This is the time of the year when hockey players--some superstitious, some just standing in solidarity with their teammates--grow "playoff" beards. Because there is no off-season in indie rock, you'll see some musicians sporting their "playoff" beards yearlong.

(left: Man Man, with so many good beards to chose from, how do you just pick one?)

In popular music, the beard has gone in and out of style many different times throughout the years. In the 70's, just about everyone band had a beard. When the 80's arrived, the beard went out of style, giving way to big hairdos and guys looking like girls (though very few hair-metal bands adopted the bearded-lady look). In the 90's, facial hair made a comeback, but many musicians either chose to grow a goatee, a soul patch, or the indie-rock fave, a face full of stubble. In the 2000's beards were once again embraced. In honor of the "playoff" beard, here are my favorite indie-minded rock beards of the last few years. See if you can name them all:

NOTE: Apologies to the bands My Morning Jacket, Kings of Leon, Man Man (above), and Yeasayer. Because you have so many beards in your respective bands, I couldn't pick a favorite. And before we get to the quiz, this wouldn't be a proper beard article without shouting out ZZ Top or Kenny Rogers--big ups! (Ad. Note: Iron and Wine's Samuel Beam also has a beard that could kick many other beard's asses.)

THE INDIE ROCK BEARD QUIZ

1. Dan Auerbach, The Black Keys

2. John Davis, Georgie James

3. Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys

4. Carl Newman, The New Pornographers

5. Wayne Coyne, The Flaming Lips

6. Rivers Cuomo, Weezer

7. Ben Gibbard, Death Cab For Cutie

8. Ben Bridwell, Band of Horses

9. Josh Grier, Tapes 'N Tapes

10. Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters

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CAN YOU NAME THE BEARDS?

1.____

2. ____

3. ____

4. ____

5. ____

6. ____

7. ____

8. ____

9. ____

10.____

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ANSWERS: 1-H, 2-C, 3-B, 4-G, 5-J, 6-A, 7-F, 8-D, 9-I, 10-E