Tristen Gaspadarek self-released several albums before making her label debut on American Myth in 2011 with "Charlatans At the Garden Gate."

Indie band Rah Rah just keeps growing, picking up ever-more-talented musicians as they sing, strum and write their way across the country in support of their latest album, "The Poet's Dead."

Agent Ribbons ingredients: equal parts whimsy and caprice, eye of newt, spoonful of sugar, juice of widow spider, half cup assorted doll parts, mermaid tears, flight of fancy. Trim with arsenic and old lace.

Assembled from house parties and basement shows back in 1999, Dr. Dog has graduated from Philadelphia's quirky underground scene to national tours, turning out seven very solid records along the way.

Emily Wells is a musician working valiantly to undermine any sort of classification. Her work is beautiful and unsettling in the best way.

Equal parts Beach Boys and My Morning Jacket, the Fling come from southern California with mournful harmonies, psych-rock guitar layers and jangly beats.

Pop music is so many things, but above all else it's craft -- from songwriting to singing to production. Nashville band Tristen has pop craft to burn.

Fueled by mangled blues, dark surf and heavy psychedelic sounds (if not substances), Magic City is on a mission of urban sonic destruction and renewal.

The versatility of of Montreal has never been in question. But when the indie rock maestros hit town for a rare July 4 session they lit up the KDHX studios with an arsenal of sonic fireworks.

The music of Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers is nothing short of savage, full of aching, longing howls and rough guitar.