NYC-based Sharkmuffin creates punchy garage rock wrapped in a fuzzy, ’60s cool that is at once feminine and fearless. On the heels of a new album release, the band is about to celebrate the release of a split cassette with fellow NYC garage revivalists The Off White at Muchmore’s on July 20th. Tarra Thiessen (guitar/vox) and Natalie Kirch (bass/vox) also gave our sister blog Delicious Audio an in-depth look into the meaning behind their latest tracks, and the delicious array of pedals they use to help create their frenetic tunes. Check out single "Leather Gloves, streaming below, and the interview about the creative process, at the link below.

Sharkmuffin Q&A about Pedals and the Creative Process.

New York’s indie-pop quartet Lightning Bug is playing at Baby’s All Right on July 8th, at the release show for the immigrant rights benefit compilation entitled "So Many Singing." Lightning Bug’s most recent EP, ‘the torment of love,’ showcases the band’s affinity for atmospheric bedroom pop, as well as melodic folk-rock sensibilities reminiscent of Joni Mitchell. – Ethan Ames

While we were still sobbing over the touchingly soft 2015 release of Skin Gets Hot, Fraternal Twin‘s debut album, Brooklyn Native Tom Christie went ahead and broke our hearts all over again. The sophomore release of "Homeworlding" in 2016 provided 10 more songs of even sweeter thoughtfulness. On that record, Christie went somewhat pop, covering all our favorite issues (space, ghosts, and nature), on songs like "Big Dipper," "Favorite Ghost," and "White Wind." Adding a handful of minor chords to each of those topics, "Homeworlding" turned into a fitting stay-in-bed album. Now in 2017, Fraternal Twin catches our attention again with their July tour. See them at Silent Barn July 11th with Stolen Jars, Thelma, and Poppies. -Allie Miller

Showtime Goma (of Sunny Day in Glasgow) turns pop on its head with her new album Smiley Face. Experimenting with different soundscapes, distortions, airy pop vocals, her new record moves in a dozen different directions that all flow together seamlessly. There is the dancey “Big Disaster” (video streaming below,) the slow “Propel,” the experimental “Chug,” and more. Jen Goma’s noteworthy vocal and artistic range shine through in this record, making her an artist to watch. Catch up with Showtime Goma at her album release party at Union Pool in Brooklyn on July 9th at 8. She’ll be touring with Of Montreal in September! – Lilly Milman 

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

Evan Lanam and The Live Oaks is a rowdy folk rock and roll outfit from the San Francisco Bay Area. Hailed by some as the “Anderson Paak of folk music,” Lanam fills his band with friends and plays whenever and wherever he can. The band just wrapped a three-show residency at The Boom Boom Room that spanned over a month and a half, but they aren’t slowing down. Catch them next at the Uptown Nightclub in Oakland, CA Back Focus by Evan Lanam & the Live Oaks