Tomorrow, Friday 9/19, DC Deli Artist of the Month The Grey A is playing his record release show for the long awaited new album My Country. A sweet mix of guitar-pop and folk sounds, My Country is full of thoughtful, poignant songs about a chaotic world, and challenges that face us all. Joining The Grey A will be local country crooner Kevin Dudley, and rising singer-songwriter Matt Tarka. It all happens at Comet Ping Pong, doors at 10pm (but stop by earlier to have some amazing pizza), $12.  –Natan Press

Black Bananas, the alternative rock band lead by the fur-adorned, aviator-wearing, erstwhile DC heroine Jennifer Herrema, has released the music video for "Creeping The Line" on September 11th. The band formerly known for their rock roots as RTX, garnishes laid-back auto-tuned melodies sung over an electric guitar. The Jess Holzworth directed video is creatively intriguing- prepare your eyes for crazy pops of color, 1 gigantic teddy bear, 2 very-skilled pole dancers, and 3 chic-looking dogs! Be sure to check out the rest of the tracks off their summer album Electric Brick Wall, out now. And if you’re heading to Los Angeles, catch them October 23rd at Los Globos in Hollywood. – Sade A. Spence

The track sounds “a lot like electronic and indie pop, but not” describes Tigers Are Bad For Horses pianist, Lyell Evans Roeder. When his rock and classical roots paired up with Mellen (Mary-Ellen) Funke’s folk-vocals, the duo created a sound all their own. Influenced by Bonobo, Alt-J, and Daft Punk, “Recovery” is a beautiful blend of Funke’s sultry voice and Roeder’s relaxing electro-jazz melodies.

Tigers Are Bad For Horses, a name created by Roeder’s "crazy-but-brilliant" Russian college roomie, have only been working together since April 2014, but already have a lot in the works. They are currently producing a second single, which they plan to release before the drop of their EP; both are expected this fall. The pair say they are dreaming big, but for now, they are looking forward to performing in the D.C. area in the next few months. If you haven’t already heard “Recovery” on Sirius XM Chill, take a listen below. –Sade A. Spence

In one week, the DC Area Deli Magazine is proud to present an intimate show at Galaxy Hut, featuring 2 of the areas best songwriters, each presenting their material in a guitar duo.

First up will be Baltimore’s The Andy Bopps, featuring power-pop and alt-country savant Andy Bopp (Love Nut, Myracle Brah, Bleaker Street Cowboys, The Modern Ruins) accompanied by his son, Andrew Bopp III. Andy has been writing and self-recording perfect guitar-pop for two decades, earning a celebrated status among power-pop diehards and the many musicians across the country who have had the pleasure to work with him. In anticipation of five new releases in the coming months (a solo rockabilly EP, a long anticipated EP and full-length as Myracle Brah, and two new EPs from The Bleaker Street Cowboys), Andy has set out with his son to perform songs old and new with an intimate and soulful sound, focusing on his bright voice and inventive guitar arrangements.

Closing the night will be DC’s Mike Reina with the incredible Anthony Pirog. After taking a break from their full band project, The Jackfields, to record and tour with Skysaw (featuring drummer Jimmy Chamberlain of The Smashing Pumpkins), Mike and Anthony have reformed The Jackfields as a vehicle for Mike’s gorgeous songwriting and production. On this night, Mike and Anthony will appear as a duo, highlighting Mike’s song-writing and Anthony’s virtuoso guitar talent and sonic palette.

Please join us for a night of superb songcraft and focused talent that draws inspiration from the greatest in the history of pop, psychedelic and guitar music. It will prove to be rewarding for both the casual music fan, the nerd, those who want to jiggle and dance, and those who want to marvel at the depth of truly great musicians. Galaxy Hut, 9/22, 9PM, $5.      

BRNDA is releasing a new single, called "Apple King," this Saturday, 9/13 at Comet Ping Pong. The lineup for the night is a superb collection of local favorites. Paperhaus will be headlining the show, fresh from tour, including a stop at the Hopscotch Music Festival, in advance of the release of their new album. Before the tour, Paperhaus released the lead single "Cairo" to much acclaim, and the locals are restless to see them tight off of tour with new material. 
Also on the bill are DC favorites, and perpetual performers, The Sea Life who also recently released a new single, "Prozac & Merlot." Between sets, DJ Outputmessage will be spinning his magical sound-webs. Earlier this ear, Outputmessage released the ambitious and fantastic album The Infinite Void.
This show is a superb collection of local powerhouses, all with new material. It is not to be missed. –Natan Press

 Anyone who’s seen Sean Barna live knows he’s the most passionate performer in DC. Barna’s new EP, Cutter Street, is a culmination of years of desire, experience, ambition and heart. Self-described as "slutty folk," Barna’s music music reminds me most of the soulful and woeful Irish style, with a performance and lyrics reaching Van Morrison levels of exuberance, drama, and emotional honesty. Sean Barna, winner of the DC Area Deli Artist of the Month, is a force on stage, a delight in person, and a performer to watch at any given opportunity. You can go watch him for free, tonight (6/9), at The Lot (@ Atlantic Plumbing–behind the 9:30 Club), starting 7PM, in DC.  –Natan Press

 Pree’s new single, "Two Feet Shy," is their best yet. The lead single off their new record, Rima (Paper Garden Records), "Two Feet Shy" is a delightful and bright jumble of nerves and hope. The off-kilter arrangements of chiming guitars and ringing keys swirl around May Tabol’s sweet warbling jazzy vocals. A thick kick-drum in the opening section beats like the heart of a nervous lover, creating as much anticipation in the listener as the narrator. It’s a moving song, with glistening tones and splashes of color, perfect for a walk with headphones on through the cool breezes and dancing leaves of the approaching autumn. Rima is set to drop in February of 2015. For now, we eagerly look forward o more singles and you can catch Pree on tour across the country. –Natan Press
 

In an entertainment world that seeks to promote one version of the type of music that rap artists are creating today, I still believe in pure hip-hop and creativity. I still believe in the hip-hop artist’s ability to deliver a message in the music. When I first saw Rahiem Supreme’s video for "JL2M," my beliefs became validated. Bringing the focus back to smooth lyrical ability dancing over boom-bap beat, Rahiem Supreme delivers what I’ll call an artistic masterpiece in a sea of artists who are unable to break free of the hold that "trap rap" seems to have on our culture. Captivating visuals full of "real life" moments such as chillin’ in the crib, and conversations with the homies allows Rahiem Supreme to bare his artistic soul in this video. Straying away from cookie-cutter visuals, "JL2M" comes hard with it’s gritty filters, dark lighting, and impeccable transitions between scenes.

Hip-hop thanks you, Rahiem Supreme. I thank you for renewing my faith in music that I love. –Opal Rose

Being thrust back into the real world after taking part in a music festival is always a challenge for me mentally, physically and spiritually. This time it feels like the weight of the world and all of the things that have yet to be done haunt my psyche relentlessly. But, I wouldn’t trade Afropunk for anything.

I liken my Afropunk 2014 experience in Brooklyn this past weekend to being at a meditation retreat for music heads. Every stage that the festival goer visited allowed them to be properly baptized by the featured act’s good gospel.

Continue reading about Deli Contributor Opal Rose’s experience following DMV artists like Blaqstarr + Shawn Smallwood, and The Beard & The Fro (Mista Selecta + Mane Squeeze), at this year’s Afropunk Festival here. 

 Richmond’s The Milkstains put up a preview stream of their new album Broken Bones (officially due September 4th). I knew I liked this band already, but this album surpasses expectations, seemingly running down a checklist of my favorite sounds and styles. Every track makes me love them more.

"La Adelita" is an expertly crafted surf instrumental, psyching the listener up for what’s to come. "Sidewalk" is Replacementsy pop-rock, as engaging as that description can suggest. "Let Us Down" is an 80’s proto-indie rocker, ferocious and meek, strong and sweet. "Caroline O’Keeffe" is some wacky low-fi garage version of Leiber/Stoller pop (with a blistering guitar solo). "Carrion Crow" is the desert and death, heat and haze, all gritty and sexy, like the loners and rebels your mom warned you about. "Heart of Mine" is a straightforward garage stomper, pounding drums and kinetic guitar-work. "Invisible Friends" is more dynamic garage with clever psychedelia conjured by the all analog studio. "Heavy Water" is the appropriate name for the next song; another instrumental surf track, but truly heavy, deep, crushing guitars. "Sonic Kick" fools you at the start with another heavy growling tone out of the bass, but turns immediately into a sweet and smooth indie-rocker, with shimmering guitars playing anthemic hooks. All too soon the album ends on title-track "Broken Bones," an even more anthemic indie-rocker with room to jam on some noise, like a combo of early 90’s Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr., riding waves of electricity, blazing through hooks, into Siamese Dream-like walls of sound.

Broken Bones is a triumph of non-stop excitement, head-shaking goodness, taste and ambition. It’s like a shrine to analog sound and psychedelia, collecting iconography from 60’s surf to 90’s alt-rock, and everything in between. The Milkstains aren’t copycats however. They channel an energy all their own through each song, a growling tiger ready to pounce from beneath each track, and harness their musicianship and the skills of their producers to create a seemless passionate journey.  

You can catch them next at Richmond’s Fall Line Fest, where they’ll have the first solid copies of the album for sale. Get this album, however you can. –Natan Press  

Sultry singer-songwriter, Dannie has found her way into my Soundcloud playlist with her debut single. Smooth vocals coupled with a down tempo feel track prove that Girls Time is reminiscent of feel good R&B seemingly from an era past. The track features a strong Hip-Hop collaboration by D.u.b.b., and together Dannie and D.u.b.b. bring the art of story telling in music to the forefront. Vocal melodies similar to 702 and Aaliyah draw the listener in to experience a new brand of R&B that is unafraid to stay true to the roots of the genre. In a time where pure R&B (in my opinion) is virtually non-existent on the airwaves, this singer-songwriter delivers a fresh perspective. She gained a fan out of me, and I look forward to watching her evolve as an artist.

Want to hear more? On September 16, the singer-songwriter plans to drop a new single entitled "Wait 4 It."    

Catch Dannie live on September 5th at 9:30pm at Box Seats Sports Bar & Grill in Fredericksburg, VA. –Opal Rose

The DC Area Deli caught up with Artist of the Month Various Eggs to find out more about the inspiration and process behind the creation of their first album Don’t Expect Much From Others. As it turns out, an album full of songs about disappointment is anything but disappointing, for both the listener and the artist. 

"I deliberately made a scattered and ornery record with a lot of unfriendly choices. The simple piano ballad blows apart into a cacophony. The prettier songs are paired next to harsh avant-garde instrumental interludes. Imperfections were left in the performance to keep it human. The subject matter is consistently dark. I expected people to respond well to the songs on which Julie sings lead. And they have; I get overwhelming;y good feedback on those songs. But it has also been a pleasant surprise that people have listened to and liked the rest of the record. When I started getting feedback from strangers about the record’s sense of purpose, it felt pretty great to know it was understood."

Read more here, and check out the album below. –Natan Press