If you’ve been around Portland for a little while you may remember the electronic rap duo Serious Business. If not, that’s okay. You can still appreciate the new music made by 1/2 of Serious B. by way of Jason Mampel. His solo endeavor, titled XO Jasen, brings fun and danceable beats in the same vein, yet takes on more important issues like sexual and gender identity. XO Jason’s first video from his debut album Four Love Songs, "Kiss Me Dark Destroyer" is a visually intriguing interpretation of issues that many can relate to. The album also features guitar work from Nate Wey of the dreamy Souvenir Driver. Watch the video below!

-Cervante Pope

A few days ago marked the end of the Deli Portland’s Best of 2015 Readers’ Poll, spotlighting our varied amount of local talent. It’s after a rigorous effort that we can now announce the Top 5 emerging Portland acts as picked by you, the readers. Enjoy, and stay tuned for the upcoming composite chart, which will include the votes from our jury! 

1. LiquidLight

Alternative rock outfit LiquidLight catapulted to the top of the charts with not only their easily lovable songs, but also with their fervent ability to get themselves heard! Tinges of everything from psych rock to early 2000’s pop punk can be found their songs. Some only in small elements, but enough to make LiquidLight’s sound specific to them. Say hello to Portland’s best band of 2015.

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2. Foxy Lemon

Sensually bluesy and devotedly oozing classical rock qualities, Foxy Lemon have crooned their way into the hearts of many of us, playing electrifying shows to a diverse crowds and immediately turning them into fans. There’s a certain allure to Foxy Lemon that other can’t be ignored, an obvious one that got them up to our #2 slot.

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3. Coco Columbia

She’s animated and delightfully pleasant, jamming out through her huge hair and eclectic style, making music that’s just as colossally interesting. It’s equal parts dreamy, electronic, indie and jazzy, the perfect blend for well rounded pop. 

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4. The Cabin Project

The Cabin Project take a symphonic approach to indie rock, with their songs seeming to sweep over you like a leaves in a light wind. Harmonies and string sections flirt playfully, with weighty choruses and orchestral effects that elevate their songs to a whole other level.

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5. Space Shark

Space Shark is an interesting band of sorts, taking the best of heady space rock and jam band minutia to manifest a low key heaviness. Their standout track, "Now Is We" off their latest release Ghosts, has been receiving much deserved praise for its perfect representation of Space Shark’s forte.

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Let’s also give a shout out to Dirty Revival, Consumer, Rod, The Ghost Ease and White Bear Polar Tundra for rounding out the rest of our Top 10. A big thanks also goes out to all the bands that participated, promoted and worked their damn hardest to get their music heard. Also, a thank you to everyone that voted. We do this for all you guys. If you’d like to dive into the deep with the vote counts, you can find the results, based on genre, by clicking the links below.

ALT-ROCK/METAL | ELECTRONIC | INDIE-POP | INDIE-ROCK | PSYCH | PUNK/GARAGE | ROOTS

-Cervante Pope, the Deli Portland Editor

    After spending the majority of my 34 years on this planet listening to a strange variety music, I sometimes feel like rock and roll is, in fact, dead. I don’t really even listen to much music these days due to the fact that I’m simply not interested. When I do listen, I’m usually listening from the perspective of a producer, an engineer and a fellow musician, hearing all of the technical nuances that tend to destroy the blissfulness of just plain enjoying the fuck out of rock music like I could when I was 13 years old with no responsibilities or worries. 

Lubec know how to pull some emotions out of you with their music, seamlessly blending shoegaze, indie pop and affection. Their forray into the hearts of Portlanders began around five years ago, yet is sure to stay with us for more years to come. They’ve been recently riding high on the creation of their latest EP, Concentration, due out February 5th via Touchy Feely Records. The release show will be that same night at the Know, along with supporting sets from Versing and Post Moves. Check out the latest single from Concentration, "Late Bloomer," below. You can also preorder the new EP for $5 here.

-Cervante Pope

Today, to the excitement of every doom metaler in Portland and beyond, Graves at Sea released a new single, "The Curse that Is…," which will be on their debut full length due out April 1st on Relapse Records. This is huge news, as fans have been attending shows and waiting YEARS for Graves at Sea to do an official release, as opposed to splits and their self released demo Documents of Grief. The album will be called The Curse that Is Graves at Sea and its title single premiered earlier today on The Obelisk. Mentally prepare yourselves and give it a listen below. You can also preorder the album here, if you so choose.

-Cervante Pope

It always nice to have a great, local act open up the bill for popular touring musicians coming through town. Sometimes, depending on the show booker, things can be hit or miss. Yet when they’re a hit, they’re truly a hit. A perfect scenario for the first of the Fit the Bill series would have to be Sunday night’s show at Bunk Bar, where locals Mini Blinds opened up for Lisa Prank and Childbirth. Now of course, both Lisa Prank and Childbirth, playing together or separately, don’t necessarily need aid in drawing a crowd. Bunk Bar hit capacity that night as fans of these two acts filled the roomed. They’ve both only played Portland once before so surely this was bound to happen, but Mini Blinds was definitely the right choice as an addition to the bill.

Mini Blinds is the dual effort of Beth Ann Dear and Devin Welch, who also happen to be 2/3 of other Portland favorites Appendixes. As the front woman in both efforts, Dear exudes a pleasant and angelic stage presence, much like the endearing tone of her voice. The chemistry between her and Welch during their performance was evident without being outwardly spoken, but expressed partially through coalescing movements about the stage. Though their entire set was great – the drum machines clean and crisp and her basslines and his guitar playing didn’t skip a beat – the highest points were when Dear laid her bass down to devote all of herself to the vocals of their cover of "Angel Gone" by Beat Happening, as well as when her and Welch switched instruments for their last song, "Time Machine."

Overall, Mini Blinds were an exceptional choice for show, and truly fit the bill. 

-Cervante Pope

Gnar Tapes sweethearts of Portland, Love Cop, have been trudging through the recent blizzard for their Laid 2 Rest in the Midwest tour. Today, while having a look around Sun Studios before their show in Memphis, Tn, some dillweed broke into their van, stealing thousands in band merch and personal effects. Most of us have had things taken, it sucks, and no one likes it. Help these boys out. We’re all starving artists, musicians and creatives, so we’ve got to have each others’ backs. Anything helps and click the link to their Go Fund Me page HERE.

-Cervante Pope

Brothers turned alt-rockering bandmates My Brothers and I dropped their full-length debut in September of last year, and now they’ve shared their album supporting tour dates! It kicks off in San Francisco on the 27th and they’ll be coming back through Portland on March 3rd at Mississippi Studios. Check out their dates below!

-Cervante Pope

Last Friday, Portland resident and friend to many of us Danny Moore was struck by a car off of MLK and NE Jarrett St. The assailant eventually turned himself in, but Danny was still left with two broken legs among other injuries, not to mention a mountain of medical debt. Because us Portlanders take care of our own, a benefit show to aid Danny is being held this Monday, January 25th, at Dig A Pony. Playing the benefit will be Dyslexics The, a solo set by the Woolen Men‘s Lawton Browning and tunes spun by DJ Bad Wizard. The 21+ event runs from 9pm-1am, with all proceeds of course going to fund Danny’s recovery. Come on out and help a friend in need!

-Cervante Pope

The Century‘s Losers EP came out just late last year, and as their second EP, it’s already on it’s way to maintaining their position as indelible contenders in Portland’s rock n’ roll scene. Today, they’re dropping the lead track on the EP, "Here’s to Nothing." It delightfully plays with both the lo-fi distortion of classic garage rock and the catchy, sing-a-long aspects of a good pop song. Let "Here’s to Nothing" serve as the anthem to the apathetic soul in all of us. Listen below!

-Cervante Pope

If you’re looking to have some good ol’ wholesome fun, check out Daisy Deaths. Their style of pop punk is simple, raw and refreshingly prime for illiciting nothing but smiles, head bobs and longing for summertime chilling on the beach. You can catch them for free up at Slim’s along with Super Brown and Husky Boys this Friday, the 22nd. Don’t believe that a good time is to be had? Peep "Last Year" below and watch your mind (and mood) change.

-Cervante Pope

Donned in the finest of linens and strangest of face masks, experimental rock band Kulululu are officially dropping their new addicting single "We Are Kulululu."  The track bounces back and forth between jazzy progressions and full fledged rock, delivered to you in raucously burstful spurts. You’re guaranteed to seizurely gyrate and jump about. They’re playing a show at Noon TODAY at the PSU blocks but if you can’t make it out, they’re playing another show on the 30th at the Turn Turn Turn with Rilla and The Toads.

Check out "We Are Kulululu" below!

-Cervante Pope