What’s a fella to make of a band that’s described by one blog as being a "…haunting but sometimes playfully fun acoustic Nashville gothic band"? Huh? Whether you tastes run toward the dark and gothic or the happy and clappy, there seems to be something for everyone on this debut album by NYC’s Bobtown. So, are these collective folk a Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde, you ask? Check out their site and make your own decision, but consensus would have it that they’re a little of both, as attested by a further examination of press blurbs on their Myspace page: "There is no band in town who sound like them. Mixing elements of country gospel, bluegrass and field hollers with an often macabre Nashville gothic tinge and soaring four-part harmonies…" (Lucid Culture, NYC); "Rich vocal harmonies and influences ranging from old-time gospel to pop combine to create a wonderfully original musical experience." (Muses, Muse, Atlanta); "…moody, rustic songs for the moonlit backroads" (NPR’s All Songs Considered Podcast); "Acoustic, Guthriesque American roots music complete with death references and chilling harmonies" (WMUH, Allentown); "If you’re looking for acoustic gothic-folk-americana kissed with gorgeous harmonies then look no further" (Americana UK).- (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Devin Therriault is a Brooklyn based Rock’n’Roller who’s been getting some attention at CMJ 2010 (in particular from Brooklyn Vegan and a couple of UK publications), for his flamboyant stage presence and gritty sound inspired to the 50s. Which brings to mind that when we were all assuming a 90s revival was just about to happen, a bunch of cool artists decided it was time to look back at the 50s instead (Girls and Ava Luna are the 2 examples that come to mind). Honestly, I personally feel much happier about this than a "Nu-Grunge" wave…
Anyway, Devin seems to have the attitude and the songs to make an impact on the NYC scene, and he’s playing with two fantastic NYC bands (The Rassle and The So So Glos) tonight 11.26 at The Studio at Webster. If you are in town craving rock music, that’s the place to be.

Awesome video, awesome song, what else can you ask for? The band is The Death Set.

In constant motion between NYC and his hometown in Arizona, James Apollo touched back down in New York and sang us through the past weekend with shows at The Living Room and Sycamore. James recently released a new album entitled "Till Your Feet Blee" filled with intense rootsiness. As David Lynch is the master in defining interesting and odd film-making, James Apollo is channeling that same mysterious and eclectic style into his music. From gypsy to folk to jazz, Apollo entertains and captivates. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Meeting in New York City in late 2005, the members of Bridges and Powerlines realized a common love for intricately arranged three-minute pop songs. After releasing the debut EP and touring extensively, in the last year the band has been recording their follow-up album ‘Eve’, which represents the culmination of their thoughts on life prior to the changes of September 11. With producer Kieran Kelley (known best for his work on Sufjan Stephens’ ‘Illinois’) and a host of guests including members of Antony and the Johnsons, indie troubadour Will Stratton, and even their friend Steven Harris of 80s arena-legends The Cult, the band spent 3 months painstakingly creating the record “they wanted to make their whole lives.” CD release party is scheduled at Pianos on January 14.

Stream the band’s song Mirabell.

Hot Sugar is the pseudonym of New York City based multi-instrumentalist and one man production army Nick Koenig. A session musician for producers including J-Zone, Koenig has a talent for creating lush, textured recordings combining live instrumentation and esoteric samples. Koenig uses samples as disparate as ambient wind noise and French pornography sound tracks to create head nodding instrumentals. Hot Sugar’s debut EP, Muscle Milk, is scheduled to drop next year. As a teaser, Koenig recently leaked two tracks, the Javelinesque “The Seagull” and the Hip-Hopish “Color Wars” featuring soulful crooner Aaron Livingstone. – Nick Haycock

The Depreciation Guild just premiered the video for "Blue Lily" on Pitchfork, streaming here. The band is also releasing a 7" single of this same song.

A bunch of nomadic dudes, The Dead Trees formed in Boston in 2007, moved to Portland shortly after, and released their debut EP, "Fort Music", which in LA fell into the hands of Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., who took the band on the road with him for two US tours. Since then they released their debut full length, King of Rosa (2008), played shows/toured with MGMT, Har Mar Superstar, The Whigs, Adam Green among others, and have toured the world both opening for and performing as Little Joy’s backing act. The band, now split between LA and Portland, is about to release a single appropriately entitled "Back to LA", and is also prepping a 2011 release of their new record, WHATWAVE produced by Noah Georgeson.

After signing with David Byrne Luaka Bop and touring with Yeasayer, Delicate Steve is becoming some sort of cult figure in the indie scene. Steve Marion, the one man band behind this name is actually a sound engineer who has been recording other people’s music for about 10 years. Check out our sister site Delicious Audio’s interview with Steve here.

After only a few short months of playing together, Brooklyn based Bronze has managed to find itself amid a flurry of buzz. Though they have only been performing a few months, the band has already played a slew of high profile dates opening for Free Energy, Snowden, Film School, and We Were Promised Jetpacks. It only makes sense that the band is on the fast track to success as 2 of its founding members were previously of NYC based, and French Kiss records alum, Detachment Kit. I managed to catch the band after an amazing performance at a sold out show at Union Pool in Williamsburg and got a chance to ask them a few questions about their history, influences, and the pains and pleasures of being a band in New York City. – Read David Hall’s interview with the band here.

Not the typical rock troupe, Lights Resolve cater to hard rockers, pop fanatics, and everyone in between, with catching songs defined by non-conforming vocal melodies, distinctive guitar modulations that intertwine with ornate bass riffs, and complex, hard-hitting rhythmic styles. The band has three self-released EPs, beloved national status, top spots on The Deli’s charts, consistently sold out hometown shows, appearances in soundtracks for MTV hits, including “The Hills” and Season 1 of “Jersey Shore,” and striking numbers of “Rock Band” downloads of their single “Dreaming of Love” under their belts, but shockingly, early 2011 will mark the release of Lights Resolve’s first full-length record, “Feel You’re Different.” – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s interview with the band here.