If you’re feeling bummed about the upcoming, presidential inauguration of one flamin’ hot cheeto, then why not treat yourself to a hot, heaping portion of some quiality rock blues? Danielle Grubb’s latest track, "Glue" has us feeling better already about the next four years (barring impeachment) with its grimy guitars, swampy drums and Grubb’s own leathery vocals. This track hits like a shot of whiskey, providing some nice sedation as well as some light jabs to the midsection to get one’s gears in motion. Grubb is currently rocking a residency at Arlene’s Grocery, where you can catch her live on scattered nights until 3/16. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Though fans that complain about rap deviating from its roots often come across as old curmudgeons, those contemporary emcees who practice vintage rap don’t seem to ever go out of style. Take BK rapper Latasha Alcindor (aka LA)’s latest track, "Revoke Thee," for example. Over a jazzy instrumental with attitude, LA delivers hard-hitting lyrics in varied flows that could very well have been blasted out of the boomboxes of yesterday. Like her ballsy predecessors Lauryn Hill and Queen Latifah, she also exudes a great deal of swagger in her lyrics. With "Revoke Thee," and its accompanying video (streaming below), LA has proven she is an emcee to watch, and a crucial one at that. She has a an LP due out in February. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Few band names are more accurate than NYC’s Dizzyride. The band’s unique combination of dream pop, electro and soul music takes listeners on a wild ride that is bound to disorient in the best way possible. "Soundtrack," a single off of their forthcoming debut LP, feels like riding on a roller-coaster going in slow motion. The shuffled high-hats and bass drum parts seem ready to speed up, but are held tight by the expansive synth patterns and shimmering vocals. The best part comes at the end though, when sleepy saxophone riffs join the mix to form a stabilizing outro. We’re definitely looking forward to their debut album, due on 1/20, whose release will be celebrated at Baby’s All Right on 1/18. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Now in its 11th edition, "THE REVOLUTION" concert series at National Sawdust has consistently held it down by featuring talent both top-notch and under the national radar, but always local. Which is the reason why this ver blog decided to partner with them! This month’s cream of the crop features CE of Quincy Vidal spitting and singing his solo stuff, Krychek’s bizzare electropop and the loungy hip-hop of Kala and the Lost Tribe. 

CE (pronounced "See," pictured) is 1/2 of NY indie-rap stalwart Quincy Vidal, also an established emcee/producer. His solo recordings feature sedated instrumentals and potent lyrics that are mostly rapped but often sung as well. Krychek, the only non hip hop artist on the bill, will break the funky grooves with music that sounds like a surprisingly functional marriage between Nine Inche Nails and Tears for Fears. Their punky, spacy electropop is at times unstable, at others tranquil but always transfixing.  Kala and The Lost Tribe serve the classic, never cliché, combo of poignant, clever rapping over jazzy, keys-driven backing tracks. Check out their recent single/video ‘Chill" streaming below.

You can catch these NYC artists live at The National Sawdust on 1/21 – and copies of The Deli will be there! —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

With 2016 reaching its end, it is only right to look back on the past year to see what fresh tunes and artists escaped our searches through New York’s hectic music scene. One such gem is Lady Moon & The Eclipse, a dynamic multi-genre roots and world band that released their EP, Believe, back in February. As their astrological bandname might suggest, every track on the record is steeped in some kind of cosmic spirituality, but that mood is manifested in distinct ways throughout the project. Each tune has an instrumental that takes influence from different genres, such as the soulful slow-jam "Rollercoaster" (video below), or upbeat, funky "Travel the World." These differences create striking contrasts, while the lone staple on each track is Ngonda Badila’s cool vocals and clairvoyant lyrics. This band is one to look out for in the new year, and you can see them live on 1/30 at the Brooklyn Bowl. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

19 year-old Tyrin makes raps with a defiant millenial mindset, refusing to stick to one style, but with talent well beyond his years. On his debut project, Things You’d Rather Imagine Now, the Brooklyn emcee goes back-and-forth between monotone mumble-rapping and emotion-laden singing. Each track on the LP also has a distinct musical influence in its production but is always sparse, which suits Tyrin well. The variation in production, such as the shift from sad and synthy "Afterglo" to bold and brassy "Clean Yourself Up," keeps things fresh sonically, and also gives him the space to keep switching up his deliveries. Lyrically, he provides disaffeccted humor like the hook for "Synergy," "white girls think they black like Hillary," and genuine thought-spilling on tracks like "Cassandra." Tyrin refuses to define himself or be defined, like most millelials, instead trying out everything to see what works and what doesn’t. This kind of experimenting is expected for someone of Tyrin’s age, but what isn’t is how sucessful each of these experiments are. At 19, Tyrin seems to be able to do it all. You can catch him at Shea Stadium on 12/28, and stream our favorite track from the record ‘Clean Yourself Up’. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

On their Soundcloud profile, The Upperclass Men describe themselves as a mix between The Roots, The Beastie Boys and recent Trump confidant Kanye West. Self-written or PR-written band descriptions are often bogus, but this one, despite its apparent haughtiness, really does offer some insight into The Upperclass Men’s abrasive hip-hop sound. On their latest release, "Recipe," the emcees of the band trade jabbing lyrics about partying, reminiscent of the early Beasties. The instrumental has crisp ?uestlovian drums, and tumultuous horn-like synths that wouldn’t be out of place on Yeezy’s latest album. It’s rare for a group to be able to wear such prominent influences on their sleeves without getting weighed down, but The Upperclass Men do so and even manage to soar. You can see them live at SOB’s on 12/28. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Hailing from Brooklyn, Phresher has quickly become one of his borough’s brightest emerging emcees. Rooted firmly in the trap sub-genre, he delivers crisp lyrics in a distinct, raspy voice and with energy always dialed up to 11. On tracks like his most recent "Wait A Minute," Phresher simply doesn’t quit, delivering perfectly cadenced bars, over a synthy, almost sinister beat. The song showcases his unique ability to evoke and convey electrifying images and emotions: Listen to "Wait A Minute" and you may feel like you can run through a brick wall, or at least make it through to holiday break. Phresher is the type of artist that sounds even better live, catch him at SOB’s on 12/20. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber

It took Brian Bonz six years to complete his sophomore full length ‘Misophonia’, released in 2015 after 2009’s well received ‘The Triborough Odyssey.’ Presented under the moniker ‘Brian Bonz and The Major Crimes,’ the record, whose title literally means “hatred of sound”, brings music lovers a thoughtful, multifaceted sonic journey where both texture and power find fertile ground, and mostly electronic arrangements support Brian’s dreamy melodies and emotional vocals. Take a listen to single  ‘The Man from Munich’ below and see Brian Bonz live at Rough Trade on 12/18! – Ashley Muniz 

There’s something very haunting about debut single "Bulletproof" by Me Not You, a mysterious Brooklyn band that doesn’t seem to exist beyond their Soundcloud and Twitter profiles. The single, which reached #10 on Hype Machine’s Popular Charts, sports a 90s alt-pop vibe reminiscent of uber-melodic, not so raw female fronted bands like Garbage or Sneaker Pimps. It shares with those bands’ repertoire a vague moodiness, expressed through its edgy synth textures that drone on and, later in the track, melt with a wall of distorted guitars flirting with shoegaze. Amidst this atmosphere is the lustrous bright female voice that breaks through the darkness with her angelic tone and reletable lyrics about humanity’s strength. Listen below and hope for a live show in the near future. -Ashley Muniz

This past summer, three-piece band Museyroom released a psychedelic video for the song “Ranges” off the LP ‘Pearly Whites’. The track’s edgy arrangement, with its quirky elements and droney ambience, lays out the groundwork for this video’s striking imagery: a woman strolls through a forest in winter time, immersed in a vivid musical journey that intertwines faded naturalistic scenes with color-bursting animation and visual effects that ebb, flow, and transform. Check it out down below and catch Museyroom live at the Mercury Lounge on December 9. –Ashley Muniz 

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best psych songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Based off the latest single, "Ride Off," off her upcoming debut LP ELEVATE, Tangina Stone is adding additional musical and emotional layers to her already rich RnB sound. While "Wasn’t Love Cafe" offered much of the same catchy, guitar-driven goodness found on much of her The Fall EP, "Ride Off," shows a different side of Stone and her music. Written in response to the passing of a loved one, Stone’s vocals cast a sad shadow over the listener with long-held notes and echoing backing vocals. The instrumental, crafted by CJ The Great, provides the perfect paltform with its haunting synths and sparse guitar licks. An assist from emcee Crystal Caines brings the track to close with a different perspective about a different person. ELEVATE is a record to watch out for, and you can catch Stone live at The National Sawdust on 12/10. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber