With their good old-fashioned folk‘n’roll and a new video to match, The Bottom Dollars (who placed at #35 in our 2011 Best of NYC Poll for emerging artists) have premiered “Prizefighter” this week. The video was shot around iconic New York landmarks like the Coney Island boardwalk and Washington Square Park, and includes, yes, plenty of people having fun and fighting. The band, dressed dapper in 1920’s attires, duke it out in a series of brawls, though not always proving their claimed “prizefighter” status. The elusive single-named Seeley directed the video, which features appearances from a few friends, members of The Nuclears and the frizzy-haired W.M.D. DuBois of Deathrow Tull and Strings for Truth. See The Bottom Dollars live at Mercury Lounge on August 7. – Devon Antonetti

The magic hour is that one time of day when shadows get sharper, light gets more intense, and everything is perfect to take great photos. The debut video for Wilsen’s first release seems to recall this mood in its sharp instrumentation and dizzying lights. Shot in the band’s rehearsal space, ‘Dusk’ highlights the differing shapes and sizes this time of day creates. From Tamsin Wilson, a singer/songwriter usually associated with country twang, comes a surprisingly commanding voice backed by an ambitious folk trio. The song channels the heavens in its haunting refrain “dusk is rolling in,” and I’m excited to see what vision develops from here. Check it yourself when they play their debut album release show at Union Pool on July 25th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Sexy Neighbors is a garage band from Brooklyn with a sound that reminds me a little of one of my favorite British post punk bands – The Stranglers, "Black and White" period – I guess because of the relentless organ parts and lead singer Felix Gottdiener’s commanding attitude. Native J (the lady behind the keys) also lends her voice to the band’s tunes, adding an unexpected, occasional dreamy element, in particular in "Seeds" (streaming below). This is a band that’s fun to listen to, and should be even more fun to witness live.

We’ve been following Brooklyn duo She Keeps Bees for a long time now, and it’s great to see them gaining more and more buzz (no pun intended, maybe). Their latest single “Counter Charm” (streaming below) was released this week and debuted on NPR’s All Songs Considered, and showcases an interesting development in their sound, in a direction that’s at once more atmospheric, punchy, and tense. Singer Jessica Larrabee howls over a dark, pulsating melody, pleading out “please stay” over and over. Larrabee, who is joined by drummer Andy LaPlant, possess a sinister tone throughout, at times reminiscent of Cat Power. The single also includes the track “Blue Moon,” one of the ominous forays of the 1930’s classic. She Keeps Bees is finishing up a tour overseas (for some reason it seems like every time we blog about them they are in Europe), but will return for US this fall for a string of shows in the… west coast – dudes, NYC shows??? – Devon Antonetti

Since their release of 2011’s “Celebration, Florida,” The Felice Brothers have had a rough go of it. Their home was hit by a hurricane, their tour Winnebago broke down, and their singer/lead guitarist was hospitalized. Yet the Americana band persevered through the adversity to deliver a new collection of songs. Entitled “God Bless You, Amigo,” the collection consists of twelve’s original songs and eight covers of traditional folk songs. The proceeds from “God Bless You, Amigo,” which can be downloaded exclusively from the band’s website, will go towards an official follow-up to “Celebration, Florida” and a new touring vehicle. The Felice Brothers will be opening for Modest Mouse at the sold out July 20 Montclair, NJ’s Wellmont Theatre, and “Lincoln Continental is streaming below. – Josh Johnson

Those who (like me) spend their life going through press releases and music submissions tend to develop often misleading snap judgment tendencies. When I read NYC songstress Anna Rose‘s name in my Inbox I expected your typical, a little generic, slightly boring singer songwriter – maybe because her name is a little… effortless? But the lady’s music proved me wrong. Admittedly, Anna doesn’t play the most outrageously innovative of genres – modern blues – but she does it with style. She recently got a good amount of press because of this video of a cover of "My Body is a Cage" by Arcade Fire, which she reinterpreted with a delicate, sparse and sober touch reminiscent of The Cowboy Junkies. Now she’s releasing another video, for the the title track of her forthcoming album "Behold a Pale Horse," due out later this year.

There’s something touching about the quiet voice of concern that Birthmark gives to the people he meets. Like the intimate chamber/electronic music of Destroyer or Jeremy Enigk, singer/songwriter Nate Kinsella uses random materials (whether these be drum machines or pizzicato violins) to pull something deeply personal out of otherwise far-flung genres. Whether the towering tribute of ‘Big Man’ or the mysterious source of inspiration in ‘You lighten me up,’ his latest LP ‘Antibodies’ digs deeply into the human condition. Birthmark pulls inspiration from unlikely places, repeating this sentiment over either baroque oboes and after-hours electronics alike.

In a desperate world filled with all manner of overlapping human and musical families, Birthmark designs a universe where both of these can live together. Handling his subjects in a delicate manner, one story at a time. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Its official: NYC and SF scenes staples The Mommyheads have grown up. I guess that should be expected from a band fast approaching the 15 year mark, I just never thought I’d hear such an introspective sound from the kings of the hard indie groove. Not that they’ve lost any of the power and special weirdness that makes Adam Cohen and company such an iconic indie institution.

For the band’s just-released full-length ‘Vulnerable Boy’ (Dromedary Records), the band returns full of the quirks and charm that come from a group on par with Guided by Voices’s decibel levels. But you’ll find plenty more happening here on closer inspection that’s not quite as expected. In their latest single ‘Medicine Show,’ Mommyheads reveal a glow that swirls around their haunting ruminations on the limits of words. The song acts as much as a title track for the record as anything, and serves as a centerpiece of their new attitude. For a band that’s been around the block more than a couple of times, Mommyheads still have quite a few tricks up their sleeves. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Free Mp3: The Mommyheads – "Medicine Show"
Free Mp3: The Mommyheads – "Science and Reason"

You won’t have to go through much of Ballroom Jacks‘ new EP ‘Do the Wolf Paw Waltz’ to understand what they brought you here for: it’s time to get moving, and you know it’s been too long. Sure you didn’t get the girl, but that’s no reason to mope around. As singer Will Arland says in closer ‘I Could Be You,’:”‘I don’t need you, I’m just jealous of you.”

A band exploring New York’s uptown in bouncy guitar-driven tracks like ‘Harlem,’ the quartet has more in common with Britpop icons like Blur and Arctic Monkeys than they might think. Like Albarn, Arlan channels personal relationship outcomes both good and bad to universal resonance with, band in tow. See them live at The Knitting Factory on July 21. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) – This band submitted their music for review to The Deli here.

Clinical Trials has just released a new music video, file it under "Best Inappropriate Use of Childhood Dolls." Directed & edited by Dan LeMunyan, it’s a fun downward spiral into the mind of a suburban housewife with more than a few dark secrets. Somer Bingham – frontwoman, founder, and creative thrust of Clinical Trials – is playing July 26th at Sullivan Hall. Check out more videos at Clinical Trials’ YouTube channel and more music at www.clinicaltrialsmusic.com. – (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.

It’s a very rare day I would compare someone to George Harrison… but Matt Longo comes close. It’s hard to help when you hear the singer-songwriter’s purity of spirit, even when discussing the loneliness and frustrations of daily living.

His latest records ‘The Low Life’ and ‘Coward’ EP (released within 3 months from each other) contain these moments, meant to speak directly to these wounds. Doubting your dreams? ‘Lulu’ should do the trick. Wondering why she hasn’t called? ‘Say You’ll Be Mine’ is just what the doctor ordered. A breath of fresh air, Matt Longo’s acoustic meanderings will find their mark, right when you need them the most. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) – This artist submitted his music for review here.

Shaking Through is a music and video web series featuring emerging independent artists in the recording studio. In their latest episode – curated by Twin Sister – they filmed Deli NYC issue #30 cover band Ava Luna while finalizing a new song in the studio. You can hear to the results below, and see the video/article about that experience here. – Photo by Emily Raw