L.A.

Crash Kings deliver violent, multi-layered set at El Rey

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Crash Kings have a favorable identity crisis. The rock trio’s El Rey set last Friday as support for Rooney opened with their single "Mountain Man," a heavy, blues rock piece uncommon in local sounds.  But the southern grit seemed to end there.  What followed were high voltage piano-based big beat songs charged with loud, confident and tasteful pop anthems.  Best off, their power pop isn’t precocious.  Aside from proving themselves multifaceted, Crash Kings exhibited an unusually high energy from each member’s trying to topple each other in how severely they could beat the shit out of their instruments. A battle truly worth witnessing. -Hugo Gomez

Austin

A Spoon and a Poll

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Album art from the upcoming Transference by Spoon, about which there is considerable excitement and giddiness. And, there’s a new poll up yonder, take a look; we’ve got five shiny new bands nominated for your perusal. So peruse those mo fos and take a stand.

Chicago

Netherfriends and Jams Dean

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It seems like an unusual pairing, the echoing folk-pop of Netherfriends and the underground thump of Jams Dean, but they have show in the single they recorded together that it can mix nicely. Now these two are hitting the road together, mostly to fend off boredom but also to expose certain cities to what Chicago has to offer. Netherfriends (aka Shawn Rosenblatt) released his latest ep this year and has been touring frequently ever since. I can’t tell if his love for the road is passion or craziness, but it is clear that he has infected emcee Jams Dean with it. Jams (aka Blake Gardner) has been touching the blogs (and the girls) with his old school rhymes and his love from the ladies of Chicago. On December 11th many things will happen including the launch of the Netherfriends/Jams Dean tour. Jams will be releasing a full-length lp, The Criterion Collection, filled with all of his latest tracks for free download. He will also be releasing a split tour cassette with Netherfriends that will feature remixes of each others work, and that cassette will also be accompanied by a handwritten zine these two have put together. Jams will also be released a zine he created called "Rap Songs I Wrote" by Jams Dean that will feature the lyrics to the song on The Criterion Collection. It’s a big day for both Shawn and Blake. Below is Jams’ lyrics to his soon to be famous "Chicago Girls" track over the top of The XX song "Heart Skipped A Beat"

The tour launches on December 11th here in Chicago at Weirder Park with Jams Dean and Netherfriends ($5 donation at the door). You can also catch Netherfriends for free on Dec. 3rd at Loophole (618 S. Michigan 2 floor) with Truman & His Trophy & Carbon Tigers! (photo by Jake Moreland)

L.A.

Lowlight previews new album tracks at AFI music video festival

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The music video isn’t dead.  Well, at least to ambient rock outfit Lowlight.  This Thursday night at the American Film Institute, the band are previewing every track of their forthcoming A Wonderful Lie album in film form, all directed and produced by local film makers.  Those in attendance will be provided wine and cheese and will be able to vote for their favorites to award directors cash prizes.  The event is free, but $10 guarantees a seat, and space will be limited, so arrive early.  For more details and RSVP information, check out the Facebook event page.

NYC

The Shake’s CD release party, Thursday 12.03 at Santos

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On Thursday, Dec. 3rd, The Shake will celebrate the release of their new album, "The Shake Go Crazy," at the main room at Santos Party House. The New York 4-piece will be joined by fellow City rockers Milo & The Fuzz, Reckless Sons and Black Taxi. The band also just announced the release of their new music video for their single, "Got No Soul" – here it is – directed by Anders Urmacher (you guessed it, another New Yorker). Those who love fine rock’n’roll done the right way shouldn’t miss this show.

NYC

Webster Hall releases live CD compilation of emerging NYC artists

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Webster Hall – which in the 1950s and 60s was the recording home of RCA records and hosted legendary recordings of Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Bob Dylan among others – has lately been doing interesting things to help emerging local artists. The East Village venue staff started recording local emerging bands back in January 2009 and ended up gathering enough material to put together a compilation of of new up-and-coming artists recorded during their Webster performances. The resulting CD is called "Live At Webster Hall – The Sounds From New York City Vol 1”. It features 10 artists; some of which we have often covered – The Subjects, Bear Hands, Young Love, Tiger City, Asa Ransom, Static Jacks – plus others we never heard of that we are going to check out pronto; Jump Into The Gospel, US Royalty, The Royal Chains and Young Lords (in the picture). Best Buy (keen to promote their new musical instrument store in Manhattan) has jumped on board and is sponsoring this operation, agreeing to sell the CD in its stores. You can preview some tracks here.

NYC

Bear in Heaven win contest, open for Mew

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We are sure Brooklyn Psych Rockers Bear in Heaven are not feeling too blue for placing second in last week’s Deli’s Artist of the Month poll – as Flavorpill just announced that they actually won the site’s "Open for Mew" contest. The band is getting quite a lot of attention, in particular after Pitchfork Media assigned the "Best New Music" tag to their new records. See Bear in Heaven open for Mew on December 4th at Webster Hall.

NYC

An Evening of Mental Unity – Live at Glasslands on 12.06 with Top 10 Lovers

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Sunday December 6th, 8pm $5, Fat Free presents: An Evening of Mental Unity. Fat Free has created a celebratory smörgåsbord of art, music, spoken word, poetry and otherwise hard-to-describe oddball entertainment. For music lovers who want to explore something different, an evening of Mental Unity can provide a good time for all involved. Hosted by Alethea Rivera, there will be performances by Fat Free, Beatbox Guitar, Life Occurs, Bobby Oats Jen Upchurch, and Top ten lovers (in the picture). Glasslands Gallery is on 289 Kent between South 1st and Grand Williamsburg, Bklyn. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

NYC

Gold Streets release new CD + Video

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Gold Streets released their new EP entitled "GO" on November 22nd with a show at at Mercury Lounge. To celebrate, they also presented their latest video, "Red." This project is a collaboration with Director/DP Brad DeCecco and premiered at Music on Main at The Sundance Film Festival. Brad De Cecco took 4 pictures for The Deli covers in 2008. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).