BRNDA - a serious band from Washington, DC with pop and post punk tendencies a la Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, New Order and Parquet Courts - has an uncanny knack for smiling in the face of real issues, including rampant overpopulation, the right to choose and the sliding spectrum of human sexuality. If you’re going to obsess over the shit that gets you down, might as well put it over a dance beat, intertwine guitar melodies and throw in a few jokes about what it’s like to sleep with Jesus Christ.

Leapling, the brainchild of Brooklyn-based songwriter Dan Arnes, recently released their sophomore album, Suspended Animation. The record, and live show, is indicative of the trio's bright new power pop sound. Pushing themselves into new territory, the music is full of swift arrangements and straight-forward yet deeply layered songs.

Brooklyn's Zula plays hypnotic, groovy pop music with a dose of noise and psychedelia. Led by cousins Henry and Nate Terepka, they've built a strong reputation performing in DIY spaces across the city and country. In a live setting, the four-piece opens up their tracks, allowing them to breathe and take off on unexpected tangents. Zula's forthcoming album Grasshopper is due 8/26.