Brooklyn alt rockers Alberta Cross came in at 89 on The Deli’s latest Best of NYC Emerging Artists poll (the full results can be seen here). This seems like a deserved achievement considering that they have played festivals all over the country: Coachella, Bonnaroo (also this year), Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, to name a few, and that they have an upcoming residency at The Satellite in LA. The band was born when Swedish-born Petter Ericson Stakee (the vocals and guitar) and Londoner Terry Wolfers (bass) met in a London bar. The move from London to New York City–as well as the addition of guitarist Sam Kearney, drummer Austin Beede and keyboardist Alec Higgins–influenced Alberta Cross’ new material, evolving the sound in the current direction. Drummer Austin Beede describes their music as “rock with a hint of everything,” citing the band’s collective and individual varied musical interests (from Bob Dylan to Stevie Wonder, Depeche Mode to Nick Cave, Air to Led Zeppelin). We detect a Southern rock twang, pounding beats, and heartfelt elements of folk on their most recent album, “Broken Side of Time.” The quintet’s single, “Leave Us and Forgive Us,” epitomizes the band’s haunting melodies that intoxicate hard-hitting drums, and notable tracks, slide-guitar-ridden “ATX,” dark title-track, “Broken Side of Time,” and menacing “City Walls” reaffirm Alberta Cross’s growing recognition on an international level. If you can afford it you’ll be able to see these guys opening for the Dave Matthews Band on June 24 in Atlantic City NJ. – Leah Tribbett + Meijin Bruttomesso