It’s getting harder and harder find someone who hasn’t at least heard about noise-rock band Gardener. From house shows to dive bars to PDX Pop Now, the band has found themselves on more than a few lineups. Most recently, they joined Nick Normal for a fall tour of the (mostly) West Coast. While their Bandcamp only has one song, “Self Rapture,” it’s uniquely polished and layered. The vocals are surprisingly gentle, even for a psychedelic song. They float smoothly over the high-wired electronic chords. Hints of gospel inspirations dance in and out of the song. The guitar solos are phenomenal, wonderful explosions reminiscent of rock legends such as Queen. The song pays homage to early psychedelic-rock acts while also showing us who Gardener is as a band. Make sure you give it a listen below.

-By Avril Carrillo, photo by Derek Wohlsein

The 6th annual Freakout Fest is coming up quickly, and more than a few great Portland acts will be there. The festival, which will be taking place in Ballard this year, helps celebrate both Seattle bands and artists from across the country. The Shivas, Jenny Don’t And The Spurs, and Gold Casio will all be playing sets. Since’s it’s next Friday and Saturday, you should grab your tickets quick. You can check out the full lineup and schedule here, and buy tickets here. A one day pass is $35, and a two day pass is $60. Some venues are all ages! 

-By Avril Carrillo 

Elly Swope’s debut EP, It Feels The Same Every Time, is coming out this Friday, November 9th. The release show is the following Sunday. To get yourself properly amped up, listen to the album’s first single “Idea.” The song is sweet and sad, which is fitting considering Swope wrote it about the ways “we dissociate after a breakup.” Her voice is startlingly stark, which makes the plaintive lyrics more combative than pleading. Swope sings with heavy emotions in her heart but performs with a cool head.

The release show is this Sunday, November 11th at Turn Turn Turn. Saroon and Deathlist will also be performing.

-By Nick Hartman, photo by Andy Jackson

Terry Robb, Portland’s own world-renowned guitarist, will be playing a show at the Skyline Tavern November 16th. Robb’s masterfully skilled fingerpicking style has landed him a spot amongst the world’s best acoustic blues guitarists. His fingers dance nimbly across the fretboard, moving with such subtle speed that you lose track of their movement within the music. Robb’s last release, Cool on the Bloom, was nominated for the 2017 Best Acoustic Album by Blues Blast Music Awards. Make sure you don’t miss your chance to see him in person.

-By Nick Hartman

The music video for Havania Whaal’s “Supermoon” was released this past week. It follows the protagonist as they fall asleep underneath a glowing full moon stuck to the wall. As happens in any good dream, everything in the video is out of place yet exactly where it’s supposed to be. It has the snarky attitude of indie-darlings like Ghost World and Juno, encased in the style of silent films. Havania Whaal’s distorted, buzzing music follows the protagonist as they attempt to navigate the romantically campy dreamscape. The characters in the video may be out of sync with their bodies, but they’re perfectly in tune with the music. It’s a playful house of horrors, one you’ll enjoy getting lost in.

  -By Avril Carrillo

Halloweekend is finally upon us, and it’s important you start your wicked weekend off on the right foot. Luckily the Deli is around to hook you up with the creepiest content around. Awhile back B.R.U.C.E. played a show at the Peculiarium Oddities Shop. They’ve released a video just in time for all the monsters and creeps looking for something freaky to entertain themselves with! Filmed by Nathan Backous, it shows the band in all their grungey glory. 

True to form, each member completely throws themselves into the music. It’s impressive that B.R.U.C.E. can become the most entertaining spectacle in the midst of a shop literally dedicated to freaky things that are fun to look at. As they thrash around with their instruments and howl in agony, the intensity of the music is almost overwhelming. The rumbling, synthesized vocals are even more sinister than the voice of the ghoul sitting on your chest when you get hit with sleep paralysis. It’s viscerally disturbing, which makes it incredibly delightful.

Make sure you watch the video below. Bruce will be playing next at The Firkin Tavern November 4th, along with Adult School and Dead Coyote. 

  -By Avril Carrillo, Photo by @glittertrash (ig)

Y La Bamba has announced a new album, Mujeres, which will be out February 8th via Tender Loving Empire. The band has provided an early release of the titular song "Mujeres". In the announcement accompanying the release, vocalist Luz Elena Mendoza stated, “This song is for my mother and for all of us women who have and still battle the fight to be heard.” Mendoza herself wages a fierce battle with her breakneck pace and nuanced vocals. The urgency thrumming underneath her confidence plays well with the muted bass and heavy beats. If every song is as good as this, the album is sure to be one for the ages. 

Check out a live performance of the song below, provided by KEXP. Y La Bamba is kicking off their fall tour tonight, October 25th at Mississippi Studios.

  -By Nick Hartman, Photo by Corbin Corbin

Pool Boys have released their debut single, “Millennial Morse Code”. While Pool Boys have spent most of the past year as a popular opening act, listening to the single it’s clear that playing live shows hasn’t been the only thing the band’s been up to. The song is incredibly refreshing. It has notes so clear and smooth listening to the song is akin to drinking a tall glass of ice water. The undertones of the bass intermixed with guitar riffs that strike like lightning give the song a darker edge. It’s clearly a finessed final product, but it still has the earnest heart of a young band looking to make their mark.

You can catch Pool Boys at Bunk Bar November 23rd alongside Kulululu and Sheers. 

-By Avril Carrillo, Photo by Steve Montague

Mope Grooves released their third LP, The Waves, this past week. Listening to The Waves, you can’t help but feel as if you’re listening to the sort of Christmas music that would get made in a post-apocalyptic underground bunker. Which is to say, the music is disjointed and eerie, but still oddly cheerful. The album’s blend of new wave, lo-fi, and drone rock results in some delightfully gloomy, subtly jazzy tunes. “Repulsive Music”, one of the more upbeat songs, is the best example of this. The steady pace of the drums helps lead along the mellow notes emanating from the synth. Each word sung feels as if it is being teased out of the lead vocals. It’s ideal for the slow and rainy days we have coming up ahead. 

The Waves can be purchased for 10 dollars on the band’s Bandcamp, and 7 dollars if you are low-income, disabled, or not a cis white male. You can catch Mope Grooves next on November 6th at Polaris Hall, along with The Goon Sax and Honey Bucket. 

  -By Avril Carrillo

The second annual Noggin Fest is coming up next week, taking place Friday, October 19th and Saturday, October 20th. Put together by NW Noggin: Neuroscience Outreach Group, the festival will have live music, art workshops, and scientific demonstrations. Noggin aims to unite artists, scientists, and students and celebrate all forms of imagination and exploration. Some of the Deli’s favorite artists will be playing the festival, including but not limited to: Karma Rivera, Shannon Entropy, Internet Beef, and B.R.U.C.E.

The festival is taking place at Watershed PDX. On Friday it will be running from 6PM to 11PM. On Saturday it will be running from 12PM to 12AM. It’s all ages, so the whole family can come. Make sure you check out the full-lineup on the facebook page here, and the outreach group here.

-By Avril Carrillo

No Kind of Rider is embarking on a tour of the West Coast later this month, only a few months after the debut of their full-length album Savage Coast. The album is tender and contemplative, with emotion so earnestly raw at times it makes your heart ache. The band’s mix of gutsy indie rock, jazzy electronic, and moody surf creates music oddly evocative of cold, gray days on the beach. It’s crisp, cool tones hit you like a refreshing fall wind. The slower, moodier elements ground you in a more somber place, without losing any of the music’s more sentimental moments.

No Kind of Rider next Portland show will be October 21st. In the band’s own words, "When booking a tour, always remember to include the hometown crowd." They will be playing one of Rontoms Sunday Sessions, along with Pool Boys and Wave Action.

-By Avril Carrillo 

Chanti Darling, the disco prodigy of Portland, released his much-acclaimed debut album RNB Vol.1 this past August. If you’re one of the many people who’s been waiting with anticipation to see it live, boy do I have good news for you. Chanti Darling is going to be at the Holocene October 11th, this Thursday. Don’t miss this chance to dance the night away to Darling’s wonderfully hypnotic rhythms.

You can read The Deli’s previous coverage of RNB Vol.1  here.

  -By Nick Hartman