THE DELI

San Francisco indie rock quartet Sleepy Sun recently released their new LP, Private Tales, on Dine Alone Records. The album incorporates a host of contemporary indie rock influences like The White Stripes, The Black Keys and Fleet Foxes with inflections of ’70s rock in the vein of Steely Dan, Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac. As a whole, the release showcases the band’s effectiveness at stylistic blending and makes for a compelling, unique pop experience. Sleepy Sun will be playing at Amoeba Music in San Francisco tonight (June 14th) in support of the record. Listen to "Crave" below! – Ethan Ames

Brooklyn noisemakers Kill Alters make music that attacks, both physically and mentally. With pulsating percussions, laser-like synths, and the visceral vocals of Bonnie Baxter, the band offers a sound that’s aggressive, complex, and demanding. Their compositions break from tradition, incorporating sounds ranging from the industrial to the downright frightening (a baby’s laughter), and adopting a nightmarish aesthetic reminiscent of early post punk groups like Throbbing Gristle. Upcoming LP ‘No Self Helps’ (out June 28th on Haus Mountain) promises something different, and sometimes uncomfortable, through a journey that’s complex, textured, and entertaining, every step of the way.  See them live at St. Vitus on 06.16. – Allie Miller

Brooklyn psych-pop band Future Heart rather accurately lives up to its name, providing futuristic vibes without giving up emotion and movement. Formed in 2015, the eight-piece group released their debut single, “Holographic Autograph” last year, a record that blurs the line between afrobeat, pop and electronic music. They recently headlined Baby’s All Right (which is per se an achievement), so you may want to check out their live schedule for upcoming shows. – Tafari Lemma

Chicago’s Ratboys will be kicking off their jam-packed summer with a record release party at the end of June at Schubas. The now five-piece band, who describes its style as “post-country, indie rock”, is set to release another LP under Topshelf Records entitled GN on June 30th before heading off to perform all over the east coast. As for now, the band has released three singles off the album, offering elements of folk, country, and indie, accompanied by the gentle vocals of Julia Steiner.  The three singles follow a loud-quiet-loud dynamic, often building from folky, post-country atmospheres towards uplifting and more driven moments. You can celebrate their album release at Schubas on June 30th where they’ll perform with Mother Evergreen, Sincere Engineer, and Special Death. – Pearse Devlin

Somewhere between the heart wrenching lyricism of Mitksi and the cool-girl attitude of Cherry Glazerr, Pom Pom Squad stirs up trouble. Spoofing the cheerleader stereotype, they reclaim the image of the girl everyone loves to hate with sincerity and confession. Hate It Here, their nostalgic 2017 release, persuades listeners to reconsider their high school bullies, with lines like “How do you expect me to figure myself out/when I can’t tell the difference between bad and good attention.” Don’t miss their show at Sunnyvale tomorrow (June 14th) with Danny Christmas, Nick Llobet, and Julep Maisey. – Allie Miller