NTNT are gearing up for the release of their newest EP, And Then the Moon, this Friday at the Alhambra Theater. The EP has an epic and professional feel that sets it appart from previous releases. With a unique cadence and rhythm bathed in melody and rich sound, each track stands strong on their own. But it’s the great care and thought evident in the lyrics that cause the entire EP to pop. Track three, ‘Getchya So Good’ is mellow like a warm spring day and serves as a great anchor to the more upbeat songs on the album. While NTNT have already made And Then the Moon available online, the EPs official release party is this Friday at Alhambra Theater featuring Rare Monk & Neighbors and is open to all ages. Doors open at 8:30, show starts at 9pm and tickets are $10 at the door, but if you buy two or more tickets in advance (by today, 2.27) they’re only $5 a pop. – Cory Huennekens
Philadelphia
Posted on:
The Districts Opening for White Denim at Union Transfer Feb. 27
I think, by now, the rise of The Districts has been well-documented on The Deli’s site. If you still haven’t taken a listen to our Philly Emerging Artist of 2013, then you really need to catch up and do it now. But I really think that the best way to experience them is live, which you can do tonight when their tour with Austin rockers White Denim rolls into Union Transfer. And if you plan on going to SXSW, you’ll also be able to find them at numerous showcases this year as they wow the crowds with their youthful exuberance and wise-beyond-their-years songwriting. Before you do all this, check out our recent interview with The Districts’ talented yet humble frontman Rob Grote HERE. Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., 8:30pm, $15, All Ages (Photo by Caitlin McCann) – H.M. Kauffman
NYC
Posted on:
From The Deli NYC’s submissions: NYC Folk Rockers The Vansaders
‘Stuck in New York City’ is the perfect title for the debut release by The Vansaders. A y’alternative sound that brings the stomp and holler attitude south of the mason-dixon up to the northeast. Indeed, these sounds seem lost in this city, but this provides an open road for an aural escape. With rock n’ roll and songwriting sensibility comparable to Deer Tick, The Vansaders are able to vary style enough to keep the party going. The title track ‘Stuck in New York City’ is poised to be an anthem for any good ole’ boy transplants, or even passers through; who end up getting stuck.
The Vandsaders are playing an acoustic show at Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ on March 6th and then an electric show in full formation at The Gutter in Brooklyn on March 22. – Joe Fish
This band submitted their music for coverage here.
Philadelphia
Posted on:
New Track: “Morning” – Abi Reimold
Abi Reimold might tag herself as "folk girl" on her Bandcamp page, but she manages to find her inner rock goddess on the song "Morning" (below). It’s the opening track on her new EP Forget. We’re still finding similarities between her and our folky favorite, Angel Olsen, who has also been rockin’ out on her latest LP Burn Your Fire For No Witness.
L.A.
Posted on:
Video: Fuzz “Raise”
Fuzz is the biting power trio of Charles Moonhart, Chad Ubovich and garage rock prince Ty Segall, keeping true to their very apt name by channeling the more psychedelic side of garage rock. In the video for their banging single "Raise", which was one of the highlights on their self-titled LP last year, the band is shown in full performance mode on a tv screen as a child becomes morally corrupted by their jamming antics; not really, but he does turn into a monster. Director Matt Yoka had this to say about the video: "I felt it was my responsibility as a filmaker to warn parents that Fuzz is going to turn children into monsters". There’s no better way to describe it, isn’t there? Fuzz is available now through In the Red.
Nashville
Posted on:
The David Mayfield Parade at Exit/In TONIGHT
While his talent and charisma are renown in their own right, David Mayfield might be more readily associated with The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, or little sister Jessica Lea Mayfield. Of his solo career, Mayfield has earned the title of “The Wild Man of Americana.” “Human Cannonball” from his second album “Good Man Down” unfolds from a soft folk number to a sweeping orchestral movement, with the story echoed in the way the fiddle winds its way through the song. The video is a seamless work of art, but probably only half as entertaining as catching Mayfield live. This Thursday promises to be a great night of music, between The David Mayfield Parade, Those Darlins and Shakey Graves, enhanced by the exclusive availability of Lagunitas’ Couch Trippin’ Fusion Beer. This is the band’s last show before they head to Austin for SXSW, and free for those that RSVP here, so there’s no excuse to miss it! -Terra James-Jura
Portland
Posted on:
Album Review: Future Runs Magnetic by Battleme
In 2009, singer-songwriter Matt Drenik made Portland his home. Along with, he brought a soulful voice that blends perfectly into blues based, alternative rock n roll. Matt did not waste anytime making music in this city and quickly formed Battleme, who are set to release their second album, Future Runs Magnetic on the newly formed label, El Camino Records.
The first, self-titled album is an electric form of its current identity with highly technical productions (produced by Thomas Turner of Ghostland Observatory) and featured a large variety of sounds throughout. The new album has been a work in the making as Matt brought in a team of musicians to form Battleme and evolve the sound into its cohesive alt-rock state.
Future Runs Magnetic starts off with the single, “Just Weight”, a the bass driven ballad with heavy drums that hammer bridges into the chorus and back to the verses. This dictates the pace for the rest of the album, it thrives on layering electric guitars and screeching vocals. The production is raw and clean to the point where you can imagine yourself standing in the studio, watching the recording. The song “We Get Out” starts out with a happy piano riff and then explodes into a rock anthem along the same lines as Andrew WK and you can feel the energy build the whole way through.
As with the first album, it’s Matt’s hollowing voice that ties each song and the entire album together. While the guitars give the sound a post-grunge edge, the vocals show tribute to a classic rock backbone that truly makes for an original sound. The Future Runs Magnetic album release party is taking place at Club 21 this Saturday so come out and see why Portland is lucky to have this band on its roster. – Colin Hudson
NYC
Posted on:
Album review: Maria the Mexican – Moon Colored Jade
There are certain ways music reviewers and lovers describe bands to other people. They will often say, “It’s like XXX and XXX had a baby,” or “It’s rock/soul, etc.” This review will not include a sentence like that; I found myself dumbstruck trying to find points of connection for a stranger to understand the way Maria the Mexican sounds. It would take too many references to make sense. There are folk-pop songs, interpretations of traditional Mexican songs, and blues-driven numbers.
The debut record from Maria the Mexican, Moon Colored Jade, is full of super tight harmony from sisters Maria and Tess Cuevas. The Cuevas sisters bring experience from performing in Mariachi Estrella while they were growing up, an all-female mariachi band co-formed by their grandmother Teresa Cuevas. The album also abounds in beautiful bass lines supplied by Garrett Nordstrom, abundant and persistent horns, and forceful and delicate guitar by Jason Riley.
The album initially draws you in with its first track “Rock and Sway,” a folk-pop song with blues underpinnings courtesy of Nordstrom’s bassline. Lest you believe this is a folk-pop record, “Bring It On Body” weaves the sisters’ harmony through a strong R&B and funk vibe. Carrying on this note and bringing Patrice Pike in for good measure, I highly recommend listening to “Sigh.” Pike brings a low end to the harmony of the Cuevas sisters, and that depth lends a force and earnestness to the song.
The last type of song you find on this record is a reinterpreted traditional Mexican bolero as well as an original composition in Spanish influenced by the bolero. “Besame Mucho” is the probably the most recorded bolero of all time. Everyone from The Beatles to Connie Francis to Andrea Bocelli and Diana Krall have recorded the tune, but Maria the Mexican makes the version its own, with upbeat pop and mariachi influences. With Moon Colored Jade, Maria the Mexican has delivered something unique that keeps you listening.
—Angela Lupton
Angela is a co-founder and the executive director of Midwest Music Foundation.
Congrats also to Maria the Mexican on being The Deli KC’s February Artist of the Month!
You can catch Maria the Mexican at the final fundraiser for MidCoast Takeover, this Saturday at The Brick. The band will be performing at 12:30, after Chris Meck & the Guilty Birds, Katy Guillen & the Girls, and The Philistines. Show starts at 10 p.m., $10. Facebook event page.
San Francisco
Posted on:
Dancer and Gravy’s Drop Play a Free Show at Hemlock Tavern TONIGHT
Dancer and Gravy’s Drop are playing for free tonight at the Hemlock Tavern! Dancer is a hook-filled power pop band that also shares in the tradition of ’77 punk artists like Johnny Thunders. This month, the band released its newest 7" dubbed Bitchin’ Heat on Grazer Records. Managing to be saccharine sweet, but with an aggressive edge – the song Heart Failure off their newest release is worth checking out.
Borrowing from bands of the ’50s and ’60s, Gravys Drop is pure, unabashed rock n’ roll. Last year, the band came out with their LP, Gumball on Burger Records, Spot-on Sound and Cut-Rate Records. It’s packed to the brim with solid jams, that are influenced by doo-wop and surf rock of yore.
Make sure you make it out to the Hemlock Tavern tonight! – Erin Dage
Chicago
Posted on:
Red Cent @ The Burlington
Back in December we mentioned the release of the new album, Strange Machine, from Red Cent and posted their video for "Hard To Say".
You can catch Red Cent at The Burlington on March 8th with Sagan of Brother George and Milwaukee’s Midnight Reruns.
Philadelphia
Posted on:
The Deli Philly’s Year End Poll – Top Performers: Waxahatchee
By now, you should all know Waxahatchee, a.k.a. Katie Crutchfield. Named after the lake on which her family owns a summer home, Waxahatchee captured the attention of critics and fans all over the world with her lyrical magnetism and honesty on 2013’s breakout hit Cerulean Salt (Don Giovanni). The heartfelt sadness is palpable throughout her latest release. Her music has come to embody the bizarre mixture of calm and panic that comes from being alone, while hints of Crutchfield’s punk rock roots are able to bleed through the distortion of tracks like “Misery Over Dispute” and “Coast to Coast.” Though her time spent in West Philly was short-lived, I am sure the city and the people that she met while here will continue to influence her musical journey for many years to come. (You can view the rest of The Deli Philly’s Best of 2013 Emerging Artists list HERE.) – Maggie Grabmeier
NYC
Posted on:
A touch of NYC insanity at SXSW: Ken South Rock
If you’re looking for a powerful – and somewhat insane – Japanese/American contemporary rock and roll blend, you’ve come to the right place. Tokyo’s Ken Minami and Brooklyn’s Adam Amram make up the duo Ken South Rock (hard emphasis on the "rock" part). Their most popular song ‘Hold On,’ (video below), is an optimistic track that takes the loud/quiet/loud antics to the extreme. It’s about overcoming the challenges faced during their time witnessing the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. The band’s energetic performances are something to be witnessed in person. They are currently on a massive national tour and will be playing a few showcases at SXSW this year from March 12th-14th. – Michael Haskoor