Bands That Rock! Vol. I: Argentina’s Lunaria and Portugal’s The Doups

Bands That Rock! is a new playlist mix series that we’re adding to IRC. The first band we want to share with you came as a pleasant surprise. After sending a couple of songs to us via email, the Argentinian rock band Lunaria immediately impressed us with their forward-driving beats, hooklicious guitar riffs and plenty of rock and roll attitude. Lunaria are absolutely on the indie rock radar.

After the split up of Vengador Toxico, surviving band members Javier De Luca (vocals, guitar) and Christian Urquijo (bassist) teamed up with Luis Cutone (drummer) to form Lunaria in 2006. Combining the prog-rock stylings of bands like the Editors and Interpol, as well as the punk, post-punk and alternative rock influences of bands like Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Sonic Youth, Bauhaus and Joy Division, Lunaria are poised for greatness beyond the borders of Argentina. Almost all of the band’s songs are mesmerizing; here is a triple threat of singles from their amazing 2009 LP release, Uniworse.

“Bleed It Out”Lunaria from Uniworse (2009)

“Paralysed”Lunaria from Uniworse (2009)

“The End Begins” Lunaria from Uniworse (2009)

Lunaria on MySpace


The Doups crossed our radar after the band sent us a few songs from their EP, Six O’Clock Shadow, produced by Harvey Birrell (Dananananaykroyd, Johnny Foreigner, The Buzzcocks). The band have quietly been climbing up the ladder of notoriety, having opened for Franz Ferdinand earlier this month in their home country of Portugal.

The Doups formed in 2007 in Setúbal, and include band members João Rodrigues (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Nuno Cunha (lead guitar and back vocals), Gustavo Andrade (bass guitar) and André Rosa (drums). In 2008, The Doups placed in the Top 5 of the fan-driven Supajam “Fast track to Heineken FIB” Competition out of over 900 other bands across Europe. The band are currently unsigned and planning to release their debut LP in the spring of 2010.

“Dirty Fingers”The Doups from Six O’Clock Shadow (2009)

“Try, Lie, Die, Whatever”The Doups from Six O’Clock Shadow (2009)

The Doups on MySpace