THE DELI

Pinegrove, who recently moved from Brooklyn to Montclair, NJ, is one of those rare bands that make things happen by perseverance and self development, which – in today’s music industry – requires monstrous levels of discipline and faith. The group has been releasing a bunch of records since their 2010 ‘Mixtape One‘ debut. Their latest, entitled ‘Cardinal,’ is one of their best. The eight track mini-album blends element of American traditional music and indie rock (think Modest Mouse at their peak, but with more nostalgic and rootsy tendencies). Although electric guitars are still dominant, banjo and pedal steel sneakily insert themselves in some of the tracks (like streaming single ‘Old Friends’), adding texture and evoking the rustic warmth of Americana. The band is about to experience a summer on the road, with over thirty dates booked touring with Sports (Ohio), Half Waif (NYC) and Ratboys (Chicago). Their kick off party was canceled because of Palisades’ (hopefully temporary) closing, but the band decided to do something anyway at 73 See Gallery in Montclair – here’s the Facebook Event page. They’ll be back at Market Hotel on August 6.

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best rootsy songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

As evidenced by their collaboration with The Songwriter’s Orchestra to re-arrange their single "Jagged Edge," nu-soul duo Jazze Belle have already made some noise (and interesting connections!) in the NYC scene. Their sound can be described as mellow, darkly introspective soul. Producer Jett Carter employs simple percussions alongside minimal synth parts to create a wide, moon-lit soundscape for vocalist Taylor Simone to wander through. Her soulful, confident voice touches on themes pertaining to love, but mostly from the side of how self-doubt or other complexities of life can get in the way. Special mention is also due to Carter clevelry repurposing and altering Simone’s voice to build vocal harmonies, creating transfixing moments that emphasize certain lyrics. With two singles and a slew of covers comprising their live shows to date, it will be interesting to see how these two evolve in future projects. You can see them live at the Harmlem Arts Festival on 6/25. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

This artist submitted music for coverage here.

At the risk of assessing a small sample size consisting of one single, it’s clear that synth/indie pop duo Kid Coyote have a lot of potential. Their lone track, "Full Moon Rising," is reminiscent of Phantogram’s chiller, Big Boi-less offerings. Clara Berry’s smooth and spacey vocals hang over Joe O’Neil hybrid electro-acoustic production, giving their music a feeling both eery and smooth. With just this tune to their name, it will be exciting to see what else Kid Coyote will bring to the table when they perform at the Plough and Stars on 6/22. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Pink Mexico is the solo project of Robert Preston who has played drums for countless acts including Shilpa Ray. In the fall of 2014, Preston moved back to Brooklyn from Los Angeles to begin recording Pink Mexico’s second record, which he wrote primarily while still living in LA. In May, single “Buzz Kill” saw the light of the day. It’s a fuzz-laden track overflowing with self-deprecating humor and Preston’s deadpan vocal delivery. “Forgetting Everything” (streaming below) is a poppier song that looks back at the surf pop sound of the 60’s., with upbeat, vintage sounding vocal arrangements. Pink Mexico will release their sophomore album Fool on June 24th via Burger Records. The band will be celebrating the release at Shea Stadium on June 25th. – John Honan

Just a month ago Milo in the Doldrums, hailing from the sandy beaches of Northern Virginia, released their self-titled debut EP. The EP is tinged with a touch of melancholy but charged with an electrifying sense of life, a heart vibrantly pounding with every drum beat and a rush of blood coursing through the guttural strums of the guitars. May’s vocals, at times razor sharp and smooth and then quivering, glide elegantly over the weighted guitars, which break out in bouts of heavy and melodious riffs, often building up to a climax before stripping back down to merely vocals and then beginning the whole process again. Milo in the Doldrums will be playing DC’s Velvet Lounge on June 29 but you can listen to their EP streaming below.

Genuine Americana bands are few and far between in NYC’s indie scene, and The National Reserve may be among the most authentic of them all. Their 2015 EP Easy Does It should hit all the right spots for anyone yearning for Western (and Southern) sounds. Twangy guitars, blusey overtones and shuffling drums are arranged into compelling songs that merge blues-rock, folk and country.  Lead-singer/guitarist Sean Walsh also has the perfect ammount of scruffiness to his voice that adds the necessary character to the stories he tells. The National Reserve played at The Rough Trade NYC on June 8, ad tonight will perform at City Windery within a tribute to the music of Merle Haggard.. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best rootsy songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!