Austin

SXSW4Japan: One-Eyed Doll, Sahara Smith…Hanson!

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Hanson isn’t normally a band we devote much coverage to, given that they’re A) not Austin-based, and B) not exactly indie; but we have to admit one of the more inspiring acts from SXSW this year was none other than the Hanson bros., who threw together a livestream telethon and ended up raising over $100,000 through sxsw4japan. Locals found ways to pitch in too, from simply putting out a donation jar during shows (as we saw Sahara Smith do at the Frog ML showcase) to posting original songs for download and donating all proceeds (as Kimberley Freeman and One-Eyed Doll (above) did with their "Water Song", which you can find right here). 

So – amidst concerns that SX might be turning Austin into Ft. Lauderdale, good to remember a little Austin always shows through. Bad news continues to roll in from Japan; if there are other benefit efforts from local bands still under way, please let us know & we’ll use this little platform to boost awareness. 

 

 

Chicago

Architecture When We Were Young

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The gentle dream-pop of Architecture reminds me slightly of a female version of Campfires, and this band is releasing their debut ep, When We Were Young, on April 9th. Architecture is primarily the duo of Melissa Harris and Rebecca Scott of Panda Riot and together make a beautiful psych-twee sound.

The band is performing at Miskas this Saturday, 3/26, and celebrating the release of the ep on April 9th at The Whistler.

Chicago

New video from I Fight Dragons

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I Fight Dragons have released a new video of Packy Lundholm, their lead guitarist, playing Tetris in various locations around town. I just love seeing him play his guitar which is an actual NES. You can get free music from the band here.

I Fight Dragons will be performing an all ages show show at Lincoln Hall on 3/31, and they promise they will be using this guitar.

NYC

Best of NYC #102c: MNDR

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We keep covering one by one all the artists who made The Deli’s Best of NYC 2010 list here.

LA/SF/NYC based MNDR (pronounced “mandar”) create electro pop so deliberate that new sounds and intonations are discovered with each new eager listen. They went on the "Risky Business Tour" across North America along with electrofunk duo Chromeo. Their infectious sound and front lady/songwriter/programmer Amanda Warner’s attractively nerdy attitude caught the ears and eyes of Mark Ronson, with whom she collaborated for this summer’s potential dance hit, “Bang Bang Bang”. Within months Amanda went from lugging a PA system to house parties to opening for the legendary Massive Attack. Her track “I Go Away”, an ode to the merits of independence in the time of lost love, made Pitchfork’s Best of 2010 guest list. And to boot, her shows are known to be spectacles – not only for the inherent dance-ability of the songs, but also because of the complementary light projections created by visual artist Jamie Carreiro. – Katie Bennett

NYC

Beach Fossils play at the Opera House

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For L Magazine’s latest attempt at lo-brow meets hi-brow arts curation (see an old Deli article about this here), they have joined forces with NYC Opera to bring us Act 4. Closing out several nights of independent opera productions, theater goers will get to hear independent-minded musicians… rocking out for the tux crowd.
Opera lovers can hear what the kids are doing, and hipsters can enjoy snooty drinks while retaining their hard-earned cred. Everybody wins! It looks like this will be ongoing for at least the next couple months, so keep checking the site for details.
My personal fave, Brooklyn’s summer soul duo Beach Fossils will be playing at Avery Fisher Hall’s fourth ring cocktail bar this Thursday following a performance of The Elixir of Love. Their show is free with your opera ticket, so check it out. If Elixir of Love’s composer Gaetano Donizetti’s awesome facial hair is any indication, this opera may be more relevant to Brooklyn’s scene than I thought. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

NYC

NYC Alt Rockers Josh Flagg & The Obligations plays Electric Bowery on March 31

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Josh Flagg’s debut album, Devastate Me, has the perfect balance of sweet and sour in an alt-rock format. The songs are, as it says on Flagg’s website, "brawlers with busted noses, but hearts of gold". Flagg, tired of the You-Me-Girl aspect that comprises much of songwriting, set out to undermine the classic pop format by disrupting those sentiments. For example, the song "Bring Me Back to Life" is about a zombie looking for his girlfriend and "Come Back To Me" is written from the perspective of a comic book villain. The music will make your heart soar, the lyrics will make you think and the record overall will make you smile. Josh Flagg will be playing Bowery Electric on March 31. – Leah Tribbett

Philadelphia

The Deli’s Featured Artist(s) of the Month: Cannons

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Philly power trio Cannons’ mission is simple – to blow you away! So invite them over to rock out at your next birthday party, but just make sure to give them some cake. Guitarist Adam Riggar recently took time out of his phrenology studies to answer our get-to-know-ya questions. Below is what transpired. 
 
The Deli: How did the band start?
 
Adam Riggar: We all met in 2005 when bands of ours started playing the same scene in West Philly. We dug each other’s music, became friends, and eventually began playing together. CANNONS formed as a four piece in 2009, and we re-organized into a trio this past November.
 
TD: Where did the band name Cannons come from?
 
AR: We wanted something simple to convey our sound – heavy, explosive and capable of sinking ships.*
 
*Non metal-clad.
 
TD: What are your biggest musical influences?
 
AR: Fugazi, KARP, Drive Like Jehu, Federation X, Hoover, The Jesus Lizard, Tanner… Email us – we’ll make a mix for you. 
 
TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
 
National: Wavves, Fatal Flying Guilloteens, Kanye West, Devo
International: Future of the Left, Take It Easy Hospital, Reykjavik!, Devil Eyes
 
TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
 
Ian Kiesel: First album was DJ Jazzy Jeff‘s Homebase. First concert was Jawbox at the Troc. 
 
Adam Black: First album was Sonic Youth’s Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star. First concert was Radiohead at Hershey Park Stadium.
 
AR: First album was The Beach Boys’ Surfin’ USA. First concert was Metallica and Danzig at the Mann.
 
TD: What do you love about Philly?
 
AR: Good food, good beer, Fairmount Park, and fellow SEPTA riders telling you to "fuck off."
 
TD: What do you hate about Philly?
 
AR: The PPA, it’s dirty, the PPA, and fellow SEPTA riders telling you to "fuck off."
 
TD: What are your plans for 2011?
 
AR: Releasing a new EP in May (that we are currently recording). Touring in support of it over this spring and summer. Working on writing our next full length. Playing at your birthday party (our rider includes free cake).
 
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
 
AR: We once deputized a rowdy member of the crowd to be our hype man. He proceeded to shout out, "FLAAAAVA FLAAAAAAAV" after every song. In general, we enjoy well-meaning hecklers.  
 
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
 
AR: A bag of kaiser rolls and a 6-pack. 
 
– The Deli Staff
 
Philadelphia

Beauty Lying in The Weeds at The Fire March 24

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Emily Ana Zeitlyn (sister of K Records star Mirah) has a voice that’s fevered, tense, and confessional. Her band, The Weeds, is a perfect vessel for her sometimes-fiery, sometimes-soothing variety of musical storytelling. “Sad Helena” is an anthem that sounds something like Sleater-Kinney and other Olympia/Seattle-area ladies. “Poison” is a quieter rumination, while “What Was It” is a jazz-inflected number with sultry horns sounding off somewhere in the distance. It’s been quite a while since The Weed’s last album, 2007’s The Faraway Flying of Broken Beating, but their Facebook page assures us there will be some new songs in the mix tonight. Also expect the various folksy stylings of Delta Natural, Amand Jo Williams, Matthew O’Neill, and Adam Faucett. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave., 9pm, $8, 21+
 
Philadelphia

“Just the Bricks, Not the Business.” – KFN

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Philebrity pointed out that there was a posting on Craiglist today to sell Kung Fu Necktie which, of course, got our hearts beating much faster for fear of losing one of our favorite places to drink and see shows in Philly. But we’re feeling a little calmer now after KFN tweeted the statement below.
 
“YO! We’re not selling the business, FYI. Just the bricks, potentially.”
 
– The Deli Staff