Do the bands Deerhoof, Man Man, Peter Bjorn and John, or Of Montreal ring any bells? Connecticut natives Mt. Bearington has opened for all of them in their two-year reigh over the local scene, impressing with most recent release Love Buttons. They’ve toured the country including a small SXSW show but have recently been sticking to their area with gigs in Bridgeport, Hartford, New London, and Meriden, with a Hamden date coming up at the Outer Space on September 7th. A dreamy, shoegaze-y sound that jumps out especially in tracks like "Here’s Your Mood Ring, Honey" and "Pictures", Mt. Bearington channel some hippie vibes and garage fuzz to create the sound that’s going to make them big. 

-Jamie Loftus (@hamburgerphone)

Bedside Manner, the most recent release from Boston’s Trespasser, is a giant ball of distorted guitars and super-fat bass lines. It’s got this cool industrial feel, with copious amounts of stoner/sludge riffs sprinkled throughout. I love bands that have wicked loud records, and Trespasser is not one to shy away from the volume knob. “Dog Vape” is probably my favorite track on the record. The opening riff is unbelievably heavy and catches your attention immediately.

Check out their Facebook page for details about upcoming shows and other awesome band-related information.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

Normally when you discover local indie bands, you find out that they are trying to force their music into the ears of anyone who will listen. Most bands have their demos and LPs available everywhere for free (or for very little cash). Portland, Maine’s Metal Feathers appear to laugh in the face of that marketing approach, and that is something I really admire. I first saw these guys at a show in Cambridge, MA last week and I was really impressed by their music. It’s raw, energetic rock n’ roll, with some perfectly sloppy guitar solos and straight-ahead drum beats. These guys put on a great show, and I’m excited get my hands on some of their material.

Their most recent release, Handful of Fog, is available through Teenarena Records, but good luck finding it elsewhere online. Their bandcamp discography lists their albums, but is deliberately sparse–to the point of nonexistence–with streaming tracks. One thing they do update, however, is their Facebook page. Be sure to check that out for updates on when the band will be coming through a town near you.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

A few weeks ago, I came across Kid Mountain, a five-piece indie-rock band from Boston with a bright, energetic sound. I had previously reviewed an older disc of theirs, Visitor’s Center EP, which is a great collection of tunes. Their most recent record, Happies, is poppy/surfy/catchy as can be.I’d recommend giving it a listen as well. I was able to get in touch with guitarist Tyler Rosenholm via email, and he was kind enough to offer a brief glimpse into the collective mind of Kid Mountain. Follow this link to view the full interview.

 To say that MMOSS is a collective of extremely talented New Hampshire weirdos is simultaneously saying too much and not enough. With bits and pieces borrowed from the garage, psych, and drone, the threesome hasn’t lacked in attention since their release i back in 2011, followed up by 2012’s Only children. The latter brought their music to South by Southwest, Spin, and beyond, and they’ve upped the ante by scheduling a series of dates in the Netherlands, UK, and Belgium for September. Though we only have two full releases from them so far, MMOSS tends to release tracks when they feel like it– in recent months we’ve heard a killer Everly Brothers cover, new original "Nothing Left", and whatever they feel like sampling while playing live. For an independent band, they certainly seem to have found that sweet spot that gives them a lot of buzz while still being free to do whatever they want and produce music in a barn, and we don’t know where else you could find a sound quite like it.

–Jamie Loftus (@hamburgerphone)

Tastes the Broom, one of the latest offerings from Brattleboro, VT’s Happy Jawbone Family band brings me back…and I mean way back. The record sounds like it came straight out of the 1960s and has an overall sound that most definitely must have come from a reel-to-reel recording. The main single, "Fistful of Butter," is full of dreamy reverb and laid-back harmonies that give it a unique Stones-meets-The Byrds feel. The band are coming through Massachusetts and New York this week and will be making a stop in Becket, MA on August 8 at Dreamaway Lodge. Check their Facebook page for updates about shows and other band news.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

Former Berklee College of Music student and current local killin’ it musician Shun Ng was recently featured as one of the ten Improper Bostonian local artists to watch, and stands out as one of the most interesting figures in the community. An acoustic guitarist by trade, Chicago-born Ng has embraced and conquered the New England scene with his acoustic flare and smooth vocals, most recently catching the attention of local publications with new track "Get On With It". Only in his early twenties, Ng studied and started his career in Singapore before moving to Boston, and has recently caught the attention of legendary producer (and daddy to Parks and Rec’s Rashida) Quincy Jones. He can pluck the hell out of a Michael Jackson cover and write a hell of an original, and has also come into his own as a solo singer-songwriter, and his 2012 release "Funky Thumb Stuff" was well-received in New England.

Though he’s still relatively new to the scene, it seems very nearly a promise that Shun Ng will become a staple in the community and an influence on the up-and-comers in the neighborhood. He’s got the natural gift and cross-cultural influence to make something truly unique, and is already well on his way.

Released a mere week ago, Barricades’ new album, With Perfect Aim, displays the band’s talent for writing catchy pop-rock songs. Each track is incredibly tight–the rhythm section holding down each song with solid bass lines and well-timed drum fills. The vocals on this record are clear and crisp, with melodies that really grab your attention. My favorite track is "She’s Got A Way", with its infectious guitar licks and a spacey lead during the choruses that makes them sound absolutely huge.
 

Barricades will be playing a CD release show on August 25 at TT the Bear’s in Cambridge. The Bridgebuilders, Emma Ate the Lion, and Night Mayor will be joining them as well. Doors at 7:30PM, $10 at the door, $8 at ticketweb, $5 at fullsceneahead.com/store/tickets. Proper ID required.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

 Though Moe Pope may not be classic fare for The Deli, we’d be remiss to leave the great work he’s doing unacknowledged. 2013 has provided the indie rap artist with the bump he needs to graduate to the big leagues– his latest album Let the Right Ones In dropped this past January and led to his selection as the Best in Boston according to the notorious Improper Bostonian, in addition to a string of gigs in the area that have continued to build his buzz. Let the Right Ones In demonstrates Pope as an expert when in comes to pulling other genres to match the expertise of his own lyrics with traces of electronic, indie rock, and big-name locals like Lady Lamb the Beekeeper and Brookynite Julia Easterlin. He’s sort of a Quentin Tarantino of the indie music scene– he knows his stuff from his foundation in rap to references and homage to old-school punk, new wave, and beyond. He’s heard everything, and isn’t afraid to incorporate all this knowledge into his own work.

Moe Pope is a gamechanger in the New England scene because he realizes that the local scenes, from indie rock to rap to electronic and beyond, can be fused together to make something amazing, and he’s riding that theory all the way to the top.

Put simply, Living for Dead Labor, the newest release by Portland, Maine’s Conjjjecture has everything you could ever want in a great album from local talent. The band manage to perfectly combine electro grooves with excellent guitar work. The incorporation of a trumpet on the tracks makes these songs really stand out. It adds an extra layer of aural joy to the mix, filling-out the tracks to their maximum potential.

I knew this was a good record right from the start when I heard the opening track, “Phobophobic,” and simultaneously wanted to go out and rage and chill out on my porch with a beer. It’s quite an unusual–but freakin’ awesome–feeling. The rest of the album does not disappoint, holding that same unique energetic and laid-back feel through all ten tracks. Be sure and check out the band’s Facebook page for updates about when they will be passing through a city near you!

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)  

It’s Tuesday, the week is just gearing-up and you are already sick of doing whatever it is you do to pay the rent. Behold, a solution to your Tuesday woes! Boston’s Black Marmot will be performing tonight at the Lizard Lounge along with fellow Bostonians Luddy Mussy. Black Marmot’s smooth folk/country tunes will be sure to make you smile and forget about the world (at least temporarily). The band’s most recent record, The Everyday Seeker, is full of relaxing melodies and solid guitar work. The finger-style playing on the track “Lightning and Thunder” is especially good, and it blends in well with the overall mix. This collection of songs is definitely worth a listen if you want to hear something soothing after a long day at work.

Black Marmot will be taking the stage at 8:30PM tonight, with Luddy Mussy on at 9:30PM. Doors are at 8PM, $5 cover. 21+, proper ID required.

-Dan McMahon (@dmcmhn)

Boston three-piece Quilt first took the scene with their first demo back in 2009, and John Andrews, Anna Rochinski, and Shane Butler have been touring the northeast and building their fanbase almost nonstop, and fans are starting to itch for their new release. Their self-titled debut on the Mexican Summer label in 2011 was recorded and released all within a T’s ride distance along with new material has gotten them attention in Paste, Stereogum, and every local publication you can shake a stick at. With a sound that fits a basement party as well as it does a rainy afternoon walk, they’ve been teasing fans with new tracks and a music video for "Open Eyes", but no release date to speak of (their cryptic Facebook answer: "soooon").

Where does that leave their loyal devotees? Following them around, more or less– Quilt has played everything from a free Middle East show to Northside festival in Brooklyn to a New Hampshire wedding, and an upcoming date on August 2nd at Montague Bookmill. Until then, friends, join hands with us in embracing the wait.

–Jamie Loftus (@hamburgerphone)