the guy who wears a bunny mask). It’s the stage name of Sean Tillmann, a garage rock lover who crafted an R&B alter-ego that he originally sold as his twin brother. Har Mar’s music sounds like a forgotten act from soul music’s prime, but it’s his stage shows that really set him apart. The Ron Jeremy lookalike is known to strip down during his songs and frequently ends his sets in nothing but a pair of briefs.
Thee Oh Sees
Time for some straightforward rawk. Every album by the prolific as hell band Thee Oh Sees is a stomping psychedelic package of garage-y goodness. The band preaches an Always Be Recording philosophy that leads to almost no downtime for fans or band members. It has to be taxing, but we’re definitely not complaining.
Gentleman Jesse & His Men
We’re going to close out our list of retro artists with the band whose sound edges closest to the present. While Gentleman Jesse is plenty fuzzy like other rock acts on this list, the vibe they’re going for is a lot more This Year’s Model than Nuggets. But even garage purists can’t deny a song as infectious as their cover of The Equals’ “I Get So Excited.”