Bellwether is a new Pop-Punk band coming at you straight from the infamous Long Island scene. The name Bellwether literally means the lead sheep in a flock, chosen by the band to indicate their commitment to change and disinterest in the mundane sound and egotistical vibe that they feel a lot of today’s Pop-Punkers display. Their newest EP titled “…but I have to” dropped on April 9th and is currently available for streaming via Spotify. Their vibrant guitar riffs paired with frontman Desmond Zantua’s catchy and well-suited vocals make Bellwether a band to keep an ear on. Stream the band’s last single titled “…But I Have to” here. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

Coming out of the nascent VVYNL stable of acts that inhabit the Knitting Factory on Monday nights, Zachary Allen Starkey bucks the trend of erstwhile Lady Gaga acolytes that dominate VVYNL and offers a more socially- distressed alternative. He’s less, well, pretty. But by combining basic darkwave synths with Gary Numan-esque vocals, Starky’s newest single, “Into the Sun,” paints personal loss in simple poetic strokes that feel prescient despite its retro proclivities. 5 minutes, however, was quite enough and he’ll need to switch the formula up greatly to make this vocal style work over an album’s length. – Brian Chidester

Independent Bands and Artists,

Once again The Deli gives you the opportunity to be selected to play NYC’s Rooftop Films‘ Summer Series 2013, which will run every weekend from May 10 until August, with special events in September.

The event couples films with live music on top of spectacular NYC roofs, and connects artists with audiences so that each event is unique and memorable. The Rooftop Film music programming staff will select some artists from those who applied through The Deli.

If interested submit here.

The Deli’s Staff
thedelimagazine.com

Former west coast and now Brooklyn based psych rockers Weekend are preparing to release their sophomore album “Jinx,” this summer. In advance of that comes the recently released lead single "Mirror," which hints at sonic explorations different from what was presented on their debut album "Sports." Standout tracks from that initial record like "Coma Summer" emphasized a deep reverberation and warped aesthetic (in both attitude and sound). Their latest track, however presents a cleaner approach with fewer layers, an ethereal synthesizer wash (especially as the track opens) placing emphasis on more clearly audible vocals with echoy guitar lines over a driving bass guitar and drum pattern – although a static-like sound cutting through it reminds us that the band is into atonal noises. The overall pacing, guitar and bass tones and effects – and even the beat of the song actually – are reminiscent of the spartan early 80’s recordings by bands like The Cure (think "A Forrest") and The Smiths (especially in the tonal quality of the lead vocals). With the tease of album track titles "July," "Oubliette," "Celebration, "FL," "Sirens," "Adelaide," "It’s Alright," "Rosaries," "Scream Queen," and "Just Drive" to ponder over, there is much to look forward to as we approach the full release. You can catch them live tonight at Shea Stadium with Slander, Napoleon and Lodro. – Dave Cromwell

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

Waxahatchee is the now Brooklyn based solo project of songwriter Katie Crutchfield, formed after the breakup of punky, Alabama based band P.S. Eliot (another ex-member of that band is now involved in Philly based Swearin’). The project’s sound trades that trio’s aggressiveness for a more thoughtful and folky approach, without giving up entirely the occasional distorted guitar burst. The single from the album ("Coast to Coast," streaming below) is a more uptempo number that takes us back to the glorious days of the (poppier) riot grrl period – think a fuzzier Juliana Hatfield or Liz Phair. Pitchfork gave the album its Best New Music blessing, which is still pretty much a career building event, and probably the main reason why you want to go see Waxahatchee live this Saturday 04.27 at Glasslands when she will be opening for The Babies.

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

We fell in love with Ludwig Persik‘s psychedelic gems the very first day we heard his music – that’s why his debut EP was our Record of the Month back in October 2012. The young man is currently working on a full length, while releasing the single "No Go" – streaming below – on White Iris Records (home to Best Coast and Fool’s Gold amongst others).

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

The fine ladies in Brooklyn’s Heliotropes continue to carve out a niche in the psych rock genre with their penchant for doom heavy grooves. The band has just released the first single “Psalms,” which will be included on their debut album “A Constant Sea” set for release on June 18 via Manimal Vinyl records. “Psalms” thunders along a buzzing, rough-hewn guitar riff that dominated so much of the psychedelic hard rock in the early 1970’s. With a slithering groove paired alongside smooth seductive vocals, the band hits us with a quickened tempo change for good measure. The lyrics trend towards philosophical questions like “Do you feel that love is real?” and “am I really born to die?” A wickedly nasty guitar solo gives you the answer. Upcoming shows include their Album Release Party at Glasslands on June 18th and The 4Knots Fest on June 29th. – Dave Cromwell

Mp3: Heliotropes Psalms

Weeknight is the next in a long line of male/female duo acts that sound a little like an electro version of the Raveonettes or Beach House. Hell, this stuff is practically in the wallpaper of the Glasslands Gallery in Williamsburg these days. Moody and lust-filled, Weeknight’s debut EP is so deeply rooted in good taste that you really don’t mind Warhol’s glowing banana becoming a sound of ubiquity. Catch Weeknight at the Bowery Ballroom on May 3rd opening for The Besnard Lakes. – Brian Chidester

Bassist Billy Asai and guitarist Phil Reeves have played together in various NYC bands for awhile now, but they seem destined for a new funk frontier since joining up with singer Justice L. in 2011. In their group Mad for Justice, the NY quartet brings out the jams, stacking R&B on top of hard rock in crowd favorite ‘Prove My Love.’ Watch their recent performance at the Delancey, and you’ll see how the band proves old school soul is new again.

Stay tuned for the release of their crowd-funded debut EP set to come out early May, and catch the band at RBar on Thursday, May 2nd. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Haybaby is a Brooklyn based group of best friends and poised musicians who create an endearing and intriguing style of psych and anti-folk inspired rock they call "slackgaze" – thumbs up for the neologism. Leslie Hong, Sam Yield and Zach Ellis were performing and recording in other bands and solo projects before they fatefully joined together to eventually decide to slackgaze in the same band. With influences pointing to The Breeders and The Brian Jonestown Massacre, seasoned with your fair dose of quite/loud/quiet moments, Haybaby’s music also borrows some of the lo-fi bands’ signature semi-randomness. Simple and at times humorous, the band’s lyrics, together with their easy going attitude, make their recordings and live shows fun and a pleasure to witness. Don’t miss their upcoming show at Death By Audio on May 16. – je

New quartet Neonfaith describe themselves online as “just a few kids in Jamaica, Queens making music in the basement.” What goes on down in that basement is anyone’s best guess. By the looks of their recent video, “Escape,” (see it here, song streaming below) it’s a whole lot of thinking about what to do with the past. Answer: Google it and move on. Beneath a boilerplate Portishead beat and a twitchy dubstep production, the video shows NYC denizens passing around old school nightclub flyers and handing out walkie-talkies, moodily suggesting that technology could stand to cool its ass out for a while. A rich soul vocalist cries out, “Hear your static on my radio/Shiver through me, let it go,” a chorus reminding us that utopianism still works best via word of mouth, in the flesh. – Brian Chidester

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

More praise should be given to musicians who can actually play, because the Brooklyn scene – among other things – is a testament to the fact that mastering an instrument ain’t easy. Tauk – a band as jazzy as The Deli can go as far as music coverage (we don’t cover jazz!) – is equal parts music nerds with prog/post rock tendencies and soulful songwriters. Often compared to established jam bands like Phish and Lotus – but with a feel all their own for deep groove – the quartet has a rare ability to channel emotional melodic leads, and all without a lead singer. With their next LP ‘Homunculus’ due to be released April 30th, they’re set to continue their fast rise. But instead of waiting for the next Peach Fest or Bonnarroo to see the group’s funk and freestyle freakouts, check out the quartet before the album’s release this Wednesday, April 24th at Sullivan Hall. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)