Brooklyn and Harlem-based artists gather once again to showcase their talents at The Revolution Vol. 38 this Saturday, April 27th. The performance series will once again highlight independent pop culture and musicians who go beyond the confines of their genre. The showcase will feature three prominent acts who epitomize the messages of the movement: Ohene Cornelius, Sol Liebeskind, and Lotushalves.

Ohene Cornelius mixes synthesized beats with a natural flow and delivers messages directly to independent  artists, urging them to remain themselves in spite of industry pressures. The fluid R&B of Lotushalves examines identity, grapples with relationships, and promotes personal growth. Sol Liebeskind’s soulful vocals have a high class to them that mix well with the urban breadth of her music, in a style similar to R&B New York City legend Alicia Keys. All three of these artists have something important to say and on Saturday night they surely will.

Kami Maltz has wowed listeners with her smooth voice, her blending of folk and electronic elements, and her ability to craft songs about complex emotions through catchy hooks and poetic lyrics. Her new single "Kingdom" has all of that; it dropped last week and has already started to gain some traction on streaming services. The Deli now premieres the track’s video, which Maltz filmed with an all-female crew over the course of one day. The rainy day atmosphere of the video adds to Maltz’s lyrics about romance and the soft arrangement of the track. If you want to catch Maltz live, she’ll perform at the Owl Music Parlor in Prospect Lefferts Gardens on May 10. Until then, catch the premiere of the video for "Kingdom" below. – Will Sisskind

The music of Brooklyn singer-songwriter Adir L.C. has a worldly sound to it that integrates its more traditional folk elements, a result perhaps of his frequent trips across the U.S. and far beyond. The Israeli-born artist’s latest single “Big Bad” (streaming) kicks off with a burst of percussions that quickly comes to a halt, opening up space for acoustic guitars that ring with serenity. As Adir begins to sing, the intimacy of the setting may remind you of a friend who has a story to tell, someone with a rich past but who’s not done growing and learning. The song slowly grows to incorporate a full arrangement, including a brass section that lifts the chorus to the song’s climax, without ever losing its earnest folk quality. The single forms part of Adir’s second full-length record release Basket Star, which is due out May 17th, and promises to further expose the troubadour’s thoughts on life between New York and Tel Aviv. Catch Adir L.C. performing at Our Wicked Lady in Brooklyn on April 26th. – Rene Cobar

Brooklyn-based band Crumb’s mesmeric melodies and enthralling jazz arrangements will spread across broader than ever with the release of their debut LP Jinx on June 14th. The lead single for the LP, “Nina” contains all the haunting vocals, entrancing guitar licks, and poised beats that have made this band’s last two EPs—2016’s Crumb and 2017’s Locket—a buzz story in New York City and beyond. Lila Ramani (guitar, vocals) showcases her casual confidence in her vocal delivery, keeping pace with the instrumentation of the rest of the band, concocting an imaginative sound that find its roots in bedroom pop and psychedelia. The music video for the song stars David Patrick Kelly of the acclaimed TV show Twin Peaks and is as captivating as the song itself. Don’t believe us? See it for yourself here. – Rene Cobar

The lush vocals of Brooklyn, NY musician Johnny Darlin slip into the eardrums of the listener early on in his single “Way With Words,” and with the assistance of sixties-styled vocal harmonies, delayed guitar licks, and a groovy drum beat create a sedating listening experience. The lounge-pop sound of Johnny Darlin is intriguing enough as it is, and yet the accompanying music video to the single adds another layer of interest for the listener—the setting of an Arkansas church, where Darlin entertains the devotees, is transformed into a bubbly dance dream to the sound of his baritone voice. The video for “Way With Words” was released last month, and the song is available in his 2018 EP of the same name. Johnny Darlin knows how to tell a good story, see it for yourself here. – Rene Cobar 

Garage rock is still kicking very hard in NYC thanks to bands like Daddies who take every aspect of the genre’s do-it-yourself(-and-have-fun) very seriously by churning out one distorted chord progression after the next in their first EP titled—simply and in classic punk fashion—EP 1. The crazed songs in their debut record summon the energy of ’70s pioneers like The Ramones and The Dead Kennedys. The acoustic opening in their song “GoodBye" (streaming) is perfectly disrupted by the electric guitars which come roaring in, and the aggression is taken to the next level by a seemingly constantly speeding tempo and by a furious drum solo finale – there’s Daddies for you. The group is taking the stage at Baby’s All Right on May 23, and it is bound to be a hell of a good time. Check out “GoodBye” here below. – Rene Cobar

NYC pop masters Modern Diet are back with a new EP that serenely lays out a sonic tapestry of colorful compositions that are brushed with indie rock, R&B, and psych-pop influences. Sit Down and Dance is an appropriate title for a record that grooves and entrances at once with waves of flanged guitar chords and synth embellishments that linger regally. There is a poise to the record that shows the band’s ability to mold its music: while the group’s 2015 self-titled debut album had a more aggressive approach of alternative rock with a tinge of mellow jazz, this second release expands on the latter and adds some rich harmonies to boot. The band is preparing for a string of shows, and one of the stops will be at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on May 1st. We have a track from the new EP here for you. – Rene Cobar    

Nikki’s Wives released their uplifting alt-rock song “Lemonade” this past February, and now it has a music video to accompany it. The hilariously yellow-themed video stars the band and – as you one might expect – lots of lemons. The comedic interactions between the band members add an exciting layer to the already anthemic choruses and hard pounding drums driving the song forward. The band recently spent time recording at the Hollywood Hills home featured in the video and promise to release more music soon from these sessions. The band’s 2018 debut EP Motor Court can be streamed now on all major platforms and, if their upcoming music is anything like it, the odds are good that they will continue their rise. – Rene Cobar

The furious guitars and nimble drum beats of Grim Streaker—led by the matching vocal inflection of Amelia Bushell—will pierce through your preferred listening device this May 17 as the band releases their debut LP No Vision. Their preview track “Today New York” is a promise of world domination through classic garage punk – and it all starts with their album release party at Alphaville on May 16. The Brooklyn group is offering the album with a cassette and zine package that is limited to 100 copies. The event is shaping up nicely, and NYC should be buzzing that evening. Listen to the strong pace of "Today New York" below. – Rene Cobar

The fuzzy bassline that kicks off NYC group Mala Vista’s song “Mouth Breeder” is only the beginning of a sonic roller coaster ride that will take you right back to the vintage years of garage rock (early ’70s). Furiously powerful drumming lays a foundation for expeditious guitar riffs and driving vocal deliveries that are covered in the anxiety and excitement of NYC’s punk glory days. However, the band has a finesse to it that betrays an above the average musicianship (at least in the garage rock field, not prone to virtuosism); they showcase it not only in the solos of lead guitarist Erik Lamf but also in the effective backing vocals of drummer Ben McIsaac. The group is celebrating the release of their first EP and is charging toward a gig at Gutter Bar in Brooklyn April 20th. Here below is what you can expect from these NYC gents. – Rene Cobar

Bill Waters may not spend much time on social media promoting his music, but that may be because his songs speak for themselves. Waters’ 2017 dreamy retro-pop EP Humid is laced with a heavy dose of laid-back guitar tunes, splendid drum fills, and mellow verses that seamlessly transition into reverb-drenched choruses. His second entry, Honey Hi appears to follow the same formula, and yet expands the palette of baroque pop that characterized the early Last Shadow Puppets super-group, adding a touch of the chillwave of bands like Washed Out. While you won’t find much info on the new album, Bill Waters does have an album release show at Trans-Pecos in Brooklyn on April 30th. Check out his song “It’s True” from Honey Hi below. – Rene Cobar

NYC’s The Advertisers know how to dish out a savory blend of fierce garage-blues that will have many asking for seconds. The band will be serving up distorted guitars, hard pounding drums and angst-fueled vocal deliveries for the next month of their residency at Carmelo’s in Brooklyn. The band released single “Trippin” on their site, and are gearing up for the upcoming release of their debut EP titled simply EP 1. The Carmelo’s residency will see them share the stage with a multitude of bands supporting the group, and it is promising to be a jolly (and loud) good time. – Rene Cobar