With the music of Top 40 circulating on the radio, it’s easy to overlook lesser known albeit talented bands. Check out Young the Giant, Go Kart Mozart, and Iration to get a taste of indie bands with a fresh and unique style.

Young the Giant

Young the Giant, originally known as the Jakes, was formed in Irvine, California in 2004. By 2008, the band consisted of Sameer Gadhia, Jacob Tilley, Ehson Hashemian, Eric Cannata, and François Comtois, and the lineup remains the same today.

The band is rooted in Orange County, though two members attended college in the Bay Area for a period of time. Although the group is still on the rise, they are gaining momentum by touring the country with groups like Minus the Bear and Steel Train.

The group has quintessential Indie rock sound, heavily guitar and percussion based. Many of their songs, such as My Body and I Got, epitomize pump-up, feel-good, alternative music. However, some of their Open Session recordings, like the song Strings, take on a much more acoustic vibe, compete with shakers and crooning vocals.

During 2010, the group spent the year on the road, touring the country and gaining popularity.

“The road is like being on a constant adventure,” Drummer Fran Comtois said in an interview, regarding touring with the band. “I look at it like the way Kerouac saw America, going from town to town. If you’re in a band, that’s the closest thing to that type of lifestyle and that energy carries over to the live show, especially because we’re all friends. We so enjoy playing with each other and we’ve been jamming for so long, even if we’re on stage, it’s the act of playing music together first and foremost that’s so awesome.”

Go Kart Mozart

Originating from Corcord, Go Kart Mozart, an Indie band creates rock music and travels to perform in almost every state. In 2007 and 2008, this band, consisting of four members, performed on Internet radio shows in order to build their name.

The two original members: Vincent Lay (guitar/vocals) and Anna Kremenliev (drums), started this band when they were teenagers in San Francisco. Then their bassist Xavier Guerrero joined the following year and Nick Montes (guitar) joined as well. And ever since then, they have been touring. Upcoming show times are on their website.

The band’s music consists of Indie, pop, and rock genres. And they also cover different rock songs from across the decades. Songs such as “Big Ball of Light,” “All The Time,” “Only Half of What I Say Is,” “I think It’s Time To Go” are ones that are easy to listen and dance to. Overall, their original songs leave listeners uplifted and with more energy. These are definitely not slow or saddening songs.

Iration

We met at a concert/ you were wearing converse/ I’m not good at playing it cool.

Thus begins Iration’s song Falling. Simple, catchy lyrics combined with a reggae feel characterizes the band. Although the band was started in Santa Barbara, all four members originally hail from Hawaii. The group released their New Roots EP in 2006, and No Time For Rest, their first full- length album, in 2007. After releasing another EP, Iration’s second album Time Bomb hit stores in 2010. The group has been gaining increasing popularity in the reggae genre after performing with acts such as Ziggy Marley, Sean Kingston, and more.

Iration cites the islands of Hawaii as their biggest influence as they are home to all of its members. Through blending reggae, rock, and pop with a synthesizer, the band succeeded in creating a truly unique sound. Their music has a summery and pleasant feel, making it perfect for kicking back, relaxing, and listening to.