The sound of Queens natives Special Guest’s is a hard one to nail down  – which is always a good sign. They blend together elements from indie rock, shoegazer, psychedelia, and post-punk to create a uniquely layered, complex musical style. Their self-titled debut album was released in the winter of 2015, and features 12 tracks, each one standing out in its own way. “Quatro” and “Bouncy” rely heavily on psychedelic flourishes and evolving synths, while “Trace” and “Ghost Rocket” feature a more straight indie rock sound. We are diggin’ in particular shoegaze/noise number ‘UNO’ (streaming below) and mathy instrumental "Five-Four." The band recently played a Sofar Sound show and will be performing next at Shea Stadium in support of Banned Books on June 28th.

There’s nothing like some good ol’ nostalgia — even if most of us weren’t around for the music that largely inspires NYC area bands Fletcher C. Johnson and Hector’s Pets (pictured). the former takes cues from rock-pop bands of yesteryear, inundating listeners with prominent, simple guitars and airy vocals to match. Hector’s Pets, too, carry a vintage sound, albeit one that is faster and harsher.  Quick guitar riffs, driving drums and hard lead vocals supplanted with cooing back ups will be sure to get feet tapping. See them both at Union Pool tomorrow night (05.21).

Brooklyn punk band, The So So Glos are currently streaming their upcoming album Kamikaze on the A.V. Club, officially out on May 20th. This is the band’s fifth full length release, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down; their fast paced punk with catchy pop hooks keeps their sound as youthful and fresh as it was on their first record. “It uses spirituality, sarcasm & metaphoric ‘verbal shotgun shells’ as ammunition. It’s also a party drink, so drink up & enjoy.” – says frontman Levi Zaru about the record. The perfectly described “verbal shotgun shells” featured on tracks like “Going Out Swingin’” contribute to make this a super-fun punk record, complete with tongue-in-cheek humor and singalong choruses. Having grown up in Brooklyn, the members of The So So Glos have gone beyond being just a band, becoming involved in fostering the local DIY scene founding two all ages venues that have helped keep the DIY spirit alive in New York City: Shea Stadium and The Market Hotel (before it closed and recently reopened). The band will be kicking off their North American Tour in support of the new record on May 19th with The Dirty Nil and Big Up. Stream the track "Missionary" below!

It doesn’t seem too often that a band today tackles the dissolution not of a romance but of a friendship. That is just what Brooklyn self-described “folk music band meets ensemble” Goldfeather does, however, on “Spilled Milk” (streaming below), the bluegrass-girded lead single off its forthcoming debut LP ‘Patchwork Quilt.’ Starting with choral swells that perhaps lament the story of friends come and gone that follows, the poignant (even in its title) track is striking and laudable in its potentially underused subject matter: the aching absence of a one-time confidante. ‘Patchwork Quilt’ is scheduled for a September 2016 release, and Goldfeather is scheduled to play Park Slope’s Barbes on June 9th. – Zach Weg 

Ohio natives Matt Evans, Carson Moody, and Amy Garapic made their way over to Brooklyn a few years back, forming Tigue in 2012. Now, Tigue is not your typical band. With their conservatory precision instrumentals, Tigue’s sound lies somewhere between post rock band and… tribal ensemble? It’s music teeming with energy. Their most recent album, 2015’s ‘Peaks,’ presents itself as a single work divided into eight compositionally complex sections that seamlessly move in and out of each other. Ranging from percussion focused tracks, to droney ruminations, and instrumental indie rock tracks, Tigue carves out a niche corner for themselves in the ever expanding Brooklyn music scene. Catch their energetic performance tonight (05.12) at Baby’s All Right and tomorrow (05.13) at Le Poisson Rouge.

By fusing math rock’s atypical rhythmic structures and angular melodies with psych rock’s dreamy, chromatic guitar drawls, Bat House has forged a sophisticated, personal sound. The Boston based quartet has been spending the past year or so working on their forthcoming self-titled album, set to be released late this summer, and they’ve been kind enough to let us at The Deli New England give you the first taste! “Patterns” (streaming below) is the aural equivalent of kaleidoscopic jigsaw pieces from various puzzles that somehow seamlessly fit together– a complex sonic patchwork of shifting rhythmic structures, metered grooves, and infectious guitar chords. The track takes you on a cosmic journey; by the time the band reaches the final shift, singing “colorblind but i still see the patterns in my head” – as the guitars chord spread out in an electric sprint – it really feels like free falling through a kodachrome sky. The band just kicked off their tour last night (full calendar here) and will be making their rounds across the country in the following month, but locals can catch them on June 19 when they play Middle East Upstairs. – Adriana S Ballester, photo by Kit Castange

1.21 Gigawatts – a Brooklyn DIY magazine that did a great job of covering the scene’s punky, garagey and psych emerging bands – is sadly closing and it will be gracing us one final time with their hosting skills come this weekend at Alphaville. With Deli favorites like Dead Stars, Haybaby, Dances, and 11 more taking the stage we can expect a weekend of great music and spectacular shows. On top of getting 14 amazing bands performing in two days, it’s all just $10. Insane, right? It is always with a heavy heart that we must say goodbye, but Gigawatts really knows how to go out with a bang (and how to give you more bang for your buck). So head on over to Alphaville this Saturday and Sunday for some memorable performances. Check out the playlist below to get a feeling of what you’ll be listening. – Adriana Ballester

Sometimes that ‘play’ button is nothing short than a time machine, and as far as Brooklyn four piece Savants are concerned, one that invariably takes you back to the late ’60s. With a heavier focus on organ riffs and keys as opposed to the guitar-centric psych rock that’s surfaced recently, it’s not difficult to draw comparisons to classic psych bands like The Doors. No song is clearer proof of this than “Death Rattle & Roll” (streaming below), which opens with pithy ‘legato’ Hammond chords a la’ Ray Manzarek and is followed closely by echoing electric guitars. The vocals, which sound washed out and muted, interlace between all the instruments with an appropriate lo-fi, bluesy feel. You can catch Savants live at Alphaville on May 12, or at Baby’s All Right on May 26th.

Last we heard from Natureboy’s Sara Kermanshahi was in July 11, 2014 – her post read “Tonight! 8pm! Cameo in BK.” After that, radio silence for two years. That is, until yesterday when she posted once more the info for her upcoming show at Rough Trade. Three years ago we had crowned Natureboy’s “The Sweep” record of the month and eagerly anticipated future works, and though we don’t really know if this means we’ll be getting new songs soon it certainly has us hoping. Kermanshahi’s songs teeter curiously between folk and pop with modern elements, carving out a niche where her moody and evocative tracks blossom exquisitely and delve into the most quiet recesses of our minds. Make sure to see Natureboy play Rough Trade on May 13, you never know when she’ll play next. – Adriana Ballester

Last week, Brooklyn indie rock quartet Stone Cold Fox released its electric new EP, ‘Tunnel Vision.’ Reportedly recorded over the course of two years yet bursting with urgency, the five-song effort starts its ominous magic with the reverb-backed “Contagion” (streaming below), a track that pleasantly melds The Strokes’ early ruggedness with Tame Impala’s solid psych rock. Middle track “Morning Light,” similarly, radiates with a guitar-based warmth that could be a refreshing antedote to a gray day, recalling the great ELO tracks of the late ‘70s. In short, ‘Tunnel Vision’ illuminates wonderfully strange magic. To celebrate the EP, Stone Cold Fox plays at Mercury Lounge tomorrow (5/7). – Zach Weg

We are happy to premiere Brooklyn Dream Wave purveyors Dead Leaf Echo‘s new single "child.glass.heart" exclusively on The Deli Mag today. The A Side of a split 7" with The Harrow on Moon Sounds Records, the track officially drops on May 13th. A limited edition ‘Lathe cut’ 7" vinyl has already sold out, however digital copies can still be ordered. Amid an opening wash of guitar atmospherics, prominent glockenspiel accents add dramatic sonic emphasis creating a cinematic feeling of slow motion water droplets. The percussion is forceful, yet kept purposely minimal, giving the bell chime accents space to highlight significant lyrical moments. Returning to themes explored on their imaginative full length album “Thought & Language,” this story is told from a mother’s perspective. With Ana’s emotional vocals stating “a memory trace of a child’s life in repeat -glass will break and pain will stain.” Check out also the B Side ‘Dirty Minds.’ The band will make a television appearance during MNN’s The Special Without Brett Davis on May 11, with a full record release show on May 14 at Sunnyvale. – Dave Cromwell

“You got your path, oh I got mine” sings Tyler Burwood in Boston’s quartet Bellwire’s new single “Time Out.” The song, a jangly reflection speckled with vibrant guitar chords, bubbling drums, and monotone vocals, is a single off their upcoming album Dog Thoughts, which is set to be released on May 24. The album, if the singles are any indication, ranges from mellow, borderline melancholic ruminations evident in “JAKL” to spastic bouts in “Let It Shine,” (streaming below) another single with energetic guitars sputtering exuberantly into a solo where the chords stretch out and slacken the pace before dying out into feedback. A quirky aural exploration of age and relationships, Dog Thoughts seems to be shaping up to an entertaining listen. Keep tabs on Bellwire’s Facebook page for any upcoming shows and take a listen to their single below.