Here at The Deli we always feel a little uncomfortable when we see indie bands write songs about Christmas – maybe because we don’t perceive rock’n’roll as a very Christmas-y musical genre. By definition poor, dirty, and allergic to hypocrisy, rock music doesn’t really need to try and exploit this uber-commercial holiday to lure new listeners. Unless you do it the way emerging lo-fi band Mountain Cult did it in this song called "Christmas Day" (streaming below). We are not sure what the slurred lyrics say here, but we can deduct they aren’t about anything that’s even remotely pretty – we actually had to "censor" the song’s cut and paste video, which was submitted to our open blog, for excessively gory content… For a band that sounds like early Ween’s evil cousins, or an electric version of seminally depressed electro NYC band from the 70s Suicide, a Christmas song is the perfect paradox. We recommend Mountain Cult to send this track + video to Fox News – which, as usual, in the month of December is looking for a new Anti-Christ(mas) to expose and condemn. HUGE potential for promotionl!!! Mountain Cult will release their debutself titled EP at Pianos on December 14
From the NYC Open Blog: The Naked Heroes, live at Mercury on 01.15
Brooklyn-based man/woman punk’n’roll duo The Naked Heroes has stayed quite under the radar so far notwithstanding their energetic, bare-chested and sweaty live shows. Singer/guitarist George Michael Jackson and drummer Merica Lee churn out songs that pack enough fire power to blow the doors off your 1975 Pontiac Firebird. The lead-off track "Ugly Girls" (silly video streaming below) is a charging, pedal to the metal banger with tongue-in-cheek lyrics and ass-shaking rhythm. This album, as well as their debut album "99 Diamond," are free to download from the band’s website. – (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 and APS Mastering.
Photo Recap: Tin Horses, Levee Drivers & Bronze Float at KFN
This past weekend started early for me with Tin Horses on Thursday night at Kung Fu Necktie. The fledgling four-piece performed a very enjoyable set made mostly of their debut album American Radiance with some newer material thrown into the mix. A definite highlight was the searing slide guitar work during “You Took Care of Me While I Was Dyin.” Kiel Everett’s lazy drawl on songs like “Amphetamine” helped to lull the audience into a hypnotic, stoned state while bobbing their heads to the instrumentation. I generally prefer to simply enjoy a few drinks and the music when I’m at a show, but I’ve been recently playing around with a new/used camera so you might see me roaming around snapping a few shots while I’m out and about. Levee Drivers laid down a surprisingly rollicking performance as a duo with frontman August Lutz on the acoustic guitar with a suped up harp that doubled as mic adding a welcomed megaphone effect to his vocals. He began the set with a couple of solo tunes before Kyle Perella who normally plays bass in the band joined him on stage and switched things around by picking up the electric guitar. Also opening the night was Bronze Float. You can check out my pics from the evening HERE.
The Couch’s Debut Album Set For December 14th Release
When you think of a sofa, the words forming in your thought bubble most likely follow “cozy,” “comfortable,” and “soft.” Well, pull out a needle, shield your eyes, and pop that floating nuisance. Redefining what it means to be named after a piece of relaxing living room furniture, The Couch is tearing out a page in the dictionary and delivering heavy, rock saturated sounds straight to your eardrums. Believe you me, it’s far from “comfortable” and miles from “soft.” The Couch provides an eye-opening lesson into how indie blues-rock is supposed to sound.
R5’s Punk Rock Flea Market Holiday Edition at The Punk Rock Flea Market-Dome Dec. 11
Live Preview: The Family Crest, Debbie Neigher and Guy Fox Support Daniel Hart at Hemlock Tavern
Don’t miss acclaimed singer/musician Daniel Hart, fresh off tour playing with Bon Iver and currently on a tour of the Southwest in support of his newest album The Orientalist, tomorrow, Dec. 11, at Hemlock Tavern at 9pm. Hart will be supported by three wonderful local acts, orchestral indie rock band The Family Crest, singer-songwriter Debbie Neigher and afro-beat influenced Guy Fox.
The Family Crest is a seven-piece band making music by enlisting over 100 “family members” to record with them on various pieces. Debbie Neigher’s intimate, piano-driven music is reminiscent of Regina Spektor and Fiona Apple. She recently released an accomplished, self-titled debut of classical influenced, quiet, beautiful tracks. Guy Fox has grown a local following through his late night dance and house parities. His live set includes horns, guitars, drums, bass and synth, influenced by afrobeat and jazz music.
–Amanda Dissinger
Daniel Hart – "How Can Love Be Wrong" from charlyne yi on Vimeo.
Little Berlin Benefit w/Bleeding Rainbow, Nothing & Little Big League at Little Berlin Dec. 10
The folks at Little Berlin are throwing a killer benefit show tonight for their newly relocated space (awww, but I do miss their old porch for the bands). It will feature the debut of a rad, new local band called Bleeding Rainbow. Ha…actually, if you haven’t been keeping up on your blog reading and Twitter, that’s the name Reading Rainbow will be going by from now on. (You can follow them at their new Tumblr and Twitter accounts.) Shoegaze-y outfit Nothing should have some new material to share this evening since they’ll be releasing a new EP early next year. You’ll get a glimpse of what Post Post’s Michelle Zauner has been working on lately with her new band Little Big League which includes former fellow bandmate Kevin O’Halloran on guitar, Deven Craige (Golden Ages, Strand of Oaks) on bass, and Ian Dykstra (Titus Andronicus) on drums. Rounding out the lineup will be Rain Season and Tank. There will also be Little Berlin’s “very own signature cocktails” available – “the kind that’ll get you feelin REAL fuzzy, REAL quick.” Now, I definitely love the sound of that! “LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.” Little Berlin, 2430 Coral St., 6pm, $6, All Ages – Alexis V.
The Dead Milkmen SOLD OUT Album Release Show at KFN Dec. 10
Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies CD Release Show at JB’s Dec. 10
Monster Entertainment Holiday Party at MilkBoy Philly Dec. 10
You can’t deny it — the holiday season always brings about a certain youthful nostalgia of snowball fights and lazy snow days. Even the hearts of us ex-retail workers who suffered through too many early mornings hawking needless products get a little misty during the season. And, honestly, there’s no better way to relive our winter youth than getting totally merry and totally sloshed with our friends at the Monster Entertainment Holiday Party tonight at MilkBoy Philly. The show will feature a slew of locals, including young-at-heart indie rock-pop rebels, Young Statues, whose enthusiastic, youthful self-titled debut recalls the pain of young love (they’re gearing up for a tour starting in March, so look out for them on the road) , the blues-meets-roots rock enthusiasts Toy Soldiers, the brash, fierce indie rock melodies of the Quelle Source, who recently released their The French Rapture EP and were nominated for Y-Not Radio’s Best Philly Artist of 2011 category, and Revolution, I Love You, who also recently released their debut LP We Choose to Go to the Moon. MilkBoy Philly, 1100 Chestnut St., 8pm, $10-$12, 21+ – Annamarya Scaccia
Spyn Reset to Release Sophomore Album in January
Genre-bending electronic instrumentalists Spyn Reset will make an appearance at The Comet Tavern on Monday, along with pop rock newcomers Open Blue. Fresh from the recording studio, Spyn Reset are set to follow up their 2009 debut, Objects in the Abstract, in January. Composed of four musicians with disparate talents and tastes, the band self-produced their sophomore effort, the 11-track Four Dimensional Audio, which they say will combine the jazz-inflected spontaneity of their first album with a carefully constructed framework. Opening track "L.E.D." is a marriage of flowing synthetic melodies and the clean rhythmic structure provided by drummer Pierson Martin and percussionist Thomas Whiteside. The combination of compositional complexity and impulsive experimentation delivers what the band promises, and suggests growth that could help the recording eclipse their first outing.
Spyn Reset and Open Blue, December 12 @ The Comet Tavern
Doors: 9 p.m.
Cover: $5
-Kate Shepherd
Message from the Cakeshop: NYC DJ/promoter Jonathan Toubin in critical conditions
We just received this from The Cake Shop:
The cakeshop show tonight, presented by Jonathan Toubin, goes on as planned, but is now a BENEFIT for the man. we are waiving expenses and $$ is going straight to Jonathan, [who was hit by a cab in Portland while sleeping in his hotel room in a crazy accident]. Please come by and throw support his way, its what he would want!!! Please also go to the other benefit ones nearby at HOME SWEET HOME and MOTOR CITY! this is clearly going to be a killer night of jonvibes!! please also retweet/facebook etc. and spread this around as much as possible.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 9th:
NEW YORK NIGHT TRAIN PRESENTS
4th: FIVE DOLLAR PRIEST (12)
3rd: CHICKEN SNAKE (11)
2nd: MARCELLUS HALL (10)
1st: SEDIMENT CLUB (9)
plus DJs
$10 PLUS (1 free drink ticket if you put in $20 or more), 8pm doors
21+, please bring your ID
The Cakeshop Peeps