Been a big fan of Electric Mary since learning about them a couple years ago, ironically here on a TGP thread about "new" bands. The lineup has changed about as many times as Spinal Tap drummers, but they keep managing to put out great new music.
I'd call their style 'new-classic-hard rock', clearly their music contains a lot of classic '70s and '80s elements, but they play it so f*ckin' amped up and aggressively with great modern tones and production.
I recently got hip to "The Drills", Phil X's side band.
I know Irwin Thomas (the guitar player with the 'stache) from my days playing at Arlene's Grocery in NYC. He used to get up and jam with us. Dude is a riff machine and a super nice guy.
He's not with the band any longer. Last I heard from him, he was a national sales rep for Bogner.