Ex-Cult, The Birth Defects, Peru Resh

Straight from the heart of Memphis comes this sludgy, scrappy quintet that worships at the altar of Iggy Pop and shreds through songs like “Nightmare Zone” and “Young Trash” with the reckless abandon of every proto-punk band to ever blow the doors off their garage. Ex-Cult (originally known as Sex Cult) was ushered into prominence by prolific retro-rock practitioner Ty Segall, who reportedly became besotted with the group when he saw them at SXSW and offered to produce their self-titled 2012 debut. Segall was also behind the boards for the band’s third full-length, 2016’s Negative Growth, which defies its own title with its buzzing take on the groundwork laid by the Germs and Social Distortion. They don’t slow down, and they take no prisoners.