A Giant Dog/Glass Traps/Part Time Lover/Shagg

As the babies of the ’80s make their way into the young rock ‘n’ roll bands of today, a revived interest in the glam and new wave of that decade and the one that preceded it naturally follows. From the T. Rex-inspired Diane Coffee (Foxygen drummer Shaun Fleming) to Seattle’s Gazebos (paying homage to the Talking Heads), these forms of dance-ready rock have made their way into the indie vocabulary. Austin’s A Giant Dog, known for party-inciting live shows, is yet another example. After paying its dues as a self-promoted band, the group began looking for a label for its next album, Pile. After a series of rejections that drove them to the brink of surrender, Merge Records (home to Arcade Fire, Teenage Fan Club) jumped on the opportunity and lapped the band up. (Kaufman)