Cult of Youth is a post-industrial folk outfit whose grizzly vocals and complex instrumentation sets them apart from a lot of bands right now. The group consists of Sean Ragon, on lead vocals and multi-instruments, drummer Glenn Maryanski, bassist Micki Pellerano, and violinist Christiana Key. The combination of these multi-talented artists is a successful one, their overall sound showing underlying tones of western folk music, with their east-coast roots (the band originates in Brooklyn) still shining through. Because of their unique sound, Cult of Youth was recognized as a ‘Band to Watch’ by Stereogum in 2011. – Christine Cauthen

Brooklyn band Clouder (christened by our own Dave Cromwell as “bad boys of NYC indie rock”) will be performing a show at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn with Il Abanico, y/y and Spanish Prisoners.  Originally from Columbia, five piece band Il Abanico (pictured) recently moved to Brooklyn after residing in LA for the past year. They released first EP “Crossing Colors” in February 2011, a colorful example of multifaceted and unusual indie pop – stream the single "Keep Calling" below". y/y has been playing their brand of ambient psychedelia throughout Brooklyn and will be touring down to Austin during SXSW. Their first album “Peel and Shudder” was released in December. – Amanda Dissinger

After honing their craft with 2 EPs and a number of live shows, Brooklyn’s Farewell Republic are ready to officially release their full length debut LP “Burn the Boats.” Recorded by Michael Coffman, and produced by Farewell Republic members Sivan Jacobovitz and Brian Trahan, the album was mastered by Fred Kevorkian (White Stripes, The National) at Avatar Studios in NYC. Tracks like “Wake” present a blended mixture of fluid drumming and layered guitars which points to My Bloody Valentine as textural guideposts. “Gliss” delivers a punkier feel, with sneered Lydonesque vocal delivery, rough guitars and loose drumming, but this edge is soon lost on the first chorus change. This alternating structure repeats, with the more tense passages sonically enhanced by sharp speedy guitar strumming and sprinkled with piano notes via a 1920-era baby grand. “Just go away,” becomes the dominant repeated vocal phrase as the song is carried out via a simple piano line, ambient long-note guitar work and clattering percussion. The production emphasizes the eternal resolution of tension and release. Sarah Fensom adds dreamy female vocals for both of these tracks. “Burn The Boats” is set for release on itunes, bandcamp and vinyl on 2/21. A Record Release Party at the Mercury Lounge w/ Fantasmas is on 2/22, with an additional record release party presented by Monument Festival at DC9 (Washington, DC) to benefit DC Vote w/ Heads on Sticks the following night 2/23. – Dave Cromwell

Zlam Dunk has been pounding with the beat of the Austin music scene for a while now and with the release of their second album this April, "Balcones," it seems like the blood will keep flowing. Forcing me to relapse into the more aggressive songs of Cursive and the intricate entangled guitar playing of Minus the Bear, these guys reminded me of how well brains and brawn can be blended together when the right people get involved. You can check these guys out before their album release on March 2 at Stubb’s. Enjoy a track from their previous album, "Noble Ancestry", streaming below.  – Michael H

On their debut album "Not Nothing," (out in April 2011) Brooklyn gutter-glam punks Xray Eyeballs emphasize a sound that is rough and brittle. Songs like "Crystal," "Nightwalker" and "Egyptian Magician" feature a slightly off-kilter, almost twisted guitar intonation, mostly evident on rhythm chords. Additionally, when single note lines are called for, they are struck with a heavy (almost) twang to them. These kind of borderline quirky sonic details contribute to giving this band an identity that sets them apart from other artists in the same "nu-garage" scene. Pursuing the evolution of their sound, the band is releasing this month a follow-up titled "Splendor Squalor" (Kanine Records), professing to have a third album written as well. With newest members Sarah Baldwin (drums) and Liz Lohse (guitar/synths) joining founding members O.J. San Felipe (guitar/vocals) and Carly Rabalais (bass) one would expect this evolution to be significant. See tthem live at Glasslands on 02.28. – Read Dave Cromwell’s interview with the Xray Eyeballs here.

Robin Bacior‘s songs fuse intimate and honest lyrics with arrangement ranging from the "girl-with-guitar" to more complex orchestral productions, showcasing a musician who is well beyond her twenty four years. After the release of her 7” “Man Before Me” and her debut EP “Aimed for Night”, Robin released a full length “Rest Our Wings” via Consonants & Vowels Records and graduated from open mics to performing at venues like Spike Hill, Union Hall, and most recently (and again on February 19) Mercury Lounge. Her comforting orchestral folk is perfect for the winter season: a time of nostalgia and self-awareness yet utmost beauty. – Read Amanda Dissinger’s Q&A with Robin here.

Ain’t no party like a Ninjasonik party cause a Ninjasonik party drops bass. Telli and McFly are back again with their signature agro-lethargic cadences splayed over the dirtiest punk-hop beats born in Bushwick. No Swords or Masks may imply that they’ve cast aside their ninja ways, but the lead single “Turned up” doesn’t pull any punches. Chopped samples, strategic flows, and subsonic bass create an energizing mix guaranteed to get any crowd roundhousing and throwing their fists of fury skyward. Are you ready to enter the dojo? Go now, before they pick their swords up again. No Swords or Masks drops from Decon Records March 6. -=brokeMC

A few weeks ago Snowmine asked The Deli to curate one of their Pianos February residency nights (the 02.16 one). We went ahead and booked these bands. We will be there, hope to see you too! – Read Dave Cromwell interview with the band here. RSVP via Facebook here.

8.00 – CLEMENTINE AND THE GALAXY

—

9.00 – GRASSFIGHT

—

10.00 – PSYCHOBUILDINGS

—

11.00 – SNOWMINE

The Deli’s Staff

On March 6th Brooklyn based Backwords, will be releasing a new collection of their charming and slightly crooked psych folk tunes in the form of the full length "By The Neck". After their release you can catch the band at SXSW on a 3-week tour and back in NYC on March 26th for a CD release show at Glasslands with Radical Dads and Vassals. You can listen to the full album or pre-order the CD (which includes an instant download when the album is released and a free DVD featuring music videos for each track) here. – Chelsea Eriksen

We’ve always had a weakness for Brooklyn psych-pop band The Rassle, which we booked several times also at SXSW and CMJ. After a few months of silence, we are glad to hear that the band is alive and kicking – they just premiered this video of the new single "21", and announced that they are about to start a tour with MONA. See them at The Mercury Lounge on February 21.

Frankie Rose is a little bit the King Midas of the Brooklyn DIY/Psych scene – she was formerly an original member of the following breakout acts: Crystal Stilts, Dum Dum Girls, and the Vivian Girls. Her solo career began in 2009 with the debut record under the moniker Frankie Rose and the Outs. It sounds now like "The Outs" are out, and Frankie will release the upcoming album "Interstellar" (out on 02.21 on Slumberland) under her birth name. She just premiered this video, which showcases a more refined and subtle approach to ever familiar psychedelic themes, and also a more mature songwriting.

Quite appropriately, this video of the single "Crying My Whole Heart Out" by lush orchestral NYC group Clementine and the Galaxy was released on St. Valentine’s Day. This is one of the most interesting bands highlighted by our recent Year End Best of NYC Poll for Emerging Artists – so interesting that we decided to book them for the Thursday Snowmine residency show at Pianos we helped curate. Their music inserts itself in the quite recent wave of sophisticated and mellow orchestral pop, launched by a new breed of NYC based composers led by Sufjan Stevens, My Brightest Diamond, Claire & The Reason and Deli all time favorite St. Vincent.