Oh, technology. It appears you have crept up and surprised me yet again. Because of you, a lot of my favourite bands never even have to break up anymore! Take Jones Street Station for example. After recording two great records in Brooklyn, their members decided to scatter around these United States and take up residence in cities ranging from Chicago to Boston. But is this any reason to break up? No way.Thanks to filesharing sites like dropbox and Evernote, the band has not only decided to make a long-distance writing relationship work, but have made up their minds to actually increase their output.

They now have a new mission: to release a song a week for the next year. That’s right. 52 tracks in so many weeks, and they’re hoping to take all the proceeds this hype generates, and donate them to 12 different charities. An ambitious project, that’s for sure… I’ll be watching/listening/downloading throughout the year to see what happens. Keep your browser pointed to their site to find out more and listen as the band starts releasing material. Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

While most of us have some romantic notions about our beloved New York City, few of us go so far as to document our accolades in lyrical odyssey. Well, looks like you missed your chance. In twelve tracks of throwback rock n’ roll sentiment, The Letter Yellow has done exactly that in new record ‘Walking Down the Street.’ Coming across like a late night reflection with the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop, singer-songwriter Randy Bergida paints a landscape from ‘Hope Street’ to Harlem and back again. This is a heartfelt love letter to the greatest city in the world, from someone who’s made Greenpoint his hometown (and recording studio). Join the band when The Letter Yellow hosts their album release party this Sunday at Glasslands (9.9). – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Here’s killing two birds with one stone. To illustrate their latest single ‘Sucker Punch‘ (released mid-July) as well as give us a taste of tonight’s show – which we’ll get to in a minute – Brooklyn-based genre-busting indie hip-hop seven-piece Deathrow Tull is sharing today a third music video. Shaking to the to the beat of that contagiously revolted indie rock/ska-punk/rap sing-along that is ‘Sucker Punch’, a five-minute homemade montage of stage shots, crowds and backstage footage, jam-packed with fun vibes, invites you to join their party. A perfect teaser to get us excited for this evening’s (9.7) Deli sponsored showcase of some of the best local indie hip-hop talent – where Deathrow Tull will be performing alongside Metermaids, Premrock & Willie Green and more – kicking off at 8pm at Bushwick’s Paper Box (info here).

(Photo by Tammy Shell)

Kasey Rausch has been making music for over 20 years, mostly as a solo artist and in several local collaborations. Her folky, bluegrass musical approach hearkens the timeless voice of Emmylou Harris and the melancholy sound of Gillian Welch. We were able to talk to her more about her influences and current projects.

The Deli: Gun to your head, 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?

Kasey Rausch: Americana (not so creative, but hey! I have a gun to my head!).

The Deli: Tell us about your latest release or upcoming shows. What can we expect?

Kasey: I’ve been balancing solo gigs with a lot of different projects with a ton of people and it’s been a blast. Currently working on a record with Buttermilk Boys (I play upright bass/fiddle/viola/harmonies) and the Rausch & Friends crew is starting to line up the beginnings of our next recording project—we have more than an album’s worth of material ready. Other projects include Partners in Glory with Mikal Shapiro and a trio with my sister Kim Rausch and Sarah Carpenter. House concerts are where it’s at!

The Deli: What does "supporting local music" mean to you?

Kasey: Supporting local music means supporting local business. It’s supporting the health and mental well-being of the community.

The Deli: Who are your favorite "local" musicians right now?

Kasey: Some of my favorite local musicians are the people that I’m closest to and are blessed to make music with: my sister, Kim Rausch; my husband, Travis Huffhines; my uncles, Terry Rausch & Larry Ford; my cousins, Ethan Ridings, Collin Rausch, Kyle Rausch, Danny Johnson; my friends, Mikal Shapiro, Scott Stanton, Chris DeVictor, Sarah Carpenter, Jesse Carr, Molly Healey, Tony Ladesich, Brandon Moore, Fernando Achucarro, just to name a few…

The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?

Kasey: Folks I’ve been listening to a lot of lately are:
Anne & Pete Sibley: Bluegrass/folk/old-time sound.
Chauncy Crandall: bluesy folk from Manitou Springs, CO. He played a house concert with Mikal Shapiro and me in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago. Good stuff.
Merle Haggard: He’s been a favorite of mine for a long time and I’ve been on a kick lately since I just saw him at Knuckleheads.

The Deli: What bands are you most excited to see at Crossroads Music Fest this year?

Kasey: I’d say Rural Grit All-Stars except that I’m playing at the same time as them. :~) Victor & Penny, Dead Voices and Starhaven Rounders is where I’ll be!.

The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy bill to play on?

Kasey: Willie Nelson and Emmylou Harris.

The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio?

Kasey: I’d like to spend the rest of my life recording the magic that happens on stage. :~)

The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?

Kasey: Willie Nelson: for his environmental consciousness.
George Harrison: for his compassion and desire to unite.
Jerry Garcia: for his openness.
Johnny Mullins: for his giving and for raising one of my favorite people, Sweet Melindamoon. (Mr. Mullins is a man from the Ozarks who wrote tunes that Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Porter Wagoner and Johnny Cash recorded).

And if I could add a fifth face in there, it would be Elizabeth Cotten for her originality.

The Deli: All right, give us the rundown. Where all on this big crazy web can you be found?

Kasey: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kasey-Rausch-Music-Other-Projects
http://www.reverbnation.com/kaseyrausch
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kaseyrauschfriends
http://www.myspace.com/kaseyrausch

The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for The Deli audience?

Kasey: You can have all the love in the world, but if ya ain’t got gratitude (and a lil’ music) it don’t mean much…

You can see Kasey channel all of her compassionate, heartfelt influences while performing her signature brand of rustic Americana on Saturday at Czar at 8:00 pm.  

–Michelle Bacon

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From the song streaming below – a track from Tony Castles‘ upcoming EP "Sharon Stone" – one question comes to mind: has this band become a little less crazy (in a psychedelic kinda way) and a little more soulful all of a sudden? Sneak peaking at the full EP (excerpts for each track can be found here) fortunately dissipates any doubts in this regard – the guys are still out there. So, this rather straight "One Tone Man" track – although very enjoyable – is a little misleading, really.

Tony Castles will perform at Pianos tonight (09.06) and then on September 28 at Delinquency.

Chrome Canyon is the electronic instrumental project of programmer-remixer Morgan Z, a young man who can now also boast the title or "Music Video Director," since he realized the video streaming below for his own single "Branches," which was entirely shot from the roof of his Greenpoint apartment… you don’t need to move much these day to make music AND videos happen, huh? Chrome Canyon’s sound references alternatively the playfulness of the French electro-pop of the aughts (think Daft Punk and Air) and the epic spaciousness of Vangelis. Stones Throw is set to release Chrome Canyon’s debut album, Elemental Themes on Oct. 9  the record will feature a live rhythm section.