Our January CD of the Month band Inlets just released this video of their single "Bright Orange Air" on Pitchfork.com. Mark your calendar for April 23, the date of their CD release party at Union Hall.

Well it seems like the sounds from the 80s are back in vogue, right? All the cheesy blips and the "housy" synths and the gasping vocals and the campy clothing and so on and on and on… Well you won’t find all this in The Secret History‘s debut CD "The World That Never Was". You will find references to to great artists from that decade which followed a more personal and sincere musical path though. We are referring (for example) to the melancholic, beautiful and supremely blip free tunes of 10,000 Maniacs, or the daring, electric songs of The Throwing Muses, and their spin off super-dreamy project Belly. Besides the songwriting, what really hits you here is Lisa Ronson’s voice – warm and strong, it confers character and personality to the band’s elegant tunes through melodies that are never banal nor foreign. We also recommend you to check out the band members’ previous project, "My Favorite", which probably failed to emerge because of an unfortunate name choice in this "Google Age", but that has recently garnered some post-mortem attention from music scene fat cats Pitchfork.com. Don’t Miss The Secret History’s CD release party at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on March 18.

Hey discerning eared people,

The Deli this year will sponsor two parties during SXSW:

MUSIC-TECH MASHUP PARTY!

The Music Tech Mashup Showcase is a two day/three stages event during SXSW’s transition from Interactive Week to Music Week. Featuring a ton of great bands, brands, and emerging new technologies, the Mashup party celebrates the opportunities presented through the convergence of these industries.  Hosted by Shinobi Ninja and Coast to Coast Models & Events and presented by GreenShoeLace, HunnyPot, The Deli Mag and Planet Ill, this showcase will assemble the movers and shakers of these converging fields.

Artist shortlist: Shinobi Ninja, Vaxhaul Broadcast, McAlister Drive, Bamboo Shoots.

MORE INFO HERE!

The Deli Magazine NY and CitizenMusic have teamed up to bring some of the best Alt Rock bands from New York to Austin for South By Southwest 2010! "NYC in ATX" will take place on Thursday, March 18, at Hyde Park Bar and Grill (South Location).

Music will begin prompty at 6pm!

Here’s the kick-ass line up! 6.00: Blackbells
6:50: New Madrid
7:40: The Shake
8:30: Deadbeat Darling
9.20: Black Taxi

And, to make it rock even harder, it’s FREE and ALL AGES. So, if you’re heading down to SXSW or if you’re already in Austin, come experience some of the greatest rock n roll, and best french fries [so we’ve been told] New York City has to offer!

MORE INFO HERE

Fan-Tan’s origins lie in the college town of Chapel Hill, N.C., which has sparked the musical careers of the likes of Superchunk and Archers of Loaf and more recently, The Love Language. The quintet’s distinctive “city” sound – dark, mysterious and alluring – probably disoriented the town’s residents and sonically clashed with other local musicians. Now based in Brooklyn, Fan-Tan is comfortably playing shows with artists that compliment its synth-pop sound such as Cale Parks and Led Er Est. On the band’s second EP “The Age of Discovery,” the urgent vocals compel the vivid guitar and looming bass with an overlay of atmospheric, subtle synths. The music is full of dramatics and tension, and it has an unyielding ability to remain in listeners’ heads for days. To celebrate the release of “The Age of Discovery,” Fan-Tan will be playing with New Zealand’s Surf City at the Mercury Lounge on March 26. Tickets are $10. – Nancy Chow

Brooklyn based post-hardcore/metal outfit Descender returns to CakeShop on Friday March 12th along with fellow local heavyweights Clean Teeth (members of legendary Detachment Kit) and Heks Orkest (members of Sparta, Avail, Denali, Kepone) for a night of explosive face-melting loud rock. While acknowledging the likes of 90s staples Unsane, Helmet, Snapcase and Quicksand, Descender has been making a name for itself by expanding upon those references to become a fresh new voice in the local heavy music scene. Their latest EP can be downloaded on their myspace page. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Kidrockers organizes shows targeted to a very specific niche: the hipster parents and their soon to be hipster children. This is why they promote their events by saying that "every adult must be accompnied by a kid between 3 and 13 years of age". Their next show will be on Sunday March 21 at 92YTribeca (11 AM) and will involve two interesting local bands – and also two comedy acts.

STEEL PHANTOMS is a recently formed, four piece band based in Brooklyn, named after a roller coaster in Pittsburgh (where they hail from). Featuring the ex drummer from Islands Steel Phantoms uses many of the same pop sounds that defined the Montreal music scene, with a punkier approach in the attitude and vocals. 

DYNASTY ELECTRIC is a electro-rock duo also based in Brooklyn, NY, with a rather sexy live show (I’m sure your 13 years old will appreciate that!). The band features vocalist/theremin player Jenny Electrik and multi-instrumentalist Seth Misterka who plays saxophone, electric guitar, and programming. The band will soon be releasing its first album on BluRoc Records, the latest venture of hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, and recently collaborated with Brian Chase of Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Luke Temple was honored with our CD of the Month title back in 2007, when he was a solo artists singing folky tunes dressed electronically. In 2008, what appeared initially to be a side project involving a bunch of friends – called Here We Go Magic – gained momentum thanks to an ecstatic Pitchfork review (of course); since then the band has become Luke’s main project. They spent much of 2009 on successive North American and European tours with bands such Department of Eagles, Grizzly Bear, and the Walkmen, before retreating to a house near East Branch, NY to record their second full length LP, which is scheduled to be released in June on Secretly Canadian. If you can’t wait to get this record, we recommend you to check out Luke’s solo material – it’s absolutely stunning.

Calling a woman “ballsy” probably isn’t going to get you anything more than a handprint on your face, but Brit Boras is just that – the confidence with which she sings and plays in her band, Brit and the Cavalry, is astounding. Clearly unafraid to fuse styles and sounds, it appears as though her one goal is to force the listener to challenge the expected. She succeeds in this mission not by forcing messages on you the way mom shoved cough medicine down your throat, but through a mix of sincerity and self-assurance. The Cavalry, Alex Beckmann on drums and Dan Krysa on bass, provide soulful grooves on nearly every track, regardless of style. Musical arrangements and accompaniments – often strings and horns – are smart and warm, never overdone. Of special note is the modern-folk tune “Cassandra,” with its undeniable Dylan “Desire” quality right down to the violins, creepy high-pitched harmonies, and calm oceanic waxing and waning of the lead vocals – hypnotic. After a productive 2009 and with a new EP in the works, Brit took some time to answer a few questions… – Read Paul Dunn’s interview with Brit Boras here.

Five men with inviting stage presence, energy, and positive attitudes believe, “It’s important to not choose influences while writing music” but rather “accept what life presents to you and use from it what you see fit.” Such sentiments are reflected in The Click Clack Boom’s songwriting which, in addition to its “charming drummer,” has attracted many fans across the eastern states. Now with a full U.S. tour in the works and a return appearance planned for the next SxSW festival, we await The Click Clack Boom’s first full length album in 2010. A successful single “Open Hands” has presented a taste of what’s to come and is available now on iTunes. Manager Luke Watson is said to advise the band, “Don’t be late to shows, and don’t drink.” The Click Clack Boom admits, “We are still working on this.” – Read Gina Alioto’s interview with the band here.

While most bands use their debut full length or EP to promote their music and land deals with labels, Suckers somehow managed to build a buzz in the NYC scene without any proper releases under their belt. The band has been a Deli darling for a long time (at least 3 years) and we are glad to see them do well: they just signed to Frenchkiss Records (The Antlers, The Dodos, Local Natives) and announced the release of their debut full lenght for June 8. Suckers has a busy March schedule ahead (including several appearences at SXSW) and a tour with The Antlers coming up in May. Don’t miss their show at Le Poisson Rouge on Tuesday March 10.

Here is a Message left by Emanuel and the Fear on The Deli’s NYC Open Blog : "A record release party is much like the ceremony associated with a Bar Mitzvah. A mature product is released into the public, people you hardly know are dancing their socks off, some drunken family member is coddled around a bathroom toilet releasing his or her own matured product, you get the point… Now, I’ve never been to an actual Bar Mitzvah, but if I had that’s sure how I would like to envision it. Overall though, I believe the main similarity between a record release party and a Bar Mitzvah is the value and importance of having the folks you love, both friends and family, celebrating the introduction of a new stage in one’s life. That being said, Emanuel and the Fear, cordially invite you to attend their record release party for the debut full-length album, Listen, on Wednesday, March 10th at The Gramercy Theater! Doors are at 8:00pm and best of all the event is ALL AGES. And what better way to celebrate a record release than with an evening at The Gramercy Theater? How about with an additional 27 members of the NYU Symphony Orchestra performing behind the Fear?! Well, that’s exactly what the bands got cooked up. Oh and did we mention, Emanuel is going to be conducting a symphonic piece of his own to start the show! Over the past four months, the Fear has been patiently waiting and working on a totally revised set with all new, unheard songs and arrangements that will be showcased for the first time with a full orchestra. The night is sure to be an interesting evening, also featuring an opening set by the wonderful Elizabeth & the Catapult w/ Jeff Taylor!" – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).