New England

Interview with Jakob Battick

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Jakob Battick & Friends won last month’s Deli band of the month, and for very good reaon. The young artist along with his rotating cast of musicians are sonically pushing things in their hometown of Portland in the most delicately poweful way possible. Jakob mixes folk and atmospheric elements in the style of Current 93, but brings a unique and more diverse edge to the stage that carves their sound out to stand wholly on it’s own.

Jakob is releasing a new EP at the end of the month, Heavy the Mountains, Heavy the Seas, and has even bigger things planned for the outfit.

The Deli: How and when did you get your start and what does the "Friends" in your name refer to?
Jakob Battick: I started playing music at the same time that I started recording. I would craft these song cycles of loner folk on an old four-track tape machine, like soundtracks for little strange cartoon worlds, and give them to my friends. I remember banging on dollar store cutlery in my garage to make drum tracks. From there, I passed through loud fuzzed-out noise rock things to slow and wilted dreamfolk things. I formed bands, 1800s Sea Monster & Swollen Spring Violets & Mt. Moon. Somewhere along the line I decided to use my own name, but added "& Friends" to pay honor to the loose…

Read the whole interview Here.

–Interview by Will Ryan

L.A.

The Deli LA Issue #5 Release Party!

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A fresh issue of The Deli LA is hitting the streets as you read this. We delve inside the stories of L.A. rockers The Henry Clay People, sweet Holmes, and folksters of The Beachwood Rockers’ Society. Gain insight into the creative processes of Emily Wells, The Happy Hollows, and Homesick Elephant. Educate yourself with Learning Music. This Wednesday at Crane’s Tavern in Hollywood a handful of Beachwood Rockers will entertain the masses:

D Henry Fenton

Cydney Robinson

Lowlight

Mitchells Folly

Andy Clockwise

Foster Timms

No cover, free CDs, and free Deli issues hot off the press! It all starts around 9pm Wedensday and goes way past your bedtime.

 

L.A.

The Very Best of LA! #20: Foreign Born to Play The Echo March 26th

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In my experience, those who are foreign born are unabashedly appealing.  The mystique that surrounds a visitor from a far away land is enough to whip just about anyone into a wild frenzy.  The same reaction will undoubtedly occur after listening to this band of Los Angeles natives masquerading as expatriates.  Foreign Born will transport you musically, rendering a passport completely unnecessary. 

 

 

NYC

SXSW day 5 – some of the best Austin Bands

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The final day of SXSW 2010 moved in slow motion. Indescribably exhausted, I meandered through a more suburban part of town to Domy Books for the “What by Whatever Day Party.” In the backyard, the sunshine beamed down on a wooden stage that bounced with ever band, beginning with The Eastern Sea (bottom picture), a folksy seven-piece from Austin. Following them were fellow Austinites, The Frontier Brothers, whose vibrant energy radiated and awakened me from my zombie state. Last but not least, The Bright Light Social Hour (top picture) substantiated their recent award from the Austin Chronicle for the “Best Indie Band” (They should also win “Funniest Band.”), closing my SXSW on a high note. Final thought about SXSW 2010: fantastic event, great experience, I only wish venues in Austin were bigger: I had a great schedule planned out but I was unable to get into a lot of shows even with a wristband because they were too crowded… I guess everyone had the same bands in mind! – Meijin Bruttomesso

Philadelphia

The Deli’s Best Philly Showcase Comin’ to Pilam April 24!

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Can I get a hell yeah!?! So we are thrilled to announce that the kind folks at Pilam will be hosting The Deli’s Best of Philly Showcase on Saturday, April 24th. It’s an honor to be part of the great history of sonic debauchery at this staple in Philly’s proud DIY landscape. We think this year’s lineup speaks volumes about the diverse and amazing music growing locally in our backyard. We wanted to thank our jurors (below) who proudly support Philly’s indie music scene everyday, all the readers/fans who voted for their favorites and our Deli writers who just plain rock!
 
The Deli’s Best of Philly Poll Jurors:
Grace Ambrose, Booker, Pilam
Abigail Bruley, Music Editor, two.one.five Magazine
Mikele Edwards, Booker, Silk City
Brandy Hartley, Booker, Johnny Brenda’s
Melanie Hoch, Vinyl Expert and Dancin’ Queen, Repo Records
Steven James, Booker, Kung Fu Necktie/R5 Productions
Jessica McGinley, Editor-at-Large, PopWreckoning
Ben Morgan, Booker, Millcreek Tavern
Gina Renzi, Executive Director, The Rotunda
Mark Schoneveld, Blogger, Yvynyl
Jon Solomon, DJ and Record Label Owner, WPRB/My Pal God Records
Tom Szwech, Blogger, Bag of Songs
Q.D. Tran, Associate Editor, The Deli Magazine
Bruce Warren, Program Director and Blogger, WXPN/Some Velvet Blog
Emma Zumberge, Blogger, The World in a Paper Cup
 
 
We’ll have the smoldering rockabilly blues of Levee Drivers (Fans’/Readers’ Poll Winners), musical shape-shifters West Philly’s own electronic rockers Grandchildren (Overall Poll Runner-ups), and last but certainly not least our psych-punk grand champions Reading Rainbow (Overall Poll Winners). Join us and some of Philly’s finest acts for an evening of chaos and pure bliss! Pilam, 3914 Spruce St., 8pm, $5, ALL AGES – The Deli Staff
 

 

NYC

SXSW day 4: She and Him, SVIIB, Andrew W.K., Steve Conte + more

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The penultimate day of SXSW took a turn for the frigid, making the festival challenging to endure. Bright and early, I froze in a two-block long line for “Mr. and Mrs. T and Rachael Ray’s Feedback Festival” at Stubb’s BBQ where Steve Conte and the Crazy Truth (NYC, bottom picture), School of Seven Bells (NYC), Andrew W.K (NYC), Street Sweeper Social Club (LA), Jakob Dylan and Three Legs, She and Him (Portland, top picture), and many more hit backyard and indoor stages. Miniature pulled-pork “sammies” and chicken quesadillas were almost unattainable, but a lucky taste test of the hearty h’ordeuvres satiated me for a short shopping spree at the American Apparel Flea Market and evening events. I caught a glimpse of The Cringe at The Texas Rockfest outdoor stage, and later, a full list of trios including New Madrid (NYC), at Mugshots Bar. The day’s highlight was an unforeseen recording session on the Lifestream AOL bus with Black Taxi, who astonished all aboard with their infectious songs and instrumental resourcefulness. – Meijin Bruttomesso

Philadelphia

The Deli’s Lunchtime Escape This Friday at The Bellevue!

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We are very excited about The Deli’s Lunchtime Escape this Friday, March 26th at The Bellevue! We always aim to bring fun and interesting showcases that you might not normally get a chance to see or hear or would think that you’d enjoy. We grew up loving MTV’s Unplugged so we love the idea of artists performing stripped-down versions of their tunes. We will be joined this week by Lux Perpetua (a.k.a. Justin Wolf – formerly of The Extraordinaires), Hair Rocket and The Armchairs’ Andy Mulholt
 
Lux Perpetua creates melodic garage/folk rock that gets your head bobbing and your body moving. Don’t let his scruffy bearded exterior fool you! His tunes have a warmth and heart that will surely come out in this stripped-down setting. Hair Rocket always leaves it all on stage. Led by Berklee dropout Chris Blasucci, their songs are like any good breakup. It’s equal parts dark, mysterious and bizarre, but cathartic. Despite the deeply personal nature of his lyrics, the songs are no less relatable and universal. Lastly but certainly not least will be The Armchairs’ frontman Andy Mulholt. His positive energy simply forces you to gravitate towards him. You never know what will happen at one of his performances. Like true art, Mulholt aims at each performance to bring out emotions from you (whether good or bad) that you weren’t sure existed. This intimate setting is sure to give you a glimpse into the world of some of Philly’s most talented emerging artists so we hope to see you there! The Bellevue (food court area), 200 S. Broad St., 12pm – 2pm, FREE, All Ages (Photo by Mike Persico) – The Deli Staff

 

Philadelphia

The Deli at SXSW: Part 4 – IHEARTCOMIX+JELLY+MAD DECENT CARNIVALLE

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So yesterday I really started feeling all my breakfast beers and constant music and schmoozing. The good news is that I’m getting a keen eye for picking out jaded hipsters from plain old dirty hipsters. Also all these mustaches are making me feel like I’m at The Stonewall Inn circa 1969. I was finally able to eat some awesome BBQ until I was sweating barbeque sauce at a place called Iron Works Barbeque. The majority of my day was spent yet again at the IHEARTCOMIX+JELLY+MAD DECENT CARNIVALLE.  The lineup was eclectic and sweet smells of funnel cake wafted through the air. Rye Rye brought her M.I.A approved booty shaking party jams all the way from Baltimore. After her was spastic NY rap group Ninjasonik led by Reverend Mcfly and Telli Federline.  They bounced around the stage spitting rhymes about PBR, skinny jeans, taking drugs and fucking, lots and lots of fucking. Their set was highlighted by their remix of Matt and Kim’s “Daylight” that showed off their rapping skills and wide range of influences. The Very Best came on and breezed through their summer jams and ushered in the only rays of sunshine of the day, quite appropriately. They also had to show up everybody by singing in five different languages throughout their set. I don’t see what the big deal is, I could be the next indie sensation if I picked up a hype man and a couple copies of Rosetta Stone. But seriously, that is some impressive shit. To close the night oout, Philly hero Diplo jumped up on stage right after The Very Best to start off the headlining Major Lazer set. After warming the crowd up for a bit, crazed hype man Skerrit Bwoy and contortionist/presumed sex-goddess Mimi bombarded the stage and brought the house down.  The crowd was treated to extended versions of “Hold the Line” and crazy dub-step freakout “Pon De Floor” while Skerrit Bwoy dry humped to the beat like the future of our time on earth depended on it. Diplo and Switch sat back modestly and let the antics of Skerrit and Mimi take center stage. At the after party, I tried to get a few words from Diplo, but it was hectic so all I remember him saying was that he likes the vegetarian subs from Subway. (Hear that Subway – you have an in with all those dance crazy vegan hipsters.) All in all – it was an appropriately sloppy albeit chilly end to my time here at SXSW. I have never looked more forward to sitting on a plane in my life. Philly, Honey, I’m comin’ home! I hope that you enjoyed reading about my journeys, and please don’t hate that I had a much, much sweeter time this week than you. I already know that the rest of The Deli staff is a little green. (Photo by Joey F.) – Adam G.