True indie rock, with the focus on the rock, isn’t as common in 2016 as it once was, but local band Polymer has been bucking that trend for the past few years with their brand of music that’s all guitars, drums, vocals and little else. To some synth lovers, that description might sound negative, but we at The Deli think there’s something to be said for a band that cuts itself down to the barest essentials needed and comes out of the studio with a finely prepared track. "Avery South" is fun and fast in the strumming, pure slacker in the vocals and lyrics, and has that good janglefuzz from your favorite 90s/2000s indie bands that you still jam all the time; in other words, it’s good stuff for anyone into indie rock. Listen below, rockists of the hill country.
Fog Father make their video debut with “RIP”
Treefort is finally here and many Portland bands are making the trek out to Boise to represent our city. Among them is the infectious indie pop of Fog Father, who’ve got some great things in the works. Last night was their tour kick off show at Rontoms and today they’re making their music video debut with "RIP," off their Razzle Dazzle EP. The video is just at trippy as the song itself and a fair indication of how fun they are onstage.
Fog Father will be rockin a double play day at Treefort, playing the Gritty Birds Showcase with fellow Portlanders Bitch’n & And And And as well as their official Treefort performance at the Linen Building at 7:30pm. If you missed them last night and won’t be in Idaho, enjoy "RIP" below.
-Cervante Pope
BAD REED – LIVE AT HOMEGROWN!
Bad Reed are a 4 piece alt-rock group from Brantford. They have an interesting mix up in their tunes. Their self titled EP was released in June of last year. The track "Punch It" has grungy guitars wailing away over top of a tight rhythm section but the synth and vocal work is what really stood out for me. The singer has some Grace Slick vocal action that’s slightly mesmerizing. Add in the synth and your mind will be gently spinning throughout the track. A good mix of catchy and uniqueness coming from Bad Reed. You can see them LIVE at Homegrown Hamilton on Friday March 25th. – Kris Gies
XPRIME – NIAGARA FALLS POP ROCK
3 guys, music and ties…kinda like 5 Guys Burgers and Fries…except these 3 guys can all sing…really well! Xprime are a pop rock outfit from Niagara Falls. They’ve been making a decent buzz around here since the release of their latest album "PM". Not only are these guys extremely proficient at their individual instruments they can all sing and harmonize together damn near perfectly. It’s very impressive to see them pull off their 3 part harmonies live. Their tunes will make you wanna dance and that’s a fact. Listen to "Dance Tonight" from their album "PM" and go see Xprime live on Thursday March 24th at Adelaide Hall. – Kris Gies
Song Premiere: Wilder “Stay Away”
We are proud to be able to premiere the new single, "Stay Away", from the pop duo Wilder. This is the work of Kristen Donnelly and Matthew Murray. The single is being released on March 22nd with an EP follwing this summer. This is first track is a soaring anthem detailing the difficulty and emotion surrounding heartbreak.
Dam Gila “The Undertow”
Dam Gila (aka Adam Gil of YAWN) has released a video for his new track "The Undertow". The track comes from his new EP, Face The Fun which will be released by Joyful Noise on April 1st.
Krust Toons: “When Did Punk Rock Become So Safe?” by Teddy Hazard
Krust Toons: "When Did Punk Rock Become So Safe?" by Teddy Hazard – please feel free to drop him a line at teddandthehazards@gmail.com if you dig or have any funny ideas. You can also check out more of his illustrations and animation shorts HERE.
New Track: “Love Buzz” (Nirvana Cover) – Circa Survive
Punk/metal label Robotic Empire has honored Nirvana the last couple of years by releasing a tribute album on Record Store Day. In the past, the record label has tackled classics In Utero and Nevermind, and this year, it has brought us Doused in Mud, Soaked in Bleach, with some of its favorite artists like Beach Slang and Young Widows taking on Nirvana’s debut record, Bleached. Below is the first sampling from the upcoming release; Circa Survive sharing their explosive cover of "Love Buzz".
The Britanys unveil new single “Basketholder” + play Baby’s All Right on 04.20
Two guitar electric rock with underground panache is always welcome in NYC. Bushwick-based rockers The Britanys present a quirky mix of those attributes via current single “Basketholder" (streaming). By securing producer Gordon Raphael for this track, the band was obviously looking for a similar sonic clarity found in his work with The Strokes nearly 16 years ago. Defined riffs morph from tandem structured second guitar chord progressions to chugging counter polyrhythms. Vocals are delivered in feel that appear to echo Lou Reed’s street lingo sensibility with Julian Casablancas’ early sonic effects. While lyrics lack cohesive storytelling and are seemingly unrelated ideas strung together, perhaps that’s the intended point. “Well I’ll be your basketholder – if you’ll be my girl” speaks to something more universally relatable than a simple literal statement. Incorporated within the three minute length are a number of catchy hooks that establish urgency through staccato drum patterns and double-time emphasis. The lyric “but I can’t take it much longer, this running around the city all day” leads up to the tracks ultimate structural peak, where music and words come together with emotional force. The band play a headline show at Baby’s All Right on April 20. – Dave Cromwell
New Track: “Diamond Marrow” – Sing, Bird of Prey
Sing, Bird of Prey masterfully takes us back in time with the band’s new track, "Diamond Marrow." The wonderfully-crafted psych-pop/rock ditty is the first single off the group’s upcoming LP, and it originally appeared on the Seagreen Records compilation Singles on Valentine’s Day 2016 earlier this year. Sing, Bird of Prey’s full-length album was recorded and produced by Kyle Pulley at Headroom Philadelphia.
Weekend Workout: Killer shows tonight (03.20) at Soft Junk and East Room
If you just so happen to be at the narrow crossroads of "training for a marathon" and "working on my PBR shotgunning speed," then boy do we have a game plan for you.
You’re gonna want to start out at Soft Junk, where Fly Golden Eagle is kicking things up at 7:30. They’re playing a stacked bill with solo sets from Peter Stringer-Hye and Joey Plunkett (of Promised Land Sound and JP5, respectively), with Lionlimb rounding the night out. Hang out there and take full advantage of that BYOB designation until about 9, when you’ll need to start checking in with your pals who couldn’t be assed to leave their apartments for the early show and instead skipped right to the Cold Lunch Recordings-produced show over at The East Room. That’s where you’ll be able to indulge in some delicious 60’s fetishism with The Jag, Crease Reader, and Lasso Spells. From there it’s up to you to play it by ear, but the whole jaunt between the two is only 0.6 miles and I know there’s at least one little booze stop between the two to keep you stocked with the vitamins you need.
What we’re looking at is basically a de facto locals-only Gallatin Ave music fest tonight, so check it out and say ‘sup to the buddies you almost definitely have in one or more of the bands involved. –Austin Phy
Rosu Lup Album Release Show at JB’s March 20
What began through a Craigslist meet-up between Jonathan Stewart and Josh Marsh has resulted in the creation and celebration of their recently released debut album, Is Anything Real. Tonight, Rosu Lup will be anchoring a Philly-forward show at Johnny Brenda’s after the band took the new album on the road, performing the atmospheric indie-folk tracks from the group’s latest effort. The tone of their music shifts from soaring Tom Petty stadium-style rock to blooming, wandering folk with lush arrangements that recall The Acorn and Lord Huron. Jonathan Stewart has a gentle, pleasing voice that, at times, sounds more than just a little like Adam Granduciel from The War On Drugs; not that being reminiscent of one of Philly’s biggest musical exports is a bad thing. Longtime Deli favorites, Levee Drivers, led by the grinding and gritty voiced August John Lutz II, will be warming up the crowd this evening. Rounding out the show is Hemming, the acoustic project of singer-songwriter Candice Martello, who we know from the rollicking and too short-lived project Omar, with drummer/manager Nick Fanelli. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave., 8pm, $10, 21+ – Adam G.