Philadelphia

Interview w/The Deli’s Philly Record Label of the Year: Ian Records

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After interviewing Ian Galloway, owner of Ian Records, you can’t help but realize how passionate the guy is about music and the vinyl format. In a world where vinyl sales are on the rise but album sales keep hitting record lows, the hardcore/punk kid inside him continues to fight a valiant fight while still finding beauty in the process of creating and releasing a new album. That is why it is an honor for us to be able to award Ian Records the honor of being The Deli’s Philly Record Label of the Year 2010. The fledgling local label is dedicated to releasing only Philly artists on vinyl, and we look forward to hearing more from Ian Records for years to come. Please check out our interview here with Ian Galloway, and hopefully you’ll discover that you feel the same way too. Great local bands that rock get in contact with him.
 
Philadelphia

“Free for All” w/Blues Control at ICA Feb. 9

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Penn’s Institute of Contemporary Art is having a “Free for All” event this evening featuring rad experimental duo Blues Control (a.k.a. Russ Waterhouse and Lea Cho). The pair weaves Waterhouse’s reverb-soaked, distorted blues riffs with Cho’s dark, muddy grooves creating some unapologetically nasty moments, but you’ll also find them floating through calmer waters revealing a taste of their ambient, new age-y alter-egos Watersports. The event will have Philly soft pretzels and refreshments, which I’m thinking will be free judging by its name. There will also be beer, but unfortunately, that will cost us. However, Waterhouse already gave me a heads up that the beers will be cheap, and admission is definitely FREE so we’ll have more money for cheap beers. Nice! It’s been a while since Blues Control have performed in Philly so take advantage of this "Free for All". Institue of Contemporary Art, 118 S. 36th St, 6:30pm, FREE, All Ages – Q.D. Tran
 
Philadelphia

Kuf Knotz’ BoomBox Collective Is Back at WCL Feb. 9

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Kuf Knotz is back again with his BoomBox Collective. It’s the second installment of this monthly event at World Café Live dedicated to the enjoyment of live hip hop. This month features the quirky, witty rhymes of Jake Lefco, dready, rasta-lovin’ Ras Arcane (from Dialects), funkalicious Swift Technique, and house band NJ’s LP Stiles as well as live visual arts by Zeke Jenei. The event is FREE so come out and support before World Café Live changes their mind and replaces it with another evening full of acoustic singer-songwriters. World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 8pm, FREE, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 
Philadelphia

New Asteroid #4 Album Drops Today & Available for Streaming This Week via Spinner

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The Asteroid #4 released their sixth album Hail To The Clear Figurines today via The Committee to Keep Music Evil, the record label owned by the infamous Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre). You can stream the whole record this week via Spinner. Below is a video for the album’s opening track “Wicked Wire” (which also appeared on Clean Air Clear Stars 2009 Compilation). You can purchase the record Hail To The Clear Figurines here. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff
 

New England

Invictus Picks — Goddard — N/S

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 ip

Goddard is a three piece band that’s named after a rocket scientist. Not just any rocket scientist, but Robert H. Goddard who happened to grow up in the house across the street from members Jason and Anne in Worcester. How’s that for props? Not only do they name their rock band after a local hero, but they also dive in headfirst to cultivate and perpetuate a scene. Jason and Anne met their drummer Dan while they were working on the project DC-FIY the goal being to purchase a warehouse to start an all ages DIY venue in Worcester. Although the warehouse never turned up, these guys threw countless all-ages DIY shows and continue to play great, mostly all-ages shows like the one a few weeks ago at the Flywheel in Easthampton.

Goddard

Here is “N/S,” a track off their EP. They’re influences are bands like HUM, The Pixies and Drive like Jehu. They have a lot of plans: first, a mini-tour in the mid-west next week. Then, into the studio to record a full length and then they’re off to Brazil to play some festivals. Wow. Don’t waste any time guys!


Goddard – N/S

— Danielle Freudenthal

Austin

Erik Hokannen @ Flipnotics

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As he does every Tuesday night, Erik Hokannen will take over at Flipnotic’s tonight at 9. The fiddle and guitar master has been a mainstay of the Austin scene for over twenty years, and has been described more than once as "the greatest Austin musician you’ve never heard." Jazz Mills (of Cowboy + Indian) gave her enthusiastic recommendation. Erik has skipped back and forth between Austin and Helsinki – he’s a third-generation Finn – throughout his musical career, and enjoys a devoted following in both cities. 

Nashville

Overall Winners of The Deli Nashville’s Band of the Year Poll 2010:

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Dear Deli Nashville Readers,

The results are finally here (see list below) from fans, jurors, and writers, and we are pleased to announce that PUJOL is the overall winner of the 2010 Nashville Band of the Year poll. Congratulations to him, and to the second and third place winners, Evan P. Donohue, and Kopecky Family Band.

1) PUJOL

Unless you’ve been living under a rock this past year, it’s been pretty difficult to avoid hearing at least something about Nashville garage/punk rock outfit, Pujol. From regular touring, releasing like a dozen singles/7" splits, to having a single produced by Jack White and forming Turbo Time Records with Jonas Stein (lead singer of the Turbo Fruits), Daniel Pujol and his band members have worked their asses off to create their local and national following. Even with a little taste of success, they still play the same up-beat garage rock that, when heard reverberating off the walls of some kid’s shitty basement, still manages to remind me of a sludgy rainbow. And it’s hard to get that without drugs. So I guess PUJOL is like my drug of 2010? 

2) Evan P. Donohue

Some have referred to Nashville’s charming poindexter as an Elvis Costello, and I wholeheartedly agree with them. The obvious jazz/standard influences, the constant catchiness, the trenchant lyrics.. *sigh* His 2010 full-length release, "Rhythm & Amplitude," was one of the best albums to come out of Nashville last year, which is surprising because it’s alt. pop/rock, and the ol’ tastemakers of Nashville often tend to disregard that genre and its representatives. Regardless, Evan P. Donohue is one of those rare individuals who can’t seem to write a bad song, or stop churning out hits. Someone get that kid a publishing deal.

3) Kopecky Family Band

This classically-inspired indie pop-folk group never quite seems to disappoint listeners when hearing "the family" for the first time. The tight-knight group of 7 was an even greater sight to behold last year, as they obviously grew into their roles, and became–quite clearly–more of a family onstage. They successfully released their second album, "The Disaster,"  and the resulting sound carried them throughout the country, allowing them to make great strides to SXSW, CMJ, NPR, etc. Aside from a pretty constant touring schedule, I’m not sure what their upcoming plans are, but I suspect that they’ll be as big as the band itself 😉 —Erin Manning

L.A.

Grouplove premieres video for “Colors”

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Grouplove has released the official video for “Colours” off their self-titled debut EP, released in January on Canvasback Music. The video resembles a short film that makes a strong connection with the song itself (a bond that most videos fail to make), as its story line takes you on a cowboy and Indian adventure. It sparks a childlike fuse that’ll make you want to paint your face and place feathers in your hair.

Grouplove’s recordings are creative and energetic, but even more so live! The band will be hopping around Europe until they land back in the states March 23rd for a show at The Independent in SF, and are back home March 25th for a show at the Troubadour here in Hollywood.

-Margarita Castellanos

NYC

Beach Fossils release EP on Captured Tracks

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When will it be summer again??? The band Beach Fossils have to tease me with their promises of beachfront indulgence while my BedStuy backyard shows no signs of melting away its snow anytime soon. Weather aside, Beach Fossils is one more reason to think this trend of summer-drenched music is not fading away anytime soon. Their music communicates the wistful pleasures of hanging out, doing nothing and being happy with all your free time… it’s refreshing to hear a band candidly describe the creature comforts of middle-class Brooklyn hipsters. The songs never get weighty with false grandstanding, instead delivering a simple, digestable formula that could easily provide the soundtrack to your next getaway weekend. Now they have a new EP on its way courtesy of Captured Tracks, a label that has taken an active interest in curating some of Brooklyn’s finest Lo-Fi jangles. Singer/guitarist Dustin Payseur and bassist John Peña have composed 8 new tracks for What A Pleasure that includes a guest appearance from Wild Nothing’s Jack Tatum on track Out in The Way. Look for it March 8. – Mike Levine

Philadelphia

NoLibs Music Fest Rundown at The Fire Feb. 8 – 13

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It’s Northern Liberties Music Festival week at The Fire! So here’s your opportunity to catch a lot of interesting local acts in an intimate venue. Here’s a quick rundown of what you might not want to miss this week. Now, if you like a good cover tune, you can’t really go wrong this evening with the songs of Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed. Hezekiah Jones, Ron Gallo, Chris Kasper, and many more will be sharing their renditions of some of their favorites. On Wednesday evening, the sounds of hip hop are taking over The Fire. O.G. Schoolly D will be headlining the bill, but he will be having plenty of support from rhyme-slinging, lyrical warrior Reef the Lost Cauze, Verso, Dru Chris and Alien Architect. We’re a little confused why Thursday’s lineup isn’t booked for a weekend evening. With the bill of Toy Soldiers, Adam & Dave’s Bloodline, East Hundred, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb, Dangerous Ponies, Arrah and The Ferns, and Attia Taylor, this is a certainly a highlight of the festival and should sell out (definitely, if it were a Friday or Saturday night)! But Friday is all about Cookie Rabinowitz featuring Schoolly D. Please do yourself a favor. Go check out the Cookie Rabinowitz animated series here, and you’ll also get some behind the scenes footage with Freeway. Saturday begins to wind down the festival, and is a good time for deadicated XPN fans to escape the confines of the Tin Angel and World Café Live, and see what’s been happening on Girard Ave. with Andrew Lipke, Sisters 3, Cowmuddy, Emily Zeitlyn (of The Weeds), and Charlotte Littlehales. And on Sunday, dirty Jerz will be representing at the fest and hosted by locals Bruce Lucy and The Rowdies. There you go. Now head out this week to whatever strikes your fancy! – The Deli Staff
 
L.A.

An interview with The Silent Comedy

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The Silent Comedy is a unique mix of heart-felt melodies and western grit. After a busy year of touring, sold out EPs and the exit of violinist Ian Kesterson, we caught up with Joshua Zimmerman (vocals/guitar/bass) to pick his brain.

Is being a band from San Diego, in your opinion, easier than being a band from Los Angeles?
Every city has unique challenges for emerging bands. San Diego is no different, but this city has been experiencing a renaissance in the past few years.

The bands image is very western meets 1920’s. Was this a planned thing?
Our aesthetic has been a part of the band since the very beginning. It developed from my love of early film, and the time period that surrounded it (early 1900s). Some of the members of the band brought their personal style to the stage, and it spread to everyone.

More…

–Kimberly Brown