Toronto’s soul rock queen SATE, winner of our recent Best of Toronto 2015 poll for emerging artists, just released this new video for single "Know My Name," which confirms the lady’s undeniable power and talent. Don’t miss her next show at Lee’s Palace during CMW on May 4th, after which she will leave for a brief East Coast tour that will take her also to NYC.

One of the most interesting and original NYC artist playing old timey sounding music, Jonathon Linaberry’s The Bones of J.R. Jones will be celebrating the release of its sophomore full length ‘Spirit’s Furnace’ with a show at the Mercury Lounge tonight April 15th. New single "Hammers and Nails" (streaming) reproduces his signature stomping sound, which originates from the fact that the man is his own band: you can’t play much more than a four on the floor kick, while playing a couple of other instruments and singing. A disciple of 20th Century Folk and Blues artists like Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lightnin’ Hopkins, Linaberry blends those influences with his early passion for hardcore punk, delivering an alternative version of roots music that’s dark and edgy enough to feel at home both in a Manhattan bar and in a DIY Brooklyn venue. 

Brooklyn songwriter Mitski – our Record of the Month in November 2014 – just unveiled this new video for single ‘Your Best American Girl,’ featured in her fourth studio album ‘Puberty 2,’ released on June 17th on Dead Oceans. The Japanese-American artist will headline a US tour as a three piece in the summer, and play a few shows in Europe next week. The band’s June 20th show at Bowery Ballroom is sold out, so you better get your tickets for the following NYC show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Juyly 27.

We mentioned Fieldings a few days ago in this blog, and we’ve been intrigued by their music since then. This is the project of a NYC based songwriter who recently moved from Sydney, Australia to Brooklyn, whose first name appears to be Lu. Her 2014 three song EP ‘Wild Release Vol I‘ brings back to mind the emotional expressionism and experimental droney inclinations of Lisa Germano’s early albums, although the tone here is more subdued and the production sparser. In it, Lu’s voice shines for confidence and tone, together with her songwriting and production skills. Follow up EP ‘Wild Release Vol II,’ released a few months later, picks up where the debut left off, with acoustic guitars blending gracefully with electronic elements, samples, and percussion sounds that are alternatively acoustic and electronic. We are curious to hear what an edgy scene like NYC will do to this already original artist, in particular now that Lu appears to have band mates. Check out our favorite single ‘Idioglossia,’ strteaming below.

Koncept shook up our senses in 2015 with “The Fuel” EP (co-produced by J57), aand by storming SXSW in March this year. Now we can see him bring his fire to the intimate and historic Arlene’s Grocery. As he raps in his newest single, “Crazy is Beautiful,” — “Never look back at the past me, that would bring me down so badly.” The EP is a testament to living in the present. If you’re feeling like you’re running on empty, come out and fuel up. Doors at 6pm. He plays at 8pm. Don’t be late!

Residencies are a great way for venues to launch a clear message to music press and fans, the message being: "we dig this band and they have a great live show!" We’ve got to trust Rockwood then about Brooklyn’s The YeahTones, since they offered them a three date quarterly residency starting in February and ending on April 28th. From what we can tell from their only recorded track, entitled ‘What Could I Do’ and streaming below, the group masters the blues rock genre to a t, managing to instill in this old music a healthy dose of freshness, power and character, without ever losing its signature viscerality. Looking forward to hearing more.

Those familiar with the funk-pop of ’80s British band Simply Red may find a welcome reference in the celan, staccato funk guitar permeating ‘QLC,’ by Brooklyn quartet Ludwig (streaming below). The group doesn’t quite play the mainstream card the way Simply Red did, but in their debut album ‘To Be Continued‘ they do offer well crafted songs through a formula that has the potential to intrigue many. You can see them live at the Knitting Factory on April 18th.

After rewarding singer songwriter Cindy Lou Gooden’s lo-fi project Very Fresh with our Record of the Month back in 2010, we kinda lost touch with them. We are glad to see them they are still at it, with a bunch of releases under their belt. Now a quartet, the group put out a two song single in November 2015 featuring Cindy Lou’s signature quirky lyrics and ’90s influenced melodies. Check them out live at Palisades on April 21st and check out single ‘Clean Touch’ below.

Few people in our life are as controversial as our own parents. Often judged hastily by us as soon as we are old enough to have an opinion, they have time on their side to prove us that – at least – there was more to them (a lot more) than what we originally thought. The end of their time is always a non-welcome opportunity to try and make sense of conflicts, memories and mistakes that shaped our life in often overwhelming ways. These issues are tackled in the new single ‘Dad’ by Brooklyn electric folk quintet Bird of Youth. The song was written after the passing of frontwoman Beth Wawerna’s father. Their five-years-in-the making sophomore album, entitled ‘Get Off,’ will be released on May 17th with a party at Union Pool. The band has also announced a tour in support of Nada Surf. 

The brainchild of The Deli NYC’s art collaborator Michael Zadick, The Unders declare their intent in the first seconds of their debut LP‘s opening song, with a male voice proclaiming: "I just wanna rock!" The band’s surely meets that goal with their inventive garage-surf, while also oozing fun thanks to simple but never banal vocal hooks. The breakneck speed of most of their tracks make them an ideal group to witness live, in particular for those who enjoy mosh pits and hearing loss. The next party is at The Gateway on April 20th with Total Slacker.

Former Deli Album Of the Month WRITER return with their follow up full length album “Principle Web.” Out on Small Plates Records, the ten track long player can be acquired in either digital or the once again popular vinyl format. Current single “Neighborly” presents a hypnotic drum beat straight outta Creedence Clearwater Revivals 1968 hit “Suzie Q,” as buzzy, distorted guitar and bass hover on a singular note before moving into a three chord progression. Chanted vocals come delivered with a mantra-like “I love – all of you.” A full minute in and the vocal cadence quickens, delivering simple observations like “there’s a shortage of clean laundry, and a mound of plastic bags” with the following verse declaring “there’s a party” as well as “a new tree that was planted.” In place of where one might traditionally expect a guitar solo is a falsetto vocal melody, moving it all closer to David Lynch film soundtrack weirdness. Harder power rock guitar chords lead the charge towards an ending that conjures the sound of a car wreck explosion. The accompanying video directed by Brooklyn-based visual artist Paul Remund portrays moving images in stark black and white, distorted by a form of digital cubism. – Dave Cromwell