Alison Clancy is a Brooklynite who just can’t help but churn out art, and in this case we are not only referring to music – she fronts two bands: HUFF THIS! and Loving You. A dancer by trade (at the Metropolitan Opera), Alison is also involved in visual arts, and not just simply as a model/dancer. Recently she worked on a cross-continental collaboration with several artists from Brooklyn and Copenhagen to realize the video of Loving You’s song ‘Wasted Love’ (streaming) which was used in the theatrical Street Ballet ‘NINE BY SEVEN’, directed and produced by Danish conceptual artist Marco Evaristti. Tomorrow Friday 07.24 the duo will be bringing their edgy, cello and vocals (and dance) propelled music to 1172 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights Brooklyn.
Matias Anon
Matias Anon has released the first song, "Betty Boozer", from his forthcoming demo EP. The track is a clearly in demo mode, but has a gritty garage feel that is interesting. Anon has a unique vocal delivery that makes me want to hear the full EP.
Louie Louie Cassingle Release Show at JB’s July 23
Fledgling garage-pop outfit Louie Louie will be celebrating the release of its debut cassingle “Out In The Street” this evening at Johnny Brenda’s. The all-female quartet, made up of Emily Robb (of Lantern) on guitar/vox alongside Leslie Burnette on organ/vox, Emily Eichelberger on bass/vox, and Jenna Robb on drums/vox, harken back to the innocent sounds of 60’s groups like The Ronettes and The Shangri-Las, except with amped up instrumentation influenced by the grit and grime of Philly’s DIY scene. Louie Louie will be opening for Robb’s other all-female dream-pop project Myrrias, who will be saying “farewell” to its current drummer Casey Bell (Break It Up). It will be Bell’s last show with the band before heading off to Nevada. They’ll also be joined by good pals Long Spells (featuring members of A Sunny Day in Glasgow, The Fantastic Imagination, Arc in Round, and Public Record) and Bell’s other project Fine Motor with boyfriend Dan Morse (Wigwams, Break It Up). Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ (Photo by Ryan Collerd) – Q.D. Tran
Richmond’s indie pop-rock Griff’s Room Band plays The National, 8/8
Buddies since they attended the College of William and Mary, Richmond-based Griff’s Room Band has a full plate of festivals this summer to bring you their upbeat indie vibes and high-energy performances. Behind every song is a fierce fiddle setting the tone and dutiful drumming and guitars keeping the pace with three vocalists. GRB’s sound is invigorating, mixing bluegrass roots with indie rock and pop influences, creating a sound like a Sublime-Avett Brothers fusion on their new single, "Wasted Time." Check out their most popular track Cornerbooth from last year’s ‘Shut the Case‘ EP. Griff’s Room Band will be jamming at Richmond’s premier music venue, The National, on 8/8, so go check them out! – Jonathan Goodwin
San Fernando Valley’s noise engineers Draag are prepping new material for Los Angeles
San Fernando Valley has this band called Draag, and they don’t play by genre conventions. After splitting with his first band Tremellow, guitarist/vocalist Adrian Acosta started with an idea to get the finest musicians he knew in one room, playing whatever they wound up playing. He admits to SpeakIMG in an interview, "When I started the band, I really had no idea the kind of band I was putting together. I just knew who I wanted on my team." That statement might sound like heresy to a lot of musicians, but in this case it worked out perfectly for Draag, who recently played at the Make Music Pasadena Festival with The Electric West, Hobart W Fink, Tashaki Miyaki, and more.
Their influences go off several deep ends, from Talking Heads to The Pixies and Autechre, and you might hear bits of new wave, post-punk, krautrock, and surf punk. Hell, Traci Lordz‘s opening track "Milk Money" even gets into some a cappella goodness. But Draag aren’t just piecemealing these elements to show their skills (we acknowledge said skills, though) — they’re faithfully honing their own ideas with an arsenal of sounds: high-gain fuzz, ’80s synth presets, oscillating delay, and dance-y drum machines. So far, it’s working out really well for them.
Draag released their debut record Traci Lordz earlier in January, and are currently in the process of booking their fall shows and working on a new release. Listen to "Gown" from Traci Lordz below. – Ryan Mo
An Interview with Benjamin A. Harper
Okay, while the name may not strike you as immediately familiar (or maybe it does, for all the wrong reasons) Benjamin A. Harper might be more recognizable dressed to the nines and in front of his soul supergroup The Magnolia Sons, as he often is around town since their inception in 2011. He has also been working on his own cache of solo material for just as long, music that has finally been recorded and is poised to hit the masses this Friday, July 24th. Titled Get Thee Behind Me, it is a ten-song exploration of his vintage fascination propelled by his no-holds-barred sensibility. Harper is throwing an album release show this Friday at The Basement with Anderson East and Jeseah Wells. While this show has been sold out for a minute, a free in-store performance at Grimey’s has recently been added at 6pm that afternoon, so despairing fans need not fret. We had the opportunity to ask Harper a few questions about the release; read on for a deeper look at the album. -Terra James-Jura
New Music Video: “Jacuzzi” (Feat. Lushlife) – Antwon
If you couldn’t already tell with the sporting of a Nothing band tee in the new music video for his track "Jacuzzi," Cali rapper Antwon has deep roots in Philadelphia, having been part of local hardcore outfit Leather. For his latest single, he also recruited Deli Philly fave Lushlife to spit a few fine-ass bars. The rose-filled video was directed by Gross N Mezzy.
The Auras @ Lee’s Palace
Hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, a 6 piece psycadellic-garage-pop-rock band, The Auras. I recently found a copy of their EP2 from 2014 and was thoroughly impressed with their catchy tripped out jingles. Listening to the 5 song EP takes you on a ride through the solar system of your mind. It keeps your attention as much as it makes you completely zone out. More recently they have released another EP alongside singer Tess Parks for the track "I Believe In Everything" and her lazy vocals in this track fits the Auras…aura. You won’t be able to keep up with all the noise action that comes around so beautifully together. If you’re into the whole shoegaze thing you’ll dig the Auras and you can see them LIVE at Lee’s Palace tomorrow opening up for Ringo Deathstarr. – Kris ‘Big City’ Gies
The Deli Nashville Showcase
Nothing like a little friendly competition!
Empress Of: interview about Gear and Creative Process – Debut LP ‘ME out in September
The two preview singles from Empress Of‘s upcoming album ‘Me’ (‘Kitty Kat,’ streaming below, and ‘Water Water’) reveal how the project of Brooklyn’s songwriter and electronic producer Lorely Rodriguez is evolving from its dream pop beginnings towards a more experimental and mature sound, closer to the avant-electro sensibility of artists like Bjork and Gang Gang Dance. Since Lorely produces her own music, we thought it would be interesting to ask her a few questions about her favorite gear and creative process… we did just that in our sister blog Delicious Audio – link below.
New Music Video: “Kick It” – The Weaks
Check out The Weaks‘s new video for “Kick It,” off their LP Bad Year (The Deli Philly’s May Record of the Month)! The Good Boy Audiovisual-directed video finds the band auditioning and subsequently circumvented by Lame-O Records alumni Modern Baseball. The Weaks will be perform at North Star Bar this Friday, July 24, on a bill that also includes Reggie & The Full Effect as well as Pentimento.
The Letter Yellow lands residency at The Living Room + unveils new single ‘Any Time of Day’
Syncopation. We wonder how many Brooklyn musicians are aware of what that means or sounds like, since it’s a musical figure that’s nothing short of anathema in many genres popular in the neighborhood like garage rock, punk and derivatives. The Letter Yellow‘s latest single ‘Any Time of Day’ (premiering below) is a song about waiting, which is what syncopation is all about. It opens with a groovy, syncopated bass line that immediately conveys sophisticated musicianship and some kind of jazzy influences – which actually aren’t developed in the remainder of the song. A minimal guitar and drum arrangement carries Randy Bergida’s smoky tenor towards a portentous chorus, filled with synthetic brass fanfare and subtle guitar noises. The trio landed a residency at The Living Room, a venue dear to The Deli, which recently moved from Ludlow Street to Metropolitan Ave. in Williamsburg. See them any Monday from July 27 to August 17.