Andy Molholt’s quirky musical exploration Laser Background headlines Kung Fu Necktie tonight. The band’s music has an “everything is not as it appears” vibe to it. Initially, it might seem as though one has entered into some twisted spacey combination of a haunted house and circus, but if you wait a moment – catch your breath and reevaluate your surroundings – the true nature of the music comes to the forefront. It has a dreamy calmness that counters a subtle enjoyable rhythm, which balances the moments of unadulterated freaky chaos with the lyrics grabbing you for better or worse. The hazy pop-rock of Avery Rosewater, the project from Julien Rossow-Greenberg (ex-Arches), whose name is derived from the Kurt Vonnegut novel God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, serves as this evening’s opener, while DJ Set (Eric Slick & Nicky Devine) also factors into the equation. Kung Fu Necktie,1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8, 21+ – Michael Colavita 

Below is a new music video from Former Belle (a.k.a. Bruno Joseph, a.k.a. Bruno Catrambone) for the track "I Was Waiting For You" off his latest record Cathedral. The full-length album came out yesterday, and was produced by Chris Radwanski (from Night Panther). He’ll be celebrating its release this Friday at MilkBoy Philly with Market East, Geology and Commonwealth Choir.

Hip-hop collective Ground Up just dropped a new single yesterday called "Head Over Heels" featuring Pittsburgh’s Beedie. For all the old heads out there or fans of re-run TV, you might recognize the chilled out sample from the intro of the classic show Taxi. You can download the track for free HERE.

The percussion has that casual snap and pop that makes your head nod like you’re giving an affirmation or an answer that comes so easily it seems instinctive. The bass lines are like offensive lineman creating pathways in space at the point of sonic attack. Cheers Elephant is a multi-faceted quartet, a team of musicians that make it happen because the go-to plays are executed at a veteran level. The vocals are crisp, harmonies where individual voices blend so well that one wonders how they were ever apart. The groove gets your heart rate and hips synched up, and then just as a matter of balance, the guitar has that way of running so smooth that you forget how fast it can go. Cheers Elephant has a retro sound, but more accurately it’s a quality refined one that comes from an understanding of what makes the plays work. They will be headlining the show tonight at Johnny Brenda’s, which also features The Explorers Club, a South Carolina, pop-rock group that also embraces the elements of harmonious retro rock, and the psychedelic-tinged Americana of locals Honeychurch. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 9pm, $10, 21+ – Michael Colavita

This past Saturday, it was a full house at PhilaMOCA for DRGN King’s Record Release Show. You had a chance to hear the five-piece’s genre-hopping tunes come to life as the band prepares to hit the road in support of their debut album Paragraph Nights, which includes the rite of passage trek to SXSW where they’ll be performing at one of the Deli showcases, and we’re sure others as well. The evening also found Dangerous Ponies bringing the crowd and their fans into the usual joyous frenzy, NYC’s Walking Shapes showed off why they’ll be a great fit with DRGN King as the bands get ready for their tour together, and Idle Idols proved to be another young, local band to keep your eye on. We have some photos from the fun night that you can view HERE. (Photo by Brandi Lukas)

Nightlands, a.k.a. Dave Hartley, recently premiered the track "Nico" from his latest record Oak Island. You can listen to the album version below, and check out Hartley’s interview with ARTINFO as well as the vocals only and instrumental version of the song HERE. He’ll be heading on tour next month opening for Efterklang.

Tonight is a prime example of a great lineup that you can find these days off the beaten path of Philly’s music scene. Transplants Swearin’ and Radiator Hospital will be the bookends of this evening’s bill at West Philly’s Great Indoors. Former Brooklynites Swearin’s ability to write attention-grabbing hooks fueled by punk aggression has already set them up for darling status in the underground music community with the release of the four-piece’s debut self-titled LP, while Radiator Hospital (a.k.a. Sam Cook-Parrott who moved to Philly from Grand Rapids, Michigan) slowly but steadily creeps into the hearts of local indie music fans. Cook-Parrott will be backed by a full band for tonight’s set, which is obviously a bonus. Ghost Light will also be coming home from tour to share their most excellent brooding rock tunes, and they’ll be have in tow Brooklyn tourmates SoftSpot. Start your week off right by going out and doing a little wrong on a Monday night! Great Indoors, (Please contact of the acts or venue for more details.), 7pm, $7, All Ages – Q.D. Tran

Dear Deli Readers,

The Deli Philly’s Year End Fans’/Readers’ Poll 2012 for emerging artists is over, thanks to all those who cast their vote in support of the local bands and artists in our list of nominees. Congrats to Dear Althea for being the winner of this phase of our poll! Kudos also to Ton-Taun and You You Dark Forest who placed second and third.

Here’s the readers’ poll top 10, full results can be found here.

ARTIST VOTES   1 Dear Althea 494 2 Ton-Taun 433 3 You You Dark Forest 125 4 +HIRS+ 116 5 Chill Moody 75 6 Cousin Brian 55 7 Lockets 54 8 The Districts 51 9 Sonni Shine & The Underwater Sounds 50 10 Eskimeaux 49

Stay tuned for the final composite chart (to be released soon) which will include the points nominees accumulated from the jurors’ and Deli writers’ votes, and will crown The Deli’s Best Philly Artist of 2012.

Cheers!
The Deli’s Staff

Check out Pissed Jeans‘ forthcoming album Honeys, which is currently available for streaming in its entirety at Spin.com! The band’s fourth record officially comes out February 12 via their longtime label Sub Pop, and they’ll be celebrating its release Friday, February 15 at Underground Arts supported by Leather and Lantern.

Below is an enchanting new video titled "Melody, Love & Soul" for the EP of the same name. The short film is a collaborative effort from New York-based filmmaker Evan Cohen and Doylestown’s Heat Thunder (a.k.a. Joe Montone). It served as Cohen’s thesis film, and is intended "to express the inner workings of soul and heart." The video premiered the other day via YVYNYL. Enjoy!

Melody, Love & Soul from Evan Cohen

It’s been interesting to watch Kate Ferencz evolve as she finds her own voice. When we first came across her child-like vocals, she was similar to many singer-songwriters that you’ll come across at open mics and coffee shops toting an acoustic guitar looking rather prim and proper while singing about things like boys and “Lions and Tigers and Bears.” Well, fast forward a few years, and you’ll find that the gal has been drinking from the wudder of Philly’s music freak pool. These days, you’ll find her wailing and flailing about while drawing onlookers at DIY spaces fronting her latest project Evil Sword. You can join the bizarreness tonight at Little Berlin when she opens for avant-folk veterans Hermit Thrushes. Yeah, things are about to get very weird in the Kensington multi-purpose art space. Litte Berlin, 2430 Coral St., 7pm, $5, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman