"Potluck" is the first solo release from NYC-based multi-instrumentalist Stefan Weiner of NYC rootsy pop band Town Hall. After the release of the band’s full-length "Roots & Bells" in April 2012, Weiner decided to forge his own path, taking inspiration from the wide range of music he loves and enlisting many NYC musicians to create his own musical potluck. Featuring rising talent such as fellow Town Hall members Phoebe Holiday Ryan, vocalists Anais Aida, Kiah Victoria and Mree as well as tracks co-written with Jon Seale and Dan Knobler (members of music collective Mason Jar Music) the album encompasses many different genres, but is at its core heartfelt and sparse. Love, life, death and growing older are common ground, but Weiner’s unique and soulful voice and clever lyrics make these topics feel brand new. Keep an eye out for upcoming solo shows in NYC. – Amanda Dissinger

With the recent release of their latest EP "Twins," New York City’s Sua adds fresh ideas to the dreamgaze sound while never straying too far from that genre’s ultimate appeal. The title track (streaming) comes initially powered by bended guitars over fluid drumming, while female lead vocals occupy a tonal quality and presentation that lands somewhere between The Cocteau Twins and Asobi Seksu. At nearly 6 minutes in length, there’s more than enough room for multiple soft vocal passages, forceful guitar explosions, a uniquely placed minor chord as well as a stereo field panning psyched-out coda. “All You Have” shuffles along a brightly percussive pattern as multiple layers of guitars create alternately pitched sonic walls around Suki Kwan’s seductively sweet vocals. “Beach 90” celebrates those “summer days in the rockaways” with light near-jazzy vocals, while guitars played by overt disciples of Kevin Shields deliver alternately measured skewer and punch. “Welcome” juxtaposes casual, airy vocals against a busy rhythm section and angular time changes for an auspicious result. Check them out live on August 25 at Glasslands. – Dave Cromwell

Alt-folk singer Wharfer, a man used to existing in life’s out-of-the-way locations, is about to release his debut solo recording ‘The Rattling’ on August 27, and the album echoes his calling towards life’s long list of forgotten spaces. Hailing from Scranton, and more recently serving time in Brooklyn’s infamous Death By Audio scene, singer-songwriter Kyle Wall has the scratchy, lived-through-this pipes of the late, great Jason Molina, displayed in late-night acoustic sessions like his tracks ‘railroads (i wrote of),’ and the haunting ‘Architect.’ Wistful and reflective, this is the album you’ve been hearing in your dreams. See him live as he promises new shows soon. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

New video for single ‘Spit it Out’ by Butter The Children below – full lenght debut out on Downtown Records on August 20th, lots of upcoming shows in NYC (it looks like a NYC/Brooklyn tour!). First gig at 285 Kent on the day of the release.

The NYC quartet Big Ups (a band we saw almost set Spike Hill on fire during our B.E.A.F. 2012) just dropped the first single titled ‘Goes Black,’ a spoken and screaming ode to… self-reflection, off their upcoming debut LP, "Eighteen Hours of Static," which confirms this is a heck of a punk band. The album title is derived from Carl Sagan’s novel "Contact," and the lyrics seem to focus on truth, faith and science. The song, which premiered on Pitchfork, has the hardcore vibe of Black Flag and Kill Your Idols, fused with melodic post-punk and indie rock verses, and a chorus reminiscent of INDK. The full LP is due out on October 8th via Dead Labour. Check them out this Saturday, 8/17 in Queens at Ripper’s with Sleepies, Eula, Low Fat Getting High and Shark? – awesome bill! – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

Long Island based at one time, now Brooklyn based The Dirty Gems just released a clean cut new EP “Vujà Dé,” which showcases a wide range, featuring tracks flirting with arena rock grandiosity (the sinister anti-love anthem ‘Nasty’) and more chilled and soulful ballads (‘I Don’t Wanna Die’ and ‘Automatic Heart’). The Soul Pop outfit puts on one hell of a live show too, with an on stage chemistry that only comes from musicians with years of experience playing together. See them Brooklyn band when they play Knitting Factory on Aug 26th. – Paul Jordan Talbot

New York City based folk pop Rabbit and the Hare are playing Joe’s Pub tonight, performing all new songs. On the same bill also The Dough Rollers (Third Man Records), a heavy sounding blues rock band we covered recently that’s getting a fair amount of buzz. This is a good bill, so don’t let Joe’s Pub’s costly drinks and pushy waiters ("two drinks minimum!") get in the way of a great night of music!

An iconic band of the Brooklyn DIY scene, Crystal Stilts (featured on one of our best covers back in 2009) just announced that they’ll be releasing a new album entitled ‘Nature Noir’ in September. Preview track "Future Folklore”  (which can be heard here) is a succinct rock’n’roll gem that features some welcome new elements in the band’s sound: a snappy tempo that’s quicker than usual, and a vintage sounding guitar, riffing away Chuck Berry-style in between Brad Hargett’s signature, suicidal sounding vocal lines. Also – besides an obvious piano in the chorus – other orchestral instruments SEEM to enrich the track: are those buried in the verses saxophones and a screechy cello? If so, ‘Nature Noir’ might be one of the least orchestral sounding orchestral rock records ever produced – we are really looking forward to it!

Pale Angels, the new punk & fuzz-pop trio led by omnipresent drummer, guitarist, and vocalist Mikey Erg, is releasing today debut LP “Primal Play” via Kiss of Death/Specialist Subject records. Behind the fuzz of the band’s straightforward punk rock there is an evident grunge influence in songs like “Awful Son” and “In The Sunset.” “Slow Jangle” is, well, slower, featureing a more melodic approach with emotional lyrics. The album was mixed and recorded at Vacation Island Studios in Brooklyn by Ben Greenberg. You can stream the entire album here. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

Gearing up for a new release this fall, Hurrah! A Bolt of Light! returns to Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 2 on August 17th at 10pm. The band disclosed their first single "Bones" from the forthcoming album earlier this summer with a video directed by Ian Cinco. They’ve spent the summer working on new material and recording in LA, so expect them to have a few new tricks up their sleeve for CMJ. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

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

Many local artists who had the fortune to record with Jim Bentley at his Bushwick DIY studio The Fort (pictured, the live room during a party) will perform live at two memorial shows this week. The first one will be at Fontana’s on 08.12 and the second at Cake Shop on Sunday 08.18.

Jim Bentley – a talented engineer who also a friend of The Deli – disappeared in unfortunate circumnstances a couple of weeks ago. More about Jim’s role in the local community of musicians can be found here.

There will be 2 dozen bands involved in these tribute shows, including Jennifer O’Connor (pictured), Doug Gillard, The Living Kills and The Barrens, who will reunite for this opporcunity. Full listings here and here.

It’s rare that a new artist emerges so fully-formed without the usual fanfare to greet him. But such was the case with Lawrence Rothman, a Los Angeles-based electronic singer/songwriter, whose David Lynch-meets-Cindy Sherman music video for debut single “Montauk Fling” (streaming below) set the stage for an explosively entertaining seven song set at NYC’s Glasslands Gallery this past Thursday. (Rothman walks off the stage, through the crowd and out the door, not heard from again that evening.) The theatrical gimmicks are all there — crossdressing, fake blood, smeared makeup — which Rothman matches musically with noir-ish atmospherics and eerily slow rhythms that ache as much as they delight. His combination Nick Cave/David Bowie vocals assure that “Montauk” is no gimmick, rather an absorbing and evocative ode to those fleeting moments of physical connection and the ghosts left in their wake. – Brian Chidester