L.A.

Plans for the Weekend: Indie West Fest

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Summer is finally here and what better way to officially kick off the season of sun and generally carefree times than with a day full of both of these things? Come on out to the Indie West Fest at the Ventura County Fairgrounds this Saturday June 4th. With 30 bands scheduled to appear on four stages, there will be something exciting happening every moment. Boasting a diverse lineup, there’s music for all of your discerning tastes. Check out the haunted bluesy surf-rock of the Growlers or get lost in the blissful electronica of Mad Planet. Jam out with The Tender Box in two different languages; the band’s second LP features songs in both Spanish and English representing their southern California roots. Also, if you missed He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister at their awesome residency at the Satellite, you can make up for it here.  This festival is a great place for people who love to make and listen to music to come together in a beautiful setting. Tickets are available online. It’s only $35 for the whole day, so don’t be the one to miss out on a day of fun, friends and great music.

~Taylor Lampala

 

L.A.

Vincent Moon builds “An Island” of Music

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Taking the business of documentaries in a new direction, Efterklang pairs up with French director, Vincent Moon, creating a film with the simple idea that it lasts as long as an album. Appropriately titled ‘An Island,’ the 50 minutes film takes place in August 2010 outlining Efterklang’s journey of performance and collaboration with local musicians on an island off the Danish coast. Although "An Island" is essentially a DVD package, it also harbors a special live EP entitled “ Live at the Roskilde Festival 2010."  As an extra bonus, everyone is encouraged to set their own price for the album.  The avant-garde group of Efterklang and Vincent Moon have added new twist; fans can visit the DVD’s site at www.anisland.cc and view the film for free by arranging or attending a Private/Public viewing party.

~ Mary Broadbent

 

KICKSTARTER PROJECT – vincent moon & lulacruza in COLOMBIA from Vincent Moon / Petites Planètes on Vimeo.

Nashville

Nobody’s Vault But Mine, 5/28/11

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Photo by Jessica Pace

No one knows what a show is until about 9 p.m., which is why there were only a few people at Mercy Lounge to see how far White Buffalo Woman has come (particularly on guitar) since they formed. Saturday was day one of Nobody’s Vault But Mine, a two-day event in its second year created by and celebrating fans and vault members of Third Man Records. I can only vouch for day one, but it was exciting and vaulty, even though White Buffalo Woman switched from drippy blues bellows to fuzzy and fast before a very small crowd. Too bad for latecomers; the openers covered Townes Van Zandt’s “Waiting Around to Die” which was pretty cool, in addition to their own, including “This Town,” just finished the previous Monday. The sun went down to the Turncoats’ stylish and sometimes sloppy garage and blues set, which included their own gem “Rosemary’s Twist” and the White Stripes’ “The Denial Twist.” Hell yes. And by the time The Ettes were up, the crowd had thickened.

Perhaps my eardrums are just blown out, but it was hard to decipher Coco’s pinched acidic squeal between songs, but whatever; the ambiguity vanished as they hacked out 12 fast garage and bubblegum punk numbers. Lots of bass. Then Chapel Hill rockabilly vets and Third Man artists Dex Romweber Duo mixed bits of Elvis and Johnny Cash and poured it out onstage through the simple guitar and drum combination. Stripped, yes, but also vaguely haunting and just damn good, with Dex on guitar and sister Sara on the set behind him. Credited as a significant inspiration to Jack White, they banged out their Third Man release, “The Wind Did Move,” and Dex did a few solo numbers including “Homicide” and “Death of Me.”

There couldn’t have been a better end to the night than Jacuzzi Boys closing up with a sour and somehow animalistic set full of scuzzy guitars, thundering bass and an obnoxious amount of vocal reverb (reverb reverb). Judging from their style, I don’t think they know it’s not the early ’90s, but they do know a lot about musicianship and having a f**k-ton of energy. Appropriately, D. Watusi could be seen exuberantly head-bobbing in the front row. – Jessica Pace

Austin

Sunshine Fest!! Friday w/ B&W Years, Suzanna Choffel, Bill Baird…

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This Friday (6/3) at Venue 222 you can be part of the inaugural Sunshine Fest, all to benefit the Health Alliance of Austin Musicians (superb organization) and Austin Music People, and to provide valuable exposure for Austin Sunshine Camps— a group that has made not just summer camps but many many more amazing programs available to disadvantaged youth in central Texas. Those are three excellent reasons to attend and that’s before we even get to the bands: The Black and White Years, who have a fine collection of Austin Music Awards, Suzanna Choffel, who just released her album Steady Eye, Shaky Bow to great acclaim, the always brilliant Bill Baird (aka Sunset, pictured above), Graham Wilkinson, Kalu James, and more. Go on now. 

Philadelphia

The Deli’s June Album of the Month: Black Girls – Blackhawks/Radiator Girls

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Local lo-fi outfit Blackhawks go East meets Midwest for their latest split cassette Black Girls. Released on the LA-based label Two Michael Jordans (MJMJ Records), Blackhawks’ latest couples the "garageland" antics of Minneapolis outfit Radiator Girls. Cohesive and quirky, Black Girls’ fuzzed out vocals and buzzing riffs are genuine and earnest, mixing the perfect dose of awkward dissonance with each track. Opener “Sunday Morning” blends countrified, twangy guitar riffs with airy vocals and instrumentation to lure listeners into the joint effort. Discernibly more polished than Side B, Blackhawks shaking intro to “Indigo” shimmers melancholic and longing with undertones of hope implied by the chilled out croon of “I know I could be someday…/well I do hope I do.” Bending riffs and atmospheric sounds reminiscent of AnCo feel familiar yet essential to the album’s second, leading into the semi-acoustic swell of fittingly psyched out Spaceman 3 cover “More Rainbows”. The weight of “More Rainbows” distributes itself in the tide-like shuffle of its progression, bringing to mind Brooklyn’s Beach Fossils with its room-noise production and surf pop subtleties. Synonymous with the emotives of HoZac’s Garcia and Everton, Blackhawks’ melodic romantics unfold with a similar wanting, lush yet understated. Needless to say, Side A of the cassette plays out crisp and forthright, making the most of precise lyrics, sincerity, and heartfelt beats. With the A-side fading out with the humming vibes of “HIGHHH”, the cassette’s flipside begins with an endearing frustration by way of delectably nervous tempos and jangly riffs. With the start of “Eerie Body”, the vocal delivery of Radiator Girl’s mastermind Nick Henderson sounds out in howls and near shouts. Amplified by garage-y licks on guitar (think of Oakland’s Shannon and the Clams), “Eerie Body” is a sweet chant with rough edges that beg not to be smoothed out. “Go Pills” slow and raspy start expands to layered repetition, casting Henderson’s repeats of “I want her anyway” into vividly wrenching yelps. Like Vermont’s Happy Birthday or No Bunny slightly sedated, Radiator Girls’ antics are hot quirk at its best. In short, MJMJ’s Black Girls’ is a cassette rarity. You can purchase the cassette or download the tracks HERE. – Dianca Potts
 

Philadelphia

The Roots Present Philly’s Fourth of July Jam w/Work Drugs, CSLSX, and Much More!

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Looks like The Roots and Work Drugs might have bonded over all things smooth, Philly and Michael McDonald because on July 3 at Johnny Brenda’s, The Roots will be presenting Philly’s Fourth of July Jam with Work Drugs, CSLSX, and Wrestling (featuring a member of Power Animal). The DJ collective of Smooth Sailing: Red White & Smooth featuring DJ’s Kenny Bloggins (Flufftronix), Christopher Crossfade (DJ Romes), Michael Tender (Low Budget), and Joey Maserati (Dirty South Joe) will also be pumping out the jams to get you ready for the Independence Day festivities. Niiice! – The Deli Staff
 

Sunset Junction by Work Drugs

CSLSX – Keep On Shining by CSLSX

Philadelphia

Lewis & Clarke Go Exploring at KFN June 1

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If you missed Delaware Water Gap, PA’s Lewis & Clarke when they last came to Philly for the Folkadelphia series, then you probably shouldn’t sleep on tonight’s performance at Kung Fu Necktie. Lou Rogai and crew will be taking a break from recording their new album, which will be released via La Société Expéditionnaire, to do a run of shows with labelmate Chicago’s Daniel Knox, who is fresh off a UK tour with The Handsome Family. Joining them will also be Judson Claiborne, who will also be visiting from the Windy City. Expect one of my favorite local watering holes to be filled with plenty of moody, introspective folk to lament about this already long, hot summer. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $10, 21+ – H.M. Kauffman
 
NYC

From the NYC Open Blog: Late Cambrian

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Late Cambrian‘s debut full length comes out in late June but you can already hear many of the tracks over at Last.fm. Also, preview the album artwork and learn more about this Brooklyn, NY existential prog-pop-rock band. Late Cambrian is playing a FREE show at Spike Hill Saturday June 25th at 9:30 pm. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

New England

Pleasant Sweaters — Songs From Songs

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songs from songs

Pleasant Sweaters
Songs from Songs
From: Boston, MA

Pleasant Sweaters represent what could happen if Weird Al Yankovic got serious—and that’s not a criticism. Admit it. Like me, you’ve always thought Weird Al’s talents have been masked by his parody and you’ve always wondered what it would sound like if he hung up his jester’s cap. Well, now you know. Kidding aside, Pleasant Sweater’s debut record, Songs From Songs offers lush indie-pop supported by fantastic horns and strings. In addition to Weird Al, you’ll also hear shades of Belle & Sebastian, Mountain Goats and Weezer.

–George Dow

NYC

Brief reviews of new NYC bands: Christopher Hoffman and Dear Lions

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Here at The Deli we call "Alt Folk" and "Avant-Indie" bands that have familiar tones but are still on some classification borderline. Even with these in mind, it’s difficult to categorize the work of Christopher Hoffman. In his song “The Ends” he whispers over five layers of sleepy ambience, a good half-and-half of electronic and folk influences, rippling and rolling. In other tracks, (“What kind of bird are you”) he brings in loud cellos dueting with saxophones over a continuous brass/strings section. Every track is interesting, and this music makes for a strong addition to the Brooklyn scene. – Caitlin Clive

Mumford and Sons is getting a lot of much-deserved attention lately. If you’re a fan, we’ve got something local for you to try. Dear Lions has a similar croon, without the banjo behind, but with the same acoustic simplicity in the slower tracks and characteristic sincerity in the lyrics. They released their debut EP a week ago, and you can check it out here. – Caitlin Clive

These CDs were submitted digitally to The Deli through this link.