NYC

Cigarbox Planetarium

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When you listen to the fresh pops of percussion from Cigarbox Planetarium you can’t help but be intrigued by the fresh sounds of their instrumentals. Comprised of members Andy Charneco and Deanna Pineda, Cigarbox Planetarium have been playing shows around the DC area since 2008. Creating both their own unique compositions as well as reviving old hits such as “My Funny Valentine” with their reminiscent tones, one can’t argue that Cigarbox Planetarium is something different. Often playing shows with Charneco on guitar and Pineda on keyboards, the two make for an intriguing combination that oftentimes makes one think of them as a more “jazzy” and “courageous” version of Daft Punk. You won’t want to miss out on experiencing Cigarbox Planetarium, their next show is at The Windup Space in Baltimore on June 22nd. –Rohan Khanna

NYC

Molly and the Zombies (Gaslight Anthem side project) play Redbull event at The Bell House on 06.05

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You’re on a Brooklyn rooftop with a couple of guys you met at a TV on the Radio concert last night; smoking bogies and sipping on Franzia while you gaze at the sunset behind the City Skyline. Yes folks, New York based Molly and the Zombies, headed by The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon, are certainly hanging on to that city-folk aesthetic, pioneered by Bob Dylan and Neil Young oh so long ago. It seems as if the inherent nostalgia of New York City will never escape the acoustic guitar-wielding lover-boy’s heads, and we’re ok with that. Check out the band’s single "Sketchy" (streaming below), and see them at The Bell House on June 5th within the Redbull Sound Select series. – Jake Saunders

L.A.

Video: Globelamp, “Breathing Rituals”

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Elizabeth Le Fey first made an impression with her self-released EP Star Dust late last year, a lo-fi affair that, even recorded on an 8-track, still brims with a haunting eloquence. It gave us a fuller picture of her mystifying presence, a cosmic starlet whose psychedelic folk is sickly sweet and strange. Le Fey has since furthered the scope of that EP with her first full-length of the same name, and the first promo cut off it, "Breathing Rituals", perfectly exemplifies her freewheeling spirit. The track is coated with an ethereally sensual atmosphere, with a sauntering Le Fey going through a series of mystical rites as its hazy, slow-motion psych lures you with its mantric chord pattern.

Star Dust is out now through cassette and all digital outlets via Gazelle Recordings. 

NYC

Weekly Features: WOLVVES play The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F. Electro stage on 06.14 at Spike Hill

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It’s hard to get close to electronic trio WOLVVES, shrouded in mystery as they like to be. Quivering synths, harmonized and fused vocals, the triplets take their classical training in piano, guitar, harpsichord, drums, and voice, chuck it in to their personal obsessions with synthesizers, drum machines, analogue tape and a host of buttons and beats, breaking down barriers in genre to create what they call ‘witch step.’ It’s an effort to listen to – this isn’t sunny afternoon music – but keep at it and on every go a new sound or state unfurls itself at, lucid and angry in shadowy ecstatic agitation. Bristling along before a detonation, it always feels a little terrifying, but utterly beguiling. – Photo by Laruphoto

LINKS: Read Francesca Baker’s interview with WOLVVES
GIGS: See WOLVVES live at The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F./Northside Fest Electro Stage on 06.14 at Spike Hill

Philadelphia

Josh Jones Opening for Jimmy Whispers at PhilaMOCA June 4

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Univox‘s Josh Jones will be performing his new solo material tonight at PhilaMOCA opening for Chicago lo-fi crooner Jimmy Whispers. For those out there wondering when you’ll be hearing from Univox again, it doesn’t sound like any time soon or at all so this evening will be your best opportunity to hear Jones’ captivating baritone vocals. When I ran into him at our last Deli-sponsored event with Night Panther, Pattern is Movement and Commonwealth Choir, Jones indicated that the band is done. Below is a wrestling-themed promotional video for tonight’s main event, starring Univox drummer Kent Boersma. Also battling on the bill this evening will be garage-psych outfit Time Hitler and the Assholes From Space. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 8pm, $7 – $10 Donation, All Ages – Q.D. Tran

Philadelphia

Photo Recap: Modern Baseball at The Barbary

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Modern Baseball played two extremely sold-out shows at The Barbary on Sunday to kickoff their headlining tour with Tiny Moving Parts, The Hotelier, and Sorority Noise. The crowd was amped for all the opening bands, jumping and singing along. This was especially true for The Hotelier, who didn’t play their crowd favorite Avril Lavigne cover, but did give a shout out to local booker and scene staple Ruben Polo, who is putting on a three-day festival in August, two days of which are happening at The Barbary. The Modern Baseball set was wild and fun despite the fact that singer-guitarist Brendan Lukens was playing in some cut off pajama pants with a nasty case of pneumonia. He is so sick that he will be missing the first part of the tour, but Cameron Boucher of opening band Sorority Noise, as well as Old Gray, will be filling in. The talented Jessica Flynn was on hand to take pictures of the whole shebang. Check out the entire album HERE.

Philadelphia

New Track: “Bleep” (Demo) – GÜN

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Check out the first recordings of GÜN! The krautrock project (complete with umlauts) is made up of PITT (a.k.a. Justin Pittney of Moon Women/Residuels), UFO (a.k.a. Nick Kulp of Far-Out Fangtooth/Creepoid), and JEM (a.k.a. Jen Zimmerman of Far-Out Fangtooth/Ancient Creature). The demo, called "Bleep," was recorded live on a pocket recorder at Pittney’s studio, Space Command, in late winter 2012/2013. They are planning to release material on cassette late this year. "GÜN is: AN IN-ACTIVE REALITY".

Portland

Alameda ‘Live From the Banana Stand’ Out 6.5.14

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Thursday, June 5th, Alameda play at Mississippi Studios celebrating the release of their Live From the Banana Stand album! The band admits that they’ve been “holed up” prepping new material and recording, which means we’re about to witness a mass exodus of pure, pent-up creative energy… you’ll want to see this.

Banana Stand Media is an underground house venue/recording space/record label, known for their epically intimate live recorded and filmed shows, and their resulting live albums and video content. Alameda’s own front-person Stirling Myles referred to Banana Stand as simply “too good to be true,” referencing this upcoming release as “a document of a special moment.”

About Alameda: I would refer to them fondly as “dense folk.” Their list of influences is vast, ranging from “epic metal, noise and hardcore to jazz and pop,” all channeled into incredibly dynamic, orchestral folk tunes with sweeping strings and even a clarinet in the mix. They’ll share the stage at Mississippi Studios Thursday with fellow local folk acts Balto and Bevelers. In preparation for the show, Check out the video of Alameda playing "Little Lives" from their performance at Banana Stand. 

– Ted Jamison*

NYC

The Teen Age unveils video for ‘Stop’ + releases EP on 06.04 at Pianos

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"Normal" people should visit some day one of these 24/7 rehearsal spaces in Gowanus or Greenpoint or Bushwick to understand what kind of conditions these "not-entirely-normal" people known as Brooklyn musicians commit themselves to for the sake of pursuing their dream. Or… they should simply watch this new video by The Teen Age, entirely shot in what most locals in the know would consider a "rather large" rehearsal studio – we are not kidding, some of these rooms are smaller than closets. The band in question delivers agarage rock sound with an epic vocal flavor – if you enjoy these silly abstractions, you can think of The Ramones led by Joe Strummer. See the video below and don’t miss them live at Pianos tomorrow night (06.04)

P.S. Wow, isn’t that huge reverb on the vocals… something?!

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

NYC

Rom (formerly The Dead Women) release new album Soda Christ.

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DC’s post-punk trio The Dead Women have changed their name to Rom, and released a new record called Soda Christ. Recorded and mixed by Chris Freeland at Beat Babies in Woodstock, MD, Soda Christ has been anticipated by fans since a teaser demo EP was released earlier in the year. This is Rom’s first full length, and second official release, following 2013’s Vier EP (as The Dead Women). Vier was a promising 4 song collection of tight post-punk, and Soda Christ delivers fully on that promise, and then some.

The album is tight and catchy from start to finish, sounds gorgeous, and will please both fans that have enjoyed their live shows, and interest new listeners. The sound owes a lot to bands like Joy Division and Wire, and Mark McInerney’s buttery smooth vocal melodies fall somewhere between Ian Curtis and Morrissey. This is not at all to say that the band is a one trick pony. Rom covers a lot of sonic ground on the album. The guitar tones are varied, rich and sweet, and Sean McCauley’s bass, and Mark Pry’s drums form foundations that range from melodic and dancey, compelling one to jiggle and sway, to simmering intesity. The band isn’t afraid to stray frequently from their more obvious influences, and do so without a hiccup, making fuzzy twee indie-pop on Micro, crispy pop-punk on Name, and anthemic (yet mellow) 90’s flavored indie-rock on Old Bull Lee (for which they are joined on vocals by Jenn Wasner, of Wye Oak–who also appears on opening track Jerry Princess Taste).

Soda Christ is solid, full of single-worthy tracks from start to finish. It’s a fantastic opening statement for a skillful new band comfortably embracing a style (and name). Look for shows from Rom this summer and fall, and check out some of the new tracks below. –Natan Press