New York City quartet Vaura have just released their debut album "Selenelion" via the Wierd record label. Lead track "Vanth" combines a number of elements, showcasing a sophisticated shoegazer sound with percussive metal elements. Dark, echoed vocals over a medieval plundering beat gives way to near prog-rock interludes. "Obsidian Damascene Sun" (offered as a free download at their bandcamp) takes the propulsive drumming and hyper guitar strumming of black metal and pairs it with slower, more melodic, lyrically intelligible vocals. This is a formula that could create crossover appeal to those who find certain aspects of pure black metal a bit too harsh. See them live at Home Sweet Home (131 Chrystie St) on March 14 and at Public Assembly on March 31. – Dave Cromwell
Weird Children (Ex Mama Bear) releases “Megalomelia” at Cameo on March 8.
Brooklyn-based Weird Children – formed by ex members of Deli favorite rootsy pop outfit Mama Bear – will be celebrating the release of their new rollicking digital single,"Megalomelia" at Cameo Gallery this Thursday, March 8th. Be sure to get there early, since these guitar-driven indie popsters kick off the show at 8:30. Joining them will be fellow New Yorkers Diehard and Quiet Loudly. "Megolomelia," along with one other digital track, will be available for free download on the band’s website starting the day of the show. But the weirdness doesn’t stop there: after they take on Cameo Gallery, Weird Children will be packing their bags for a first-time trip to SXSW, where they’ll be playing at least one unofficial day party. – Corinne Bagish
Best of the Bay: K. Flay @ Popscene & SXSW
San Francisco’s best lady rapper, K. Flay, is about to make the rounds, so get your calendar ready. She’ll be headlining a Popscene show on April 5th at Rickshaw Stop, but not before hitting SXSW, of course (Bay Area – represent!). No seriously, she’ll be doing some serious Bay Area representing in Austin as she’s playing the Oakland-based Pandora Party on March 14th at Antone’s, the SF-based Noise Pop Fest show on March 16th at the Red Eyed Fly and lastly, although they’ve got nothing to do with the Bay, the Baeble Music Party on March 17th at Peckerheads.
Not familiar with K. Flay? Download her latest EP, Eyes Shut, for free on her website or check out her spot on Last Call with Carson Daly. If it’s not obvious by her three South By slots, she’s not to be missed. And duuhhh, Bay Area peeps know that K. Flay’s Popscene show is what’s good on April 5th.
-Justine Fields
Recap & Photos: Adventuredrum at Philadelphia Art Museum
Last Friday was actually the first time I’ve ever attended the Philadelphia Art Museum’s Art After 5, and it was a really pleasant surprise. As our Weekend Warrior section mentioned, West Philadelphia Orchestra was performing, and it was also the public debut of Adventuredrum. Unfortunately, H.M. Kauffman and I missed the former because we had no clue that walking from Center City to the museum would take so long (that’s a long homestretch on the Ben Franklin Parkway). We could hear a muffled performance of WPO as we waited in line to get our passes. Since there was a set break, we had time to roam around the hallowed halls peeking into the different rooms, and happened to catch Zoe Strauss speaking about her featured exhibit. Then we headed back to the Great Stair Hall to grab drinks and find spots for the next set. Most of the people were sitting, and we’re not much for that at shows so it was difficult to find a vantage point without someone asking you to sit down or move out of there way. We finally found a spot stage right behind the area with tables and chairs and in the entrance aisle with the rest of the people who chose to stand. It was great location, especially since we were in the front.
Free Download: The Get Up – Ground Up
Rising hip hop crew Ground Up just dropped their new mixtape The Get Up, which features guest contributions from local area peeps like Freeway, Young Chris, Reef The Lost Cauze, Mic Stew, Jahlil Beats, Ritz Reynolds, Teddy Roxpin, and many more. You can download it for free HERE. Enjoy!
The Deli’s Austin Issue 2012! – PDF version available. Body Language on the cover!
Rocking folks,
The Deli for the second year will be in Austin during the unmentionable festival (we probably could mention it in this context, but at this point we really don’t want to…) with a printed magazine!
The issue will be mostly focused on the best unofficial shows and The Deli’s favorite emerging artists in the 11 scenes we cover.
We are making it available online the week before the actual festival in pdf, READ IT (or download it) HERE!
The Deli’s Staff
Creepoid Homecoming at Silk City March 6
Us Deli-ers (does that even sound right?) love it when local favorites get the recognition they deserve. And that is definitely the case for the beloved Creepoid. First, they snagged top honors in our Philly 2011 Poll for Best Emerging Artists (see Philly Mag how I didn’t use “Best of Philly” so we shouldn’t get any threatening emails today, right?). Then they signed with No Idea Records (FYI – their killer full-length Horse Heaven, which drops March 20, is available for preorder HERE and comes with bonus tracks from their debut EP Yellow Life Giver. BOOM!) And, to top it off, they were nominated in the Philly Band of the Year category for Tri-State Indie Music Awards (they came in second, but you already know who we think really deserved it). Can’t help be proud of those creeps (see what I did there?), and you can show your pride tonight by welcoming them home from their mini-tour at Silk City, where they’ll play with fellow label and tour mates Shores, Canada’s Cousins, and a former Deli Featured Artist(s) Poll winner Harsh Vibes, who, if you didn’t see our post yesterday, will soon release their debut digital single, “Magic Pentagram.” Dare I say it will be a magical night. Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 9pm, $8, 21+ (Michael James Murray) – Annamarya Scaccia
Free Download: “Electric Fever” – Free Energy
Magic Wands release video for “Space” + announce debut full length
Nashville/LA based boy-girl electro-pop duo Magic Wands just premiered this video for the single "Space", from their upcoming album "Aloha Moon" (followup to their debut EP "Magic Love & Dreams"), which will be released in April 2012. The video was entirely shot in the band’s Los Angeles apartment and neighborhood, and it was DIY to the point that the headlights of the band’s car were used to illuminate the night shots. The band will be present at SXSW with two shows on the 15th and 16th of March, more info here, definitely an emerging act that deserves to be checked out.
The Kick’s play 12th & Porter 3/9/12
You may remember way back when in 2009 when The Deli reviewed Nashville pop rockers The Kicks‘ The Rise of King Richie. We dug their poppiness and rockiness because it’s catchy as hell and has an endearing 80s quality. Since the release of their debut, The Kicks got busy sharing the stage with the likes of John Mayer and Rooney, touring with Los Lonely Boys and most recently, recording a new video for their hit single, "Hawk Eyes," featured on the TV series Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. It’s been a while since the band’s played their hometown, so check out their live show Friday at 12th & Porter.
Elika releases 4th album “Always The Light”
Elika, one mainstays bands in the NYC dream-pop/shoegazer scene, is releasing today their 4th album entitled "Always The Light", and offering a free mp3 of the single "No One Gets Lost", streaming below. Compared with the band’s previous material, this song unveils a less guitar-centric sound, as if the electronic elements that always constituted the band’s rhythmic section had slowly taken over other roles in the band. So much so that the shoegazer matrix is almost completely lost in favor of a more complex electro-pop sound, characterized by carefully chosen drum sounds, layered synths, sudden melodic openings, ambient breathing spaces, and – only occasionally – the unmissable electric guitars drenched in reverb.
Mp3: Elika- "No One Gets Lost"
Cultfever readies album + plays Mercury on March 13
Recently nominated for our Artist of the Month Poll, Cultfever is an electronic duo with both industrial and pop inclinations, as this cool new video for the song "Collector" can prove. The band is currently in the studio preparing their debut "physical" album, but they already have a bunch of songs released digitally through Bandcamp. The new single, with its complex arrangements and intricate percussion patterns, signals obvious signs of growth, which make us look forward to the upcoming release. While waiting, you can see them at The Mercury Lounge on Tuesday March 13.