Minus the Bear

Trying to nail down just who Minus the Bear sounds like is virtually impossible. In an era of manufactured, mold-fitting pop music, the Seattle math-rock band has managed to break out with their own distinguishable subtly electronic pop sound. Their 2005 release, Menos el Oso, established them as a band with extraordinary musical talent---and as one with the potential to do more than come up with silly song titles like "Hey! Is That A Ninja Up There?" and "Damn Bugs Whacked Him, Johnny." Minus the Bear are currently supporting Thursday on their Shirts with a Cure tour.

The #12 Looks Like You

Not the #11, not even the #13... The #12 Looks Like You is a six-member group hailing from New Jersey. Each of the band's members brings something different to the sound, resulting in a sort of cacophony that falls somewhere between screamo and grindcore, although the band does not believe they can be "pigeonholed" into genres. Their third release, the full-length Nuclear. Sad. Nuclear.came out on Eyeball Records in June of 2005. The #12 Looks Like You will support Thursday at this year's Noise Pop.

We.re All Broken

The ranks of the post hardcore (aka New Emo) scene are beginning outnumber those of the 80s hair rock phenomenon. Attempting to set themselves apart from the trend, the members of We.re All Broken have written and recorded their own music, designed their own artwork, and booked their own gigs since forming in New Jersey in 1999. The DIY band joins Noise Pop just in time for their third release, a self-released tour LP called Nothing In Between. They've already toured with the likes of Dillinger Escape Plan and My Chemical Romance, and will be playing at the Noise Pop festival in support of Thursday.