If there’s one thing Sexy Girls has a knack for, it’s fitting in pop hooks where you’d least expect them. On the band’s latest release, Satan’s Hands, the first arrives at 1:15 on opener “Young in a Garden”: amidst a beach shack strewn with tube amps, Alex Whitelaw sings, “With a touch of your hand I’ll be at your command … Where can I take you?” before devolving into a chorus of la-las. Overall, the set is a more concise take on surf rock than 2012’s The Collection, with few changes to the instrumentation allowing Whitelaw’s songwriting – as well as Ben Semeta’s production – to shine. “It’s Painful For Me,” an everything-will-be-alright promise, stands out even without a discernable chorus or a single drum beat thanks to heaped-on distortion. On the title track, Whitelaw calls out to God to “meet me in the middle,” ending the album on an introspective note. Download Satan’s Hands for free on Bandcamp now or keep your eyes open for a physical copy at Sexy Girls’s upcoming shows in Portland, ME; Chicopee, MA; Portsmouth, NH; Jamaica Plain, MA; and Florence, MA. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

Blank Brothers might sound like a well-contrived band name, but the band is actually just that: Conor, Phil and Jon Blank make up Blank Brothers, and they released the sample-driven Fade Soul on June 9. Album kick-off “Dollar for Dollar” recalls tUnE-yArDs with its stuttering drums and repeated vocal sample, and later, “Got To Be Alright” stretches the bounds of the electronic genre, with guitars and soulful vocal harmonies filling out the lush track. Fade Soul is available for free through the band’s Bandcamp or Soundcloud, so what are you waiting for? Download it now. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

If you liked our recently featured artist The Rare Occasions, check out their newly released video for “Dysphoric,” the urgent opening track from May’s Feelers EP. The video is an update on the classic performance clip, with a straightjacket, claustrophobic close-up shots and the world’s most melancholy birthday celebration capturing the song’s titular mood. You can watch “Dysphoric” below. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

Normally, The Deli New England only covers actual New England-based bands, but I went to a show a week ago at Charlie’s Kitchen in Cambridge, MA and saw a band from Philly called Push Ups, and these guys kicked enough ass to justify getting themselves on a “New England” blog. The four-piece played a short set (only about 20 minutes), but I’ll be hard-pressed to find more local bands who play with that kind of intensity. Lead singer Zac Beaver was all over the place—literally. He ran up and down the room: jumping in the air, crashing to the floor; he even laid the mic down at one point to do a cartwheel. These guys play straight-up raucous punk and it rules.

After the show, they gave me a CD, Grow Up or Try Dying (the background music to this very review), and I was impressed that their recording holds up to their live performance. The opening track on the record, "College Ruined My Life", sounds like a Bronx B-side and it is glorious. For more info about the band, check out their Facebook page.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

 Photo Credit: Dan Cohoon

A little over a month after a strong performance at this year’s Boston Calling, Boston natives Magic Man are hitting the road for a string of headlining dates on the West Coast. The tour kicks-off with a show at The Casbah in San Diego on July 8, then meanders north up the coast for a week before ending with a gig at Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver on July 16. Weeks before the start of the tour, the band had already generated intense interest from their fans. “I’m in shock that we sold out [The Troubador in Los Angeles on July 10] in the first week of sales,” says guitarist Sam Lee. “It’s cool to go back and play a headline show at a place that has a lot of history”, he added.

Magic Man are no strangers to the road–they’ve played dozens of shows and spent a considerable amount of time booking their own shows and managing their own tours before they received major-label support. “Sam and Joey [Sulkowski, drums] are the ‘tour dads’,” remarks lead singer Alex Caplow. “They’re the power couple of tour managing.”

For more updates about the tour (and the release of their new album, Before the Waves) visit the Magic Man website.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

Photo Credit: Gavin Thomas

Released in May, The Rare Occasions’ Feelers EP kicks off with “Dysphoric,” which is equal parts psychedelic and dark-tinted surf rock, its bridge erupting from a single repeated note into a well-calculated guitar solo. Next, “Fell Through” shows off the band’s knack for odd time signatures and sets the more cheerful tone that the band maintains throughout the rest of the five-song set. The glockenspiel-aided “La Mort” bridges the band’s softer and harder sides, starting off as a soft ballad but rounding out the EP’s final minute with sweeping guitars and pained vocals. Take a listen to “La Mort” below and download Feelers for $5 at the guys’ Bandcamp page. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

If you liked Jake McKelvie & the Countertops, whom we featured on the site last month, check out the band’s newly released video for "Mini Monster." The sunny, carefree video matches the vibe of the Solid Chunks of Energy single perfectly, complete with costumed pizza shop stops and performances in a number of unlikely (and at times uncomfortable) spaces. You can watch the video below now. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

On June 7, some of Western Massachusetts’s best local acts will take the stage at the 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence, MA. A fully loaded night with five bands, the show will feature the high-energy spunk of Watts’ Closet and the indie rock groove of Young Tricksters, whose harmony-heavy "Twisted Love" was premiered on The Deli New England back in February. The night will also include the bare bones rock of Wydyde and the spitfire punk of Putty Head, as well as a set by yours truly. The show starts at 8 p.m. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

Following the video for “I Don’t Care,” Sexy Girls has unveiled a second song from the upcoming Satan’s Hands. Set for release on July 1, the set is the band’s first proper album, following The Collection’s roundup of odds and ends written by lead singer Alex Whitelaw – but like The Collection, Whitelaw’s bandmates were absent in the writing process of Satan’s Hands. (It’s something he hopes to change on the band’s third release.)

“At The Beach Alone” carries on Sexy Girls’ tradition of nonchalant surf rock with funky syncopation – but let’s talk about the beautiful, wavy chords on the song’s chorus. The single’s gloss and greater attention to detail bodes well for Satan’s Hands, while its lyrics promise further exploration into the "dark side of [Whitelaw’s] mind."

If you can’t get enough Sexy Girls, come see the band play a cover-free show at Two Boots in Bridgeport, CT, this Friday at 8 p.m. – Jake Reed (@jakejreed)

The label’s first showcase will be happening on June 11 at Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge, MA. This is shaping up to be one hell of a show. In addition to celebrating the release of Harris Hawk’s new record, this show has been fused with one of Eye Design’s classic “Treat Yo Self” events. In case you’re unfamiliar with the concept, "Treat Yo Self" involves bringing together several talented bands and local artists (and the occasional food vendor), allowing artists to display their work, all while listening to some kickass music and eating locally-made food–cool, right? Well, it gets even better. Boston Hassle, yet another local, DIY-inspired show/community promotional organization, has recently teamed-up with Eye Design to produce the Treat Yo Self Series. In other words–this event will unequivocally rock.

The show starts at 9PM on the 11th. 21+, $5 cover. For more info, check out the event’s Facebook page.

For the third time in almost a year, tens of thousands of eager concert-goers gathered in downtown Boston for one of the newest (and arguably most well-received) New England-based musical events in recent memory. Nearly 60,000 people showed up over three days for this spring’s Boston Calling festival, giving locals Magic Man and Tigerman WOAH quite an impressive welcome to the big stage. Click here to read the rest of the review (and view additional show photos).

Searching for your rowdy show fix for the week? Look no further than Great Scott in Allston. Tonight, Boston DIY label Refuse Rethink Rebuild Records and local independent music blog Bishop And Rook have compiled one heavy bill for your listening pleasure.The Dirty Looks, Yellabird, Wrong Body and The Darker Hues will be taking the stage to fill your ears with rock n’ roll goodness. A highlight for me on this bill is definitely the super-heavy, distorted riffs of Yellabird–those dudes can bring the noise like nobody’s business. Doors are at 8:30PM, $10, 18+ with proper ID required.

For more information, visit the Facebook event for this show, or purchase tickets through Ticketmaster here.

 -Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)