Need help from contemporary music fans

[jumptheshadow]

My partner and I will get two free tickets to a benefit concert given by one of the groups in the poll.

We don't keep up with the contemporary music scene, although we do enjoy all kinds of music.

Which of the following bands would you choose if you were drinking beer under a tent on a hot summer night? If you know about the bands please tell me about them.

Thanks in advance.

[ceile]

1. I've only heard of the Decemberists

They have a pretty good following..

[stuntcat]

2. Stevens

I'd pick Sufjan Stevens. I enjoy all kinks of music too, so I'd have fun at any of those shows. I just love seeing concerts!

[Paradoxical]

3. Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,

Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens,Sufjan Stevens

One of the best contemporary artists. Maybe the best. You won't be disappointed.

The Decemberists are okay. But they are not in the same ballpark as Stevens.

Listen to his album Illinois or his newer album Age of Adz. It will blow your mind.

[jumptheshadow]

4. Thank you (nt)

[nolabear]

5. Yeah, he's awful good. I'd go with him.

[alarimer]

6. The Decemberists

Their new album, The King Is Dead, is my favorite of 2011 so far.

[Bennyboy]

7. Animal Collective: The next big thing...

according to a lot of people.

[AllenVanAllen]

8. I dig some of their stuff but

I heard they aren't that good out of the studio.

[Paradoxical]

9. That's probably because you really should be in an altered state of consciousness.

Animal Collective is not a band for sober people.

[AllenVanAllen]

11. Their music definitely an acquired taste.

The more open the mind...the better.

[Paradoxical]

10. The poll is fallacious. You need to see Sufjan Stevens.

[Paradoxical]

12. Sufjan Stevens. He wears wings at his concerts.

[dawg]

13. I love the Decemberists.

Very musical, and you can actually learn something from the obscure historical references in their lyrics.

[progressoid]

14. Cut Copy seems to stand out from the rest.

In that it's a different sound than the others. Not necessarily better, but different.

Cut Copy: http://www.amazon.com/Zonoscope-Cut-Copy/dp/B004FJHC76/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1303997232&sr=1-1

--vs--

Stevens: http://www.amazon.com/Age-Adz-Sufjan-Stevens/dp/B004132I4S/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1303996501&sr=1-1