Ducktails (brainchild of guitarist Matt Mondanile) deserve more credit than just the "lo-fi" or "chill wave" genre branding. While the home recorded bedroom grainy recordings are obviously there, their songs carry an intense brightness and warmth with them, triggering nostalgia for happy childhood days – maybe that’s the reason of that playful band name… The band will be playing an all ages show at 285 Kent Ave @ South 1st in W’burg on April 22, do not miss.

With wide range vocals reminiscent of some Brit bands of the 90s (Primal Scream and happy Monday maybe?), and a growing set of eclectic songs incorporating pop, soul, dance, electro and rock elements, Jump into the Gospel are an up and coming NYC band with a sound that doesn’t go unnoticed. The resulting compound is a lot of fun, in particular when the guys get the chorus just right, like in "Photovoltaic". We recommend you check Jump Into The Gospel live at Mercury Lounge on April 25.

Brian Patrick Hill and Angus Tarnawsky of no wave duo We Are All Romans (who placed 90th on our latest Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll) cite inspirations ranging from modern classical to hip hop sampling. The band is currently in the studio recording their debut EP with Wu-Tang producer Noah Rubin. We are All Romans is scheduled to play an explosive bill at Glasslands during The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F. (Best of Emerging Artists Fest) 2010 on Wednesday May 25, together with YVETTE, Shapes, Gung Ho and Dirty Fences. (photo by Joanna Trimble)

Baltimore foursome Ponytail have released a new video for "Honey Touches," off their third full-length, Do Whatever You Want All the Time, out this week.  The video – directed by Bill Benz and Mike Giambra, also known as MENZ – chronicles "man’s everlasting battle with fruit and the pursuit of making the ultimate smoothie." PS- The amazing cover art for the release (above) was designed by EYE of the Japanese rock band Boredoms. –Big Hassle

A rocking evening of 5 female fronted bands spanning electro-pop, grunge, garage, psychedelic, and post-folk rock at pianos tonight.
8pm – The Walking Hellos: "The Raincoats meet Pere Ubu…The Shaggs meet Tin Huey…Lydia Lunch meets Throwing Muses."
9pm – Mitten: "…the perfect blend of electro-pop and an 80’s synth vibe with a hint of indie-freshness.”
10pm – Tara Elliott & The Red Velvets: "The bastard child of Janis Joplin and The Stooges."
10:45 – Heliotropes: "…an enrapturing and hypnotic mixture of the junkie folk-pop-environment…the radio-friendly girl-vocals and the massive sweeping riffs."
11:30 – Clinical Trials (pictured): "…like Elastica with extra vitriol and a dash of grandeur…Their music pays homage to their grunge and riot rock predecessors."
– (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.

Bisco Smith has been rocking the hip hop underworld of NYC for over ten years now. Collaborating with artists and producers across the musical spectrum from all over the world, his track “Decompression” produced with ex NYC, now LA-based indie-phenom Cassettes Won’t Listen in 2005 has remained a fan favorite. This duo has finally reunited under the name The Freeze Tag, and, with the help of renowned street artist Bishop203 and director Vidoli, created a 5 song/video saga following the trials and tribulations of Hamster Kid, a fictionalized representation of the struggle for greatness within us all. Critics will undoubtedly draw comparisons to the Gorillaz regarding the animation and indie-rock/rap collaboration, but closer listening will reveal a depth of lyricism and content that surpasses this distant hairy mainstream cousin. Bisco’s charming vernacular and gift for visceral urban narrative is an unlikely companion to CWL’s pristine electro-pop, but the resulting project will definitely give you pause—at least until some un-freezes you.
On a separate note, Cassettes Won’t Listen has just announced a new album, KEVINSPACEY, due in June. – BrokeMC

Mp3: The Freeze Tag – The Hustle

"We just released our 3rd Record out on CRAFTY RECORDS called "Big MiSTakeS"…Its out on Vinyl! we are so stoked…..influences are based in the "WE Jam ECONO" style, but we love everything from Jonathan Richman to Slayer!! We’ve been around Brooklyn for 7 years and counting.. please take the time check the music out wen you can… Put your your ears to the ground, and clap your hands when you feel it! See you soon! THE SWEET ONES!" – (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.

NYC music lovers into charity and the mellow, thoughtful, jazzy pop style of female songwriters such as Fiona Apple and Norah Jones may want to head to Tenth Rail on 413 Tenth Ave @ 33rd St. tonight (Thursday 04.21) for what promises to be a rather smooth night in company of 3 talented NYC female singer-songwriters. Allison Tartalia (pictured) distinguishes herself for a slightly aggressive songwriting edge and for sophisticated arrangements that range from the orchestral to the electronic. Alexa Wilkinson, who has toured and shared the stage with Ingrid Michaelson and Bess Rogers amongst others, offers more intimate songs with big melodic openings, while Chloe Temtchine, who had the good fortune to licence a song for an American Express TV commercial, is the more folky of the bunch, preferring to have her beautiful voice accompanied by a simple acoustic guitar.

Baltimore’s folk-noise duo Wye Oak have collaborated with B-more artist Katherine Fahey and photographer Michael O’Leary to make a sweet video for "Fish" from their latest album Civilian, which was also featured as DC Deli’s Album of the month back in March. Check out the video below.

I’ve been following DC’s alt. art-rockers The Chance ever since I picked up their s/t debut EP in the local punk section at Tower Records (RIP!) years ago. I’ve heard their sound progress from DIY punk to epic arena rock, and after several line-up changes over the years, it now appears that Joshua Padgett (vocals/guitar) and Viraj DeSilva (drummer) have found their bass niche in Christian Baldo (Death by Sexy), all of whom totally brought it in a powerful way to Black Cat’s mainstage last Friday.

Their set kicked off with the title track off their upcoming release "New York City Girls", a ridiculously catchy anthem about high-heeled chicks in said metropolis that combines elements of pop rock and fuzz, complete with a memorable chant along chorus, a danceable rhythm section, and guitar licks that remain in your subconscious and emerge again at the sight of a skyscraper.  To say the least, it set the pace for the rest of their set featuring tracks that harped on a vast spectrum of genre, including noise, shoegaze, 80’s metal, alternative, and even a bit of goth as Padgett’s falsetto reached Siouxsie-like quality tinged with, I’m going there, a Latino octave-changing yodel, which was very apparent during "The Abyss of Love."

Also apparent during "Abyss" was the near mimicked moves throughout the crowd following the swaying onstage from Padgett and Baldo. DeSilva’s gargantuan pounding beat was spot on as keys swirled over layers of intensified loops that continued to grow until its fulfilling climax, proving it to be their most dance-friendly track to date.  Following soon after was their ballad "Lapdance in Heaven" that went from beautiful string plucks and synths to a beyond awesome guitar solo from Padgett that was the most Frank Zappa/Stevie Ray Vaughan thing I’ve ever witnessed at the Cat, and something I’d only expect to hear/see at a 100,000 capacity stadium.  At one point during the epic battle of the pick, some staff got onto the house’s light board and turned the stage into a complementary light show- enhancing the journey up and down the fretboard, and thusly validating the arena potential The Chance has grown into.  And based on the crowd’s reaction, we heard it too. (Gif by Chris B. Pic by Binh Ngo.)  –Dawn

We keep exposing the bands and artists that made our latest Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll – Jangula placed 93rd.

Jangula creates an ethereal, spacey mood with beats that are like liquid crack, a deadly combination in anything besides music. Pulling off a music conundrum, just listen to “Genji Glove” and “Pachinko” both of which mix a frantic backbeat with dainty synth pinches. This fresh band released their first EP in 2010 and is currently working on their next effort, which includes the new single “Light Left Hand.” Having had opened for Yacht and The Postelles, you may want catch this band when they play next at Brooklyn Bowl on May 25. – Michele McManmon

The Tablets is the newest project of Liz Godoy (also half of the fearsome sparrow, best new band 2009 nominee by the Deli magazine) They were recently blogged about by Double Denim Records: "This one from The Tablets drips with a hazy sound reminiscent of ‘Young Liars’-era TV On The Radio. Blown-out toy drums tick with lo-fi abandon alongside fuzzed out bass and withdrawn organ while singer Liz recalls Nico with her deadpan delivery and slightly strange enunciation. Honeyed pop melodies hold things together into a nice gooey mess". Deli favorite song from their Myspace profile is "I Love You in Your Tragic Beauty" (candidate for best song title of 2011 by the way) – that sounds like some kind of hybrid of The Pentangles and Vivian Girls. The Tablets will be playing at Public Assembly on May 13th 2011.- (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.