It’s a new year and a new installment of Daybreaker DC! Filling up the basement of Penn Social on an incredibly chilly morning, the morning-loving crowd of dancers were treated to sublime mixes provided by Rex Riot and Basscamp and excellent MC-ing by Haile Supreme. Fueled by snack bars and coffee, the DC-based DJs provided the perfect atmosphere for a Wednesday morning party. Rex Riot’s beats were sick, using energetic switches and great vocal tracks. Basscamp put together some inspired remixes of diverse origins, from Christina Perri to Major Lazer. My personal favorite was mix of Muse’s Supermassive Black Hole, which featured good use of repetition and distorted Matt Bellamy’s voice to be even more angelic. Another awesome party, all thanks to Daybreaker. -Jonathan Goodwin

 Thanks to all the artists who submitted their music to be considered for The Deli’s Best of DC Area Year End Poll for Emerging Artists. It was a tight contest and rich with musical talent.

After tallying our editors’ ratings for the Open Submissions stage, it’s time to release the results. Please note that, to avoid conflicts, no local editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene.

Total submissions from the DC Area: 24

Jurors: Dan (The Deli New England), Ryan (The Deli LA), Paolo De Gregorio (The Deli NYC). 

Acts advancing to our Readers/Fans Poll:

The Walking Sticks – Indietronica/Synthpop

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 X (Ten) – Indie Hip Hop

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Sojourne – Alt-Soul

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Honorable Mentions:

Jackie and The Treehorns, Atoka Chase, Night Kitchen, Harness Flux, Pete Curry 

WHAT’S NEXT: These results end 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.

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

—The Deli DC Area Staff <3

Full of youthful energy and a lot of fun, Fadest is the new grungy, melodic outfit to watch for in the Baltimore-DC area. The rich, jarring vocals will get your attention and you’ll be hooked on the perfectly synced bass lines and drumming. Integrating plenty of cymbal action and catchy guitar riffs, Fadest has a lot of stage presence and really understands how to interact with an audience, even if they’re sweating gallons. Their sound captures some of the post-grunge grunginess of the early aughts and incorporate some melodic and indie undertones to give it some pizzazz. Keep an eye on this band as they line up more gigs because they put on some really captivating shows. -Jonathan Goodwin

Will Schaeffer seems to be a fount for the unexpected. Maintaining a barebones online presence, this artist from Baltimore has released an impressive new album called Hello, Its Will Schaeffer. Using conventional instruments, Schaeffer has created a work of unconventional sound, as the album is rooted a very DIY, lo-fi production scheme, but is gushing with quality musicality. His voice is raspy like the great blues men of the previous century and possesses a range similar to Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys and The Arcs or Cage The Elephant’s Matt Shultz. Each song carries lyrical content that inspires reflective pondering and feature a strong percussive presence, replete with heavy drumbeats and crashing cymbals. The guitar work is also a treat as it eludes expectation and leads the listener on a merry hunt for rhyme and reason. Give this album a listen because it occupies its own space I’d like to call experimental folk.-Jonathan Goodwin

It’s been a year since the release of their first full-length album, the eclectic Let it Beer, Richmond’s own Imaginary Sons put out a single to round out 2015. Taste The Waste is a departure from the previous releases, featuring light elements of thrash and garage rock instrumentality, but also having a feel of post with the somewhat ethereal vocals, which are somewhat reminiscent of Sigur Rós. Where Let It Beer was a delightful blend of heartland and psychedelic, this new single is a new step, keeping psych elements and incorporating some metal and garage flavoring. Through all of the high-speed guitar and drums, it’s exciting to see this band evolve so quickly. Catch their first show of the year at Strange Matter, 1/23, doors at 8.-Jonathan Goodwin

He has a raspy voice, a guitar, and knack for storytelling through song, so naturally Stephen Lee is a perfect fit for the Baltimore music scene. With his unique brand of Americana mixed with alternative flavoring, the music evokes images of smoke-filled bars by railroad tracks and old factories, filled with beer-swilling listeners and stomping feet. Lee’s sound is similar to that of Lucero, stripped down to near lo-fi status and backed by a steady beat from his guitar. If you’re looking for common man verses without airs, give his recent release West of Twenty-Three a listen or catch him opening for Noble Giants and Throwing Wrenches at the Villain and Saint in Bethesda, 1/10. -Jonathan Goodwin

They may only be three-strong, but Joint Effort have the musical chops and talent of a dozen. With guitar riffs supplied by Neil Durr, the musicality has strong similarity to the jams of Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughan, capturing some of the essence of blues and blending it with their rock and hip-hop bedrock. Flawless bass lines from the hands of Durr’s brother Evan tie together the sick string work with the lyrically-rich verses spilled by vocalist Eric Means. Laying down equal parts philosophy and commentary, Means freestyles are as poignant and evocative as Flobots or Lupe Fiasco. You can catch this fantastic trio take the stage at the Tree House Lounge, 1/22, with Mary El and Edjacated Phools. -Jonathan Goodwin

A chilly, dark Saturday on the other side of some tracks in Baltimore found this writer attending a killer show at The Warehouse, a small venue with the perfect amount of sketchiness and featuring cheap beer, plenty of graffiti, and a working toilet. First onstage was Western Star, a four-piece heavily influenced by alt and classic rock. High octane riffs, croony vocals, and evocative lyrics, the band is equal parts Modest Mouse and Van Zant Band in their musicality. Frontman Max Jeffers brought great energy to the stage, hair flying, and the instrumentals were fantastic, recalling the stylings of Jimi Hendrix.

The Milestones are quickly becoming an establishment-worthy act in the Baltimore scene. Cobbling together an indie style with dance-worthy melodies, the band put on a fantastic show, gripping the audience’s attention immediately and not letting it go until the last guitar note faded on the amps. A particular standout song, UFO (see below) was great live, with expert guitar pieces and crashing drum segments. The band recently put an EP called Honey and listening is highly recommended, especially for a highway playlist.

Closing out the night was rap-reggae-rock fusion group Edjacated Phools. A band of seven, they surprised with their rap skills and seamless reggae techniques. Slick guitars, sick, booming vocals, and melodic keyboard playing brought together an exciting and fun performance and their audience interaction was on point. With semi-political and feel-good verses, the Phools are reminiscent of Sublime and Dirty Heads, yet distinctive in their own right.

If the likes of REM or Counting Crows spent some time in the Appalachians, you’d end up with The Sometimes. This band has a sound built from their Virginian roots, incorporating Americana and bluesy undertones into an alternative framework. Hailing from Fairfax, the quartet put out a new EP, Standoff, that inspires nostalgic introspection and features eloquent repetition. Energetic power chords and moderately raspy vocals produce a standout vibe, so don’t miss The Sometimes play Battle of the Bands, 1/5, at Jammin’ Java in Vienna. -Jonathan Goodwin

If there’s a DC band that’s found the staples of punk, it’s definitely Brick Top. Featuring raspy, yet clear vocals and a messy harmony between guitar and drums, these four guys have nailed a familiar, but distinctive sound that’s exciting and is reminiscent of the 90s, recalling greats like Jawbreaker and Bad Religion.They just put out their very first EP and you can find the sweet title track below. There are only six tracks, but they explore a nihilistic sense of being and futile view of modern existence. It may be pop-punk, but that doesn’t make it any less dark. -Jonathan Goodwin

A rootsy quintet belting out their vivacious sounds from Charlottesville, VA, Lord Nelson has the crunch of classic rock with a trombone smoothly spread across their melodies. The band has fantastic stage presence and lead vocalist Kai Crowe-Getty’s voice distills the soul of Tom Petty with the charisma of Marcus Mumford. With lyrics heavily influenced by their Appalachian origins and harmonious band chemistry, their shows certainly aren’t worth missing. You can catch a peek at their wonderful performing below, tonight, 9pm, at the Silverback Distillery in Afton, VA, or at Dr. Ho’s in North Garden, 12/18. -Jonathan Goodwin

Looking for the next big thing in funk? Look no further than Sojourne, a progressive soul four-piece belting out the finest sounds you heard from Baltimore. The lead vocalist, Trina Coleman, has pipes on par with Sara Bareilles and they have a wide spread of jams, from cheery upbeat melodies to slow cocktail lounge serenades. These Seeds is their debut LP and it’s a work of art. Though the band is entering a self-declared hibernation for the winter, you can catch them playing for Artworks on Maryland Public Television, 12/17, at 8:30pm. -Jonathan Goodwin