Highland Park native Jonathan Bates, otherwise known by his moniker Big Black Delta, made quite a splash last year with IFUCKINGLOVEYOU, a psych-freakout whirlwind of raw, unfettered emotion that immediately caught your attention. Though quiet for the past few months, Bates has finally come out of the dark to unveil his long-awaited self-titled debut, which is set to release on April 9th. He’s also released the album’s first single "Side of the Road", in which a sleazy, glitched-out torrent of synths are nestled with a thumping melodic grime; though his vocals are processed to the nth degree, it’s in the chorus where he discloses a charm akin to the spoken word projection of David Byrne. 

Boasting two stages and over 20 bands, the First Annual What Cheer? Festival is kicking off the season of outdoor jubilance in style. The Deli LA is proud to be sponsoring the event along with Burger Records, Rollo & Grady, Lo-Pie, Comune, Bandwidth Mondo, underStory, and LA Phun. An inspiring effort to showcase an immense amount of local talent, the line-up is a solid collection of psych, garage, surf, folk, and indie rock. Quite a few of our past poll winners, and even Best of 2012 runners-up, The Vim Dicta, will be gracing the stages, including Cotillon, and Criminal Hygiene. Tickets are on sale now, and won’t be available at the door. For only $10 you better get them while you can. While you’re at it, spend some time perusing the line-up on the flier, and give a listen to one of the headliners, The Abigails – streaming below. – Jacqueline Caruso

The Mowgli’s are an eight-piece feel-good rock band with all the indie folk cutesy-ness, danceable soulfulness, and “love is the answer” preachy-ness one could ever desire. The video for their single, “San Francisco,” off their ‘Love’s Not Dead’ EP, slaps you in the face with their message of peace, love and harmony, but with a sincerity that would make even the coldest heart melt. If the video is any indiaction, their monday night residency at the Satellite this month is sure to be an over the top party filled with confetti and hugs. – Jacqueline Caruso

“Flatlands,” the first track off of Chelsea Wolfe’s 2012 release, ‘Unknown Rooms: A Collection of Acoustic Songs’ is beautifully haunting. The Converse x Decibel Collaboration produced video for the song captures this and takes you further into Wolfe’s psyche, with her poetic whispers acting as bookends. The visuals are just as poetic, exploring the dichotomy of gothic luxury and pastoral contemplations. Moving seamlessly through scenes of Wolfe draped in flowing layers of effortless fabric, laying listless in a bath of milk, caressing white roses, and commanding the sea; all are tinged with the pain and longing that fills the album. Chelsea Wolfe will be playing live Friday, Feburary 8 at the First Unitarian Church, closing out her recent tour. – Jacqueline Caruso

Echo Park Indie Rock quartet, LA Font, have released the first single off their sophomore LP, ‘Diving Man’, due out later this year. “Onshore” showcases the best the band has to offer. Frontman Danny Bobbe’s playful, yet poetic lyrics are captivating and catchy. His unique vocal delivery comes off as if he doesn’t care if anyone’s listening, but he knows that we are. He’s that rare breed of clever, charismatic and cool – he knows how to write a hook, and he’ll actually entertain you while he performs it. When you add Jon Perry’s immensely addicting guitar wails, Greg Katz’s pristine, driving bass line, and Harlow Rodriguez’s tasteful percussion elements, it’s obvious this is one radio-friendly rock tune that even mainstream haters will want to turn up with their windows down. Besides, when was the last time you heard references to Kevin Costner and Leo Dicaprio in the same song? – Jacqueline Caruso

With a newly-released third track, Wanderhouse is little by little revealing a very promising dreampop sound. The duo comprised of singer/songwriter Marie Moreshead and producer Doctor Rosen Rosen had previously released a song called "Use Me Up", as well as a cover of Ellie Goulding’s "Lights." The third track "Sugar" is appropriately titled, as it is dominated by sweet, powered soft vocals that intertwine affectionately with engrossing beats. The tempo is steady throughout and creates a ghostly environment filled with distant memories, but there is still a strong sense of being in the present. Morehead’s vocals are hushed, but the richness draws vivid imagery. Although the music is not exactly the same style, Wanderhouse shows the proficiency of a band like Beach House. Their sound is romantic and hazy, but the songs are well planned out as to not lose the listener. By the end of each song, the listener is left with a lasting feeling. Though three songs is a really small taste, it seems that 2013 will bring more from this duo, as they are currently studio working on new material. – Karla Hernández

The self-released debut EP from revival rock disciples Irontom has a slated release date of February 5th, and prior to that they’ll be performing on February 1st at O’briens Pub in Santa Monica. In the meantime, delight yourself with the scorching, yet soothing crunchy riffage of "Mind My Halo".  

If you look towards the Pacific every evening, the LA skyline is usually painted with a gorgeous golden sunset. It’s easy to miss in the rustle-and-bustle of everyday life, but it’s a pleasure when a singer-songwriter like BETS comes along to vividly remind you of nature’s mysterious gifts. "Rooftop Lover" isn’t a song about contemplating this notion. Far from it – the image it evokes is one that comes naturally when we associate being in places that expand our viewpoint for at least a second. Composed of a weeping ukulele arrangement, the lackadaisical tune calmly strums over a gently pulsing keyboard that details a vast ocean. Her vocals are unerringly sweet, a brittle tonality that’s honey-dripped with frolicsome ennui; the thought of Nina Persson came to mind while entranced in her little dinky story about a girl who wonders about the whereabouts of her object of affection. BETS’ debut EP, just released via iTunes, should make the perfect companion while taking the scenic route through Pacific Coast Highway. And if nothing else, at lease it’ll make you curious to go up your own rooftop for once and let your thoughts run free. 

I caught up with garage rock darlings, Criminal Hygiene, after their record release show at the Satellite. Being touted as LA’s answer to Ty Segall, the debut LP, CRMNL HYGNE satisfies with it’s beer-soaked songs about heartache, and well, drinking beer. While the trio, made up of James Watson (bass, vocals), Michael Fiore (guitar, vocals), and Sean Erickson (drums), may keep their songs short and sweet, their answers to my burning questions were anything but. Stream the entire LP on bandcamp while you read, as the guys open up about their raucous live shows, and needing a helicopter. Continue to Full Interview. 

Dripping with cutesy charm, but demanding your respect, the Long Beach dreamy indie pop trio, Pageants, impressed at the Bootleg this past Friday celebrating their ‘Musings of the Tide’ 7” Release. The former keyboard player and backing vocalist for Avi Buffalo, Rebecca Coleman, performed like a seasoned pro. She carries that indefinable “It” Factor – an easygoing grace mixed with a depth of maturity that belies her youth. Cooing as smoothly as a dove and running up and down the fretboard of her electric guitar like a Nashville studio musician, it’s the road ahead of her that excites me. The band’s well-crafted Beach House meets Camera Obscura sound already delights, and I imagine the grit of adulthood will only prove useful fodder for even richer musical enterprises for Coleman and her cohorts – Devin O’Brien and Dylan Wood. The three-piece played a live show that would put most five piece acts to shame. O’Brien’s effortless lead guitar added color and texture, while Wood’s skill with triggering backing tracks and drum loops never missed a beat. Their laid-back, mostly mid-tempo repertoire could easily sweep over you in a banal wave, but the arrangements rapturously ebb and flow, pulling you in like a gentle rip tide that never lets go. Building on the warm pop concoctions they had offered throughout the night, the nearly last song of the set, “No Wonder” – as we were all informed is affectionately code named “No Undies” by the band – floated to the top for me. Maybe it was all the meowing coming from the incredibly supportive and attentive crowd that put me in the right mood, but nonetheless, this is one I’m itching to get in recorded form. Fingers crossed for a sooner rather than later Bobb Bruno-produced full length. For now, enjoy the title track off their 7” and go ahead and pick up the hard copy at Origami. – Jacqueline Caruso

Electro-pop band Fol Chen approach IDM music with a playful execution, yet their tangled arrangements are intricately bound together with a cohesion that’s not as apparent from the outset. The first reveal off their upcoming release The False Alarms, entitled 200 Words, gives the impression of a symphony that’s about to start, except that it surprisingly shapeshifts into a chilly, spoken-word groove filled with rhythmic handclaps and shrill synths. Its meticulous attention to detail constantly keeps you guessing, and once it ends you’re immediately compelled to keep untangling its intertwined strands. The False Alarms will be released on March 19th via Asthmatic Kitty Records. 

Crowdfunding is becoming more and more commonplace, with everyone from former Dresden Doll, Amanda Palmer, to The Voice contestant, Lindsey Pavao utilizing the Kickstarter platform. Standing out in our crowded internet is no easy task, yet LA modern rock band, A House for Lions, found a way to sidestep the middle man and fund a successful campaign all on their own. With an impressive $13,354 raised to date with over 180 backers, this once unknown group formed by singer/songwriter Daniel Norman, is making headlines of its own. Creative rewards ranging from the band’s merch to surfing lessons, and a promise to donate a portion of the proceeds to charity, are proving that cutting out the middle man was a good decision. The campaign’s purpose is to raise funds for their first full length studio album, produced by Tom Biller, who previously worked with Silversun Pickups, Elliot Smith, and Fiona Apple, to name a few. The band manages to blend the sleeker side of angsty 90s rock with the laid-back instrumentation and heart-string pulling melodies you expect from an alt-country band. Hopefully we will get to hear some of the tunes they’ve been working on in the studio at their Monday Night February Residency at the Echoplex. For now, give a listen to “Let Back,” the single off their previous EP, I Want Us To Be Remembered. Unlike other fundraising platforms, their campaign is open-ended, so you can still donate if the music compels you. – Jacqueline Caruso