I wish all smart people made music like No Shoes – rather than getting too serious about it. Listen to the first minute of ‘Sharkjaw Beartrap’ (streaming below) and you’ll no doubt be amazed by some serious acrobatics, their insistent drum lines and overactive fret tapping guitar action. But while focusing on the band’s technical proficiency, you’ll also probably ask yourself why these guys are screaming about sharks… and what is that weird five-eyed monster doing drinking out of a straw on their bandcamp? While these are probably questions best left unanswered, you have plenty of other things to keep you busy here. No Shoes is a band in such lockstep that even the vocals are all sung in time like a tenacious chant repeated in unison throughout most every song from their new EP ‘Cow Drawings.’

Being smart is one thing… but still making sure your music is fun and raucous enough to make you want to learn all the lyrics to songs about ghosts and lightbulbs ‘Hopscotch (and Tumbling)’ – is quite another. And dammit… that’s what they’ve managed to do. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Secret Beach is life distilled to its purest essence: emoticons (‘kiss/wink emoticon’) and being out of school (‘unlearning’). For a band already on their third full-length, it’s amazing how new their unadorned material sounds with each repeated listen. Like John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats, Matt Magelof and Nicole Zumpano possess a simple urgency to their jams that transcend their otherwise lo-fi origins.

So don’t expect any studio sheen here. Theirs are lo-fi jamborees that begin as spontaneously as they end, and I don’t think it would sound right any other way. The straight ahead guitar and voice of this group of friends comes together beautifully imperfect. With so many endless things to think about in life, Secret Beach celebrates all the small moments, with the people surrounding you that make them all possible. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) – This band submitted their Music for review to The Deli here.

On September 21st, 2010, Ra Ra Riot headlined the Bowery Ballroom in New York City for the first time with little known (at the time) fellow Phantogram as their opening act. Wow, how I wish I had 10 bucks and a time machine.

What Ra Ra Riot and I have in common is a past in Syracuse, New York. This is a large reason why I take great pride in them and have for a while. Their success, much like Carmelo Anthony’s and Aaron Sorkin’s, is mine as well. Syracuse was once described as a place where the rapture hit 20 years ago, and I don’t think whoever said that was too far off. So even though Ra Ra Riot was only there for 4 years, they are "ours."

But on June 28th, 2012 they belonged to the only people any band wants to, their few-hundred biggest fans, at The Box on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. For 5 dollars a pop at a venue usually reserved for sexually-charged dance recitals that take place from 1am til dawn, any fan of RaRa Riot who acted fast enough could see their favorite band at the most intimate venue they have played in New York City since that night with Phantogram, almost 2 years ago.

On this night, the opening act (the always-amazing Lissy Trullie) was breathtaking; the crowd was hipsterful, the beer was $8 a bottle and the two girls behind me would not shut the fuck up (how could they afford to get THAT drunk?) Although, they only played a short set, the Ra Ra guys and girls played one of the most well rounded nights I have ever heard from them; this is From me and the 30 Ra Ra diehards I talked to after the gig: it was a fantastic set. – Max Lefkowitz – Read Ryan Henriquez’s 2008 Deli print feature on Ra Ra Riot here.

 Photo Source: Kyle Johnson

Pollens are the newest addition to Tapete Records, a record label based in Germany. Their appearance at Capitol Hill Block Party on July 21st ought to really bring home the excitment of this announcement.

The group began as a project between Hanna Benn and Jeff Aaron Bryant in 2008; through periods of musical experimentation and a self-released EP, they have expanded to their current six member lineup.

Pollens has three songs available for streaming as a preview for the album – entitled Brighten & Break – to come. "Helping Hand" is guided by a mellifluous, repetitive vocal melody that hooks you in with its multi-layered approach. The rhyhtmic patterns are fluid, entrancing, and will induce bouts of blissful swaying.

"Motion King" leads in with a bouncy riff and a subdued beat before gently blending into choruses and instrumental breaks. Their music maintains a quality of purity and vibrancy, uplifted by their powerful vocal ensemble without becoming maudlin. Live, the band pulls you with their energy – genuine and inclusive, but controlled.

Brighten & Break is due for a September 21st release date. Until then, give Pollens’ tracks a listen and find yourself spirited away. Listen to "Motion King" below and the other songs on their bandcamp. They will appear on the Neumos Stage at 3:00pm on Saturday, July 21st at the Capitol Hill Block Party. Be there.

– Cameron LaFlam