Best New Bands of 2010: Free Energy, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Five More

Rolling Stone's new issue, on sale today, includes a special feature on the hottest new bands of 2010, from Philly power-pop group Free Energy to stoner Atlanta MC B.o.B. We asked all seven acts to snap candid photos on the road and compiled the best shots here:
• The Best New Bands of 2010's Most Candid Shots From the Road

Keep reading for a quick dossier on all the artists. Plus, check out the exclusive premiere of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals' new video for "Tiny Light," which was directed by Paul Minor (Muse, Queens of the Stone Age):

Free Energy: Philly power poppers who mine the best of glammy Seventies-style arena jams on their James Murphy-produced debut Stuck on Nothing.

The Dirty Heads: Cali surf bros who revive Sublime-style reggae rock, rapping and harmonizing on their April disc Any Port in a Storm.

B.o.B.: Atlanta-bred rapper signed by T.I. whose eccentric loves (Animal Collective, collecting crystals, gospel) create a fascinating mix on The Adventures of Bobby Ray.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals: Rowdy blues road warriors fronted by singer-organist Potter, who learned to appreciate the wonders of acid at the tender age of 12.

Titus Andronicus: Jersey punks with an intellectual streak — their latest LP The Monitor is a concept album about the Civil War.

Neon Indian: 21-year-old Alan Palomo, a laptop virtuoso who's become the face of "glo-fi" thanks to the dreamy keys on Psychic Chasms.

Mumford & Sons: Acoustic U.K. folk band whose old-timey folk-rock is inspired by mythology and bluegrass.

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Song Stories

“Time to Pretend”

MGMT | 2008

Listening to MGMT’s breakthrough song, one might interpret it as being about the excesses of rock stardom, but it’s actually about the duo’s pet praying mantis. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden told Rolling Stone they got the idea from the insect's jerky movements. The mantis died, but the two bandmates kept the egg sack and allowed the hundreds of eggs to hatch. “We tried to name them all, but they died after a day,” said Goldwasser, with VanWyngarden chiming in, “But the praying mantis dance inspired us.”

More Song Stories entries »

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