Freelance Whales (who played one of our CMJ parties in October 2009 and placed 2nd in our Year End Best of NYC Poll) is definitely the indie band with the most "selling potential" to emerge from the NYC scene in 2009. These guys last year managed to create a lot of buzz in the big apple just by playing shows and without the support of a label – or even a real release for that matter. Now that a "proper" promotional machine is warming up, the sky seems to be the limit. Freelance Whales just announced the release of the debut single "Generator 2nd Floor" (you can download it for free here) and their live show schedule for the next few months, including Sasquatch Festival on May 30th and a US Tour With Cymbals Eat Guitars & Bear In Heaven – plus of course several SXSW dates. Their debut album "Weathervanes" LP On Frenchkiss/Mom + Pop Records will be out March 16th. Don’t miss their live show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 1st.

It’s quite rare to stumble upon an Alt Rock band that – like Starling Crush – quotes the early 4AD records as one of their most important influences. Yeah because none of those submlime seminal 4AD bands (Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil) had ever anything to do with what is understood to be "Alt Rock". They’d rather mix and mess around with genres like ambient, goth, electronica and even world influences. But – as we strongly believe Alt Rock is in desperate need of a face lift – we definitely welcome this paradox, which allows this band’s songs to stand out from most of the Alt Rock artists out there. Check them out at The Living Room on 02.22 and at Rockwood on March 02.

Deli readers who play in bands,

The Deli has reserved 1 showcase slot at the Music Tech Mashup during SXSW for one Austin emerging artist. The Party will take place at Rusty Spurs on March 17.

To apply for this opportunity all you need to do is fill in this for HERE and click on the confirmation email you’ll receive (this will simply add you to our mailing list and enter your band in our fabulous charts organized by genre and region – one day we’ll also create band profiles!). 3 bands will be selected by the organizers (one of them will be a local Austin, TX artist). DEADLINE IS MONDAY 22 at 11.59 pm.

Music Tech Mashup Showcase (organized by Coast to Coast Models & Events) will celebrate the convergence of music and technology and the opportunities it presents for everyone involved just as SXSW itself switches gears from Interactive Week to Music Week.This is a list of some of the artists already booked: Jada – Universal Motown Records (Boston, MA) – Bamboo Shoots – Epic Records (New York) – Shinobi Ninja – (Brooklyn, NY) – McAlister Drive – (Boston, MA) – Odd Modern – (Los Angeles, CA) – Keys and Crates (Toronto, Canada) – Curtis Santiago (Toronto, Canada) – Keith Masters (Chicago, IL) – FutureCop! (UK) – Mark Foster (Los Angles, CA).

Event support sponsors include HunnyPot, Hip Hop Howl, and The Deli Magazine.

The Deli’s Staff

The Deli’s Staff

Deli readers who play in bands,

The Deli has reserved 3 showcase slots at Music Tech Mashup during SXSW, a party which will take place at Rusty Spurs in Austin, TX on 7th St. on March 17. Rusty Spurs features 3 stages with an 800 person capacity in the middle of it all and is an official SXSW venue. During the Austin based festival it will host shows by heavy hitters like Echo and the Bunnymen, Vega (Neon Light side project) and Semi Precious Weapons (recently on tour with Lady Gaga) amongst others.

To apply to play this SXSW show all you need to do is fill in this form HERE and click on the confirmation email you’ll receive (this will simply add you to our mailing list and enter your band in our fabulous charts organized by genre and region – one day we’ll also create band profiles!). 3 artists will be selected by the organizers (one of them will be a local Austin, TX artist). Any band that is available to travel to Austin is eligible.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED FOR THE BUSHWICK FEST, DON’T FEAR, JUST FILL IN THIS FORM AGAIN – you’ll be submitted to both opportunities.

Submission deadeline is Monday 02.22 at 11.59 pm.

Music Tech Mashup Showcase (hosted by Coast to Coast Models & Events and presented by GreenShoeLace.com, HunnyPot and The Deli) will celebrate the convergence of music and technology and the opportunities it presents for everyone involved just as SXSW itself switches gears from Interactive Week to Music Week. This is a list of some of the artists already booked: Jada – Universal Motown Records (Boston, MA) – Bamboo Shoots – Epic Records (New York) – Shinobi Ninja – (Brooklyn, NY) – McAlister Drive – (Boston, MA) – Odd Modern – (Los Angeles, CA) – Keys and Crates (Toronto, Canada) – Curtis Santiago (Toronto, Canada) – Keith Masters (Chicago, IL) – FutureCop! (UK) – Mark Foster (Los Angles, CA).

The Deli’s Staff

IMPORTANT P.S. The Deli will not select the bands for this event so please don’t email Paolo trying to "schmooze".

Xeno and Oaklander placed 44th in our Year End Best of NYC 2009 Poll. The band brings back to life austere Kraut Rock atmospheres that became extremely trendy in the late 80s early 90s (think Depeche Mode and Eurhythmics). These guys are getting quite a lot of attention lately, we recommend you don’t miss their show at Cameo on March 3rd.

Earl Greyhound is one of the few NYC bands that can truly recreate the authentic Rock’n’Roll vibe of the first hard rock of the late 60s early 70s (think Jimi Hendrix’s intensity and Led Zeppelin’s power with the added bonus of a mind blowing female bass player). The band – that has been on The Deli’s radar for quite awhile now – is back with a new album after about 3 years of discographic silence. The sophomore release, titled Suspicious Package, will be out in April on Hawk Race Records – you can hear some tracks from it here. These guys have badass rock attitude flowing in their veins – their set must be must be witnessed live. Don’t miss their next live show in NYC.

The Dig is a band with enormous potential. They write good, catchy indie-pop songs with Beatles references (but punchier). They are excellent young performers and (as far as an Italian dude like me can tell) pretty cute guys – bah, let’s just say that some girls will find them attractive… The band will open for The Editors on 02.19 at Terminal 5 and tour the US with the same British band and then with Portugal The Man in the following weeks. They were The Deli’s Artist of the Month some time in 2008, they played one of our showcases just about one year ago, AND they also placed 14th in our Best of NYC 2009 Poll for emerging bands – which triggers a well deserved "WE TOLD YOU THEY’RE GOOD, WHY DIDN’T YOU BELIEVE US?!?". So… we really hope that the release of their new CD "Electric Toys" on April 27 will mark the beginning of this band’s rise to stardom.

Just a few weeks before London Souls‘ show at Gramercy Theatre (on 02.25), the band unveiled their first official music video for “The Sound,” the epically resonant closing track of their yet-to-be-titled debut LP. Directed by Creative Control, comprised of duo Coodie and Chike (Mos Def, Pitbull, Kanye West), and Damon Dash, footage was filmed December 2009 in the Tribeca basement of DD172 – better known as the now-defunct DIY venue Under 100. (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

NYC’s own The Phenomenal Handclap Band recently debuted their video for "Baby" on Stereogum. Likened to a Dario Argento film, this trippy, color-saturated, and beautifully dark video is directed by Steven Agnew, formerly of The Futureheads’ "Walking Backwards" video fame. Band member Sean Marquand said about the filming of the video, "we went upstate to our friend Paddy’s house, which was incredible, but the surreal serial killer aspect colored everyone’s mood. Even when we weren’t filming, there seemed to be someone sneaking up on us in the forest. The video reflects some of the highs and lows of our weekend. There’s kinship and celebration there but there’s also an underlying paranoia attached to being at such a remote location."

The Natch is a new local female fronted trio that plays some kind of deranged garage rock in the best NYC tradition: lots of attitude, big distorted guitars, crooked vibe and a coordinating wardrobe. The band is currently working on their debut CD, scheduled to be released in the summer, but they haven’t put their live appearences on hold because of this: you can catch them live at The Delancey on Friday 02.19 and in several other cities in May during their East Coast tour.

Deli readers who play in bands,

The Deli has reserved 3 showcase slots at Music Tech Mashup during SXSW, which will take place at Rusty Spurs in Austin, TX on 7th St. on March 17. Rusty Spurs features 3 stages with an 800 person capacity in the middle of it all and is an official SXSW venue. During SXSW it will host shows by heavy hitters like Echo and the Bunnymen, Vega (Neon Light side project) and Semi Precious Weapons (recently on tour with Lady Gaga) amongst others.

To apply to play this SXSW show all you need to do is fill in this form HERE and click on the confirmation email you’ll receive (this will simply add you to our mailing list and enter your band in our fabulous charts organized by genre and region – one day we’ll also create band profiles!). 3 artists will be selected by the organizers (one of them will be a local Austin, TX artist). Any band that is available to travel to Austin is eligible. Submission deadeline is Monday 02.22 at 11.59 pm.

Music Tech Mashup Showcase (hosted by Coast to Coast Models & Events and presented by The Deli, Hunnypot, GreenShoeLace) will celebrate the convergence of music and technology and the opportunities it presents for everyone involved just as SXSW itself switches gears from Interactive Week to Music Week.This is a list of some of the artists already booked: Jada – Universal Motown Records (Boston, MA) – Bamboo Shoots – Epic Records (New York) – Shinobi Ninja – (Brooklyn, NY) – McAlister Drive – (Boston, MA) – Odd Modern – (Los Angeles, CA) – Keys and Crates (Toronto, Canada) – Curtis Santiago (Toronto, Canada) – Keith Masters (Chicago, IL) – FutureCop! (UK) – Mark Foster (Los Angles, CA).

The Deli’s Staff

Sugar and spice and everything…mischievous! That’s what The Girls at Dawn are made of. The self proclaimed “axis of evil” – featuring Erin (guitar and vocals), Ana (bass guitar and vocals) and Sarah (percussion and vocals) – has been disturbing their neighbors in Brooklyn with their beautiful brand of post punk/French pop/garage since 2008. With tracks already released on record labels HoZac and Captured Tracks, these three lovely ladies are preparing to work on their first full length album, which will surely feature their signature combined vocals (which sound tunefully creepy, yet sweetly hypnotizing), 60s psych-inspired guitar riffs and light drumming. The threesome has also begun playing shows, and hopes to embark on a tour in the future. The Girls at Dawn recently took the time out to speak with The Deli about their favorite lyrics, most memorable show, and…boners! – Read Cecilia Martinez’s interview with the band here.