Vice Device tread a line between the post-punk and industrial genres, crafting dark and addictive soundscapes through synthesized tones, drum machines and driving bass riffs. The vocals are equally soothing and aggressive, as male and female voices pass lyrics back and forth through a primarily melancholy backdrop. This combination of sounds results in music that can move and break a listener in the same moment. Vice Device will be celebrating their latest release, a split 12” with Philadelphia-based Void Vision, at Rotture this Thursday night with Arctic Flowers, Industrial Park and DJ Musique Plastique. Go and experience a post-punk party of epic proportions. – Benjamin Toledo

Hot Victory are a percussive duo that lean towards the experimental and the progressive. Consisting of two drummers armed with acoustic and electric kits, they produce cascading rhythms that roll over synthesized samples and loops drenched with entrancing tones. Nexus, their latest release, is a combination of organic pulses and electronic movements. The tracks within are spacey, ever-evolving compositions that are as danceable as they are musically inventive. Hot Victory will be celebrating the release of Nexus on cassette tape this Tuesday night with a free show at White Owl Social Club. Go for what’s sure to be a dynamic performance. – Benjamin Toledo

Lovers began as a project by singer/songwriter Carolyn Berk back in 2001, and across time and oceans (meaning a decade of meeting friends during world travels) her band became complete with the addition of producer and performance artist Kerby Ferris and math genius percussionist Emily Kingan. Their talents together are a female triforce. Berk’s clarity and openness, with Ferris’s well played electronic instruments and Kingan’s cogent live drums create songs that can be throaty and contemplative, stretching into breezy slow motion walks. They also playfully bounce and thump, an expression of fervent affection that their website describes as "an intimiate portrait of female friendship, sexuality, and evolution as an infinite process." Love is the answer. Lovers are poised to release their seventh album, A Friend In The World, on Badman Recording, Sept. 24th. Their record release party takes place at Mississippi Studios on Saturday, Sept. 21st. – Brandy Crowe

You can listen to Lovers’ new single, "The Modern Art Museum and the Modern Kiss Goodbye" via the Portland Mecury HERE, or check out a live video of the track below.

Hey kids! The Tang gang has got their new EP, Baby’s First EP (awww) out now Resurrection Records! The Deli Portland recently chatted them up about space drinks, playing music in bars when your not old enough to be in a bar, and brotherly love. They are playing another bar tonight (awww), catch  them at the Firkin Tavern with a ripping line-up of Glassbones, Psychomagic, and Manx. Something is gonna get broken. – Brandy Crowe

Read the interview here

Portland’s songwriter extraordinaire, Battleme is back with a new label, new band members, and a new album that officially releases on Oct 8, 2013. Weight On The Brain (El Camino Media) is the follow up to a highly acclaimed and prominently featured self-titled first in 2012. Although the band’s founder, Matt Drenik (former member of Austin based band Lions) has many accomplishments his belt, this new album and current band has been his main focus. He is a famously hard worker that never disappoints, especially when it comes to a live show. Now a four piece, this band can deliver a sound with immense depth and raw flavor. The wide variety of songs they play shine a light in just about every direction of the musical spectrum, and are brought together by Matt’s etchy vocals and timeless songwriting. “Just Weight” is the first released song from the new album and immediately proves that rock and roll isn’t dead, in fact it’s just begun. – Colin Hudson

Party Boyz is a podcast made by two of Portland’s most musically inspired women, Elizabeth Elder and Rachel Milbauer. The podcast goes something like this: Elizabeth and Rachel share a meal with a local band while listening to a playlist chosen by the group. In between tracks they talk with the musicians about a variety a topics including their influences, personal lives and recent experiences. This weeks episode features the voices of Sun Angle, who chose tracks by the like of Miles Davis, Meat Puppets and El Gusano. Listen to the podcast below and be sure to check out more episodes on their soundcloud channel. – Benjamin Toledo

Magic Mouth pulled out all the stops for their latest EP, Devil May Care. This funky, high energy release showcases a melding of soul, rock and r&b refined by clean production and precise tones. The musicianship is mature without being overbearing, the songs complex without losing pop appeal and the hooks as addicting as the vocal melodies are compelling. “Mother Lode” provides a break from the dance party, the fluid bass line grounding an emotive vocal melody and sparse guitar leads. The closing track, “Speak Softly After Dark (For Nina)” has the kind of driving, kinetic rhythm that could move any audience; the fact that it’s supported by some of the most soulful vocals to come out of Portland in recent years is the icing on the cake. Magic Mouth will be celebrating the release of Devil May Care this Friday night at Tonic Lounge with Double Duchess, Glitterbang and DJ Beyondadoubt, the show starts at 9 pm. – Benjamin Toledo

Havania Whaal fall into a space between the garage, noise-rock, post-punk and shoegaze genres. They take elements of each and inject them with an experimental energy you can only achieve by attaching a set of pickups to a mandolin and distorting it’s traditional sound until it becomes something otherworldly. This sound and a charged live show has brought them through the crowded house shows and bars of Portland to The Tube, where they are set to release their new ‘slime green” cassette tape, Château De Chienne this Thursday night. Be there to experience Havania Whaal in their gritty, noise filled and ecstatic glory. The show starts at 9, Mister Tang, The Mishaps and DJ Alligator Heart will be performing as well. – Benjamin Toledo

Animal Eyes’ new EP, Ursus, is somewhat hard to define, but that’s a good thing. The release has a refined, professional sound overall with a lot of smooth music packed in. “Pleasure Hound” is host to an enigma of really cool sounds ranging from a melodic guitar backdrop to a haunting organ sound which I particularly enjoyed. A defining characteristic of this EP is the variety of styles and sounds found in the songs. Animal Eyes showcase a high degree of musicianship and soul with Ursus that comes through each note and instrument. Tracks such as “Bender” and “Cold Coast Line” take the audience on a melodic journey culminating in more intense tracks like “Last Knock” and “Pleasure Hound.” Each song on the EP helps to create a strong web of music while still being effective individually. Make sure to be at their EP release show this Tuesday the 17th at Bunk Bar. Listen, love it, then go support Animal Eyes and their new EP, Ursus! – Cory Heunnekens

Last week crowds of music enthusiasts roamed the streets of Portland, running between crowded venues and enjoying a wide variety of bands taking part in the festival known as Musicfest Northwest. The week was full of so much great music that it took three members of The Deli’s Portland team to properly document it. We divided up our finding into the categories that follow, click the link below to read the review. Enjoy! READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE

Photo Credit: Craig Williams

Cassingle and Loving It Records has been releasing tapes for the past year and a half and in the process they’ve built a strong support group of friends, acquaintances, and music enthusiasts that love the nostalgic qualities contained within the analog sound of a cassette tape. Since their inception they’ve put out tape releases from the likes of Bath Party, Nucular Aminals and Witch Mountain, adding new tapes to their repertoire and expanding their reach as time moved on. All of this work has been culminated into their first ever compilation tape,  Friends and Acquaintances. The release features recordings from some of the most prominent acts in Portland’s independent music scene such as Genders, Sad Horse, Lunch and many more. Cassingle and Loving It will be hosting a release party for Friends and Acquaintances at Record Room this Saturday night with performances by The Ghost Ease, Pink Slip, A Happy Death, Young Dad, Shady Characters and DJ Hero Worship. Just five dollars gets you into the venue with a copy of the tape for yourself, go and support the efforts of some of the most dedicated indie music enthusiasts in the city. – Benjamin Toledo  

Bison Bison is among a number of bands that will be featured at the Musicfest Northwest this week, and I must say these guys are exciting to listen to. Bison has that old school, heavy rock sound that will wrap its fingers around the primal part of your brain and squeeze until your head bangs. They combine a heavy 70’s sound with some garnish from 80’s metal movements. More good news, Bison doesn’t rip-off the greats of bygone days but rather pumps out their own unique brand and style of rock n’ roll. Heavy, thundering, percussive, near tribalistic drumming sets a nice foundation for epic, dirty, gritty-elegant guitar and bass riffs. The vocals are like a hand in a glove, guiding the listener through a dark soundscape like Virgil conducting Dante through hell herself. Come check these guys out at Dante’s this Saturday night at 10pm! – Cory Huennekens 

Check out Bison Bison’s brand new video for the track, "Waiting for Saturn."