Our Deli jurors just finished rating all the New England artists that submitted to be considered for our Year End Best of New England Poll for Emerging Artists – and here are the results for you to check out! The artists in this list will qualify for the next phase of the poll, and will be added to the bands nominated by our jury of local scenemakers.
P.S. If you are interested in understanding how our Year End Poll for Emerging Artists works, please go here.
-QUALIFIED TO THE POLL’S NEXT ROUND-
1. Night Fruit
Boston’s Night Fruit blew the deli editors away, this shoegaze trio came out on top in New England and it’s no wonder why. With a dreamy ambience, their music drifts along pulling you into their undertow giving you just enough time to breathe before their music swells up again leaving you gasping for more. Check out their bandcamp for their latest release, Dark Horse.
Arty noise rock, alt-rock, psych-folk. All those terms have been used to describe Guillermo Sexo’s sound and, to be honest, they’re all appropriate. Having been around for several years and coming off the heels of just releasing their fourth album, Secret Wild, Guillermo Sexo know how to keep it interesting, maintain their own sound, and keep it fresh and exciting while doing so. Peppered with ’90s influences, from the nitty-gritty likes of Sonic Youth to the ambience of Mazzy Star, this is one band we suggest you start listening to if you haven’t already.
It’s hard to believe that the huge sound of Radio Control comes from just two people, but maybe that’s why it’s so great; there’s not much getting in the way of this duo’s natural talent. A self-proclaimed "punk rock pop" band from Somerville, their sound is raw and energized. The best part is, they’re not trying to rip off other famous duos (White Stripes). No, they’re doing their own thing and we only expect them to get better. Catch them on their Northeast tour this month with Thick Shakes, dates are listed here.
4. Dirty Bombs
This Boston-based electro-rock band sure knows how to have a good time all the time. A "supergroup" of sorts, (the members are comprised of ex-members of Televandals, The Luxury, and Conservative Man) they’ve taken their talents and combined them into synthpop beats that will find you out on the dance floor going berserk. They’re not the cheesy kind of dance music, they’re the kind that are the whole package: good vocals, great lyrics, and a synthesizer that will make you want to dance for days. Overall, this band is a hell of a lot of fun.
This four-piece math/jazz-rock band (all students at Berklee College of Music) reigns from Boston. They blend genres seamlessly, but at the core of it, one can’t help but rock out to the captivating hooks and bellowing chants. Although we feel the best is yet to come, what they’ve given us so far is pretty damn irresistable.
6. Il Abanico
The core of Il Abanico are native Columbians Juliana Ronderos and Nicolas Losada who met in Boston. Their music is a refreshing conglomerate of worldly rhythms, indie rock guitars, and lightly accented vocals. The sound is at once familiar and exotic, combining for a sprightly, whimsical treat of an EP.
-ALMOST QUALIFIED TO THE POLL’S THE NEXT ROUND-
These artists had outstanding ratings from our editors (they all shared a final score of 7.75 out of 10) but won’t qualify to the next round of our poll based on this round. They are all really good though, so we recommend you check them out!
This rootsy Americana band packs a punch. If you think "Americana" isn’t your thing, you’ll be singing a different tune once you give Movers & Shakers a listening to. With garage rock organs on some tunes and country-tinged slide guitar on others, there’s something refreshing and uplifting about this band.
Dreamy, fuzzy, warm and hazy psychedelia. Sore Eros have the ability to put the listener to sleep, but in a good way. It’s music to drift off to, whether you absorb it or it absorbs you, it’s a pleasant, blissful feeling.
This Connecticut-based trio draws on influences from bands like Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth and The Pixies. Now, you might think a lot of bands cite those same influences, and you’re correct. However, the Suicide Dolls turn their influences into some major inspiration. With their searing lyrics and heavy hooks, this band is running full steam ahead, never stopping to look back.