Last Year's Models: 100 Bands You Need To Know '09

Featured bands from AP’s 100 Bands You Need To Know

In 2008 tell us who’s rocking their worlds this year.

Alex Gaskarth of ALL TIME LOW: "I feel that society should do itself a favor and purchase any and all music released by THE FRIDAY NIGHT BOYS to date. In fact, go one further than that and try your hardest to steal any unreleased material. It’s good, unbridled fun. Get into it!"

Matt Traynor of BLESSTHEFALL: "Check out CONFIDE this year. The band have great music and bring the energy straight through their album and even more onstage. Besides, the band are great dudes who love the music, touring and their fans. We love them, and I think you will, too!"

Ryan Mattos of CEREMONY: "There are so many bands you’ll never hear if you rely exclusively on a big magazine for new music. Find out about these bands: SABERTOOTH ZOMBIE. NEVER HEALED. TIME TO DIE. GRACE ALLEY. SKIN LIKE IRON. CRUCIFIED. PRODUCT OF WASTE. PURPLE MERCY. COWER. PRESSURE. FOREIGN NATURE. BLACK BREATH."

Jonathan Cook of FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS: "THEE ARMADA are a band from Houston, working with our producer from home, Geoff Rockwell. They will be the next biggest band: They are super catchy, and their sound is so fun and addicting. I am super excited to see them blow up this year, and what Geoff can do with their music! Check ’em out and get ’em on yer errpod!"

Benny Horowitz of THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM: "My vote for a band people need to know about this year is NINJA GUN from Valdosta, Georgia. Not only are they a superb group of sweet, hard-working, red-eyed Southern boys, they take the best elements of Tom Petty and Sugar-era Bob Mould [and add] a totally contemporary feel. Great stuff. Close runner-up, New Brunswick, New Jersey, lookers LET ME RUN."

John Davis, ex-GEORGIE JAMES: "Band To Watch: MOUNTAIN HIGH. "They’re a bunch of dudes from Philly who remind me of the best aspects of the Monorchid and Karp. I hope to see them live in ’09."

Honus Honus of MAN MAN: "BUFFALO STANCE. With influences ranging from ragtime keys and buzzy electro beats to Stravinsky and Fats Domino, Jamey Robinson [last heard in Need New Body] has crafted one of the year’s quirkiest dance-floor-fillers. Introspective club jams? Ah, Philly, I love you…"

Andy Hull of MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA: "When people hear the words ‘rock ‘n’ roll,’ several different plausible ideas can pass through their minds. WINSTON AUDIO are rock ‘n’ roll… With their debut album, The Red Rhythm produced by Dan Hannon, just around the corner, it’s just a matter of time before they are taking over the world one crappy venue at a time."

Shawn Harris of THE MATCHES: "CLOUD CULT‘s newest (of eight!) record is a celebration of the concept that we will die, dehydrate and up through the soil we’ll evaporate and become clouds. It’s sonically reminiscent of Modest Mouse and Soul Coughing, with a pinch of Andre 3000."

John Baldwin Gourley of PORTUGAL. THE MAN: "I am going to lean a bit toward the Portland, Oregon, underground for a couple of truly great live bands. Both HELLO ELECTRIC and the band DR. HELICOPTER put out some amazing music in 2008. Your best bet is to find them and follow by band members rather than band name seeing as how they have had more band names than we have songs. Though they may not be consistent as far as monikers go, musically they always are."

SONNY: "There is a band out there called NICO VEGA who have an incredible album. I got the pleasure to hear it before it was released, and it blew me away. Musically, melodically and lyrically, it’s uncanny. It’s just a simple guitar, drums and vocal set up, but it’s done in such a creative and giant way. Each of the three musicians in this band have a unique style that they’ve branded into their crafts. [I] also had the honor to do a duet with the singer Aja on my album. Check it."