The Glitch Mob/Free the Robots/Deru

Mixtapes, blogs and file-sharing have made it possible for artists to accumulate a loyal following without being on a major label — or in some cases, without having actually released anything at all. The Glitch Mob is in the midst of a well-received national tour without so much as a debut album under its belt; in fact, the California band's first full-length, Drink the Sea, was released this week. The 'Mob is a DJ trio that elegantly mixes hip-hop beats with everything from indie rock and electronica to its own laptop-generated tracks. It's also gained fans thanks to choice remixes, such as an atmospheric, disjointed retelling of TV on the Radio's "Red Dress." Based on the footage from the tour thus far — and the support of fellow electro acts Free the Robots, Deru and Spankalicious — the Glitch Mob's St. Louis stop is a must-attend for mixtape fiends.