On Zula‘s new single "F*ck This," from their new 8 track mini-album ‘Grasshopper,’ at second 22, after a plodding intro, a misleadingly incoherent drum pattern triggers the thought that "this band actually wants to f*ck with us" – a thought to be read in the somewhat platonic acception most commonly used in the sentence "don’t f*ck with me!". Here at The Deli, though, we never say that because we absolutely love to be f*cked with in any possible way, but in particular when the f*cking ‘agent’ is music. Often we actually go through long periods of sadness due to the fact that we don’t find any bands interested in f*cking with us, dammit! So let’s enjoy Zula’s new single and video together, from a band that already gave us a NYC Record of the Month back in 2014. Like Italians, Zula do it better – don’t miss their upcoming live show at Trans-Pecos on January 6th.

The struggle is real. When Prince Harvey’s computer broke down a couple years back, he recorded all the vocals for his album at the Apple Store Soho. His perseverance shines through in his work. In the video for “Sometimes,” he Bob Dylans his way through the subway system dropping placards of his lyrics like “pay bills during the day, dream at night.” He’s an everyman rapper keeping to the tenets of Sex, Drugs, and That Life. With a predominant ’90s vibe recalling acts like The Pharcyde and Digable Planets, he’s an easy addition to your headphone arsenal. If Hip Hop is about making it with what you got no matter the cost, then this dude is as Hip Hop as it gets. – BrokeMC

Since the appearance of Donald Trump on the US political scene, we’ve been receiving several submissions of protests songs, most of them filled with apocalyptic imagery and often also insults. We haven’t published any of them, maybe because… we felt Michelle Obama was right when she said "when they go low, we go high." Single ‘Funeral’ by talented Brooklyn songwriter Sonya Kitchell certainly raises the level of the conversation, analyzing the complicated swirl of emotions brought by the 2016 elections, appropriately compared to the ultimate ritual of loss. Not new to the scene, Sonya earlier this year released her third full length album ‘We Come Apart‘ after a long silence (her previous release is dated 2010), check out the video for single ‘Mexico’ below.

It’s safe to say that Paul & The Tall Trees‘ new video for ‘Can’t You Wait’ (streaming) won’t change your life inside out, but there’s something to that song that got us intrigued, and the video certainly contributes to the charm. Even though the Staten Island based band’s press release mentions the term "psychedelia," the track’s initial section echoes early Roxy Music, although Paul (Schalda)’s vocals progressively assume a more menacing tone, something that wouldn’t have been tolerated by Roxy’s "crooning-head" vocalist Bryan Ferry. The track’s bouncy rhythm section certainly sparks happiness, but it would be a mistake to think it’s a permanent feature of this group’s sound, since previous single ‘Once in a While‘ is an almost drumless ballad (definitely psychedelic this time). The two tracks, included in the debut album ‘Our Love in The Light,’ and our favorite song ‘Crack of Dawn,’ showcase an artist that takes chances and it’s charmingly quirky, fun and poetic at once. You can see Paul & The Tall Trees live at Baby’s All Right on December 12th.

On the final night of Northside 2016, Brian Wilson—erstwhile songwriter/arranger/production genius behind L.A.’s Beach Boys—performed his entire 1966 masterpiece, Pet Sounds, at McCarren Park in Brooklyn. The crowd, ranging from very young to elderly, and including patrons from the broadest spectrum of culture and subculture, confirmed what some have known for quite a while now: that surf music—a vernacular style forged in early 1960s Southern California—has far outgrown its local wellspring. – Read the full article on The Deli NYC Issue #47.

Local pop-punk icon Mikey Erg (of NJ’s The Ergs! fame) is back with a solo album entitled ‘Tentative Decisions.’ The man stands out in that loud and melodic scene for a lyrical talent way above the average, and for gladly joining other like-minded bands on tour and on record (his credits include Dirt Bike Annie, The Unlovables, The Dopamines, Star Fucking Hipsters, House Boat, Worriers and Weston). Mikey will spend the winter touring in support of the record, with a NYC date set for February 17 at Brooklyn Bazaar.

By describing their music as "anxiety pop" well before the 2016 elections (may they be damned!), NYC’s indie pop quintet Wet Leather might have tapped into something real before we were even aware of it – maybe their music should be the soundtrack of WNYC’s new weekly program "United States of Anxiety"? Truth be told, the kind of anxiety channeled by these dudes’ tunes is a lot more fun and a lot less stressful thant the one lately delivered by the news (fake ones in particular), so don’t be scared of it, actually… embrace it! It’s channeled through pure, perfectly crafted and rather classy uptempo pop, with an opening single entitled ‘Astral Projection’ (streaming) exhibiting traces of Elvis Costello and Camera Obscura, and Prince references coming through in many other tracks (like for example in single ‘Shame‘).

Now premiering on The Deli: The music video for “Birdwatchers”, a song from Brooklyn’s four-piece art pop sweethearts, Trash Gendar. The song is on the group’s multifaceted second EP Once, Child, which was released this past September. The “Birdwatchers” video shows as much passion through its animation as the music does through its composition. Lively birds, humans, and cityscapes come to life through the animated torn and cut pages of magazines and catalogs. Each frame of this captivating and cinematic stop-motion video was put together by hand by band member Freddie Wyss. Take some time out of your daily chaos to appreciate the beauty and variety of Trash Gendar’s new video, streaming below. – Will Sisskind

A true NYC scene sleeper, avant-orchestral collective Cuddle Magic has been being impressive for a long time now, and our little top ten ‘NYC buzz" chart of this same page just reminded us of it – that’s what’s there for! The Deli booked them for a CMJ show back in 2012 (holy cow, that was an EPIC CMJ year for us!), and their live show left us in awe. 2012 was also the year of their latest release, LP ‘Info Nympho.’ But true musicians never quit, and we are glad to see the group back on their feet with a new record – and a new label, the experimental-minded, Brooklyn based Northern Spy. The new mateiral is at once edgier and angular in the production and more mellow and ethereal in the vocal department. Check out ‘Slow Rider’ below, the second single from upcoming LP ‘Ashes/Axis,’ scheduled for a January 27th release. Don’t miss the band’s upcoming show at Trans Pecos on December 15.

Good Looking Friends is a three-piece indie emo, post rock influenced band hailing from Brooklyn, NY. Regardless of what their name may suggest, their music portrays people who feel like they just don’t quite belong, struggling with the anxiety to fit in in this gigantic, upside down world. Their lyrical complexity is paired with their ability to create energetic, yet atmospheric, almost ambient instrumentals that draw people in and just make them want to think. In June 2016, they released the EP, “You Won’t Die,” a collection of songs that delve into the life in New York City. The follow-up “You Won” was released in Novemember 2016 and shows a harder side to this band, with harsher and more emotional vocals. Elaborating on the themes from “You Won’t Die,” the last two tracks, “End of the World” and “Fallowfield” (streaming) lead into each other and immerse the listener in what really is a perfect soundtrack to the end of the world. Led by the intensity of vocalist/guitarist Zachary Fischer’s powerful lyrics and voice, the four minutes of ambient noise then bursts, full of color, in a dynamic finale. After touring and releasing two EPs in the span of six months, the band will be playing live in Brooklyn January 3rd at Bushwick Public House and January 21 st at Muchmore’s. – Kali Keish

The punk forces behind Fat Heaven celebrated the release of their new album Tough Luck last night at Moffat Heaven, a new Bushwick venue. The band (recently winner of our NYC Artist of the Month poll) plays high-octane rock’n’roll evocative of early-90s pop punk that so many of us still love love and crave, blended with a very NYC garagey roughness.

The release party for Tough Luck also featured performances from SCARBORO (which includes two members from Fat Heaven), girlwave trio THICK, Olde Tigers from York, PA, and Deli NYC favorite Hiccup. – Will Sisskind