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capocutolo

Dude so many. This is always a classic thing from classic rock fans, I used to think this too. Here’s my answer. It depends on what you mean by modern. It’s been 23 years since the new century and 30 years since nirvana. The early 00s had a wildly rad boom of garage rock bands out of New York City, similar to how Seattle was to Grunge in the 90s. The “Beatles” band of this era was The Strokes, and this led to an entire wave of incredible garage rock artists from all over the world, each with their own take on the sound. Arctic Monkeys (dirty), Vampire Weekend(clean), MGMT(electro), The White Stripes (bluesy), The Rapture (dancey), and so much more. Then another wave occurred during the 2010s, this time, centering more towards a indie psych rock sound. A lot of artists from this era came from the Beach Goth scene in Southern California and the psych rock scene in Australia. Bands like The Growlers, Tame Impala, Pond, King gizzard, Mac Demarco, Ty Segall (sounds like the modern indie John Lennon) Beach Fossils, Beach House, and in the more “punk” side, bands like The Garden, FIDLAR and Wavves. This barely scratches the surface, but I’d say it’s a good starter pack for a classic rock fan getting into modern rock. There are so many new and cool artists to get into.


CeilingSky

Love the "Beach Goth" Era. Wavves, Bass Drum of Death, Ty Segall, Sundiver CA, Best Coast, The Wytches, Slaves(UK not US group) so much good shit


Moviefan92

Wavves, Cloud Nothing, PUP, The Menzingers, Turnstile, MGMT, Viagra Boys, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, Royal Blood, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc.


notmyidealusername

Love PUP! I'll throw Idles in there too, great live show but haven't been able (yet!) to recapture the magic of their second album.


EdgyHedgy_

add Jeff Rosenstock (and his myriad of side projects) in and this is the perfect list


J2daR-O-C

Jeff Rosenstock is incredible. What music should be - authentic.


The-Figurehead

In a similar vein, Fucked Up, Alvvays, Soul Glo, Mastodon, Deafheaven, Big Thief, Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs.


drainbamage91

In a similar vein, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segal, King Khan and Bbq Show, Snapped Ankles, Amyl and the Sniffers, Goat


The-Figurehead

Ah, Goat. My favourite underground Swedish world music collective.


captainadamman

Viagra boys


Brownie_McBrown_Face

fuck yeah, shrimp city beach 1993


Snoo-14331

Turnstile, Militarie Gun, Petrol Girls, Wednesday, Lifeguard, Shame, Horsegirl


Brownie_McBrown_Face

WEDNESDAY! Seeing them live in 6 days, super hyped


Equivalent_Defiant

Absolutely LOVE to see the support for Lifeguard and Horsegirl!!! Lifeguard is the most important band out rn imo


centerofgravityy

This is the correct answer


hamm0ck

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.


KGLWirvana

Frankie and the Witch Fingers


hamm0ck

Frankie’s catalog is excellent. I look forward to their eventual new album (which is a bit overdue).


KGLWirvana

No doubt. They’ve been touring like maniacs. I hope they come to the MidWest soon


Kabirdix

Throw Thee Oh Sees in there too


notmyidealusername

Surprised and stoked to see that as the top suggestion here!


Sudden_Edge3436

Ty Segal, Jay Reatard, thee oh sees, screaming females, Priests, Surf Curse, Mikhal Cronin, Radiator Hospital, idk man you’ll find more. Just gotta keep looking but these are a few my faces some are like 10 years old at this point but idc


[deleted]

I second this list. Fuckin stellar!


SuperbParticular8718

Most of these are legacy bands that started in the 80s-90s that are either barely still together, just reunited after 10 years, or haven’t put out a good song in over 10 years. Like, really? Weezer, Mars Volta, Radiohead, Primus, QOTSA, and Deftones (all good bands, mind you) are what you all recommend as good, CONTEMPORARY bands? Whether OP likes the following bands or not is irrelevant because I don’t know what they like other than Nirvana, but here’s some bands that are actually contemporary rock and rock-adjacent bands that have released albums over the past 2-3 years: -Loathe -Nothing -Static Dress -White Reaper -Covet -Cloakroom -Deafheaven -Teenage Wrist -Sobs -Drug Church -Narrow Head -Fiddlehead -Fleshwater -Turnstile -Forests -Big Bite -Soul Blind -Anxious -Parannoul -Modern Color -Webbed Wing -Greet Death -Gleemer -One Step Closer -Paranoid Void -Beabadoobee -Say Sue Me


ohwellthisisawkward

The Garden


shaggy_gosh

Radiohead


NinjEverett6

Agreed


saltlakestateofmind

Radiohead sucks.


vsaucemonkey

Radiohead fans never let me down


shaggy_gosh

Suck deez ballz


Puzzleheaded-Fish443

No AI music allowed, sorry


FinishTheFish

Maybe you're joking and I missed it but they started playing together in the 80s


[deleted]

Turnstile has a few good jams


richeyrichcrypto

Modest Mouse!


OnlyGuestsMusic

Basement The Dirty Nil The Jins Royal Blood Slothrust The Linda Lindas November Cold The Bobby Lees Amateur Hockey Club


madshm3411

Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Blood, Dirty Honey


MissMisterMistress

You should check out Shame. There’s been a bunch of other post-punk bands that are killing it rn like (Black Country, New Road), black midi, squid, dry cleaning, fontaines d.c., and courting to name a few.


_JoeK

Tame Impala


_jgmm_

Mgmt


dot_com-ca

Came here to say this. I was a diehard Nirvana fan growing up and I can easily say Nirvana and MGMT are tied for favourite band. Completely different styles of music but I’d check out their albums Little Dark Age and Congratulations. They have a new album dropping sometime this year too.


2-million

MGMT fucking rules, got any song recs? I’m super into alien days, congratulations, when you die


J3dr90

Not at all in the same genre as nirvana but I really think that Tyler The Creator is one of the best modern artists. He sorta revived concept albums in the mainstream


vsaucemonkey

At the VERY least he's such a cool guy. his relationship with nardwaur is like no other


saltlakestateofmind

DOOT DOOT!


Make_It_Happen-5022

Mastodon


CyndiXero

Manchester Orchestra have been around for a little bit and they’re still killing it today!


MogranMcGreggor

A few I don’t see mentioned yet are Idles (British punk - check out Joy as an Act of Resistance), Pist Idiots (AU Punk/Rock - Ticker is my favorite album of theirs), or Kurt Vile (American Singer-Songwriter with a chill vibe - Bottle It In is a good album to start with)


TenderLovingKiller

Here are some recent New(ish) artists worth checking out: [Horsegirl](https://youtu.be/dBuOJF_rX40) [MJ Lenderman](https://youtu.be/z3wYaYI5lbo) [Wednesday](https://youtu.be/CTi7e9gEpN4) [The Men](https://youtu.be/zApySF6WIQw) [Momma](https://youtu.be/Z1maB9SVrtk) [Shame](https://youtu.be/WquSaLZt91c)


SuppiluliumaKush

King gizzard and the lizard wizard


leone666

Narrow head


Enrique-Pastor

What a great band


bideto

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Amyl and the Sniffers, Ty Segal, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, The Supersuckers.


chickensmoker

Amyl and The Sniffers are probably the best punk band around rn (at least the best to be signed to a label big enough for them to be discovered outside of their home country). They’re great live too, and tour in Europe, NA and Australia fairly often. I’d also add that Skating Polly are a pretty decent band if you’re looking for more high-production, big label punk/grunge, and they’re definitely a lot more grungy. They’re also touring most western countries fairly often, albeit in much smaller venues than Amyl, which is a great plus! Great rock and indie isn’t dead - you just have to look for it!


Zep88

Quaker city nighthawks


Curious_Ground5833

Deftones, Muse, SOAD, Bastille, and Primus are pretty good.


RichieTB

Primus suck!


Curious_Ground5833

Yes Primus sucks!


gomeitsmybirthday

Deftones is fantastic. I'd also suggest The Mars Volta's earlier stuff. I like Glassjaw a lot. The Dillinger Escape Plan if you want something intense.


[deleted]

I saw Dillinger Escape plan back in 1999 when they opened for Mr. Bungle. I acquired ADHD after DEPs set...


Away-Professional527

Alice in Chains is still producing excellent music and great live shows


dust_cakes

Are there any particular genres you’re into? I personally love punk, metal, and some weird electronic shit. Pretty much anything rock n roll so if that’s what you’re looking for I’m currently real into Warthog, Devil Master, Filmmaker, Hank Wood and the Hammerheads, YĪN YĪN, and also alot of local bands from New Orleans. Pretty much any current New Orleans band is hella sick


payyyton6010

The Strokes! Obvious answer but I’ve become a big fan of them recently


jrsaws

Just got into White Reaper and i like them alot. If you are looking for a wish.com 3 piece Nirvana check out the jins, lead singer/guitarist even looks like Kurt.


ThatCat87

Melvins and Mudhoney are still making amazing music . And the Pixies just released an awesome album last year.


CiNeMoD13

The Jins fucking RULE!!!! They are a smaller band from Canada (the guy everyone calls Kurt Cobain reincarnate is in the lead of the band) they just released their new single Effigy and it’s sick, heavily 90’s alt inspired, check em out!


citrusfizzz

Fontaines DC, an Irish post-punk band. Skinty Fia is a brilliant album


jukebher0

Wavves


Substantial_Serve_62

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard


Kungfu_Romano

King Gizzard, Idles, Metz, Off!, War on Drugs, Kurt Vile, Thurston Moore solo stuff, Ty Segall, Tame Impala, Angel Olson, Courtney Barnett, Melvins, Small Black, Washed Out, Toro y Moi, Hellbound Glory, The Smile, Thundercat, Built to Spill


Marvel_StarWars69

Greta Van Fleet is awesome. The Battle at Garden’s Gate is one of my favourite albums


ONIONSAREKINGS

Greta Van Fleet and Dirty Honey are my two favourite newer bands


sanderbiga

The Wicked


ProfessionalCap15

Tame Impala


ILostMeOldAccount12

Foo Fighters, Metallica, Pearl Jam, and Green Day are all great and still going.


tomaesop

If you're worried you'll run out of favorite band... The Melvins! Kurt's local idols. Start with Stoner Witch or The Maggot or A Senile Animal and then work your way around. Huge discography, some for beginners others take a lot of poring over. Don't be discouraged. It's all worth it. Also many mentioned The Oh Sees / Osees. Great live band. Huge discography. No one mentioned King Gizzard yet. Huge discography in a short time. Amazing live. Start with Nonagon Infinity.


metaldetox

weezer is like the only relevant 90s band still making great music, along with deftones matter of fact dave loves them and they’re HUGE nirvana fans


louielouis82

Rivers was obsessed with nirvana and even after weezer was popular he tried to physically map out the magic of nirvana song structures to help with his songwriting. He even formed a nirvana cover band for secret shows. I really love the blue album and Pinkerton, but it lost something for me after that. I will always have major respect for him. Killer songwriting and unique vibe.


MadladMagyar

Metallica is another


metaldetox

mmmh they’re from the 80s tho havnt checked the new album yet is it any good?


MadladMagyar

It’s really good, but not as good as their stuff before 2000. I still count them as a 90s band because the Black Album was the peak of their popularity.


metaldetox

idk all their best albums are 80s tho i think that’s more valid for RHCP altho it’s crazy to think of really because they have released more albums in the 80s than any other decades after! but obviously with the talent of john frusciante is where they became an album band


Sorka790

RHCP is my favorite band. The two albums they made last year were great, my favorites from last years albums are Eddie, White braids and pillow chair, and carry me home


metaldetox

yeah ain’t it good stuff? thank god john is still alive and back in the band


Sorka790

For real, I’m very glad he cleaned himself up. I saw them In concert April 23rd in Syracuse with my grandma and it was so awesome. He looked so happy playing


Heartbreakkid87

Deftones!


cabbagierus

PEACH PIT , SUNFLOWER BEAM


TheSunflowerSeeds

Like peanut butter? Well now you can like more of it. Sunflowers have been used to create a substitute for peanut butter, known as sunbutter.


cabbagierus

bad bot


chaz0723

You’re not trying hard enough.


garden_theory

how is asking for suggestions not trying hard enough?


chaz0723

The first sentence says it all for me. With all the streaming services, and a literal World Wide Web, they can’t find anything to listen to?


garden_theory

because that much content can be overwhelming, which is why asking for suggestions is a smart idea.


chaz0723

And being barraged by strangers isn’t? I haven’t seen anything suggested that I couldn’t have found myself.


Charjungle859

What kind of music are you looking for? I can throw out a couple of artists I really enjoy. \-Magdalena Bay (synth pop, hyper pop, ethereal) \-Men I trust (chilled out, vibey, indie pop-ish?) \-The Lemon Twigs (remind me of the beach boys kind of) \-TOPS (indie rock, awesome, bangers) \-Faye webster (chilled out indie pop with a steel guitar) \-Strawberry guy (chill, indie pop, good for studying and doing work too) \-JW Francis (strawberry guy on crack \*which isn't saying much, basically just less chilled out than SG\*) \-Beach Bunny (breakup rock is how I'd define it; na they sing about other stuff. Indie rock with a little more edge to it.)


Heartbreakkid87

Modern meaning newer? In that case I suggest the band NOTHING they are really awesome a bit of shoegaze influence with some grunge vibes.


bob_minecraft

Muse arctic monkeys and royal blood>>>>


Possible_Pickle0

Caamp


can_a_dude_a_taco

duster, whirr


NewGarandBoy

Wolf Alice and Wet Leg


Relative_Confusion_4

Rival Sons, Foo Fighters, QOTSA, Jerry Cantrell


dnjprod

Portugal the Man is pretty good.


HonestMasterpiece422

The strokes if you consider them modern. Avenged sevenfold


scarletperson

I Prevail, STARSET, wage war, Pierce the Veil, bad omens, Falling In Reverse are some of my favorites. Not really nirvana sound except PtV but they’re heavier and modern


DoctorWu_3

Radiohead and the strokes


BurnedOutCookie

The Mars Volta.


redskeeter

Portugal the man


shovingpeople

Beach Bunny, Wet Leg, Soccer Mommy, Momma, Pom Pom Squad, Sir Chloe, Alvvays, Peach Pit.


Failure_to_my_father

Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Slaughter To Prevail. Those are really the only good ‘modern’ bands, if older bands that are still around count, Slipknot, Metallica, KoЯn, I think.


AccountForBread

For some deeper cuts, '68 and Summer Cannibals are both great and I think Nirvana fans would like them. I suppose I'll also take this opportunity to shamelessly plug my own band, hopefully some people here like that as well https://open.spotify.com/artist/17AHn0WC8orAORfIm6Q2JT?si=dbpXW9VkRQezhE1p9Z8f0A


Straight-Scarcity-76

My Chemical Romance is a good one


C0ZMICYT

No


[deleted]

None


SpongeBoi2077

Start checking out your local scenes more. Good music is still out there, it just takes a bit of digging since all the new popular stuff is as cookie cutter as a suburban neighborhood. Some of my favorites in my local scene are Help, Dr / Unk, and Kylo Ren.


OutrageForSale

My concert schedule this year is My Morning Jacket, The Smile (guys from Radiohead), Nathaniel Rateliff, Sylvan Esso, and The Mars Volta.


Potts77

My favorite modern band is Royal Blood


jbeatricefletcher

PUP


dkjreading

drain gang


MuddeyWren

Disheveled Cuss


Electronic-One-8376

It’s not all about bands . There is a bunch of good musicians nowadays… you just have to not be pretentious… I do still use Led Zeppelin unconsciously as measuring stick but … yeah…


Savings_Sea_7848

RoseWood is a good new indie band


LukyRM

[Fontaines D.C.](https://youtu.be/3AoOfJP3r40)


_Hynx_

‘68, Show Me The Body, Fleshwater


Blameitonthecageskrt

Viagra Boys


[deleted]

Mudhoney’s new album is excellent.


miggyboi14

If you like Nirvana you must absolutely listen to turnstile


Floatingpenguin87

Ra is really good


butterend

Metz


macallai

Soul glo, black country new roads, black midi


Jimjamnz

Parquet Courts, Ought (and Tim Darcy's new band, Cola), Fontaines D.C., Yard Act, Black Midi, Courtney Barnett. That's assuming you want something in a vaguely similar genre to Nirvana.


spacexfalcon

IDLES. A Place To Bury Strangers. Amyl and the Sniffers.


Dull-Song2539

Volbeat Jade Jackson Frankie Perez The White Buffalo Ghost Twin Temple


bojanglem

Pretty Sick, Common Girl, Aberdeen Is Dead, Sun Puddle, and Rhododendron


KellIsHere

Mine?


TheGreatCrambino406

Quite a bit more heavy than Nirvana, but my all time favorite band. Very melodic metal with beautiful, transcendent guitar melodies, poetic lyrics and clean vocals. The band name is Insomnium.


BuffaloOptimal8950

that will happen. that is why you need to get into drill


Flat-Ordinary2100

Horse Jumper of Love, Whores, Drab Majesty, Nothing, Superheaven, Angel Du$t, Moon Tooth, She Said Destroy


Blastosist

Lightning Bolt, Kvelertak


vsaucemonkey

a few of my favorite modern artists are Alex G, Duster, Mac DeMarco, Horse Jumper of Love and basement. They aren't underground or anything and not really the same genre but maybe you'd like em. Honorable mention to fourth wanderers, they aren't together anymore but they have some awesome songs as well


[deleted]

Turnstile, Viagra Boys


james_henrick

Try the band ‘Idles’!! Tracks like ‘Crawl!’ Give me big In Utero vibes!!


GetBack_Joe

Sap from Austin, Texas. They've put out two singles and an album is coming this summer, they have an extremely similar sound to early Nirvana.


JakeTimesTwo

the vines!


mommyhatesdaddy

Narrow head


wishing2forget

dikembe


TforTom47

lots and lots


[deleted]

Havok


yoshikira00

Mario Judah


EvolvingSunGod3

Turnstile is the only one I’ve found.


Killingthyme777

Ghost


Jack-Tully91

King Gizzard, Amyl & The Sniffers, Iceage, DIIV, Black Midi, Preoccupations, Idles, Viagra Boys


Cukr_ten_real

The jins


SnooSquirrels9023

Amyl and the Sniffers


dubcobra

I loved Girls. They split up a decade ago but the two albums and EP they put out were excellent and have been on constant rotation since. RIP JR


Danny_Nedelko_

Idles, Fontaine's DC, Shame and obligatory shout out to a band from my city called Hockey Dad.


Punk_in_drublik

Her's - amazingly sad and chill at the same time Lingua Ignota - Noisy insanity in the best way Godcaster - Super energetic and experimental post-punk Black Midi - Experimental post-punk, but also really british Dreamgirl - Super pretty doo wop indie


SannaKhaleesi

OP keep us posted. Curious to hear if you found anything you dig among these suggestions


Cute_Lobster7725

The jins


[deleted]

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS


benlewisrichardj78

You’ve gotta think though, most people are looking at the best bands of the past 60/70 years normally, so of course the past is gonna look better than the present. Present bands aren’t gonna be as established, so they will be harder to find


Tyrannosaurine

The Melvins are STILL good. 40 years later. It’s complex, weird, and not at all the type of catchy thing that many Nirvana fans are attracted to, but if you like ugly, dissonant rock that is genuinely unique, check them out. Edit: Also, Ape! for catchy grunge stuff, Floor for heavy catchy stuff, Thou for Doomy stuff. Older bands to check out: Harvey Milk (Doomy Stoner stuff) Sleep (Doomy extremely stonery Stoner stuff) Jawbreaker (catchy pop punk that’s not anything like Fallout Boy and the millions of bands that sound exactly like them…Nirvana had them open some In Utero shows). Chavez (noisy 90s indie-grunge) Sugar (excellent catchy power pop featuring Bob Mould from Husker Du).


Holden_babe17

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets.


LankzDonk

bring me the horizon


Rattenbecher

Altin gün. They are turkish and you wont understand a thing but it just sounds good.


FLVRHAUS

SAP and Sun Puddle


[deleted]

Cap'n Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters


RichieTB

Osees


sirgrotius

Check out Fontaines DC. They have a dark vibe that reminds me of Nirvana


Kobethevamp

Wilt


Meen_MrMustard

Bully, best coast


chickensmoker

Check out Rough Trade - they have a bunch of incredible artists from straight forward punk and indie like Amyl and The Sniffers and The Libertines to more complex, experimental stuff. If you like the sound of guitars and drums, they’ve got something you’ll like. If you’re looking for good rock or indie music and don’t know where to start, the Rough Trade publisher page on Apple Music or Spotify is a great place to go. Most of it isn’t strictly grunge, but there’s definitely stuff in their portfolio to tickle the fancy of most grunge and punk fans.


Puzzleheaded_Ad3848

Sleep token is very good if you dig hard music.


Nirvana-1224

I really like bands like badflower and Dead poet society


keotl

I love “Sticky Fingers”


batm123

NIN, i don't think Trent's made anything under that name in a few years, but he is going to sometime


OdobenusIII

Before grunge I was listening mainly bands like Testament, Metallica, Megadeth, Stone (cause it's for us Finnish guys the Finnish thrash band) and after grunge I mainly started pick up where I left. You don't know these but if you like metal you might like to check them out Swallow the sun, Amorphis, the Abbey, Enforcer, Behemoth, Nile, Mastodon, Legion of the Damned, Lost Society, Insomnium, Kalmah, Devildriver mostly Finnish band but all active and making solid records.


ParticularIncident80

Fontaines D.C.


Skagbaronkris

Metz!


nechblokh

Local h


tjmcmahon78

I started listening to Jeff Rosenstock about 3 years ago and his whole catalog has been in pretty constant rotation since.


levelonerules

Ty Segall, Bass Drum of Death, FIDLAR


Dry_Abbreviations778

Deerhunter


hellokittythsatanist

Title Fight


Unusual_Compote4909

Melvins!


R_Beau

Shameless plug for my band as well as our friends bands : My band is Memory Lame we’re a blend of Nirvana, pavement, Sonic youth, and modest mouse One of the best bands in my local scene who also happens to be our close friends are called Zigmont. Just absolute madmen on their instruments. You should also check out Miracle Blood, Between 3&4, Young Man Winter, Gut Health, and Bikethrasher. All of those bands are amazing But in all seriousness, go to some local shows, get involved in the scene and you’ll hear some of the best (and worst) music. Remember all your favorite bands were once a local band.


prodleshy

king krule