Portland

Artist of the Month: Jackson Boone

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Last Wedneday marked the close of another Deli Portland ‘Artist of the Month’ poll. The fans cried loud and a new king has been crowned. Congrats Jackson Boone, your experimental folky psych tunes are the current jam! Stream their brand new album, Starlit, and name your own price to own a digital copy of it here! Produced by Reily Geare of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and accompanied on the recording by members of Radiation City, it’s no wonder that this album has been on repeat in my livingroom since it’s release. 

– Travis Leipzig

New England

Pours takes psychedelia to new heights on “Boomcan”

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Close your eyes and you might drift away in the cloudy soundscape of “Boomcan,” a song lifted from Pours’ self-titled debut LP. On the track, the Vermont duo crafts its own sound by combining chillwave synths, live drums and synth hooks that wouldn’t be out of place in Kid Cudi’s best work. The song was released to Bandcamp on June 25 alongside the similarly trippy, unpredictable “Carry the Oar.” The band is currently crossing the country on tour, but stay tuned to its Facebook page to find out when you can see them next. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

NYC

Johnny Lewis announces debut LP + plays Pianos on 08.12

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Progressive Americana singer/songwriter Johnny Lewis, who fronts a six-piece ensemble that plays chill acoustic jams accompanied by the singer’s calm voice and soothing backup vocals. The former electronic music producer is set to release his self-titled debut LP on 9/23. Opening for bands like The Flaming Lips and EOTO, Lewis plays music that resonates with the jam band sound, even sounding a little like some of Phish’s slower acoustic studio tracks in his song ‘Familiar Chime,’ which you can listen to below. You can catch him and his band at their album release show on 9/8 at Mercury Lounge, or beforehand at Pianos on 8/12 as well as at Friends & Lovers in Brooklyn on 8/19. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

Philadelphia

Ecstatic Vision & Serpent Throne Co-headline at KFN July 22

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Tonight’s Kung Fu Necktie lineup will allow you to unleash your inner beast. Co-headlined by the heavy-rock artillery of locals Ecstatic Vision and Serpent Throne, whom respectively drip with raunchy guitars and intense decibel levels. Ecstatic Vision collectively piece together a living-breathing psychedelic atmosphere that jars the senses with its all-encompassing combination of pounding spaced-out preaching vocals and searing guitar, linking to generate energy rather than overcrowding and suffocating the room. Serpent Throne fuse dual guitar leads, slick extended solos that one up via the space created by a steady pumping back end that lays the foundation for their explosive outbursts. It could be considered a throwback to the unrelenting guitar gods of yesteryear exploring the indulgent while exhibiting finesse and control. Gloomy Chicago rock outfit Mount Salem should fit nicely on this bill, which will be opened by a new local act, containing members of Far-Out Fangtooth & Gondola, called Ancient Creature. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $5, 21+ – Michael Colavita

New England

Vundabar embarks on ambitious U.S. tour

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Boston’s Vundabar is surfin’ the USA with its brand of chilled-out summery rock. After a nearly two-month trek in Europe, the guys will kick off their latest tour with a hometown show at Great Scott in Allston tonight, July 22. New Englanders can also check the band out at Modern Gypsy in Manchester, NH, on July 23; Woodbury Music Shop in Woodbury, CT, on July 24; and The Space in Connecticut on August 8. Or, if you happen to find yourself in Brooklyn, peep them alongside Perennial Reel and Morus Alba on July 27 at Muchmore’s. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

Chicago

Blue Dream

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Blue Dream released their self-titled EP earlier this month. The band is a pure ’70’s psych rock throwback and the sound on the EP is tinged with a heavy and hazy dose of blues.

Philadelphia

New Music Video: “Victoria” – Downtown Club

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We are kind of captivated by the combination of April Harkanson’s ethereal vocals and jagged guitar licks from Downtown Club. In their new video for the single "Victoria," the smoky, black & white aesthetic of the production provides an addtional air of mystery to the post-punk trio. It was directed by Adam Peditto, and the track will appear on the band’s upcoming 7".

NYC

Florida, Bueno, Crown Larks, Baked at The Silent Barn tonight (07.22)

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Tonight (07.22) The Silent Barn is offering an excellent sample of the current Brooklyn musical fauna. Our favorite stone(d) rockers, Baked will be headlining with support by the improvisation-based Bueno and Chicago natives, Crown Larks.  Opening the show is Florida, a band which includes members of PC worship, and a surly, drugged out sense of humor.  Their most recent album is a grungy mix of psychedelic jams, which you can stream below.  Be there. – Jake Saunders

L.A.

Artist to Watch: Dub Thompson

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Dub Thompson hails from Agoura Hills just outside of Los Angeles, but after listening to their album for two straight weeks I can now say with confidence that this is a band that transcends the sunny California vibe. In fact, the recently released 8-song album, ironically titled 9 Songs, operates under a traditional rock band’s instrumentation while working past any form of categorization whatsoever. The album takes influence from rock and roll experimenters like Can and Deerhoof, and psychedelia from The Flaming Lips and Pink Floyd. It reaches towards grunge at many points, and yes you guessed it, even some dub/down-tempo sneaks its way into the mix.

At certain points on the album the experimentations lunge towards what New England bands such as Guerrilla Toss and Sediment Club are reaching for; the noisy, chaotic complexities that may be a mystery to the band as much as the listener. "Dograces", in particular, is a signifier of this eclecticism, beginning with a fairly straight forward grunge rock groove before diving head first into a glaringly wild synth breakdown, one where I can’t help but think of the innovative song structures of The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala. The song ends with an intermission for the album, which is just some lounge music that you might hear when you’re on hold with a phone operator. Proving to be masters of alternating dynamics, unpredictable song structures, and straight-up powerful jams, Dub Thompson has sought after an unpredictable form, one which I believe will reject any expectations from future releases. – Jake Saunders

Nashville

ELEL “40 Watt”

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Eight soulful musicians comprise ELEL, the newest band to hit Nashville. Spearheaded by Ben Elkins, they have just come off the euphoria of Bonnaroo to release their first single “40 Watt”.  Magnetizing from its first few seconds and amped up beats, the electric indie pop is anthemic. It emits good vibes and enthusiasm for long summer days. ELEL’s primary influences include Toro y Moi and Beach House, brought to Ben’s attention by his wife Eliska, whose name in turn influenced the band name. After listening to “40 Watt”, you won’t be able to wait until their debut project, Geode. While the project was slated to be released this summer, the date has been pushed back to the beginning of 2015, due to an opportunity to, according to Elkins, "-do it right." -Sammie Spector

San Francisco

Song Premiere: Split Screens – Stand Alone

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The San Francisco based psychedelic alternative rock music project, Split Screens has given us the honor of premiering their new track, Stand Alone. This mellow and artistically somber song is a great representation of the echoey instrumentation that Split Screens does so well. This project is the creation of songwriter and arranger, Jesse Cafiero who plays multiple instruments on all of his pieces. His music comes across as very thoughtful and introspective, and the vibe of Stand Alone reflects that.

Cafiero’a talent shines and we’re excited to hear his work evolve and will wait impatiently for the full album to emerge. Until then, listen to The Deli Magazine San Francisco’s premiere of Stand Alone! –je