New Music, Emerging from your Local Scene
Sara Lov | "New York"
Singer/songwriter Sara Lov has been resting from finishing nearly two months of touring with Sea Wolf, but in a couple weeks she’ll be back at the Hotel Cafe playing her brand of sweet pop-folk to a hometown crowd.
Sara Lov | Hotel Cafe | Dec. 12 | 8PM | 21+
On December 12th, let your inner schizo have a field day. Up on the shoegazing spectrum are Shiloe (former recipients of The Deli LA’s Band of the Month poll), playing a throwback to ’80s post-punk. Later, break out the Aqua Net and glitter, then kick on the craziest boots you can possibly find to ready yourself in all the glam-rock aesthetics of theSTART (think west coast Goldfrapp). Once the confusion has overwhelmed itself, prepare for new-psychers Mellowdrone. Honestly, we don’t know who the hell put this bill together, but we like it. Add a Peruvian throat-singing act and you’ve got yourself a KCRW playlist.
Kite Operations‘ third full-length album FESTIVAL it out now on Actually, Records. Filled with visceral noise spirituals, ‘Festival’ is a joyous exaltation for the no-wave set; an exhilarating testament to the band’s ability to infuse dissonant experimentation with the emotionally incisive. "…rock that’ll shock your testicles like Kabangers. Heavy on guitar feedback madness, straight up noise, and dadaist vocals, the Asian American sound is now officially over. The [New York] band killed it brilliantly…" – Giant Robot "With its deep lyricism and carefully constructed accompaniment, ‘Festival’ is an unparalleled mixture of celebration, emotion and passion." – Lucid Forge "Free-jazz inspired noise-rock improv-spazz-pop. Sounds like Don Caballero meets Cap’n Jazz plus more noise. Super energetic and fierce." – KUCI 88.9fm The album release party on Saturday, November 21, 2009 at Bar Matchless in Greenpoint, Brooklyn brings together many of the band’s labelmates and friends from around the country, with performances by: Grapefruit Experiment (VA) Faello Nor (Boston) XYZR_KX (Chicago) Jienan Yuan (Chicago) The Gold Medalists (SF) Jack Tung (SF) Kite Operations and DJ sets by Zach Lipkins Doors at 6:00 PM Admission $8, 21+ (Please bring ID) Bar Matchless 557 Manhattan Ave.(corner of Driggs and Manhattan) Greenpoint, Brooklyn – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
Chris Klassen – or Prince Klassen, as he’s known to civilians – got his first taste of DJing as a teen in San Antonio. Using his brother’s turntables, he started playing gigs at age 14; today, he is a fixture on Austin’s electronic music scene, and travels all over the country sharing his requisite brand of percussive, soul-inflected party tunes. He hasn’t done too shabbily on the publicity end of things, either: Fader, Wire, Texas Monthly, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Chronicle, San Antonio Current, Tribeza, and Spin have all tipped their journalistic hats to Klassen, so it’s about time The Deli did too. Below, thoughts from Klassen – who, were he not DJing, aspires to be a stone cold killer. Watch out, hipsters.
DJing. When and how did you start?
I started DJing in the summer of 1997. I started because of my older brother, for the most part. He would have me record a house mix show, "House Nation," every Saturday for him on the local college station back in San Antonio. From there, he got turntables and I kind of started to use them more than he did. Now here I am.
I’ve been hearing your name in Austin’s electronic music scene for years, it seems – and everyone raves about your spinning! How would you describe your sound’s style?
Well I think coming from San Antonio, there wasn’t too much going on at the time (plus I was a teenager), so my "style" comes from being isolated without too much outside influence. Reflecting on the people I was influenced by, my style seems to be an amalgam of them all. I can’t really describe my sound, but my good friend always says to me "that sounds like you, I heard this and it sounded like Klassen". So let’s say very percussive, and anything you feel the soul coming out of.
You are one of the DJs who has really embraced the blogosphere, by proactively sending tracks to bloggers to sample online for their readers. Over the years, do you think this effort has helped you in terms of exposure?
Oh that dang ol’ blogosphere. I have always embraced technology, whether if be for DJing, communication, or lifestyle. I do, however, feel that since DJing has turned digital, there is a weird shift currently happening that I am not too sure how I feel about. Blogs are great. I have two or three that I write for, but I feel that blogs have watered down actual personal flavor. I do know for a fact that they have helped spread my tracks/edits/name all over the world. I just wonder if people actually like the songs, or if they like it because it’s free, and you can have a bazillion types of music in your pocket/serato now.
What’s your favorite venue to play in Austin? Why?
Does my house count? Hahaha. That is a hard question to answer. I don’t know if I have one that I absolutely love. I love The Parish because they have the best sound in town, but I don’t play there regularly. I guess I don’t have a super favorite room at the moment.
What’s your favorite venue to play anywhere?
This is another hard question. I think the most memorable was one I played recently, which is First Ave in Minneapolis. It is most notable for being in Prince’s Purple Rain. The party I played is called Too Much Love, and my friend that runs that night has built a very solid crowd that is up for anything. You hardly see that anymore. The iPod generation wants to hear everything they know, and the DJ isn’t "trusted" anymore.
If I had a time machine, The Davenport in San Antonio was a big favorite to me. Again, it had to do with the crowd that was built around it. They trusted everything we did.
Where do you find the songs you sample, and do you have a method for putting tracks together? Or just kind of mix-and-match, and see what happens?
The tracks I usually put out are edits of long-time favorites for me. When it comes to DJing, I never create sets. I always just freestyle and see what happens. There are songs that always go together, but I never have a whole two hours planned. I think I would get bored because I know what is coming next.
In a recent internship I spent with XXXchange from Spank Rock/ Fully Fitted, he taught me a lot when it comes to producing tracks. Things I had never thought to try.
Fill in the blank. If I weren’t a DJ, I’d be a ______.
Less bitter person, stone cold killer, teacher/ professor, cultural ambassador.
Last remarks?
Thanks for interviewing me, I truly appreciate it. I guess I can be this guy and promote new Fully Fitted releases from Pase Rock, XXXchange, and a group DVD mixtape. I have other edits and releases coming up as well.
(Editor’s note: Check out Prince Klassen’s latest projects on his MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/princeklassen.)
–Tolly Moseley
“Hello my name is Martin,” said bassist of 3-piece band The Dares as he mingled with the girls in the front row of their set Sunday night at the Troubadour. If they’re new to you, the Whittier-based trio landed a major label contract with Jive records before they even finished high school and scored a gig at the Winter Olympics Torch Event in 2002.
They even hold a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the first concert to take place simultaneously in two places at the same time. After Sunday night’s Troub performance, it’s easy to see why they’re still around: Their traditional pop-punk is actually refreshing from the genre’s takeover of whiny vocals from the past decade. The Dares are energy, but more so on the live side than in their canned recordings. -Kimberly Brown
— Click here for extra shots! —
Talk Normal is a NYC band that is gathering more and more recognition. Here at the Deli we have are fascinated by noise and tense atmospheres… enjoy this video, and don’t miss their live show at the Music Hall of Wburg on November 24 with Sonic Youth!
Published on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:24:59 0 Comments | Post a Comment
Bed-Stuy-based Kagero’s newest record “Japanese Gypsy Rock,” due out November 19, 2009, is appropriately titled for the band’s striking fusion of sounds from around the world. Taking lead on violin, J.W. masters Eastern-inspired fiddle glissandos and double-stops, while bassist/vocalist Rob Simpson adds a salsa swing and klezmer kick. Kaz Fujimoto, defines “Japanese Gypsy Rock:” hailing from Japan, entertaining in a lounge-meets-Bohemian vocal style, and accessorizing each track with flamenco guitar and select Spanish phrases on standout tracks “My Little Bonita,” “1 + 2 Is Almost 5,” “Red and Black,” and “Grappa. Guest musicians, Georgie Markov (drums), Yoed (cello), Wynn Yamami (chindon, aka Japanese drum), and Emilio (trumpet) ably enhance “JGR” in these notable selections. Rooted in uplifting elements from eclectic origins, "Japanese Gypsy Rock" unites Kagero’s musical influences and talents into a cross-culture dance party. – Meijin Bruttomesso
Ivana XL’s music sounds like it’d perfectly complement a Tim Burton landscape, as it conjures shadowy forests, stretching fog fingers and creaking attics in Antebellum mansions. Her breathy, beautiful voice floats atop the complex arrangements like a chilly breeze sneaking into the room through a drafty window. The sparse, almost haunted songs sound like something Joanna Newsom might produce if she spent an entire winter in the house from "The Shining" taking Xanax and staring into the snow-blanketed landscape. Though IvanaXL is essentially just one woman with an acoustic guitar, her music brilliantly defies the tones and tropes so often associated with that set-up. The term "singer-songwriter" couldn’t be more misleading than in the case of this promising young Brooklynite. – Read David Schneider interview with Ivana here, and see Ivana live at The Outpost (Clinton Hill) on 11.21.
Published on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:17:14 0 Comments | Post a Comment
Although Dead Leaf Echo began as an “art experiment” in Morningside Heights, this band is far from amateur or unpleasantly bizarre. Dead Lead Echo has worked with a cadre of professional mixers such as John Fryer and Ulrich Schnauss to perfect its dreamy post-punk. The band creates a blossoming world where Cocteau Twins and My Blood Valentine influences swirl and mix with Vladimir Nabokov and Ernest Hemingway love letters. Dead Leaf Echo entices listeners with its shimmering guitar work and closes the deal with crashing waves of hypnotic harmonies. If the wait is unbearable for a full-length record, Dead Leaf Echo will be releasing a 7-inch featuring “Half-Truth” and a previously unreleased b-side “Babyeyes” this fall. – read Nancy Chow’s interview with the band here.
Dragon Turtle released their debut album "Almanac" last week, and Fader mag liked it so much that they decided to premiere the video of their single "Broken Glass" – see it here. There is also a free mp3 available – which we actually prefer – here. It sounds a little like an ambient version of Dinosaur Jr.!
Published on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:34:00 0 Comments | Post a Comment
To promote the release of their upcoming album, "The Shake Go Crazy," the New York foursome has launched a 1-week campaign allowing users to download the single, "Got No Soul," for free. The CD was the result of an entire summer of work with producer Gregory Lattimer (Albert Hammond Jr, Milo and The Fuzz). See the band live at Crash Mansion on 11.19. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).
Published on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:45:44 4 Comments | Post a Comment
Black Gold’s debut release, "Rush," plays to a variety of ears. Besides being pleasantly pop, Brooklynites Eric Ronick (vocals, keyboards) and Than Luu (drums, guitar, percussion, vocals), backed by guitarist Alistair Paxton and bass player Siggy, bring a spectrum of other personal influences and industry experience (each member has toured with well-known pop/rock artists in the past) to the composition table. A richly symphonic “Plans and Reveries” and heavily electronic “Detroit” were selected as “Rush’s” singles. They highlight Ronick’s lounge-meets-lyrical voice which melds with Luu’s falsetto back-vocals, Classical string and piano arrangements, synth sequences, and unchained guitars. Black Gold fall into their best groove on the funky “Breakdown” and alluring “The Comedown,” while glowing harmonies on “Shine,” “Run’s” bright melodies, dreamy air of “Idols,” and Southern sway on “Canyon” sustain “Rush’s” appeal with ever-changing styles. Overall, Black Gold’s “Rush” is mellow but playful, providing both tunes for dancing and songs for decompressing. Don’t miss Black Gold’s show at Hammertstein Ballroom on 11.22 – Meijin Bruttomesso
We were quite surprised yesterday to see Brooklyn band Bear in Heaven jump ahead of Real Estate in our self generated chart of NYC Psych Rock artists with the most "Web Buzz" (Top 300 here, for the Top 20 scroll down in this page, left column). They actually rehed #2 of the overall most buzzed NYC bands of the moment (orange chart on the top left). The band recently got some blog-love (or just "blove" maybe?) from many influencial sites including Stereogum, Prefix Mag and Brooklyn Vegan. Bear in Heaven has a show scheduled at tiny Zebulon in Willimsburg on 11.20 – that will be surely a packed night, so get there early if you are interested in checking out these guys’ psychedelic wall of sound.
Published on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:44:00 0 Comments | Post a Comment
Once upon a time in the fluorescent wilderness of New York City, four musically talented work-a-holics got together and formed the rock band known as Finding Fiction. With a DIY style and steadfast work ethic, the group has spent most the past year zig-zagging across the U.S. to perform in over 100 shows (including SXSW and NXNE). Finding Fiction also released their first full length CD, “Idaho by the Sea,” this past summer, a heartfelt follow up to their “Plastic & Change” EP. The album is chock full of evocative lyrics set to lonesome vocals, fluttering backbeats, and billowing chord progressions. The result is an emotional storm of melodies, from the distorted rumbles of tracks like “I’ll Buy” and “Imitating You Imitating Me,” to the unbroken pouring of melancholy in ballads such as “Cheap Shot Advice” and “Big Blue Sky.” Don’t miss Finding Fiction when they perform at Pete’s Candy Store in Brooklyn on Nov. 14. – Cecilia Martinez
Published on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:56:31 0 Comments | Post a Comment
Exuberant female duo Zambri (comprised by sisters Jessica and Cristi Jo and is The Deli NYC new Artist of the Month thanks to an… exuberant last day of voting yesterday, that allowed them to jump in front of North Highlands. Keep an eye out for their picture on top of our NYC page starting monday, and in the meantime enjoy this video.
For a sliver of a pittance of a smidgen of cash, or, more specifically, for five bucks, you can catch three high-quality, low-fiber, polyunsaturated local bands this Saturday (Nov. 21st) at the recently born Ghost Room: The Great Nostalgic, Candi and the Strangers, and Leatherbag, all three of whom have new material in the works. So you would, in fact, be a fool to cry.
One of my favorite things about Austin is our prediliction for the 24 hour joint – one fine shining caffeinated example being Bennu Coffee, nestled away on the east side on MLK near Poquito. Bennu feels Austin – it’s relaxed & smart, and most importantly, they serve an excellent cup of coffee (and of course Torchy’s Tacos). They keep the prose flowing, such as it is, here at The Deli. So help us thank ’em by checking it out – any time of day or night. 
"Free Booze" is a recurring theme here at The Deli LA, but free shoes? And sets by Avi Buffalo, Killkillkill and Spider Problem? This has Deli Approved written all over it. But where? When? What time? How? If you’d follow us on Twitter, you’d know. The details lie in our tweets…
