Brookyn based alt folkers Jagged Leaves (brainchild of songwriter Dan Penta) on February 5th will be playing at Palisades and unveiling physical copies of their debut album, ‘Nightmare Afternoon‘ (saying "physical copies" sounds so quaint, these days!). So far, we only have access to one single, ‘Low & Wet’ (streaming), a poignantly beautiful song led by Dan’s commanding voice, and gently propelled by acoustic guitar, drums and the melodious accompaniment of a violin. Female vocal harmonies tastefully integrate Penta’s powerful voice, adding an appropriately melancholic aura to the vulnerability of the lyrics: "Vision cast onto anything/ My two fingers are all syrupy/ The bulbs glow back/ And we are both spent/ It’s ok if you’re low and wet." This sounds like Anti-Folk done properly. – Adriana S Ballester

Welcome one, welcome all! The time has come to present who is advancing on to the next phase of our poll for Toronto’s emerging artists. Infinite thanks to all the bands that submitted; it was a pleasure listening to their tracks!

After tallying our editors’ ratings for the Open Submissions stage, it’s time to release the results. PLease note that to avoid conflicts no local editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene.

Now without further ado, drom roll please… 

Total Submissions from Toronto: 15

Jurors: Michelle Bacon (The Deli KC), Cervante Pope (The Deli Portland), Paolo De Gregorio (The Deli NYC)

Acts advancing to our Readers/Fans Poll:

1. Spells of Vertigo (Noise Rock) – 7.8

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1. Dilly Dally (Indie Rock) – 7.8

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3. Terrorista (Pop Punk) – 7.33

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4. Rolemodel (Electro-Pop) – 7.16

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4. HIGHS (Indie Pop) – 7.16

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6. Shallow Waves (Psych Rock) – 7

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Honorble mentions (rating average above 6):

The Dearly Bereft, New Design,Bile Sister, Ready the Prince, The Alpacas, The Honest Heart Collective

Stay tuned for the Readers’ Poll, to start within the week!

The Folks at The Deli

This past Friday, New York-via-North Carolina singer/songwriter CF Watkins released her latest album, ‘I Am New’ and, as heard on the electronic/folk-tinged single “Linger” (streaming below), it is pleasantly plaintive. Looking back on a past lover with literary detail (“Well, I watched your hands/As they skimmed through those old books/That you once wrote in,” goes one of many quietly crushing lyrics), Watkins on this celestial track, with her preciously calm voice, ultimately goes forward with newfound vigor. CF Watkins will have an album release show for ‘I Am New’ (which features collaborations with fellow New York act, Wilder Maker) on 2/22 at Pianos Upstairs. – Zach Weg 

Providence-based singer/songwriter Steve Volkmann states that his songs are “inspired by everyday people and their stories” and, on tracks like “Slow Road” (streaming below), the mundane is imbued with meaning. As the poet C.K. Williams does with his quietly profound poems, Volkmann on his songs not only observes but sympathizes with lonely hearts. The guitar-ambled song “In the City” from this past November, for instance, has the speaker himself longing for a woman from afar, his pining redeemed by the ability to feel itself. Steve Volkmann plays at AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island on 2/2. – Zach Weg

Self-described "experimental pop" artist James Discovers puts some bizarre twists on "pop" conventions, while holding on to enough traditional pop structures to keep listeners engaged. Catchy hooks and bright guitars are frequently contrasted with wildy distorted, spastic guitar solos and effects-ladened vocals that feel as though the listener is at an undersea concert. If you’d rather stay above-water for a show, head to Arts at the Armory on January 28 and catch James’ set during The Loop Songwriter Showcase. You can also stay up-to-date on the latest James Discovers news via his Facebook page and, in the meantime, check out his song "Cannibal Eyes" (streaming below). -Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn) 

As hinted at in its regal name, New York’s The Next Great American Novelist purveys an impressive literariness on its nerd rock-inflected song, "Wicked" (streaming below). Starting out with drum thuds that pleasantly hearken back to Queen’s "We Will Rock You," the guitar-tightened track shows project mastermind and singer/songwriter Sean Cahill as an unabashed romantic. Like Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo on the contemporary classic “Say It Ain’t So,” the warm-voiced Cahill may wear his heart on his sleeve but only because he has so much love to give. The Next Great American Novelist plays The Hall MP in Williamsburg, February 19th at 7pm. – Zach Weg

Over the past few months, Boston-based "future music" artist Sober Rob has released instantly compelling electronic tracks on his Soundcloud page. While the August-released "Bliss" is a merry, jazz-inflected swirl of perky horns and skipping beats, "Sonder" (streaming below) from this past December is a considerably more eerie track of percussive pings and zaps that could play over a foreboding science-fiction movie. While different in tone, both songs convey Sober Rob’s impressive ability to stir emotion with just the computer at his hands. Sober Rob plays at Middle East in Cambridge, Massachussetts on 1/29. – Zach Weg 

Intoxicating yet welcoming, the music video (playing below) for "Up" by Kirsten Izer is a spectral portrait of emotional vulnerability. Filmed and edited by Izer herself, the guitar-lined clip shows the New Jersey-based indie alt pop musician calmly yet boldly addressing a downtrodden soul, encouraging perseverance through pain. The 19-year-old Izer, who has previously been nominated for twin music prizes in her home state, may be brutally honest in this clip but only because she wants listeners to emerge triumphant from their duress. While Izer doesn’t seem to have upcoming shows listed, keep posted on her Facebook page. – Zach Weg 

It’s time to tackle the last category of our open submissions for the 2015 edition of our Best of NYC Poll for emerging artists: ALT ROOTS! You can see the results we published so far here.

SUBMISSION CATEGORY: ALT FOLK

Total submissions in this category: 13

Jurors: Michelle Bacon (The Deli KC), Jordannah Elizabeth (The Deli San Francisco), Zach Weg (The Deli NYC).

Artists qualified to the next stage (i.e. the Readers’ Poll, starting around 01.20):

1. Mappa Mundi– 7.8 (out of 10)

 Almost a year ago exactly, New York chamber pop six-piece released ‘At Sea,’ which is more of a sonic novella than a traditional EP. On such wistful, guitar-strummed songs and horn-sloped tracks such as “So Obscure” and “Mirabelle” (streaming below), the Adam B Levine-led band imbued poignant scenes of love and loss with a literary purity that was not only impressive in its vividness but preciously moving in its effect. Mappa Mundi plays Pete’s Candy Store on 2/5.

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2. Big Thief– 7.7 (out of 10)

Almost sounding like an indie folk version of Allen Ginsberg’s eternal poem ‘Howl,’ “Masterpiece” (music video playing below) by Brooklyn’s Big Thief is a guitar-fuzzed portrait of people searching for serenity. Especially memorable with the soothing vocals of Adrianne Lenker, the poignant song marks Big Thief—which released the quietly strong ‘side-as’ two years ago—as a group not just that conveys, but almost, celebrates pain. Big Thief, currently on tour with Here We Go Magic, plays The Bowery Ballroom on 2/18.

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3. Echoscape– 7.7 (out of 10)

On the May-released ‘Square Two’ EP, Brooklyn “math folk” project Echospace (aka Satoshi Inoue) doesn’t so much play the guitar as conure it into being. On such sweetly fleeting songs as “Rainsong” or “Undulating Place,” one marvels at the deeply deft musician’s ability to convey the deepest of emotions with a single strum. Echospace plays The Shop Brooklyn on 1.29.

Honorable Mentions: Brooms, Ransom Pier, Brother Valiant, Out of System Transfer, Juliet K Seldomo

– Zach Weg

 

Conveying a gritty minimalism, Boston-based emcee Jay Minor‘s downtempo tracks compel with their refusal to be merry. While the gospel-swirled "Liquid.Screens" from last year seemingly portrays a lovesick soul’s search for solace in television, the jazzy "The Peter Piper Theory" (streaming below) from New Year’s Eve harshly yet vitally depicts post-violence duress. Perhaps taking cues from Earl Sweatshirt’s great sophomore album ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside,’ these tracks aren’t light but definitely intriguing. Jay Minor plays at AS220 in Providence, Rhode Island tomorrow (1/19). – Zach Weg 

It’s time to tackle the ROOTS category of our open submissions for the 2015 edition of our Best of NYC Poll for emerging artists – you can see the results we published so far here.

ROOTS

Total submissions in this category: 13

Jurors: Cervante Pope (The Deli Portland), Juan Rodriguez (The Deli LA), Zach Weg (The Deli NYC).

Artists qualified to the next stage (i.e. the Readers’ Poll, starting around 01.20):

1. Janita– 7.6 (out of 10)

When Brooklyn-via-Helsinki singer/songwriter Janita shared her album ‘Didn’t You, My Dear?’ back in July, she not only gave precious voice to such seemingly universal hardships as melancholy and frustration but practically whispered to the listener: "Hey, these things happen. I’m right there with you." As heard on the soul-lined "Easing into Sanity" (streaming below), the smooth-voiced singer did in fact seem to come from a pressingly personal place yet. Like every great vocal poet, spoke for everyone striving to emerge from a fog.

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2. Howth– 7.2 (out of 10)

Having just played the venerable Downtown New York venue Le Poisson Rouge, Brooklyn quartet Howth are deservedly gaining wider recognition as the lighthearted yet affecting quartet that they are. A drum-tumbled track like “April I Will” (streaming below), for example, off their latest “Trashy Milky Nothing Town” album conveys an impossibly pure sweetness that can only come from a passionate band such as this. Howth plays Shea Stadium on 2/1. 

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3. Tangina Stone– 7 (out of 10) While the term “singer/songwriter” may connote the heartbreak and longing of such masters as Sufjan Stevens, Brooklyn-via-Ohio’s Tangina Stone refreshingly radiates a kind of experienced joy in her soul-lined songs. Her November-released track “Suntan” (music video playing below), for example, details young love not just with optimism but with the deep soulfulness of someone who has experienced its wondrous impact. Tangina Stone plays at Pianos on 2/17.

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Honorable Mentions: Rue Snider, Fireships, Jesus On The Mainline, Matteis, Tacoma Narrows

Zach Weg – The Deli Magazine

"It Calls On Me" (streaming below), the title track off New Hampshire-based singer/songwriter Doug Tuttle’s forthcoming sophomore album, is an ominous yet ultimately sweet portrait of a ponderous mind. Soundling like a mix of The War On Drugs and Simon & Garfunkel, the guitar-plained song has the smooth-voiced Tuttle gazing up at the unknown while dealing with the reality before him. While it may be about "panic attacks and the feeling of being at the mercy of some unexplainable otherworldy force," as Tuttle explains in a Noisey interview, it is surprisingly charming and ultimately compassionate. Ahead of the release date of ‘It Calls On Me’ on 2/19, Doug Tuttle plays at Lillypad on 2/27 and Artspace on 2/28. – Zach Weg