After releasing their debut 7" single, "The Passenger," via Stratosfear Records, The Interest Group have followed it up with self-released five-song record entitled EP 1. You can stream the album in its entirety below. And if you’d like to purchase the EP, you’ll also get a free digital download of their cover by The Network, "The Boys and The Girls."
Review – The Laughing – Oscillation
Indie pop quartet, The Laughing, deliver delightful grooves sure to put a smile on your face. Their sophomore release, Oscillation, contains melodic songs with carefully placed accents – think airy but bold. Take the track “Disappear”, you can’t help but feel liberated as you sing along with Logan Middleton while he repeats, “now I’m free”. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out their latest release, Oscillation. –Written by Gillian Driscoll
The Deli SF’s Guide to Noise Pop – Part 1
The 22nd annual Noise Pop Festival kicks off on February 25th and the week-long party, now a solid San Francisco institution, will be taking over many of the premiere venues in town.They’ll be hosting some of the best independent music acts from our city and around the world. With so many shows to choose from (not to mention all the free happy hours, art shows and gatherings at the new Noise Pop HQ), it’s a tough job to pick and choose which bands to check out. If you’ve looked through the festival’s stacked lineups and still can’t decide which ones to see, we’ve created a definitive Guide to Noise Pop to help aid in your decision making. -Lauren Espina
If You Like Lush, Layered Pop: Social Studies, AAN, Maz and The Moon
The reigning dream pop darlings of The Bay Area, Social Studies has mastered a sophisticated blend of indie pop and experimental rock. Led by the distinctive soulful vocals of Natalia Rogovin, the band meticulously weaves an intricate sonic tapestry that is perfectly encapsulated on its 2012 sophomore album, Developer. Joining Social Studies on Thursday, February 27th at The New Parish in Oakland will be Portland-based experimental rock outfit AAN and Southern California’s indie pop band Max and The Moon.
http://schedule.noisepop.com/event/2014/02/27/social-studies-aan
See also: Broods, ASTR and DJ Aaron Axelsen on Thursday, February 27th at Rickshaw Stop.
If You Like Punk with an Experimental Edge: No Age, Cheatahs, GRMLN, Straight Crimes
No Age is a Los Angeles-based duo that creates an experimental fusion of punk and noise rock. With a razor sharp pop sensibility woven throughout its raw aesthetic, the group traverses the gap between melodic moments and the rough, stripped-down sound of early punk rock. The band will be headlining Brick & Mortar on Saturday, March 1st along with London’s shoegaze punk rocker band Cheatahs, Northern California natives of the dream pop outfit GRMLN and Okland’s Straight Crimes, the new punk project of former High Castle guitarist Erin Allen.
http://schedule.noisepop.com/event/2014/03/01/no-age
See also: Noise Pop Happy Hour CCR Headcleaner, Skate Laws and Bicycle Day on Wednesday, February 26th at Bender’s
If You Know Garage Rock Isn’t "Over": Fresh & Onlys, Cool Ghouls, Sandy’s, Luke Sweeney
With prolific songwriters Tim Cohen and Wymond Miles respectively taking the reigns on lead vocal and lead guitar, The Fresh & Onlys have risen as one of San Francisco’s most beloved garage rock bands. Though some people have prematurely declared the death of garage rock, the band’s 2013 EP, Soothsayer, a raw rock and roll record laced with traces of psych and power pop, is solid proof of the community’s existence. Further evidence lies in the supporting acts of the Onlys’ show this Wednesday, February 26th at Brick & Mortar. Further evidence lies in the supporting lineup of the Onlys’ show this Wednesday, February 26th at Brick & Mortar, which includes San Francisco’s rock and roll torch bearers Cool Ghouls, as well as the California-drenched surf rockers of Sandy’s and bedroom pop artist Luke Sweeney.
http://schedule.noisepop.com/event/2014/02/26/the-fresh-onlys
See also: Bleached, Terry Malts, Mystic Braves and Tropical Popsicle on Friday, March 28 at Rickshaw Stop
NYC Songwriter So Brown announces debut album featuring Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson
Brooklyn singer/songwriter So Brown embraces mellow nostalgic tunes filled with calm, quiet seductiveness and beauty. Her new Bryce Goggin-produced album titled ‘Point LeGere’ (due out April 22nd) will consist of material based on her time living on the coast of Alabama in Point LeGere, with some mention of the struggles of being an LGBT teen, but without diluting her primary passion for good music. Check out the preview single “Dauphin Island,” a sweet childhood still frame about fishing with Grandpa on the barrier island off the coast of Alabama. Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson, who both appear on the album, covered the song around the time that the BP oil spill was taking place. So Brown will debut the new album in a performance at Retrofret in Brooklyn on 3.22, but her official album release show is on April 24th at Rockwood Music Hall. Both are free. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)
Where Is My Mind?: Alex G
Young Magic announces “Breathing Statues” LP + plays SXSW
Indonesian born Melati Malay and Australian national Isaac Emmanuel have traveled the globe in search of musical inspiration, ending up in New York City as their home base. The sound they make together as Young Magic features ornate percussion and ethereal atmospheres. Their debut album “Melt” (featured in Deli Issue #32) incorporated gentle interlocking guitars, celestial vocals, jingling percussion and drone elements. They now return with their sophomore release “Breathing Statues,” scheduled for release May 6th on Carpark Records. Debut single “Fall In” – streaming below – builds around an angular repeating bass pattern, Melati’s angelic vocals float over Issac’s loose, shuffling percussion. Spacious synth textures and other mysterious studio effects contribute to a dreamlike sense of timelessness. Occasional words can be made out, but similar to genre pioneers The Cocteau Twins, the mood and feeling conveyed takes precedence over literal storytelling. The band will play Festival NRMAL this March in Monterrey, Mexico, as well as select showcases at Austin’s SXSW between March 11th and 16th. – Dave Cromwell
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Psych songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
Redgrave @ Double Door
Redgrave (Angie Mead and Stephen Howard) have announced their aggressive plans for 2014. The duo plans to record and release two new songs every two months through out 2014. They have released the first two, "Man Child" and "Child". You can stream them here and download them beginning March 4th on itunes or bandcamp. Once all of the two have been completed the band will collect them all for a special vinyl-only release.
You can catch Redgrave at Double Door on March 1st.
Fat History Month takes its latest record on the road (again)
Fat History Month has a left-of-center sound that awarded them an odd type of celebrity – recognition within DIY music scenes nationwide. Still riding on the hype of its latest release, last April’s Bad History Month, the band will be crossing the country in March, including a three-day stint in Austin, before returning to New England for a show in Bloomfield, CT, on March 22. A duo made up of guitarist/vocalist Sean History Month and drummer Mark History Month, the band’s sound is made up of simple components but made unique thanks to constantly changing percussive patterns and guitar tones, and of course, Sean’s nonchalance as he delivers lines like “It was all me. I’m Bad History. I burnt down Rome, and Chicago too.” As local scenes become permeated with overproduced and overthought bodies of work, it’s nice to hear something a bit more bare-bones, and that’s what makes Fat History Month stand out amongst its peers nationwide. – Jake Reed
New Creepoid Album Available for Streaming
Damn, today has been a great day for new local music! Former Deli Philly Year End Poll Best Emerging Artist Winners Creepoid just premiered their new, explosive self-titled album (No Idea Records) via Spin. You can take a listen to it below. And come out to their hometown release show this Thursday, February 27 at Johnny Brenda’s with Far-Out Fangtooth and Ecstatic Vision!
New Video: “One Time” (Out Of Town Films) – Marian Hill
Electropop duo Marian Hill will be making their live performance debut tomorrow night at The Boot Saddle. But you can get a preview of how they’ll sound right now. The good dudes from Out Of Town Films just posted their session with Marian Hill performing their single "One Time" that was recorded at Haverford Middle School’s auditorium, where old friends producer Jeremy Lloyd and singer Samantha Gongol first met (which we’re assuming was a weird and wonderful experience for them – it would certainly be for us).
From The Deli NYC’s submissions: The Karma Exchange plays Rockwood on 03.11
The Karma Exchange have a unique way of discussing things most of us are familiar with. For lead singer Randy Runyon, America is ‘mellow yellow’ (in ‘Lucky Ricochet’) and girlfriends are in love with anyone sharing your name (in opener ‘Speaking in Tongues’).
In the band’s latest full-length ‘Neon Translation,’ the group offers a lot of challenges to life’s usual comforts. And how else to do that… but with the guitars loud, and the drums out for the kill. ‘Neon Translation’ is the group’s most ambitious set of rockers yet. From a Brooklyn-based quartet that’s a little bit pop heaven, a little bit brawling rock n’ roll, it’s good to know our borough still hosts a band that knows how to crank up the dial when it needs to. Listen to single ‘Lucky Ricochet’ below, and see them at Rockwood’s stage 2 on March 11. Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)
New Video: “Punk Rock Girl” (The Dead Milkmen Cover) – Dominic Angelella (of DRGN King)
Root Down In The Shadow‘s Cover Club is back with a new session from Dominic Angelella (of DRGN King). Below is his stripped-down rendition of The Dead Milkmen‘s classic "Punk Rock Girl" from 1988’s Beelzebubba. We know that you know the words. Feel free to sing along (even if you are at work).