Grungey and fuzzy trio Dead Stars finally announced the release of their first full length this summer, a record dripping with the elements that attracted attention towards them over the years: a pop sensibility through angsty chords, dewy melodies and distorted guitars, and their trademark juxtaposition of the lows and the highs of life. So much so that new track ‘Summer Bummer’ is filled with ‘anti-summer’ lyrics according to Jeff Moore (vocals and guitarist), but that doesn’t stop it from feeling good. Drums so fast that almost sound abbreviated are consummated by a fluid bass line that doesn’t so much lay underneath the melody, but is integral to it, making the whole thing writhe with passion and pulse. New LP ‘Slumber’ is out 6/17 on Old Flame Records – support them at the launch show on June 19th at Union Pool, or see them at Village Voice’s 4Knots fest in July. – Francesca Baker

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

If you aren’t going to Governors Ball and are at a loss for what to do with your festival-lacking life, tomorrow there’s something pretty great at the new Bushwick venue, The Wick. A fantastic lineup of masterful NYC songwriters and musicians, most of whom will most likely take us back to years from whence we came. Fletcher C. Johnson lands us back in Bubblegum Pop era of the 60’s, with Vietnam somehow managing to pull off being a Jam Band in the year 2014 – unheard of, we know. The band of the hour, O’Death, has actually been around for quite awhile, but after three years without releases was recently signed to Northern Spy Records in preparation for their upcoming album. Their sound takes influence from folk and country, but they’ve got this gypsy-gothic, almost medieval tinge to their music; it can be eerie at times – check out the old single ‘Bugs,’ streaming below. Also on the bill noir chanteuse Shilpa Ray. The show is tomorrow at 8:00… don’t be late. – Jake Saunders

‘Freeze Out,’ The Jean Jackets‘ latest and third LP, will surprise you. Still present are the layered harmonies of previous releases, as well as the band’s fascination with smart lyrical and rhythmic arrangement, but where the band’s previous work could be pretty well triangulated in terms of influences, ‘Freeze Out’ is a more eclectic blend. Despite its title, this is essentially a warm weather record. “Dead Again”is one of those almost criminally catchy songs, though not in the vapid way of most of summer’s indie pop darlings. Similarly, “Cannon of Sound,” captures an upbeat earnestness, equally ethereal and self-aware. Elegantly articulated, “Freeze Out” is astute and engaging, and never loses its joy. The New Jersey based quartet will play MCFK’s Showcase at Palisades on  June 7. – @emilioherce

Are you ready for more 90’s panache? Good because that’s exactly how Slackgaze, the "lifestyle/archival/everything-coolthat’s-worth-knowing-about-unless-you’re-a-square-or-something" zine from Brooklyn, describes themselves. Slackfest is being held the weekend of June 20th equipped with headliners including Brooklyn psych royalty, Turnip King (streaming), the one-FB-fan-at-a-time guy ONWE, and the extremely enjoyable experimental folk crew, The Adventures of Silver Spaceman.

The bill is chalk full of local gems from god knows where, but that matters little because all we want to do this summer is space out to some jams that these artists have been pumping out day and night just for our very own ears to explore! Oooh, can you feel it!? There’s summer in the air and the sounds that have been leaking out of this great city are thriving and alive with colors and re-imaginations from every corner of the musical realm into which we delve.

Particular favorites on this bill include Tribal Days (streaming above), whose easygoing jams reminisce bands from our slacker-rock phase of the 90’s (I hear Bedhead, Sonic Youth, etc.); Malatese, a promising noise-punk outfit from Virginia; and Palm (streaming below), whose sound ranges from hardcore to noise rock to prog rock… they’re so all over the place it’s too hard for us to pin them down, but damn does it feel good listening to them. Regardless, we urge you all to check out the bands on the line-up because it’s going to be a good one. – Jake Saunders

Since forming at the beginning of 2013, Bushwick based all girl punk rock band Whiskey Bitches (who placed fourth in our recent Year End Poll for emerging NYC artists) has released a single entitled “Wasted” while keeping a busy live show schedule in the NYC area. Founding members Madge and Kate Black have solidified their current lineup with Eli Lopez on drums, and have plans to unveil new material in the coming months. 

LINKS: Dave Cromwell’s interview with Whiskey Bitches
EVENTS: Whiskey Bitches live at The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F./Northside Fest Everything Stage on 06.15 at Silent Barn

A musical collaboration between bicoastal duo Brandon of The Crocodiles and Dee Dee Dum Dum Girl, Haunted Hearts recently released their first full-length album “Initiation” on Zoo Music. A video for the song “Up Is Up (But So Is Down)” provides playful gender-bending visual imagery to this overall concept. Presented like a psychedelic dream, boys in lipstick and other garments typically associated with the feminine side lip-sync much of the track. Credited as a dance performance collective called Chez Deep, they are joined by Brandon and Dee Dee, also in glam-trash attire. The track itself benefits from a dominant bass guitar line, fuzzed-out guitars and brassy synths, as the in-tandem vocals meld Brandon’s tenor with Dee Dee’s vibrato. The feel is similar to something Love & Rockets in their mid-90’s “Lift” period would have produced. Check out the video below. – Dave Cromwell

You’re on a Brooklyn rooftop with a couple of guys you met at a TV on the Radio concert last night; smoking bogies and sipping on Franzia while you gaze at the sunset behind the City Skyline. Yes folks, New York based Molly and the Zombies, headed by The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon, are certainly hanging on to that city-folk aesthetic, pioneered by Bob Dylan and Neil Young oh so long ago. It seems as if the inherent nostalgia of New York City will never escape the acoustic guitar-wielding lover-boy’s heads, and we’re ok with that. Check out the band’s single "Sketchy" (streaming below), and see them at The Bell House on June 5th within the Redbull Sound Select series. – Jake Saunders

It’s hard to get close to electronic trio WOLVVES, shrouded in mystery as they like to be. Quivering synths, harmonized and fused vocals, the triplets take their classical training in piano, guitar, harpsichord, drums, and voice, chuck it in to their personal obsessions with synthesizers, drum machines, analogue tape and a host of buttons and beats, breaking down barriers in genre to create what they call ‘witch step.’ It’s an effort to listen to – this isn’t sunny afternoon music – but keep at it and on every go a new sound or state unfurls itself at, lucid and angry in shadowy ecstatic agitation. Bristling along before a detonation, it always feels a little terrifying, but utterly beguiling. – Photo by Laruphoto

LINKS: Read Francesca Baker’s interview with WOLVVES
GIGS: See WOLVVES live at The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F./Northside Fest Electro Stage on 06.14 at Spike Hill

"Normal" people should visit some day one of these 24/7 rehearsal spaces in Gowanus or Greenpoint or Bushwick to understand what kind of conditions these "not-entirely-normal" people known as Brooklyn musicians commit themselves to for the sake of pursuing their dream. Or… they should simply watch this new video by The Teen Age, entirely shot in what most locals in the know would consider a "rather large" rehearsal studio – we are not kidding, some of these rooms are smaller than closets. The band in question delivers agarage rock sound with an epic vocal flavor – if you enjoy these silly abstractions, you can think of The Ramones led by Joe Strummer. See the video below and don’t miss them live at Pianos tomorrow night (06.04)

P.S. Wow, isn’t that huge reverb on the vocals… something?!

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

The product of a collaboration between members of CHAPPO and Jupiter One (two NYC bands that put out some noteworthy records and received a good amount of coverage in The Deli) , Fancy Colors plays chilled out pop that’s reminiscent of what some people called "sophisti-pop"- a late Eighties phenomenon apparently triggered by Roxy Music’s "Avalon" and Brian Ferry’s solo albums, that mixed crooning mid tempos with subtle exotic musical influences (from that era, you may remember also Everythink But The Girl and Curiosity Killed the Cat). The band will be releasing their new LP ‘Island of the Dead’ with a show at Mercury Lounge tonight (June 3rd) at Mercury Lounge, sharing the stage with The Deli’s brand new Artist of the Month Elaphant. Check out the single "Love is Easy," streaming below.

Beverly is the new dream pop project involving Frankie Rose and Drew Citron. Their debut album "Careers" is coming out on Kanine Records on July 1st, check out the video for single "Honey Do" below.

There’s something very seductive about female vocals delivered in a deadpan way, like in The Tablets‘ songs, as if the lady behind the mic wanted to implcitly let you know that she is too detached and confident to be bothered by anything, YOU in particular. The Brooklyn band’s drone-pop develops on singer Liz Godoy’s simple melodies and her band mates gentle dreamy fluorishes, while a spare drum machine contributes in preventing the overall sound from getting too "human." That’s at least what we hear in the ban’ds recent single ‘Swallow The Rival’ (streaming) from the EP ‘Ground.’ 

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