There is a definite charm harnessed by the scudzy psychedelia of Bay Area band The Riot Professor, who channel the sunny 70s just as much as the contemporary stoner rock movement. In their new (aptly titled) single, “Stoner” (streaming below,) they find the sweet spot in between the two—a catchy, amalgamation of influences that fall together in near-perfect harmonies. It’s a controlled, slow brewing chaos of sound that is at once playful and technical, and is even mirrored in the lyrics ("Everyone’s an echo chamber.") This track comes off their upcoming EP Year of the Mirage, set to be released on October 27th. – Lilly Milman

In the wake of the recent fires in Napa and Sonoma, the monthly Milk Was A Bad Choice showcase is donating the proceeds from the next show to relief for those communities. The stacked lineup includes a funky mix of the Bay Area’s best indie pop bands—all of which have been previously featured on The Deli. It’s hard to resist dancing to the upbeat, semi-electro melodic pop of Panic is Perfect, a five-piece with afro-pop influences. The jazzy six-piece LOCO TRANQUILO is sure to make you move, as well, with their unique blend genre-defying funk music. Finally, the slow-brewing soul-influenced alt rock of MOSAICS tops off the lineup. – Lilly Milman

Be sure to drop by the Milk Bar, catch this stacked line up, and donate to a worthy cause on November 1st at 8 pm. Until then, listen to our playlist of the performers below. 

In their debut LP Peach, Bay Area rockers Culture Abuse provide their take on the frantic, fuzzy garage rock that enamored the late 90s. At its core, Peach is a grungey daydream—every track is an onslaught of guitar-driven, droney punk rock that takes its influences from every corner of the genre. The band doesn’t waste time transitioning from hardcore, to shoegaze, to (dare I say) power pop. Instead, they do it all at once—a feat rarely done at all, much less often done well. In a deceptively simple presentation, Culture Abuse provides an intricately crafted instant classic that you can’t help but bang your head to. They are currently on a North American show, and they will be playing LA Waterfront on October 28th. – Lilly Milman

Listen to our favorite track “Dream On” streaming below. 

With electronic music becoming more popular than ever, it’s not surprising that bedroom artists are popping up all over the country. What is notable, though, is the producer that actually gets out of the bedroom and plays a live show. California native Alec Lee is of this rare breed, performing his soulful, Chet Faker-inspired electro-pop across the Bay Area, opening up for acts like Smash Mouth and Tender. His newest EP Life in Pastel is a cross-section of all his best qualities as a creator. His singer-songwriter side comes out in “I’ll Be Ready,” a stripped-down track that straddles the line between soul and pop, while “Found You” (streaming below) is a full-out explosion of upbeat electronica. – Lilly Milman

The funky, stripped-down Southern soul made by emerging act Wheetay—fronted by Thomas White—is exactly what the Nashville scene needs right now. White takes on the responsibility of writing, recording, producing, mixing, and mastering all the tracks, yet he still considers the project a collaborative effort as his friends play a role in inspiring his tracks and bringing them to life. Explained in his own words as a “lo-fi approach to high fidelity music,” Wheetay is finally taking to the stage with a lineup of live shows, in which he will combine live instruments with looping tracks. The sultry, semi-electronic sound created by White and co. is fresh, fun, and a nice change of pace for Music City. If you can’t make his show tonight at the Tin Roof, then definitely make sure to catch him opening for Willie Shaw at The Country on the 13th. – Lilly Milman

Listen to our favorite track “Probably Nothing” streaming below.

It’s difficult to believe that The Shacks’ “Strange Boy” was the first song that Shannon Wise ever recorded, but that’s how the story goes. The New York based duo (made up of Wise and Max Shrager) formed almost by accident, which only amplifies their chemistry. When Shrager’s whimsical arrangements are combined with Wise’s saccharine soprano, a sound akin to magic is created. The Shacks’ debut self-titled EP is a spooky and sweet bedroom pop masterpiece, and it leaves the listener wanting more. This fall they’ll be playing a bunch of shows scattered across the US. Our friends at Delicious Audio asked guitarist Max Shrager a few questions about his guitar tone, see link below. Check out their latest video for single "The Strange Effect," streaming below. – Lilly Milman

Delicious Audio Q&A with Max Shrager of THe Shacks about guitar pedals and tone.

With two singles already released, singer-songwriter Josh Washam is quickly making a name for himself in Nashville in anticipation of his upcoming full-length LP The Washam Machine. The single “Misinformation” (streaming below) is a breezy, honest ballad about trust and communication. The energetic, driven Americana is stylistically similar to releases by established groups like The Avett Brothers, except with one main difference—Washam recorded this all on an 8-track machine in his home studio in Nashville. From the production, to the arrangements, to the cover, this album represents Nashville to its core. The Washam Machine is set to be released on October 6th, and Josh Washam will also be playing a record release show at The Crying Wolf on the 8th. – Lilly Milman

Brooklyn quartet Iris Lune seemingly transcends their indie-electronic sound in their new single, "Sewing Skylines to Shores" (streaming below), an engaging track built around a modern and rather dramatic pop production, featuring textural synths and intense soulful vocals. The song marks an electronic departure from their debut self-titled EP which sustained a calm and indie-pop vibe throughout. The quartet will play The Kniting Factory on October 10. – Tafari Lemma

When it comes to the Nashville-based sludge-pop four-piece Oginalii, slowing down is not an option. With forthcoming EP The Grey coming out on October 20th, their build-up of momentum has been nonstop, between coverage, concerts, and SXSW showcases —and their music is the same way. The female-fronted group, whose name translates to “my friend” in Cherokee, is making waves in the Nashville scene with their complex arrangements, unapologetic songwriting, and technical skill. In the track “7799” (streaming below), front-woman Emma Hoeflinger’s vocals are positively lethal, while the track impressively alternates between a 7/8 and 9/8 time signature. Oginalii will be hitting up The Cobra tomorrow (09.22) for a live show that will definitely hush any doubts about the state of the local Nashville scene. – Lilly Milman

Listen to the Deli’s premiere of “7799” streaming below.

We have an interesting project to share with you guys, one that slipped through our coverage cracks several years ago. Humiliation is an EP from The Dreebs, a band that has recently performed with Guerilla Toss, and was even mentioned by their lead singer. The fellow experimental rockers create a dreary, unstable soundscape throughout through ambient, looming guitar chords backed by drawn-out vocals and hums, like on the track “Wanton Eye”. They even bring forth a more rock-oriented vibe later on the track “The Wall,” which at points sounds like a gloomier version of Radiohead’s Kid A. But as they hint at something recognizable, they lose all touch with reality in their closing track, “Godfather II”, easily the harshest song on the EP. The highlight of the track (and arguably the entire project) is the borderline dissonant guitar riff that continues for two straight minutes, until an eruption into noise rock closes out the EP. Check out the unique work below from The Dreebs. – Pearse Devlin

Boston band Teenender is a long missed dose of young heartbreak, just like their name suggests. Although their sound is definitely reminiscent of 80’s synth-pop groups as well as indie counterparts from this generation (The 1975, Bad Suns, Haim), they manage to sound quite like no one else. On their sweet four-track EP called Kissed, they deliver pop songs with sentiments that aren’t far from mainstream boy bands, but come across as completely honest. Maybe it’s because there are so few like them in the scene, but Teenender definitely has a certain charm that makes their fun pop sound a necessary summer throwback. – Allie Miller  

Listen to our favorite track "no head rush" streaming below.

We recently stumbled upon music by New Jersey’s Darkwing, a post-grunge band from Leonia. Their 2015 EP, revealingly titled ‘Lameonia,’ is a fun, fast-paced record filled with fast paced rock’n’roll anthems. The distorted sound of the guitars, vocals, and drums (like on the opening track “201 Carousel,” streaming below) would make it a perfect soundtrack for a Tony Hawk game. The nostalgic late ’90s early ’00s sound is distingushed by solid songwriting chops and an attitude that, refreshingly, is not that slacking. Check out the EP below and keep an eye on their live schedule. – Pearse Devlin