It’s not often I find a band that truly demonstrates and displays the raw exuberance and energy I want from music living in and labelling itself as “punk.” Minot hits that mark in a way that really struck me, seeing them live. Hailing from Missoula, Montana, the three-piece “garage-punk” outfit currently has a handful of singles and “And You’re Not,” their 8-song-long cassette. The first half of the cassette has a strong showing...

One of the newer bands on the scene, Dazer, released their first EP, With Love, in August of last year, which showcased their unique psychedelic surf-rock sound. While that description is accurate, I find there’s a bit more in their muddied, roomy onslaught of sound. There’s a heaviness that almost reminds me of some of the Butthole Surfers earlier work that still scratches that psychedelic, stoner-rock itch I’ve been looking for in some...