The Matrimonials When this Baltimore band finally hits the right ears, they’re going to be unstoppable. They’ve self-released two fantastic albums of indie rock candy that are both quirky and anthemic — a rare feat these days. Both are on regular rotation in my iPod. Plus, their live show will blow your mind: They played at the Auricle in Canton in June and the beer and rock flowed like a roaring geyser. As noisy and drunken as early Pavement albums but with a poppy heart, I highly recommend these guys. Album to get: “New Jams to Slam in your Jam Box” The Said So Canton’s very own caveman rockers have come a long, long way in only a year. With a recording finished (which they have been giving away at shows), let’s hope they can find the resources to give it a proper release, because it’s probably one of the best rock albums to come out of the Canton area. Live, these four Neanderthals deliver a savage set of Thin Lizzy meets The Stooges raw-rock songs comparable to being smacked in the head with a bag of old potatoes. And I mean that in the best way possible. Album to get: Nothing is released yet, so start bugging them! Mockingbird Sounding like wall of guitar armageddon, Akron’s purveyors of doomy, apocalyptic metal are a powerful force to be reckoned with. Sludge has never sounded so righteous as when these guys unleash their sonic maelstrom. If you’re a fan of Neurosis or Isis, take note; this band will have you drooling like a rabid dog. Catch them playing regularly in Northeast Ohio while you can, because these guys love the road and plan to tour a lot. Album to get: “Mockingbird” (self-titled) Pete Stein The former frontman of Florida alt-country band Truckstop Coffee has gone solo, and it’s got to only be a matter of time before he’s picked up on a label. With a slow drawl that sounds like it’s coated in the purest honey, Stein delivers wonderful acoustic lullabies that are snapshots of true Americana. Regularly touring the country, his sets virtually require you to drink copious amounts of booze while you are carried away with his rambling guitar melodies like tumbleweed in the wind. Album to get: “The Dead Horse Demos” Church Shoes The Church Shoes are a veritable freight train of good-time rock ‘n’ roll. These guys are the band you want playing your beer bash and your wedding. Originally hailing from Fort Wayne, Ind., but now residing in Texas, these four earnest young fellas blend ’60s garage rock and surf, classic Americana music and ’70s punk into a frothing swill. In “Camera,” vocalist Nick Allison sings over vintage guitar tones and amphetamine-fast drums, “Young and sad don’t cut it anymore” — which seems to sum up their general attitude. Go listen to them now! Album to get: “Church Shoes” (self-titled)