Brooklyn continues to be the most receptive area for what is surely now a full blown emerging spaced out, jam heavy psych rock movement. No better venue represents this than Death By Audio, where Ancient Sky had their record release party on Friday January 27th. Celebrating the release of their latest collection of songs, the band played through nearly all of "T.R.I.P.S." in front of an enthusiastic audience that filled the room. Far from simple feedback and drone practitioners, this band constructs mostly tight, well-defined songs that also focus on meaningful lyrics and interesting melodies. Dynamics play a crucial role as power and dramatic emphasis is favored over simple noise making. Within that framework, however, come delightful sonic forays of a definite jam-worthy caliber – song lengths mostly within the three to six minute range attest to that. With titles like "Towards the Light," "All Colors at Once," "Ray Bradbury," "Time is an Ocean," and "The Wind" one can quickly grasp the message being presented – and that is one of discovery and the possibilities that exist all around us. For their grande finale of the night the band pulled out all the stops with a nearly ten minute tour-de-force of textured, fx-laden guitar washes, mystical vocalizing, bass and drum propulsion and deliciously winding twin guitar soloing. It all added up to a heady mixture that kept the audience captured from first note till finish. Also performing on this night was Deli favorite EXITMUSIC, who create a solemn dreamlike atmosphere, powered by Aleksa Palladino’s captivating voice (and looks). Both bands have significant upcoming tour schedules, and have just released or will be releasing important records. – Dave Cromwell

Brooklyn-based artist Sophia Knapp will release her upcoming album, "Into the Waves," on February 28th on Drag City. After singing and playing guitar in NYC psych rock all girl band Cliffie Swan (ex LIGHTS), this will be Knapp’s debut solo album. Co-produced and co-arranged by esteemed piano and film composer Eric Gorman and Jay Israelson, the album will feature musical contributions by Bob Brockman (TLC, Mary J. Blige, Cee-Lo) on bass guitar, Robert “Chicken” Burke (The Duke and The King) on drums and vocals by Bill Callahan. Knapp has 2 upcoming shows in NYC, the first will be at Union Pool in Brooklyn on February 23rd and the second will be her record release show (free to the public) at Sway – with complimentary drinks from 8-10 PM on February 29th. – Chelsea Eriksen

Brooklyn band Ambassadors are known for having one of the grooviest, most energetic live shows in town. Made up of brother Sam and Casey Harris, middle school friend Noah Feldshuh and college chum Adam Levin, the quartet has taken the NYC music scene by storm in the past few years, playing their signature fusion of classic rock n’ roll and upbeat pop music. With their long-awaited LP "Litost", the band calls upon gospel and blues influences to create engaging songs propelled by heavy percussions and Sam’s powerful pipes. Look for "Litost" on itunes and stream our favorite singe, "Unconsolable," below. The band will also be performing a series of tour dates with Lights before making their way down to SXSW. Ambassadors will play a hometown performance at The Mercury Lounge on February 3rd. – Amanda Dissinger

After almost 2 weeks of voting open to readers and fans, indie rockers Driftless Pony Club (pictured) emerged as the winners of our Chicago Best of 2011 Fans’ + Readers’ Poll – congrats to the guys! The most rocking pony club in history had definitely a great 2011, and this is a nice way to start the new year. Kudos also to sexy industrial-pop-rockers i:scintilla and roots rock advocates The Steepwater Band, who placed respectively second and third. The overall results of the Chicago year End Poll for Emerging Artists – including the votes from jury and open submissions – will be released soon.

1. Driftless Pony Club

—

2. i:scintilla

—

3. The Steepwater Band

Mellow folk duo Bird Courage returned to Brooklyn after 4 months to release their new EP "A Promising Flee"with a show at Spike Hill on january 29. The album is emotionally and vocally charged and introduces an abstract theme of ‘coming of age’. – (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 and APS Mastering.

Stepping out into the numbing Chicago air after a Bad Drugs show you start to notice the sweat freezing all over your body, and you think to yourself "What the fuck just happened in there?" It was all over in a flash and you could barely hear yourself think over the vocals grinding through the crash of guitars and the relentless slamming of the drums. Kyle Reynolds may be in a few bands around town, but there is no doubt in my mind that Bad Drugs is the one that opens the flood gates to his aggression. No matter how disoriented everything may seem while surrounded by professional slam dancers, there is no need to worry because these guys definitely have their created chaos under complete control. – Michael H 

Country Mice aren’t new to these columns – the band played more than one Deli showcase, including a packed CMJ one a couple of years ago. The band released their full length debut last year and is about to go on tour in the spring and hit SXSW on the way. They just released this video of the single "Morning Son", compiled of footage that was shot during their last tour.

They say a great cover is one that does something new with a song, without destroying its essence. Otherworldly shoegazers Golden Gardens did just that on their six-song EP, The Covers, released in December, despite a selection of songs that isn’t exactly intuitive. Golden Gardens’ greatest talent lies in their ability to create dreamscapes out of soundscapes, something that serves them well as they take on other artists’ works – after the first track, it’s easy to forget that these are songs you’ve heard before. The band interprets the songs of Creepshow, Morrissey, Red House Painters, Tears for Fears, Hole and Julee Cruse, with each piece receiving the same gauzy treatment typical of the band’s original material. Every listen creates a different sub-universe built on rippling guitar play and careful percussion. The dream-pop duo defy all skepticism and cover Hole successfully – on “Violet”, Audrey Bramble achieves the perfect tone, translating Courtney Love’s anguished howls through her own diaphanously pure vocals. Bramble and bandmate Gregg Neville released their first full-length album, Between the Siren and the Amulet, last August. With Neville’s recent relocation to Seattle, the band is looking forward to more shows in the city, starting with a March 4 appearance at The Crocodile.

– Kate Shepherd

Recently signed to Merge Records, home to numerous indie luminaries, Hospitality is in excellent company. There’s something irresistibly charming about the band members’ unassuming dispositions that bleed into the quartet’s accessible pop music. The band will be releasing their debut, self titled full length with a show at Glasslands on Friday 02.03. – Read Nancy Chow’s interview with the band here.