Wet Socks (love the name) is the Savannah-based garage rock duo of Hunter Jayne (vocals, guitar) and John Zimmerman (drums) — one of a number of young local acts booked for this year’s festival.

Just a couple of hours ago, Wet Socks posted “In My Head” from the upcoming EP Dirty, Dirty.

There’s a great retro vibe, plus a willful distortion, an addictive beat, and some surprising shifts — all in 2 minutes.

Hunter is also the guitarist and a backing vocalist for Triathalon — click here for my Stopover preview. At first, I was describing Wet Socks as a “Triathalon side project,” but the duo’s work seems both more serious and and more exciting each time I’ve heard them.

Wet Socks will be performing at 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 at Taco Abajo.

Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule.

Click here for the Stopover page devoted to Wet Socks, which doesn’t have much on it.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’ve been posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, Triathalon, Field Report, Chelsea Light Moving, mumbledust, Delicate Steve, Henry Wagons, and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

And here are a few pics I took of Wet Socks at a gig recently at The Sparetime, an appropriately spare room for the music. They have a look. And, yes, the vocals are going through a landline telephone . . .

Henry Wagons will take the stage at the Congress Street Social Club, and other acts scheduled for that time slot at nearby venues include Dent May, Turbo Fruits, Yip Deceiver, Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, and Roadkill Ghost Choir.

I love the intense country sound of Australia’s Henry Wagons. Check out this vivid profile by the Savannah Morning News’ Linda Sickler, which reads in part:

He is making a name for himself as a country outlaw along the lines of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Townes VanZandt.

“When it comes to my authentic country outlaw cred, the closest to the Outback I get is a barbeque out in the Melbourne suburbs,” Wagons says. “But I grew up listening to a lot of that stuff.

“I was always a cheeky child. The idea of all those cheeky outlaw country scallywags has always appealed to me. That slightly anti-authoritarian devil-may-care attitude appeals to me.

“Also, Iâ€m a very hairy man,” the bearded Wagons says. “Theyâ€re sort of role models when it comes to facial hair.”

Here’s the glorious “Unwelcome Company” with Alison Mosshart from the 7-song EP “Expecting Company?”:

Here’s the 2011 release, Rumble, Shake and Tumble:

Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule.

Click here for the Stopover page devoted to Henry Wagons.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’m posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, Triathalon, Field Report, Chelsea Light Moving, mumbledust, Delicate Steve and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

Here’s part of Pitchfork’s review of last year’s album Positive Force:

To promote his new record, Delicate Steve — aka 25-year old guitarist Steve Marion — hid play-buttons around Brooklyn and Manhattan for people to plug their headphones into and hear Positive Force ahead of release; hook up to one at Valentino Pier to hear Steve’s chandelier psychedelia, and you might believe you’d just jacked into the heart of a secret world powered by raw joy. Though Marion’s real-life existence seems equally paradisiacal: He hails from New Jersey, where he’s part of the Smallboypants collective, most of whom play in his live band. He’s signed to David Byrne’s Luaka Bop label, spends his time taking 100-mile bike rides, playing basketball, or hanging out with his sonic brothers in Fang Island– who, it transpires, run “a cheese van” in New York, and named their truffle oil-infused grilled sandwich after him: Anyone for the $10 “Delicate Cheese”?

Delicate Steve is among the acts playing at Club One for the 2013 Stopover. It’s an inspired venue choice, and the big club’s dance floor should be moving by the time Delicate Steve takes the stage for the late set on Thursday night.

Check out Positive Force on David Byrne’s label Luaka Bop:

Here’s the video for “Redeemer”:

Delicate Steve — which includes Steve and four band members — plays Club One at midnight on Thursday, March 7.

Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule.

Click here for the Stopover page devoted to Delicate Steve.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’m posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, Triathalon, Field Report, Chelsea Light Moving, mumbledust and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

Iâ€d listened to mumbledust several times online in recent weeks and was anxious to see them live for the first time. So I stopped at Graveface Records & Curiosities on Friday evening for an in-store performance that also included Alex Killeen and The Moon and You from Asheville.

mumbledust is a duo of Rachael Perisho and Ryan McCardle. Perisho has a clear, almost languid voice thatâ€s especially interesting when sheâ€s playing the saw. On banjo and guitar, McCardleâ€s voice is firm, beautiful, and oddly quiet — at least in Fridayâ€s unplugged performance in the store.

mumbledustâ€s understated folk noir commands attention.

I’ve heard mumbledust a few times since that post last November, and my appreciation for the act has only grown (although I want to buy them the perfect mic for playing in chatty rooms).

A few tunes:

mumbledust — one of the limited number of local acts booked for the Stopover — plays on Thursday, March 7 at 10 p.m. at The Sparetime.

Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule. Click here for the Stopover page devoted to Chelsea Light Moving.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’m posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, Triathalon, Field Report, Chelsea Light Moving, and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

And a few pics that I’ve taken of the band:

So I’ll just add that booking Moore and company is a major coup for the Savannah Stopover, which is about to celebrate only its third festival.

Check out these three live videos posted just last week by Matador Records and reposted by Pitchfork:

Chelsea Light Moving plays on Thursday, March 7 at 10:30 p.m. in the Knights of Columbus Hall on Liberty Street, with Merchandise opening. Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule. Click here for the Stopover page devoted to Chelsea Light Moving.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’m posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, Triathalon, Field Report and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

Ben Hardesty doesnâ€t look the part of a rock star as he navigates a rickety tractor through the sprawling ranch where he grew up and fell in love with music. On the edge of The Great Dismal Swamp, Hardesty developed his spirit of adventure, and passion for doing things a bit differently. His father, Dan gave him a guitar when he was two, and later told him, “It doesnâ€t matter if you play it right, just make it sound good!” Not the typical teaching method, but then again, The Last Bison is anything but typical.The seven-member ensemble led by Ben has seemingly risen from the marshes of southeastern Virginia to captivate the national music scene with a rare blend of folk that is poetically steeped in classical influences.

Check out this excellent piece by Jason Kendall, editor of Do in the Savannah Morning News: From a Virginia swamp to Savannah’s urban forest, The Last Bison wander.

The band has a such a rich sound that comparisons to the likes of Mumford & Sons seem right on the mark.

Here’s the video for “Switzerland”:

The Last Bison plays at about 6:45 on Thursday, March 7 at the Stopover’s opening night kickoff event in the new North Garden at the Ships of the Sea Museum. The band opens for Ben Sollee, who is slated to play at 8.

Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule. Click here for the Stopover page devoted to The Last Bison.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’m posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, Triathalon, Field Report, and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

I love this poster of The Last Bison submitted by Amanda Hein for the festival’s band poster competition.

In these days of Bandcamp embeds and digital albums, there’s a lot less emphasis on reading lyrics than they’re used to be in the age of albums.

But Field Report’s lyrics are well worth a read. Check out “I’m Not Waiting Anymore” (which you can listen to in the embedded album or video below):

I am red in tooth and claw Godâ€s favorite child, bloodied from the brawl This bitterness was killing me all along I am not waiting anymore I am not waiting anymore

Blowing through time like nickel slots in a windowless room, on a credit card: flash it like a semaphore- a vague, drafty metaphor- I am not waiting anymore

Iâ€ve been a keen eyed observer of the movements of concentric parts of bodies of bones and breasts and unmapped chambers of hearts

Sand in hand has turned to glass a Jeroboam filled with a life thatâ€s passed Toss it off the balcony and listen for the crash I am not waiting anymore

I spent eight long years working on my screenplay itâ€s a teen movie with young actresses that plays to the middle aged

I have read between the lines I have been wrong every time It burned up on the alter, but I am fine I am not waiting anymore I am not waiting anymore I am not waiting anymore

It’s gorgeous, evocative stuff.

And this live video:

From the intro to a fascinating interview last year at CMJ with Field Report’s Chris Porterfield, before the release of the album embedded here:

In the Northern Midwest, it seems like you canâ€t throw a weathered acoustic guitar without hitting at least one person whoâ€s somehow associated with Justin Vernon. Such is the case with Chris Porterfield, who played with Vernon and members of Megafaun in DeYarmond Edison, the band known as the precursor to Vernonâ€s Bon Iver. Porterfield joined DeYarmond Edison in Eau Claire back in 2003, but he quit the band when the rest of the players decided to move to Raleigh, NC, for a change of scene. Instead, he moved to Milwaukee, WI, assuming his “musical life was finished.” But this year, heâ€s proving himself wrong as he prepares for the release of his debut LP as Field Report, coming out September 11 on Partisan.

Field Report plays at 10 p.m. upstairs at B&D Burgers on Congress Street on Saturday, March 9. Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule. Click here for the Stopover page devoted to Field Report.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’m posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, Triathalon, and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

The surf-soul-rock band recently completed a 3-song EP at the newish Dollhouse Productions here in Savannah — Triathalon’s Stopover gig will also be a release party for that EP.

Here’s “All the Time” from that upcoming release:

Check out Jason Kendall’s great Savannah Morning News piece, New Triathalon single ‘All the Time’ proves Savannah band is real deal.

Here’s Triathalon’s previous EP Relationchips, which is definitely a little grittier and garage-ier than the new single. In part, that’s because of the lo-fi recording, but there’s also an artistic choice here. I hope the band hits that sweet spot — with solid production values but not so much polish as to lose the raw energy of the live shows and of this early EP.

Triathalon is currently comprised of Adam Intrator on lead vocals, Hunter Jayne on guitar, Michael Younker on bass, and Chad Chilton on drums. (Michael is studying out of the country right now, so look for a fill-in bassist. Hunter is also part of Stopover band Wet Socks, which I’ll try to preview in a day or two.)

Triathalon plays at 11 p.m. at Hang Fire on Saturday, March 9. Click here for the full Savannah Stopover schedule.

In the days leading up to the Stopover, I’m posting quite a number of short previews like this. So far I’ve previewed Stop Light Observations, Mac DeMarco, Little Tybee, Eric Britt, Heyrocco, Roadkill Ghost Choir, this mountain, and of Montreal.

Click here for all my Savannah Stopover previews.

And here come a bunch of pics, in no particular order, of Triathalon taken at various spots around town — last year’s Stopover, a No Control show, Fashion’s Night Out, in drag for a special event at Marc by Marc Jacobs, and opening for Dan Deacon at the Dollhouse: