Now that the Seahawks are moving on to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row, I thought it polite to put some Seattle-based acts on your radar, whether or not you’re the sporty type. Over the past couple years, the Seattle music scene has really stepped up its game. The past two years saw great releases from lesser-known bands, so if you’re tired of hearing Macklemore during halftime, here is some different music to turn to.

Cataldo
Gilded Oldies – Red Pepper Records

Ben Gibbard hailed the lead singer of Cataldo, Eric Anderson, as “one of the best songwriters he knows.” This band is no strange to the Seattle scene; they’ve been putting out records since 2005. But their 2014 release, Gilded Oldies, has garnered both regional and national praise, which is understandable. This record is suitable for road trips, study sessions, and perhaps even food prep before the Super Bowl.

Similar to: Ivan & Alyosha, Rogue Wave,

Chastity Belt
“Time To Go Home” – Hardly Art

A band of four women who were originally signed to the small Seattle label Help Yourself Records released this single six days into 2015. They’re now signed to Sub Pop subsidiary Hardly Art, who is planning on releasing their new record this year. NPR has been talking about them for a large part of January and their next album is highly anticipated by both critics and fans. If you love the single enough, you can listen to their first full-length, No Regerts.

Similar to: Bleached, Ex Hex

Cumulus
I Never Meant It To Be Like This – Trans Records

Cumulus released I Never Meant It To Be Like This in 2013 on Trans-Records, which is Chris Walla’s (Death Cab for Cutie alum) label. The band put on a very well-received show at Bumbershoot this year and are in the beginning dates of a tour. The lead singer, Alexandra Niedzialkowski, frequently updates the band’s Facebook page with tour news and her own covers which are equally as good as the full-length record.

La Luz
It’s Alive – Hardly Art

I can’t say enough about how much I love this band. Hardly Art has signed a handful of great female acts in the past couple of years, but La Luz always comes back to the top of my list. They released It’s Alive in 2013, and have been touring on and off ever since. I love listening to this album in California when it’s sunny, and even in Seattle when it’s rainy. That’s what I love; surf-rock all year round.

Similar to: Vivian Girls, Cherry Glazerr