America’s Most Underrated features local bands from across the country that deserve widespread recognition. Each band is handpicked by the previous column’s highlighted artist to create a collective of underrated bands chosen by underrated bands.

New Orleans: the best known destination for travelers seeking brass bands, Creole cuisine, Louisiana voodoo, and, of course, Mardi Gras. The city’s name doesn’t often spark thoughts of gritty and addictive garage rock, but that’s exactly what Trampoline Team have to offer.

They have the rebellious origin of punk ingrained in their history – casting aside the prominent Dixieland and brass band roots of their hometown for a more abrasive and in-your-face sound. Just take it from the band’s Bandcamp page, which describes Trampoline Team as everything from “fuck you” to “rock and roll” to “shut up.” The band is like a Southern Speedy Ortiz, with endearing female vocals over upbeat and catchy punk rock.

With their debut full-length in the works for 2015, it’s likely Trampoline Team won’t be New Orleans’ best kept secret for long. The group started gaining attention after the release of their Velveteen Dream 7” on Pelican Pow Wow Records just over a year ago, with features everywhere from Pitchfork to Boston Hassle.

We got the chance to catch up with the band’s Sam DeLucia in an email interview to learn about how the band got its start selling bootleg merch, the upcoming album in the works, and the other gems in New Orleans you shouldn’t miss out on.

Allston Pudding: How did Trampoline Team form?

Sam DeLucia: Michael and I sold bootleg weed leaf Pantera patches at festivals for a living. When that fell through, we didn’t really know what to do with ourselves. It was a bit of a rough spot in our lives, so Shelby asked us to start a band to keep us out of trouble.

AP:  The Sueves referred us to you in the last column. Do you know the band?

SD: Yeah, The Sueves are great. They stay with us when they play in New Orleans.

AP: What do you think of their music?

SD: It’s good garage guitar stuff. Their live show rips.

AP: Outside of a single on the Rubberneck compilation, you haven’t released anything in over a year. Is anything big in the works for 2015?

SD: Yeah, we’ve been recording a full-length that’s going to come out at the end of the year on Pelican Pow Wow. It’s been finished for a while, but the pressing plants have a long turnaround time right now. I guess they’re pretty busy repressing lame Soundgarden records for Record Store Day or whatever. We didn’t have any new songs when we started recording for it, though, so we had to record as we wrote them.

AP: It seems like you got a lot of well-deserved attention from your last 7″. Were you expecting a reception like that?

SD: No, it was absolutely unexpected. Everyone’s gonna trash our full-length, though. It sucks.

AP: New Orleans obviously has a reputation for its brass bands, as well as its historical influence on jazz and funk. Do you think that’s impacted your music at all?

SD: Fuuuuuuuck no.

AP: How would you describe the music scene in New Orleans?

SD: Well, I guess ours is comparatively small to other punk/rock scenes, but it’s got a ton of good shit. It would probably be bigger or more popular if there weren’t so many white people funk or brass bands, though. Generally, people don’t think of a punk scene when they think of “New Orleans music,” but it’s been here. Those people should go listen to The Sluts.

AP: What are some of your favorite local bands?

SD: Dummy Dumpster, Planchettes, Heavy Lids, Abysmal Lord, Grave Ritual, Die Rottz, Q & P, Buck Biloxi, Gasmiasma

AP: What are some of your favorite bands outside of the New Orleans region?

SD: MAMA back in Chicago are real rock & rollers for life. We have more fun playing with them than any other band.