THE DELI

After a widely well-received two-year run, Baltimore-based Haunt called it quits. A talented hardcore sextet that intertwined ambient and post elements, they recently released their last recorded material, an EP called The Killing Field. An intense, fast-paced journey, the release features superior guitar work, melding the deep crunch of metal and more classic rock solos to blast the listener’s eardrums. Backed by tireless drumming, the dual vocals hit both a throaty and guttural roar and higher-pitched tone straight out of Iron Maiden. They’re not playing anymore and it’s sketchy if any more music is coming out, but, regardless, give these talented musicians a try. -Jonathan Goodwin   

The impressionistic musical project of Seattle songwriter Erin Birgy – who recently moved to NYC – Mega Bog has been releasing intimate records flirting with folk, lo-fi and ambient since 2008. Her latest, entitled ‘Gone Banana,’ is a sleepy yet provocative LP that blends Joni Mitchell’s delicately jazzy inclinations with Syd Barrett’s dreamy, child-like preference for the unfinished draft. Check out our favorite song ‘Gone Banana’ below, and don’t miss her upcoming live shows at Shea Stadium (04.30) and Rough Trade (05.05), after which she will leave for a US tour.

A little too often, the musical ingredient of what we highlight in this blog are very limited – ranging from traditional roots music to the more contemporary genres of rock and pop derivatives. That’s why it’s refreshing to stumble, every now and then, upon a band like NYC’s Butcher Knives. Inspired to multi-cultural European acts like Mano Negra and Les Negresses Vertes, this collective uses a mix of ska and rockabilly as a frame for their world music influences, which are heavy on the Gypsy side of things – hence the adoption of the "Gyspybilly" label. Colombian vocalists Nacho Segura and Nikko Matiz also confer a certain Goth element to their songs. The group will be performing at Pianos on April 29th, taking the opportunity to unveil their new video for single ‘American Dream,’ streaming below, from their latest album ‘Misery‘.

Power girl band (or girl power band?) The Beaches made quite a splash last year in Toronto, they are scheduled to play Bovine Sex Club on May 6th withint CMW. In honor of our upcoming, first Toronto Stompbox Exhibit, we asked guitarist Kylie Miller to tell us about her favorite guitar pedals… here’s what she had to say!

The words "twangy" and "punk" rarely appear together in the same sentence, but Brooklyn band Cheena is here to dispel of that prejudice. With spiteful vocals reminiscent of Johnny Rotten and a slide guitar a la’ Ry Cooder drawing curvy lines under the band’s wall of distorted sound, the quintet blends two elements at the antipodes of the musical culture, with intriguing results. They have a (just released) self-titled three song EP under their belt and will be performing at Baby'[s All Right on June 05.