Jubilant quintet Family of the Year have been picking up traction for quite some time and if you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, they’re certainly trying their hardest to win your attention. Now they’ve released a performance video of their exultant, tropical-tinged "St. Croix", which doesn’t sport any bells or whistles: just the band looking their finest as they remind us once again to dance all night in slow motion. It really doesn’t hurt to listen to it just one more time, now does it? 

Garage punk duo, Spaceships, may bathe their songs in raw, lo-fi fuzz that’s as thick as London fog, but if you allow yourself to be consumed by it, you’ll walk right into the middle of the emotional energy of a generation lost at sea, past apathy, past anger, with a voice that yearns to be heard. The band is set to release their debut full length album, “Cool Breeze Over the Mountains,” a witty title befitting a neo-folk pop act, on Mock Records, July 23. The first single, “Ghost,” off the forthcoming LP fits into the west coast DIY landscape, but proves an authenticity with no sign of irony or kitsch, just solid youthful rock ‘n roll. This Friday, July 19, the duo will be playing The Smell to celebrate their record release, joined by Shark Toys, Snow Wite and Palm Reader. – Jacqueline Caruso

Dream Boys sure know their way around a memorable hook. The shmmering reverie of "Born Yesterday" is surely borne from the jangly templete pioneered by the Byrds, capturing a wistful mood that’s all the more potent with its mid-tempo thrust. The single demonstrates a stylistic simplicity that recalls the work of legendary producer Mitch Easter sans the guitar crunch of his power-pop heyday, opting to instead push forward a curl of ringing guitar lines and misty-eyed melodicism that perfectly evokes a warm, interminable summer day. It comes from their upcoming self-titled debut, which will be released via Art Fag in September.

Self-produced duo, In the Valley Below, have been buzzing around town for a while now, but this summer they are set to release an EP on Capitol Records with a performance scheduled for David Letterman. The first single to come out of this new partnership is “Peaches.” They’ve released a lyric video, which isn’t usually something we share here, but the slow moving kaledescopic images draw you in and set the tone for the what the duo is all about. The fuzzed out, dreamy indie pop tune is sprinkled with layers of hook-laden riffs and airy vocals from both contributors – Angela Gail and Jeffrey Jacob. “Peaches” is the kind of song you never want to end. The perfect late summer jam, upbeat and easy going covered in that glowy haze of nostalgia. Catch the dreamy duo at Skirball Cultral Center with Jenny O and Body Parts on August 30 before it’s too late. – Jacqueline Caruso

August 16 – Hasselt, Belgium – Pukklepop Festival

August 17 – Leipzig, Germany – Highfields Festival 

August 23 – Leeds, UK – Leeds Festival

August 24 – Paris, France – Rock in Seine

August 25 – Reading, UK – Reading Festival

August 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Skirball Center

October 1 – Toronto, ON – Opera House*

October 3 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*

October 4 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom*

October 5 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club*

October 7 – Chicago, IL – Metro*

October 9 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall*

October 10 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey*

*with White Lies

Rising stars in the eclectic eastside scene, Incan Abraham, are releasing “Tuolumne/Whidbey” via White Iris Records on August 6. A follow up to their 2012 Springhouse EP, the digital release will be accompanied with a photo zine featuring photos from their music video shoot for the title track. The group’s trademark combination of dreamy synths, tribal rhythms, and lush harmonies are present in their latest work, all bathed in the glow of maturity and experience. Incan Abraham have continued to impress, never straying from their own brand of psych pop, but ever improving it’s nuances; their technical abilities supporting the transcendent, soaring melodies rather than diluting their presence. The quartet will spend this weekend on a tour of SoCal, kicking off tonight, July 11, at The Echo. – Jacqueline Caruso

Julia Holter’s third album and her first proper studio recording, titled ‘Loud City Song,’ is set for release on August 20 on Domino Records. Though a big leap from her bedroom sound, this latest collection of songs is said to be a continuation and furthering of her experimental approach to storytelling. The second single,“In the Green Wild,” off the forthcoming album, has been released with a video. It’s a strange and playful display of the world inside Holter’s mind, proving once again that she can successfully live outside of any musical rules, and still reach an audience desperate for something authentically inspired. She is setting out on a North America Tour supporting folk songstress Jessica Pratt, followed by a string of European dates. She will land back in LA for a show at the First Unitarian Church on Sept. 11. – Jacqueline Caruso

 A crunchy, distorted guitar opens You Me & Us’ latest single "Swim & Sink", underpinning a cascading wash of softly keened noise. The trio from Palm Springs emphasizes a straight shooting pop sounds that gets its point across in the span of two minute bursts, with a soothing melodic warmth all the more tempered by Carlee Hendrix’s croupy, yet mellifluous vocals. They just self-released their debut EP Stay Inside, which they’re currently promoting across the Midwest; but there’s no need to fret, since they’re coming back to play the Glass House in Pomona on July 27th. You can stream the track by visiting their soundcloud page. 

The term post-punk gets thrown around when bands decide to emphasize a bleak, austere expression amidst grooves that are hard to shake. It’s a blanket term to describe a sound that’s brimming with possibilities. Echo Park’s Flaamingos are almost a reincarnated form of many of that era’s perennial influences, exploring its jagged rhythms and obscure vocal abrasions with a naturality that’s never forced or overly academic. Their latest reveal off their upcoming debut certainly attests to that fact – enveloped in a wash of vaporous synths and arresting bass lines, "Walk a Wire" is driven by a danceable beat that never wavers or dims, made the more urgent with Jerry Narrow’s breathy vocal stylings and Daniel Koontz’s clean, wistful guitars. The tinny drum machine and undeviating tempo is certainly evocative of Factory Records staples the Wake, which is certainly not a comparison to scoff at. Flaamingos currently don’t have a set gig, but something is sure to turn up once they release their self-titled on August 27th.

Earning comparisons to Wilco and Fleet Foxes, atmospheric, retro-influenced pop/rock band Broken Anchor evolved through a collaboration between singer/songwriter Austin Hartley-Leonard and producer Brad Gordon. After honing his craft as a solo artist with songs featured on TV shows such as “Burn Notice,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Jane By Design” and “The Ghost Whisperer,” Hartley-Leonard originally imagined Broken Anchor as a studio project. Yet, with time, Harley-Leonard and Gordon soon saw the songs take on a life of their own. By adding drummer/percussionist Mike Duffy to the mix, Broken Anchor is now a memorable, high-energy duo, and has released a series of EPs, titled Broken Anchor Vol. I, II, and III.

OC boys, Max and the Moon are hard at work. Their latest single, “Lighthouse,” has been given the cinematic treatment. Another joyous anthemic indie pop tune from the quartet. The song is an artistically approached radio-friendly hit, in the same vein as their previous release that we featured, “The Way I See.” The video intercuts between images of desolate landscapes and faceless men roaming in the dark, which leads to these worlds colliding; a slightly unsettling poetic narrative that weaves throughout as the cheerful production belies the song’s darker meaning. The band has also announced a July Residency at the Constellation Room – July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. The lineup is stacked with impressive local talent including Blonde Summer, Warships, The Steelwells, and A House for Lions. A new EP is expected next month as well. – Jacqueline Caruso

Tuesday night in Echo Park was unusually busy and bustling with hipsters. Unable to find parking in my go-to secret spots, I knew something beyond the norm was afoot. As I approached The Echo, pushing past the crowds lingering outside Sage and Masa on this warm summer night, I immediately knew I was in for a memorable experience. Red Bull Sound Select has been putting on monthly shows with local lineups supporting nationally touring headliners for the past few months, with a measly $3 cover, which has been creating quit a stir. Past headliners include, Zola Jesus, Wavves, and DIIV. On this particular Tuesday, I headed out to see locals, Gothic Tropic, opening for Com Truise. Little did I know that word had spread so far and fast, that the entire line of hopeful and devoted fans, who previously, I’m sure, had been waltzing right in to these monthly events, had not only wrapped themselves around the block beyond the bridge, but by 9pm, had all been sent home. Having been lucky enough to make it through the velvet rope, I was ushered in just as Gothic Tropic took the stage. The room was filled with an electric energy, as the crowd was clearly aware that their presence was now a gift that so many others would have traded them for. A gratitude and genuine excitement filled the air, as the Krautpunk trio opened with a slow builiding jam session that led right into their upcoming single, “Underwater Games,” set to be released as a split 7” with HOTT MT. Their signature improvisational style weaved throughout their set like slow crashing waves at low tide. If you are a fan and know their songs, you can sense when they are riding the edge of chaos beyond the structure of the tune. The tight-knit group is always in total control on stage, creating their own universe. They have a magical way of authentically connecting with the crowd, while pushing them to step inside their world of experimental eclecticism. As lead singer/guitarist Cecilia Della Peruti wails away on her guitar, there are moments when she and the instrument are one being and it becomes difficult to tell whether her voice or guitar are in the lead. With notes of acid jazz, krautrock, post punk, and garage rock, you always feel like you’re experiencing something revolutionary at a Gothic Tropic show – something you hope will be embraced by the world, but not tarnished by it. The trio closed the set with “Monkey Bars,” to the crowd’s delight. About to embark on a West Coast Tour starting July 4, Gothic Tropic, is one busy group, as they are also slated to play the next Red Bull Sound Select show, July 27 – this time at House of Blues on Sunset, along with Tapioca and the Flea, HOTT MT, and headliners, Frightened Rabbit. – Jacqueline Caruso

Here at The Deli, we are big fans of Cotillon, having premiered their most recent EP, White Roses, in March, and announced the band’s past residency at Harvard and Stone. Cotillon is one of those special bands that spent time crafting their specific sound behind the scenes before bursting onto it, all the while building up a local community of bands and fans alike. As the garage rock scene bubbles up from the underground, they seem to be leading the charge in their own way. They have proven to be hard working, passionate and talented, and certainly have a reputation for knowing how to have a good time. It’s these efforts, coupled with deeply personal, impossibly catchy songs that immediately charm and endear the listener, that has garnered them a coveted month-long residency at The Echo this August. Some of the bands announced so far that will be joining them each Monday night are Halfbluud, Jeffertitti’s Nile (a recent Artist of the Month winner), Tropical Popsicle, The Shivers, Dead Ships, and Tapioca and the Flea. Check out the John Hughes-inspired video below for “Talk to Her” off the ‘White Roses EP’ and head to The Echo every Monday night in August to see them live. – Jacqueline Caruso