For Los Encantados’ 2nd EP this year, ‘Same Damned Soul: Chapter 2,’ they’ve extended their ambitions to include the summer anthem-in-waiting ‘St. Tropez.’ Competing as much with local bands like Beach Fossils, as much as with former occupants of this hallowed space like Len and Sublime before them, I recommend taking a listen as soon as you can to see if you think the band are the next bearers of the esteemed summer anthem crown.

The sun-worshippers then take you sailing on the rousing ‘OMDF’ and finally settle in for a romantic evening with closer ‘Pour Toi.’ Sung half in French, half in sunglass swagger English, the EP is a sign of how far this band has come, and where they might be headed to next. The new EP should well compliment whatever weekend road trip you were thinking of taking. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

She’s A Keeper is one of Kansas City’s youngest and quickly growing bands in the scene. The five-piece group has found some far-reaching success, most recently opening up for Josh Ritter at Crossroads on July 19. Today, guitarist/vocalist Zac Jurden visits with us.

The Deli: Gun to your head: one sentence to describe your music.  What is it?

We covered Brooklyn alt-folk duo XNY in print in our latest NYC issue and we just noticed they released this new simple but powerful video of the song "Ride On." You can see them live at Public Assembly on August 6.

Photo Source: Kingdom of the Holy Sun

Kingdom of the Holy Sun have an up and coming performance this weekend at the Rendezvous. They are on the bill alongside Levator and Prescription Pills.

Self-dubbed as "psychedelic garage and shoegaze," their music cultivates an environment that is both raw and expressive. Every track feels spiritially imbued; they have taken the rock in garage rock, slowed it down, and made their songs self-contained rituals.

Their latest release Pharmacokinetics came out last month. Its four songs exhibit the persistent themes of exploration and wonder – there is a sense of awe planted in the singer’s voice. He immediately draws comparison to the late Jim Morrison of The Doors with his poetic, washed out vocal style. Kingdom of the Holy Sun move in a decidedly different direction musically though; their sonic experiments are less pop-focused and chorus-intensive.

The eponymous track "Pharmacokinetics" ushers itself along at a deliberate pace, unfurling amid a steady evolution of repetitive rhythms and bright melodies. Imagine the sun rising at dawn, amid a hazy film of fog blanketing the sky.

Kingdom of the Holy Sun will appear on stage this Saturday, August 4th at the Rendezvous. Doors are at 9:00pm and tickets cost $5. Give a listen to "Pharmacokinetics" below and carry onto their bandcamp to navigate the rest of the release – as well as their two other albums.

– Cameron LaFlam

NYC punk-rockers Wyldlife just released a new video for their second single, "(She’s Making Me) Nervous" (streaming below). In under two and a half minutes, it’s got everything you could ask for: loitering, stealing, reckless driving, junk food, drinking, Bill Murray movies and of course…ROCK AND ROLL! Make sure you catch the guys with Awkward Girls and The So So Glos on August 10th at Union Hall for a night of loud music and heavy drinking… – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

‘Today’s Supernatural’ (streaming below) is the first single from Animal Collective‘s upcoming new album "Centipede Hz," out on Domino Tuesday, September 4th. The single is out tomorrow digitally. The song was premiered live last night on the just launched Animal Collective Radio (radio.myanimalhome.net). Every Sunday night at 9PM EST though August 19th a different member of the band will broadcast a new radio show live.

Animal Collective is also encouraging fans to create their own radio show mixes. To help people get started the band has provided a sample pack download of "Centipede Hz" sounds and radio IDs as well as detailed instructions on how to create your own sounds. More details on user generated mixes is available on the band’s website.

On Tuesday July 31st The Bowery Ballroom will host a show featuring a noteworthy list of Brooklyn based acts, co-headlined by three bands which emerged from the neighborhood’s DIY scene in the late aughts. The variety of sounds on display, from The Death Set‘s furious spaz electro-punk (pictured and streaming) to the Atari powered pop of Anamanaguchi and Ninjasonik‘s electro-Hip Hop, is a testament to that scene’s open mindness and omnivorous-ness. Opening acts are disco rockers Hussle Club and electro noise assaulters FIGO, who will get the atmosphere ready for what promises to be a super fun gig.

So, New Beard is not just a clever name, since the band is indeed dominated by facial hair. The Brooklyn-based five-piece, consisting of Tony Waldman, Ben Wigler, Yazan, Maria Eisen, and “Tuba” Joe Exley (not just a clever alias either), adding a creative take on the low end, is not just your average rock band. The title track of their new album "New Beard City" combines feel-good, jazzy melodies and bouncing rhythms, while “I Walk the Streets” features intricate percussion and moments of calypso beats, haunting distortion, and unexpected modulations, which contrasts with somber, low-key, tuba-centric, “Terran Holiday.” New Beard’s self-proclaimed “weird rock” genre is infectiously entertaining and builds the anticipation of their upcoming show at Unin Hall on August 18. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s interview with the band here.

JBM, the moniker of solo artist Jesse Bryan Marchant, underscores each song with a howl of the isolation and yearning of a much older soul. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Marchant is now based in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, and has released a follow-up to his “only in July” debut called “Stray Ashes.” The singer has already drawn favorable comparisons to that of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Jim James of My Morning Jacket, due in large part to haunting reverb on songs like “Only Now” and “Winter Ghosts.” JMB records most of his work in a cabin in a rainy northern New York town, giving his music an undertone of isolation as he searches within himself. Though JBM may not initially strike an immediate chord with all listeners, it’s in his music’s subtleties that channel his emotionally wrought spirit and draws in audiences. – Read Devon Antonetti’s interview with the artist here.

It’s great to know why musicians do what they do. Why they write songs about heartache or joy. What kind of emotion they’re trying to express. Who they most look up to. That’s the magic of what they do. But then there’s the science of it. How do they make the most raw or sensual sounds come out of their instruments?

For our newest feature, Grinding Gears, we first sit down with guitar extraordinaire Chris Meck, who has been a mainstay in the Kansas City music scene for years. He and his lovely wife Abigail Henderson have been writing music together in The Gaslights, Atlantic Fadeout, and currently, their duo Tiny Horse. Chris, with Abby, is also a co-founder of the Midwest Music Foundation.

Read our interview at the link here!

-Michelle Bacon

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