San Francisco

Take a Listen: Funk Farm Split Single

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Whoever said psych rock should have stayed in the ‘60s? Certainly not us. The newest split between San Francisco’s own Electric Shepherd and  Fox and The Law is a musical collaboration that has definitely caught our eye. At over 7 minutes, Electric Shepherd’s side featuring “ Glass Devil Blues is epic. The heavy, psych-infused garage rock track is powerful in its execution. Like many psych bands, the song wouldn’t be complete without getting a sludgy jam session or two in. The guys in Fox and The Law may know a few things about heartache, as indicated by its song Drops of Water. The bands portion of the split rings in as loud yet fuzzy, with gut wrenching blues vocals layered over. Needless to say, we’re digging this split.

Give this free download courtesy of the Funk Farm music collective a listen! –Erin Dage

New England

Violent Mae switches up the pace on self-titled debut LP

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The story of how Hartford-based Violent Mae came to be is an interesting one. Becky Kessler asked Floyd Kellogg to act as producer for her first solo album with no intention of collaborating further. Their chemistry in the studio was instantaneous, and the two quickly joined forces to create their self-titled debut LP, released in November. At times, their music is spacy, textural and discordant. For instance, take a listen to the eerie climactic bridge of the slow-moving “Man In The Country.” The pace picks up on other songs, such as the catchy indie-pop gem “Hole In My Heart.” Kessler’s deep vocals separate her from other female indie singers, sounding like a less dramatic, more authentic Lana del Rey. Download the album on Bandcamp now and check out Violent Mae at BAR in New Haven, CT, on January 15. – Jake Reed

Philadelphia

Psychic Teens Making Your Ears Ring in the New Year at The Boot & Saddle Jan. 3

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After a breakout year on the national scene in 2013 with their full-length album COME (SRA Records), Psychic Teens are ready to make your ears ring in the New Year with a touch of tinnitus when they take advantage The Boot & Saddle’s sweet sound system tonight with their bloodcurdling guitar riffs, thunderous drums and ominous, horror-punk vocals. The gothic post-punk trio will also have new pressings of their latest LP on opaque blue vinyl available. It will be an evening of local basement dwellers surfacing with noisy rock four-piece Ladder Devils and post-hardcore outfit Faking adding to the degeneration of your hearing. The Boot & Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St., 9pm, $8, 21+ – Alexis V.

Philadelphia

Fletcher VanVliet & Ron Gallo Opening for Franz Nicolay & David Dondero at Eris Temple Jan. 3

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I know. It’s kind of brutal outside, but if your in the West Philly neighborhood of Eris Temple and want to avoid getting cabin fever, then throw on your galoshes or whatever you wear to get around this mess because Franz Nicolay (ex-The Hold Steady & World/Inferno Friendship Society) and David Dondero (who was named by NPR’s All Things Considered in 2006 as one of the “best living songwriters” alongside artists that you might’ve heard of like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits) will be in town. They’ll be joined by Fletcher VanVliet, who fronts oddball West Philly folk gang, On the Water. His rasp and howl will cut through the wintry night like a beacon of hope for all to come in and get warm. Also doing his solo thang is Toy Soldiers’ “song and dance man” Ron Gallo. Props to those who don’t live in West Philly or University City that make it out! Eris Temple, 602 S. 52nd St., $8, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman
 
NYC

Deli Best of NYC 2013 – Open Submission Results for REVIVAL ROCK

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We can finally begin to publish the results of the open submissions for our Best of NYC 2013 Poll for Emerging Artists, starting with the Revival Rock category! FYI, all our local branches are running a Year End Poll right now, so check them out in the next 3-4 weeks (only Austin has released some results so far).

Since in NYC we always get hundreds of submissions for this yearly poll, we organize these results by genre. It’s the first year that we feature a Revival Rock category (it used to be bundled together with Alt Rock), which includes mostly Garage, Punk and Classic Rock bands.

As always, more than 2 bands deserved to go through to the poll’s next phase, but unfortunately we have to put a limit to the band that qualify (we already have too many!). Here we go then: 

Total submissions in this category: 13

Artists Qualified to the next stage (Readers’ Poll, starting around 01.15):

1. Whiskey Bitches – 8.33
2. Wyldlife – 7.83

Honorable Mentions (scores above 6.5):

Sharkmuffin, Sylvana Joyce & The Moment, Swanky Tiger, WIFEY, Crazy Pills.

Jurors: Charise Sowells (Deli Austin), Terra James-Jura (Deli Nashville), Paolo De Gregorio (Deli NYC)

Stay tuned for more results, and then for the final poll – this is just the beginning of a month long process!

The Deli’s Staff

Portland

Thanks Record Release at Mississippi Studios 1.4

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With all the year-end music floating around the blogosphere, people tend to forget that January and February come heavy with great new music. 2014 is no exception as the six piece Thanks releases Blood Sounds at Mississippi Studios this Saturday. Thanks is a band that is constantly walking the line between being the most soulful band in indie rock and the most indie band in soul. Their music is surrounded by minor progressions and highlighted by the sweet melodies by vocalist Jimi Hendrix. Probably not the first Jimi Hendrix that comes to your mind but she is just as powerful. Her voice, bass, and drums play new-age soul comparable to the likes of Lily Allen and the guitarist comes through with protruding bluesy-indie riffs channel names such as Tapes N Tapes. And while all this is going on the keyboards and the cello provide calmness make their music so easy to listen to. – Colin Hudson

NYC

Whiskey Bitches top The Deli’s Year End Poll Revival Rock Open Submissions

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The female Brooklyn punk rock trio known as Whiskey Bitches will remind you why you like punk rock so much:  their drunken party rock and heavy guitar riffs pack a punch that will knock you to the floor. The trio, composed of Kate Black, Madge & Laura J. are set to headline Bar Matchless in Brooklyn on 1/11 with The Mystic Underground, The Johnny Pumps and Girls Love Cigarettes. Listen to their song “Money Gone Drinking” below via Bandcamp! For a band that likes to keep it simple, they sure have a knack for songwriting. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

NYC

Wyldlife qualifies for The Deli’s Best of NYC 2013 Poll’s final stage (Revival Rock category)

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Whilst some of us were quaffing back bubbles and celebrating the start of 2014 (14?!) New York’s Wyldlife were back in 1979, unwrapping their newly purchased The Buzzcocks records and wondering when The Clash might make it over the pond. Before slicking back their hair, downing some beers, chucking on a leather jacket, shredding up their six strings and having a party in Alphabet City. From debut ‘The Nicotine’ EP to their first full length ‘The Time Has Come To Rock’n’Roll’ the band have not hidden their passion for making sweaty, scuzzy, irreverent music, and having a damn good time, fearless and thrusting as they do so. Opening track ‘The Right’ from the latest record kicks off with the definite and defiant statement that ‘at 10pm it’s time to party,’ not fooling anyone that Wyldlife ever stopped their rampage and reverie. Loose morals, tight chords, rocking melodies and brash attitude. Roll on the seventies. – Francesca Baker

Chicago

Top 10 Tracks of 2013: #1

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JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound became one of the more loved and respected bands in Chicago in 2011 with the release of Want More via the local label Bloodshot Records. However, the band’s soulful sound to a leap into the national eye in 2013 with Howl. That leap had a lot to do with the band’s catchy and familiar sound, but it is was helped by the fantastic video for "Rouse Yourself" which featured Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson.

Austin

Open Submissions Featured Artist #1 – Criminal Birds

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Criminal Birds came out on top in our Open Submissions portion of the Year End Poll with their precise but ethereal rock music. The 4 piece band out of Denton, Texas stole my heart at first listen and I’m super proud and excited for their accomplishments this year. Check out their sound and remember to cast your vote for your favorite band in our poll this month! -Written by Charise Sowells

Chicago

Top 10 Tracks of 2013: #2

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There may not have been a more buzzed about band in Chicago in 2013 than On An On. Just before departing to make big waves at SXSW, the band released their debut album Give In via City Slang. Several tracks from the album have found a growing audience but the track that seems to have the most staying power is the pounding anthem "The Hunter".

Chicago

Top 10 Tracks of 2013: #3

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Houses (Dexter Tortoriello and Megan Messina) saw the release of of their sophomore album, Quiet Darkness (Downtown Records) in 2013. "The Beauty Surrounds" was the album first single and one of the most beautiful pop songs of 2013.