By now, you’ve probably seen every kind of "Year-End" or "[insert name here]’s Year-in-Review" list imagineable, but this one is way more exciting than anything the mainstream media gods have to say, so listen-up. Near the end of 2015, The Deli invited artsts from every corner of New England to submit their work for our annual year-end poll. After tallying our editors’ ratings for the Open Submissions stage, we’re delighted to announce the results. Please note: To avoid conflicts, no local editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene. 

Editors: Jonathan (The Deli DC area); Jason (The Deli Chicago)

Total submissions from New England: 26

Big Big Buildings Score: 7.83/10

Squirrel Flower Score: 7.33/10

Gavage Score: 7.16/10 

Gang of Thieves Score: 7.16/10 


The Tsunamibots Score: 7.16/10 

Carissa Johnson Score: 7/10 

Honorable mentions (scored above 6/10):
blindspot; The Silver Mirrors; Aloud; Art Thieves; Weekend Greg; Black Rabbit; I Was Awake; Liz Frame and the Kickers

WHAT’S NEXT: These results conclude the first phase of the poll. We will soon unveil the artists nominated by our local jurors, and then let our readers and our writers influence the poll with their vote. After all of those votes have been taken into consideration, we’ll announce the final overall winners.

Keep creating, keep supporting, and stay-tuned for your chance to vote!  

-The Deli New England staff

Ex-RIBS member Blake Fusilier may have left Boston, but we at The Deli haven’t forgotten about him.

Blake’s debut EP is due out in 2016 under the name “Fusilier” on NYC’s Brassland label. A mix of jazz, dance and R&B, the EP highlights Blake’s immense vocal talents and melodic abilities.

A sample of what’s to come can be found via Blake’s Instagram feed below. We’ll be sure to share the rest of the tunes when they’re available, but for now check out the Fusilier website  and Facebook page for updates about the singer, including the EP release and tour dates.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

 Photo credit: Chris Oquist

 

I have this theory that if people knew who we really were in their minds, we probably would all have a lot more respect for one another. This applies to everyone: friends and acquaintances and bandmates. I think it’s our duty to ourselves to make sure that those around us have a chance to allow others to see our glorious, true selves. I finally feel like I’m beginning to live by those words. The songs I’m wrapping up have been floating around for years. I had been anticipating the moment when people could actually hear even 20 seconds of my potential. That said, I’m ecstatic to share that I’ve signed with @brassland for my debut EP. Here’s a first listen.

A video posted by @blakeful on Dec 15, 2015 at 5:56am PST

Mutiny on the Microphone and RadioBDC have teamed-up to bring you some much-needed respite after spending so much time with your families this holiday season. The event, dubbed "Late Night on Lansdowne", takes place at Bill’s Bar on December 27 and 28, the final two nights of Hometown Throwdown 2015. The shows are the perfect opportunity to check out some of Boston’s immensely-talented musicians–who aren’t named Dicky Barrett. They’re also the perfect post-Throwdown stop if you’re looking to keep the party going late into the night. The lineups for each night are:

December 27
The Bonnets
Bundles
Warn The Duke

December 28
The Offseason
Neutral Territory
Diablogato

Each show starts at 11PM. FREE, 21+. More info about the 2-night affair can be found here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn) 

It’s been a loooong time since I’ve been in a mosh pit, but Bundles‘ new tunes might change that for me in the not-so-distant future. The band recently released two blistering singles off of their upcoming (as-of-yet untitled) EP, and they’re about as rowdy and raucous as anyone could hope for. "Dead Reckoning" has a great straight-forward main riff, with choruses that just make you want to chuck PBR and Narragansett cans on stage and shout at the top of your lungs. "Prisoner’s Dilemma" delivers another powerful riff, this time with more rapid chord changes and a lead vocal that gives this song a slight Damn Personals feel.

Though the band have yet to set a release date for the material, you can catch them performing these songs live in a few weeks. October 23 they’ll be at Cuisine en Locale/ONCE in Somerville, MA and November 25 (Thanksgiving eve!) in Quincy, MA at Quincy Sons of Italy.

For more info on the band, check out their Facebook page.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn) 

If you live in the Greater Boston area, you probably are well-acquainted with the three phenomena that are guaranteed to accompany the arrival of fall in New England: the annual migration of drunk college students, clogging the archaic transportation system, the reappearance of annoyingly-outspoken Patriots fans and Boston Hassle Fest. Yesterday, BRAIN Arts Org. unveiled their Indiegogo fundraiser campaign for this year’s Hassle Fest, offering much-needed respite from "Free Brady" t-shirts lining the Boston city streets. This year’s lineup boasts over 50 bands, with the likes of Pile, Downtown Boys, and Guerilla Toss serving as the welcoming committee for major headliners Screaming Females, Flipper (with David Yow) and Terrence Dixon. The Indiegogo campaign is the only way to secure advance tickets to any fest performance, so make sure to donate early and guarantee your presence at BRAIN Arts Org.’s biggest annual event.

For more information about Hassle Fest, click here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn) 

Warn the Duke (mems. Big D and the Kids Table, River City Rebels) are gearing-up for the release of their debut album, Ghost be Gone, on October 16 and from the sounds (and looks) of their latest video, this LP will be a raucous, pop-punk ride. "Harry O’Donnell" has no shortage of energy–pick slides, gang vocals and an epic, crowd-surf-worthy solo near the bridge. The choruses for this song will leave you longing for the stale beer smell and jean jacket patches atmosphere that only a dive bar punk show can provide. If you’re looking for an immediate PBR & rock n’ roll fix, Warn the Duke will be playing The Midway Cafe this Saturday, September 18 as part of Boston’s Burning 3, a three-day rock fest held in Jamaica Plain, MA.

For more info about Warn the Duke, click here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

The closing of Boston-area music venues has been a hot topic recently, but Boston music journalism networking group Boston Scene Party has been hard at work, proving that the state of the scene in Boston is still as strong as ever. The group, comprised of a variety of local bloggers, promoters and other music-minded folks, have organized a 3-day, multi-venue event designed to highlight the musical talent and dynamic show spaces that Boston and its nearby cities have to offer.
The show series kicks-off this Saturday, September 12 at Firebrand Saints in Kendall Sq., Cambridge. The lineup (sponsored by: Mutiny on the Microphone, Boston Ska Dot Net, Sound of Boston & Eye Design) for opening night will be Grey Season, Art Thieves, The Wolf Hongos. Not only will the is the music guaranteed to be good, but Firebrand also has some of the best chicken wings I’ve ever had, so you should make sure to grab some during the show. 

For more info about Saturday’s show, click here. For updates about the rest of the showcases (lineups, schedules, etc.), check out the Boston Scene Party website.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

I could write a few sentences comparing The Sun Lions‘ latest work to Dinosaur Jr., or some other mostly-well-known 90s "indie rock" band, but that’d be too easy. Whatever’s On Your Mind does scream 90s "indie rock", but there’s way more to it than just that. This record has lo-fi grit with hi-fi choruses–an impressive combo of hard-hitting rock n’ roll and pop sensibilities. These tracks are jammed with intricate guitar solos and super-tight band chemistry; the stops and starts these guys are capabale of executing are some real high-caliber stuff. My favorite track is "Sammy", with its slow, drunkenly-plodding guitars that take off into a punk-rockin’, arm-flailin’ riot. The song seems to end just as it began–powerfully trudging to the finish line, but with the addition of a gang-vocal chorus. Sammy’s definitely "got a-hold on me" with this one. 

If listening to Whatever’s On Your Mind has you looking for more tunes from The Sun Lions, head over to Zuzu in Cambridge, MA tonight and catch their live set. More info about the show can be found here.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn) 
Photo credit: Jess Hodge

It’s not easy to capture a band’s live energy in a recording or a music video, but that’s exactly what Nemes have managed in their new video for “Wrong”, the latest single off their debut full-length album I Carry Your Heart. This recording delivers the same infectious spirit that’s made Nemes one of the busiest touring bands in Boston.  Tightly-layered instrumentation provides support for attractive dual vocals, while Josh Knowles’ spirited violin adds unique texture and depth. Upbeat and deliciously catchy, don’t be surprised to find yourself singing it under your breath hours after your first listen. Catch them live at The Red Room @ Cafe 939 on Thursday, August 6.

-Glori Blatt
Photo credit: Chrissy Bulakites

Last month, I had the pleasure of reviewing The Foresters‘ latest single, "Machines." This month, I have the greater pleasure of premiering their album, Sun Songs. The record, released through Dord Music Group, reveals a wide array of 90s rock influences – Built to Spill being the strongest comparison that comes to mind. Energetic guitar riffs run rampant through these tracks, my favorite being those on "How the World." The lone opening riff immediately caught my attention, before hitting a feedback swell and launching into raucous guitar revelry. Summer is the perfect time to open up your windows and blow out your speakers, and Sun Songs is the perfect soundtrack to help you achieve maximum aural satisfaction. 

In addition to the record release this week, Mother Brother Studios will be posting a Salon Sessions video of The Foresters this Friday, July 24. For more info about the band, check out their Facebook page.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn) 
 

Summer is in full swing and so are Boston’s The I Want You. Fresh off the release of their latest EP, Coast, the band have been hard at work supporting their new material. If you can imagine a Wilco/synth-pop hybrid, that might be the best context within which to view these songs. The title track was my favorite – great keyboard tone and infectious backing vocals on the choruses make sure this song bounces around in your head long after the music is turned off.

For more information about The I Want You, check out their Facebook page.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)
Photo credit: Chris Newell

Hayley Reardon, a Massachusetts native, is one of the rare young musical talents to surpass the label of “pretty girl with a pretty voice” and land squarely in the “songwriter” category. In the her latest live video, featuring her new original song, "Ghost", Reardon’s simple presentation and beautiful, husky vocals make her seem both impossibly young and wise beyond her years. Her impressive natural vocal talent is anchored by evocative lyrics which manage to capture both the innocence and angst of youth – without the cliche. See her next live show at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham, Massachusetts on August 14th.

-Glori Blatt