The Airborne Toxic Event + Mona

Whether you consider the Airborne Toxic Event L.A.’s answer to Coldplay or art-rock usurpers to the Killers and Silversun Pickups, frontman and Mikel Jollett's voice—an offbeat and weirdly compelling mix of Iggy Pop and Billy Joel—is just too strong to be denied. Add the supple strings of violist Anna Bulbrook, and you’ve got all the blissfully over-the-top symphonic bluster you could ever hope for in an indie band. Nashville rockers Mona lend support.