Boston alt-rockers Black Helicopter are back with a 4-song EP full of their patented melodic, melancholic fuzz. Invoking the best of bands like Weezer and Smashing Pumpkins, Everything is Forever is an impressive showcase of the bands eclectic talent. Opening track "And I>Drive at Night" has a gritty, aggressive, yet understated character personified by vocalist Tim Shea’s brooding narrative. That mood persists and develops through the album, giving the EP a feeling of completion, while leaving the listener wanting more. -Brian Varneke
Deli Premiere: Jakals Drop New Video For Single “Homesick”
Jakals is one of those bands that just reach out and grab you right from the first strum of a guitar. The Boston-based indie rockers are celebrating the recent release of their debut album Keep Mother Sane, a profound and melancholic portrait of the modern world with a depth and profundity rarely seen. We are thrilled to premiere "Homesick", the first single and video off of the new record. According to the band, "’Homesick’ is about the intense desire to find true contentment in a world dominated by technology, individualism, and isolation, only to realize that you are chasing a phantom." Animated by Alec Huston of Warbird Creative, the video uses simple, repetitive images to convey the complex themes of the song. Check out the video below and keep track of Jakals on the road here. -Brian Varneke
The Solars Bring New EP to O’Brien’s 06.25
With their new EP Retitled Remastered, Boston psych/folk rockers The Solars assert themselves as masters of their craft. Overflowing with memorable lyrics, impressive vocal harmonies, and tight, folksy grooves, the record flows seamlessly, evading strict categorization. Their new single "Goddess of the Suburbs" is an ode to the discomfort and paranoia of being stuck in your skin when you wish you could be anywhere else. Check it out below and catch The Solars live at O’Brien’s on 6/25 with Littleboybigheadonbike and Mitch Van Bree. -Brian Varneke
Indie-Pop Newcomers Dang Clets Release Self-Titled EP
Formed by three Californians transplanted in Boston, Dang Clets is new to the New England scene, but is wasting no time making a name for themselves. Their self-titled debut EP is instantly catchy and charming, with smooth, synth-laden jangle pop guaranteed to keep you relaxed and engaged from start to finish. Expect to see their name often in the next few years as they are definitely a band to watch. Check out their single "Lines" below and let us know what you think! -Brian Varneke
NH Gypsy Rockers People Like You Release New Album, Play Fury’s Publick House
It’s difficult to catalog New Hampshire’s People Like You into any sort of genre classification without writing a dissertation on the subject. Suffice it to say they are a whirlwind of psychedelic gypsy alt-rock, that keeps in touch with their folk roots. Make sense? Good. The band’s new album, People People, is a roller coaster ride, keeping you on the edge of your seat with each strum, squeeze, and pluck. Check them out at Fury’s Publick House on 7/1 and help them celebrate the new release. -Brian Varneke
Folk Singer/Songwriter Katie Dobbins Releases Debut Album, Embarks on New England Tour
Last month, Boston-based singer/songwriter Katie Dobbins released her debut album, She Is Free, a deeply personal record that is full of reflective poetry and messages of love. At its core, She is Free is a pop record, bringing to mind Jewel’s Pieces of You, but Dobbins reveals her eclectic nature through traditional folk instruments, horns, and the occasional twangy pedal steel. Katie will be setting out on a supporting tour this month throughout New England. You can find dates and more information here. -Brian Varneke
The Prefab Messiahs Release New Video for New Single, Sometimes Sunnydaze
The Prefab Messiahs formed in 1981 in the art-punk scene of Worchester, Mass. While their initial run lasted just over a year, they reformed in 2012 and began writing new tunes that are as relevant now as they were when their career started. The band blazes through your speakers with a sound that is two parts 60s power pop, two parts brit-punk, with a dash of psychedilia. Their newest single, "Sometimes Sunnydaze" is an ode to staying inside on beautiful days, and yet is a must-add for your summer beach playlist. Check out the music video in the link below. –Brian Varneke
Quiet Giant Releases New EP, You’re In Heaven
Last week, Bethel, CT rockers Quiet Giant dropped their latest EP, You’re In Heaven, a five-song odyssey that feels more like a multi-movement work than a standard release. Beginning with the bright, bouncy "Heaven" and continuing all the way through the heavier, ambient "Knee of the Curve", the EP connects through a 20 minute crescendo, an interesting narrative thread that keeps the record intact as an artistic idea, while keeping the autonomy of each track as an individual concept. Pick up the EP below and catch Quiet Giant at BoroughFest in Newtown, CT on 5/27 with Deer Leap, Perennial, and more. -Brian Varneke
Deli Premiere: Boketto The Wolf Loses Their Cool With New Single
You may remember Boston alt-folk/rockers, Boketto the Wolf, from our coverage of their debut EP, Sleepless back in December. Since we left them, they have certainly been busy, with a SXSW Texas tour and a brand new single debuting today, here at The Deli. "Losing My Cool" is another shining example of what brought Boketto to our attention in the first place: unique, catchy, yet emotional songwriting and vocals, mixed with dynamic instrumentals, never overstated. Recorded at Power Station New England by Evan Bakke (Pinwheel, Prinze George, Joss Stone), it is an ode to young relationships, an anthem for anyone who has tried to play it cool and failed. Hit the link below to check out "Losing My Cool" and catch Boketto the Wolf at Thunder Road on June 6/3 (The Boston Pride Kickoff) or Midway Cafe 6/20. -Brian Varneke
Deli Premiere: Louis Apollon Releases Video for New Single, You Are a Dream
We come across a lot of great vocalists here, at The Deli, but few invoke the classic soul-vibe quite like Boston singer-songwriter Louis Apollon. A recent Berklee grad, Louis is preparing to release his debut album, Free To Be, in September. The album "explores all there is to the human experience through short stories and experiences". Fortunately for us, we don’t have to wait until the fall for a taste of the new record. The first single, "You Are a Dream", embodies the character of 70s soul giants, like Al Green, with Louis’ own jazz/folk flavor. Louis’ voice has a soothing quality, his dulcet tones blending with the no-less-impressive fingerwork of his guitar. With the help of Aleif Hamdan on guitar, Achal Murthy on bass, and Kaushlesh Purohit on cajon (who also engineered the track), Louis creates a nostalgically romantic musical venture, a balance of simplicity and technical prowess. Check out the video below and catch Louis at The Midway Cafe on May 22. –Brian Varneke
Banded Starling Drop Folksy Debut, Sink In
The New Hampshire alt-folk duo may be in it’s beginning stages, but Banded Starling founders, Priscilla Bel and Pete Watson are no strangers to the New England music scene. A decade long musical partnership has given way to an intimate debut EP with tons of heart. Sink In fits comfortably into the rich indie/folk tapestry of New England with soothing vocal melodies and tastefully orchestrated instrumentals. We’re excited to see what the future holds for these two storytellers. Catch them at Brew’d Awakening in Lowell, MA on 6/10. -Brian Varneke
Deli Premiere: Flight of Fire Release New Video for “One More Sip”
Fresh off of their win at The New England Music Awards (Best in State-Massachusetts), Boston rockers, Flight of Fire continue to take the NE music scene by force. They have arrived, armed to the teeth with their album Path of the Phoenix, a 7-song concept album that spins a tale about "the treacherous journey of doing whatever it takes to follow your own truth". Their latest single and video for "One More Sip" (filmed at Hard Rock Boston), showcases one of the more blistering cuts on the album, while giving the viewer a taste of their high energy live set. Screaming guitars, grueling riffs, and powerhouse vocals abound as the all-female quartet take on Boston and beyond. Check them out at House of Blues Foundation Room on 5/12 with blindspot, Katey and the Illicit, and Wonder City. You can also catch them at the Mill City Ballroom on 5/18 as part of The Break Into Action Tour. -Brian Varneke