Look Out in ‘93: 11 Locals to Watch

E clecticism is the keyword among the top 1992 freshmen of Southern California, where rap and retro, grunge and industrial, escapism and confrontation all coexist in a happily active melting pot. Here’s a look at the 11 new area acts who have made the biggest splash this year:

Xtra Large: With two comically maniacal frontmen in singer Darren McNamee and guitarist Warren Fitzgerald, Xtra Large is prone to shoot off crazily onstage. But the Orange County band’s recent debut album, “Now I Eat Them” (on Giant Records), displayed a more thoughtful side, enhanced by strong musicianship and a willingness to experiment with sources outside typical alternative and hard-rock bounds.