The Rex Complex describes themselves as roots ruckus. Jeremy Gustin and Rex Hussman have been best friends since college, they’ve traveled the world to learn more about music and have created a sound that is unique and energizing. Their most recent release, A Delicious Victory is an eloquent buffet of intertwined genres from afro-beat to punk. It is a phenomenal album by a one-of-a-kind band. The Rex Complex will be playing at Public Assembly in Brooklyn on April 8th. – Read Meghan Chiampa’s interview with the band here.

Relatively new to the scene, Brooklyn collective We Are Country Mice has released only a handful of tracks since forming in 2008. But the quality of their sound – muddy guitar riffs, beating drum rolls, distinct vocals and fluid bass lines – displays a talent way beyond their budding creation. Comprised of Ben Bullington (guitar), Jason Rueger (guitar), Josh Kothe-Levie (bass) and Kurt Kuehn (drums), the band calls upon influences such as Neil Young, Wilco and Modest Mouse to produce their signature sound. Midwesterners at heart (the band came to NYC to pursue their musical dream), We are Country Mice also adds a touch of country flare to the tracks. The foursome has already billed with such groups as Depreciation Guild, Surfer Blood, Freelance Whales and Drink Up Buttercup, and they may be the Brooklyn band to look out for in 2010. The members spoke to The Deli about their soon to be released debut album, coming to New York City, and canned beets, tacos and pizza (oh my!). – Read Cecilia Martinez interview with the band here.

With their gentle lo-fi waltzes and sparse crooner-less country-ish ballads, Brooklyn’s own Backwords are bringing back optimistic atmospheres reminiscent of Camper Van Beethoven’s unforgettable record Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart – minus that band’s legendary violin of course. Shots in the Dark in particular – with its lack of pretension, pleasant crooked melody, and lyrics about friendship – is a song that has the rare power to keep you company. The band is currrently working on their upcoming album in their house/studio, and will be performing live at Pianos on March 3 and at Sycamore on March 5.

Some songs sound like they were made for a windless and intense snowy day like today – Christy and Emily‘s Little World" is one of them (listen to it here). The duo plays elegant, contained, slow pop songs with a classical and experimental edge. The song will be included in the band’s third full length, entitled No Rest, recorded in Germany and released in April on Klangbad Records. For reasons beyond us this kind of gorgeous, sophisticated, introspective soft music (here we call it "mellow core") has way more following in Europe than in the States – some attribute this to the "European decadence". But dudes, Rock’n’Roll decadence started with the Velvet Underground, and Christy and Emily’s music shares many ingredients with the Banana Album, so it may be time for NYC to embrace its own. See them live at Monster Island on March 13.

Extra Life is one of those bands noisy engough to scandalize our friend and ex reader April (see her comment about Talk Normal here). But surprisingly enough, the video they recently premiered on stereogum.com is pretty much the exact opposit of noisy (are the dudes getting older? That’s what happens to musicians when they get older, they play less noisy, more structured stuff – the only exception is a Canadian band called Anvil). Anyway, whatever the reason behind this welcome surprise, the important thing is that the dudes haven’t lost their interest in experimenting, creating here a track that sounds like some sort of avant-pastoral music with disturbing imagery, very well transposed to video by director Peking. The Deli likes it!

French Horn Rebellion entertained us last year with their electronic dancey songs and a goofy video that recreated Saturday Night Fever style wooing in hypster Williamsburg, 2009 circa. The duo is back with a new EP entitled Beaches and Friends that will be released on March 1st. This Spring they’ll join Little Boots and Dragonette on their US tour. FHR will also be making appearances at this years SXSW, Bestival, and Oxygen Festival. These guys are entertaining, don’t miss their live performances.

Scrambler Seequill is a Brooklyn duo full of sonic surprises. Ethereal atmoshpheres, crunchy distorted beats, sudden reggae-ish breaks, zappian guitar solos, weird samples and loops coexist in a unique hodgepodge of music influences. The combined sounds of Mike Gamble’s (Scrambler) deft guitar arrangements and loop wizardry with Devin Febbroriello’s (Seequill) rhythmic compositions and ghostly vocals, create a colorful palette in which they nonchalantly mess with our minds and ears.Their live performances introduce extra improvisation when joined by drummer Conor Elmes and bass player Ari Folman Cohen. Their debut CD "Secret Passageways", recorded mostly in an abandoned house and yes, their bathroom, is out now digitally worldwide. They will be playing a free all ages show March 6th at The Tea Lounge in Brooklyn at 9 pm.

Although we don’t really do THAT many drugs, here at The Deli we love the word "Psych", in particular when it’s associated with the other word "Rock". Wonderful Lady Bree had the great idea to organize the first Brooklyn Psych Fest at Glasslands on February 28 from 7 PM until 4 AM (yes of course psychedelia gets even better late at night…) – and we were happy to help her out with some promotion.
The line up features some darn fine emerging NYC artists including aggressive trio La Otracina (who made our Best of NYC 2008 list) and gorgeously cloudy Naam (who made our Best of NYC 2009 list!), plus other artists that are worth checking out. More about the other bands involved in this show soon!

On February 23rd (tonight) @ Zebulon in Brooklyn 8088 Record Collective presents the release of Compilation Volume IV ("nice cover!" says The Deli) with Binary Marketing Show, Equestrian, The Fancy (in the picture), Transmography (Austin) and La Snacks (Austin). The show is FREE and copies of the compilation are also FREE for those who will come out to the show. DJ Bird Dog will be spinning all night and mind blowing projections will get your brain busy. 8088 is a collective of artists across the nation who share the same ideals, enthusiasm, and convictions and doubles as an experiment in the exposure of underground art while working as a community of artists for collaboration.- (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Freelance Whales (who played one of our CMJ parties in October 2009 and placed 2nd in our Year End Best of NYC Poll) is definitely the indie band with the most "selling potential" to emerge from the NYC scene in 2009. These guys last year managed to create a lot of buzz in the big apple just by playing shows and without the support of a label – or even a real release for that matter. Now that a "proper" promotional machine is warming up, the sky seems to be the limit. Freelance Whales just announced the release of the debut single "Generator 2nd Floor" (you can download it for free here) and their live show schedule for the next few months, including Sasquatch Festival on May 30th and a US Tour With Cymbals Eat Guitars & Bear In Heaven – plus of course several SXSW dates. Their debut album "Weathervanes" LP On Frenchkiss/Mom + Pop Records will be out March 16th. Don’t miss their live show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 1st.

It’s quite rare to stumble upon an Alt Rock band that – like Starling Crush – quotes the early 4AD records as one of their most important influences. Yeah because none of those submlime seminal 4AD bands (Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil) had ever anything to do with what is understood to be "Alt Rock". They’d rather mix and mess around with genres like ambient, goth, electronica and even world influences. But – as we strongly believe Alt Rock is in desperate need of a face lift – we definitely welcome this paradox, which allows this band’s songs to stand out from most of the Alt Rock artists out there. Check them out at The Living Room on 02.22 and at Rockwood on March 02.

Deli readers who play in bands,

The Deli has reserved 1 showcase slot at the Music Tech Mashup during SXSW for one Austin emerging artist. The Party will take place at Rusty Spurs on March 17.

To apply for this opportunity all you need to do is fill in this for HERE and click on the confirmation email you’ll receive (this will simply add you to our mailing list and enter your band in our fabulous charts organized by genre and region – one day we’ll also create band profiles!). 3 bands will be selected by the organizers (one of them will be a local Austin, TX artist). DEADLINE IS MONDAY 22 at 11.59 pm.

Music Tech Mashup Showcase (organized by Coast to Coast Models & Events) will celebrate the convergence of music and technology and the opportunities it presents for everyone involved just as SXSW itself switches gears from Interactive Week to Music Week.This is a list of some of the artists already booked: Jada – Universal Motown Records (Boston, MA) – Bamboo Shoots – Epic Records (New York) – Shinobi Ninja – (Brooklyn, NY) – McAlister Drive – (Boston, MA) – Odd Modern – (Los Angeles, CA) – Keys and Crates (Toronto, Canada) – Curtis Santiago (Toronto, Canada) – Keith Masters (Chicago, IL) – FutureCop! (UK) – Mark Foster (Los Angles, CA).

Event support sponsors include HunnyPot, Hip Hop Howl, and The Deli Magazine.

The Deli’s Staff

The Deli’s Staff