Best New Band

This young, coed Tampa trio has built up a rabidly supportive following over the last year through regular shows at Skatepark of Tampa’s Transitions Art Gallery, with a sound that flawlessly balances artiness and grit. To call them indie rock might be misleading, but it’s virtually impossible to peg the group any more specifically — shades of everything from The Smiths and Hüsker Dü to Smoking Popes-esque pop-punk, dubby experimental post-rock and even alt-country provide grist for The Dry County’s nonetheless cohesive, unique and compelling sound. Like all great modern-pop-associated music, the threesome’s vibe is both familiar yet fresh, and the group’s obvious commitment to approaching it from an original and personal perspective promises more killer songs to come. www.myspace.com/carsoncox.