As you all should be aware by now, The Deli’s mission is to give local artists free exposure and opportunities. Recently Innovative Music, the Manhattan based recording studio, gave to The Deli readers the opportunity to win a FULL DAY (8 hours) of free studio time – there will be more, so stay tuned! We can now announce that the winners of this first studio time giveaway (chosen directly by the studio’s owner Joe Hernandez) are our February Band of the Month Shanya Zaid and the Catch – congrats!

We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel and DJs).

In a world dominated by male bravado, all-female hardcore punk troupe Zombie Dogs do their part to insure that the girls can get their rocks off in the basement as well. This preservationist Brooklyn troupe (whose four-song demo PUG’S NOT DEAD is lovingly only available on cassette) exude the virtues of a raw DIY approach with an understanding of the basic fundamentals of the genre intact, championing an all guns blazing sound straight from the back alley of an all-ages matinee. This quartet’s simple but effective delivery is far from original and definitely treads familiar ground, yet Zombie Dogs stays true to the roots of the matter, supplying genuinely visceral stabs of noise-mongering mayhem that harkens back to a simpler time when beer was cheap, drugs were cheaper, and studded jackets weren’t sold at Hot Topic. – Mike SOS

Now, THIS is a fun video! Good song too, well done to the Electric Tickle Machine peoples, this is great stuff! The Brooklyn based band will release their debut full length on June 29. Don’t miss their upcoming show at Shea Stadium on June 25.

A quick listen to Spirit Family Reunion’s 3-song EP and it’s easy to see how they can so easily convince a live audience to pick up their feet and sing along. The songs exude a sense of fun and urgency that feels free of irony. Raw and raspy Appalachian folk-inspired vocals lead off the verses, and the whole band joins in for anthemic choruses that scream out for listener participation. “Alright Prayer” is an exuberant hoedown replete with lively strings, manic banjo picking, a thumping drum beat and the most memorable choral hook on the album. “I Will Not Go Up to the Sky” slows things down a notch, but remains just as boisterous, and the ballad “Gazebo Song” is filled with the kind of bittersweet lyrics that make up the entire EP, but are masked by its mostly celebratory feel. Give this record a spin, head out to a show, and you too can be part of Spirit Family Reunion, at least for a bit.

We guess the Brooklyn based Rock Camp for Girls (around since 2004) is starting to show its effectivness, as lately NYC girls who aren’t even old enough to drive keep to impress us – in this case we are talking about Care Bears on Fire. Sophie, the 15-year old lead singer, rocks out with heart-breaking attitude and age-appropriate lyrics, accompanied by 14-year-old drummer Izzy and 16-year-old bassist Jena who keep a rocking beat – most likely while dancing around the stage in white Chuck Taylors. Their punkish music is relatable for jaded pre-teens, singing along in the back of a mini-van on the way to soccer practice. Reminiscent of the Muffs, best known for their hit “Kids in America” on the “Clueless” soundtrack, Care Bears embraces the punk spirit and humor of early 90s girly rock. Songs like “Gym Class Haze” and “Met You on MySpace” are abrasive rhythmically but contain hilarious lyrics like “ hey tights aren’t pants” and “said you were 12, but you’re really 300.” The best track on the album is “Heart’s Not There,” which includes smooth, building tempos and the catchy chorus “Can’t use me if my heart’s not there.” Their name, Care Bears on Fire, says it all. – CBM

We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel and DJs).

Decidedly dubstep, FaltyDL (Drew Lustman) seems to have created his own brand of NY garage, experimenting with and interbreeding a diverse set of influences and sounds. Hip-hop, UK garage, jazz, and funk awash his tracks. Beats range from impressively regular to strategically patchy, usually with a sweet swing rhythm — most tracks pulsate forward with a lounge-esque coolness and certain elegance, even when they’re more aggressive. Clear Portishead and Aphex Twins influence here. Though crisp and tight, Lustman’s experimental style lends itself to casual beat and synth placement throughout, one of the many aspects that make FaltyDL’s sound fresh and interesting. – Paul Dunn

In 2009, Brassland co-founders Aaron & Bryce Dessner of The National discovered Buke & Gass when they played Sycamore, the basement venue down the street from The National’s home studio in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn. They were blown away by how much noise and rhythm was emerging from this two-piece band. Deli Editor Paolo De Gregorio was there too, and shortly after the show decided to put the band on the cover of the Summer issue 2009 of The Deli. The band and the label are now announcing a full length for September 2010 – there’s already a full song for stream and download here.

ABOUT: "It’s music that, upon first listen, makes you want to say, ‘Hey Patrick Bower, cheer up. Life ain’t that bad.’ But inevitably, upon second listen, you realize that it is that bad." PRESS: "Stylishly moody indie folk" – Time Out New York "Beach Closed finds Bower at long last stretching his legs and fleshing out the songs by stripping them down and in turn, whispering them loudly into your ear." – Alarm Magazine "lush, bearded folk" – Brooklyn Vegan – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Brooklyn’s Sensual Harassment call themselves "Reptilian Humanoids," and with good reason: there’s certainly something mutant about their music. As we speak, the trio are reinventing the dance floor with their disco-meets-’80s new wave hybrid of electronica. From propulsive beats to saccharine sing-a-longs, their tracks — many of which were done with seasoned engineer Jesse Cannon (The Cure, Animal Collective) — are slick enough to make the casual listener instantly bust a move even in the kitchen. While one song, "Daddy Long Legs," features explosive bits that Daft Punk might want to cop, their latest single "Fever" is the gem of them all. The shimmery synth-propelled tune is a sweet, body-moving anthem complete with a climactic "la la la" chorus. Revel in these hot summer nights by blasting it at loud decibels and knocking back some cold ones. – Michelle Geslani

Catchy, upbeat tunes infused with a 60s pop style and ragtime piano makes Craig Chesler’s latest CD the perfect addition to your summer music collection. A great blend of simple but poignant lyrics and smooth vocals resonate with listeners who will eagerly tap their toes to fun songs like “At First Sight” and “All In All,” and be treated to the light sound of the ukulele, banjo, and various other instruments on the 12-track album. Chesler’s music is a step back in time to an era where easy living and easy loving was part of the day-to-day, and music was simply made to be pleasing to the ears. Craig can also be found playing with Tom Clark and the High Action Boys throughout New York City, as well as solo at Brooklyn haunts like Bar 4. The album features the talent of local artists like Len Monachello, Tom Clark, Jeff Jacobson, Sal Maida, Marni Rice, Casey Shea, and more. –CM

We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel and DJs).

New York quartet, The Shake, have been quaking the city’s music scene in recent months, landing a top spot on The Deli’s “Best of NYC” poll. Their December record release, “The Shake Go Crazy,” is nothing short of pure rock ‘n roll with catching riffs, singable choruses, and spirited guitar solos that embody the youthful rebelliousness that is missing from many acts today. Distinguishing themselves from the typical rock outfit with Jon Merkin’s unmistakable vocals and Eliad Shapiro’s gripping choices in guitar progressions, The Shake also adopt a heavy blues swagger and metal attitude on highlighted tracks, “Got No Soul,” “Merry Musket” and “Galleries,” open “Your Idols” with a cappella flair, and demonstrate great musicianship by collaborating with Matt Butler (Reckless Sons) on “Time Bomb,” Ezra Huleatt (Black Taxi) on “Pop Goes the…,” and Tash Neal (The London Souls) on “Merry Musket (Reprise).” Invigorating on record and on stage, The Shake are ones to watch on the rock ‘n roll Richter scale. www.wearetheshake.com – Meijin Bruttomesso

Make Music New York  is a unique festival of free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City, all on Monday, June 21st, the first day of summer. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 327 cities around the world — a global celebration of music making.

There will be a bunch of outdoors concerts in Williamsburg with local artists who deserved to be checked out. In the middle of Bedford Avenue, Spike Hill will host an outdoors show The Deli helped book with The Courtesy Tier @ 9pm, The Twees @ 10pm, Black Taxi @ 11pm, and The Binary Marketing Show (in the picture above) @ midnight. On North 6 Street, Cameo will host an all day similar event involving a very interesting lineup of NYC artists including Turkuaz, The Yellow Dogs, Hank and Cupcakes, Hollis Brown, Daddy Long Legs, Shilpa Ray, Fredericks Brown, The London Souls, and Fall on your Sword (in the picture below).