Brooklyn indie-pop band The City and Horses makes music that’s both sensitive and urgent. Their records sound like a proverbial melting pot of influences, ranging from ’60s Britpop and disco to contemporary alt-rock. On "Shades," the opening track from their newest album, Ruins, verses comprised of ethereal, swelling synthesizers seamlessly merge into romping, major-key disco-esque choruses. On "Drag" (streaming below) the influence of Modest Mouse and Silver Jews can be heard in the song’s aura of twangy melancholy. The Deli recently spoke with lead songwriter Marc Cantone about the new album. You can catch TCAH on July 19th at the Gateway in Brooklyn. Listen to "Shades" here, and check out the Q&A they won thanks to The Music Building‘s Expose Yourself campaign, by following the link below! – Ethan Ames
Milked
Milked is the work of former Geronimo! band member Kelly Johnson. This week he released the first single and title track, “Death On Mars”, from his forthcoming album. The album will be released via Exploding In Sound Tape Club on June 30th.
You can catch Milked on June 29th at Quenchers Saloon with Post Child, Bow & Spear, and Sat. Nite Duets.
Listen to Two New Tracks from Fritz Montana
Fritz Montana is a San Francisco based indie blues rock trio laying the foundation for up and coming independent artists in the Bay Area. With uplifting jams and vocals that aim right for your heart, Fritz Montana has mounted a successful career including airplay on San Francisco’s LIVE 105.3 Soundcheck program and a slot on the 2015 BottleRock Napa lineup.
Inspired by their recent growth as musicians, Fritz Montana returns in 2017 with their first EP in two years titled ‘Father Mother,’ detailing concepts of loneliness, confusion, hopelessness, naivete, and an enthusiasm to keep moving forward; the same emotions that drove them to play music. Staying true to their roots, these men have dedicated their lives to the betterment of American music and the creation of heart-melting soulful jams.
Take a listen to two new tracks from their upcoming album, Blood on My Lip and Evil Ways:
Soaked Debuts Summer Surf Punk Splash with “Julia”
Psychedelic videos, college dropouts, slacker vibes all swirl together in the Austin-based surf punk band, Soaked. A true Austin creation, Soaked formed after guitarists Jimmy Minter and Maxx Eaton met hanging around East side music hotbeds like Hotel Vegas. Soaked springs from the same vein as other mischievous surf bands like Jacuzzi Boys, Diarrhea Planet, FIDLAR, and Wavves. However, the high energy live shows and sugary pop melodies carve a unique sound that got the attention of Yippee Ki Yay Records who helped release the band’s debut album, I DON’T WANNA WAKE UP TODAY. Warm reverb emanates from the simplistic yet addictive guitar sound, while the good-natured attitude of the band makes their care-free charm somewhat irresistible. A perfect score to the languid and balmy Austin Summer weather, Soaked is soon to be creeping through your poolside speakers.
-Lee Ackerley
6 Questions: Horse Movies
Horse Movies are a band to pay attention to. The trio recently won our artist of the month poll, with their album Switch Flipper being one worthy of constant plays. They’re heading off for a tour in the next couple weeks, so we wanted to exchange a few words with the band in hopes of getting to know a little more about them. Here are our 6 questions with Horse Movies…
Deli PDX: What are the songwriting dynamics in the band? Is it mainly one of you that writes the songs, take turns between the three of you or go into each track together?
Horse Movies: We get together and do that thing that birds do where the mom chews up the food and feeds it to the baby bird. But we do it back and forth with song ideas.
How did Horse Movies come to be a band? Where does the name come from?
We’re firm believers that all movies could use more horse characters. We originally met because we were all very active on a horse meme sub Reddit. We thought it’d be funny to start making music too, and eventually drifted away from our love of horse memes to focus more on the music.
On your upcoming tour, are there any particular dates/cities the band is more excited to play than others?
Honestly we’re just stoked to get out of Portland for a while, meet new friends and see cool bands. Hanging out with Mom Jeans for a week is gunna be a blast. And we get to play with Adult School in Santa Cruz, who are probably the best band ever.
Who are some acts that have influence Horse Movies sound?
Robin Williams circa ’85, children’s books involving lonely insects, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 soundtrack, and Toy Story on ice.
Being a somewhat "newer" band, how do you feel about the politics of Portland’s music scene? What place do you all feel Horse Movies holds within the scene?
We’ve met a lot of great people in the PDX scene. Good hearted kids, ya know? Kids who constantly go to shows no matter who’s playing. They’re just in it for the music. It’s frustrating when people are in it for the drama. We’ve learned to stay off the internet and use horse blinders on Facebook haha.
If there’s one thing each of you could change about the current state of music (locally or globally), what would it be and why?
More all ages venues for sure. Kids need places they can feel welcome and enjoy themselves. Also, when it comes to music, we wish people would use their ears and not so much their eyes.
See Horse Movies off properly by hitting up their tour kickoff show June 19 at Black Water with Lubec, Tallwomen and Prison Dress.
Debut Narra Album Available for Streaming & Purchase
Marietta offshoot, Narra has released its self-titled debut. The quintet rushes ahead, shifting between melodic restraint and rapturous bursts that trend in a screaming trajectory. Free-flowing waves of calm are countered by heavier surges. That constant tug and pull gives the album an enticing unpredictability.
Visual Vices: Atomic Candles – “Do (Live)”
There’s someting hypnotic about watching bands perform. Audience members and viewers can zone out in watching the meditative motions of instrument playing and sometimes mesmeric singing, but not every show allows for such reflective instances. Being able to experience them at home can be much better, and the new Atomic Candles video offers up those vibes.
The duo, consisting of Matt B. and Ryan W., released a live video of them performing their song "Do" in their practice space. It gives a more intimate look at two goth pop musicians doing what they do best with a synth, a guitar and two pairs of pretty sweet headphones.
If you can’t get enough of them through their video performance, you can catch Atomic Candles on June 7 with White Rooms and Sex Park at the Know.
Honors releases new song, headline Brooklyn and L.A. dates
Honors, the enigmatic electronic/R&B four-piece from Toronto, has released a new song, "Say Yes," following the recent viral success of their video, "Over." A slow and heavy groove, "Say Yes" is saturated with autotune and electronic percussive flourishes reminiscent of Diplo and Skrillex. Honors will be headlining at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn on June 12th and The Echo in Los Angeles June 14th, as well as appearing at Bumbershoot in Seattle and Bonanza Music Festival in Heber, UT. Check out "Say Yes" below. – Ethan Ames
Poppies celebrate EP release party at The Glove on 06.09
Poppies have managed to gain a generous following with their introspective, melodic sound and singer May’s childlike, delicate vocals. After debuting their very first "Double Single" featuring the tracks "Egghead" and "Mistakes," and the release of the subsequent "Told," the band is ready to finally debut lengthier work. On June 9th, they will be joined by BRNDA, Dougie Poole and Vas Deferens, for an exciting release party at The Glove, hosted by comedienne Gina Ginsberg. This gig will also be the kickoff of the band’s upcoming tour, which will see them take their emotionally-charged, languid ballads all across the North East. Catch their latest release below, the video for "Mistakes," a soulful, nostalgic explosion into the New York transit nightlife. – Valentina Roja
C’mon Everybody hosts first annual M.I.N.I Festival 6/24
Local funk-rock band Cosmonaut Radio along with the up and coming Clinton Hill venue, C’mon Everybody, has organized the first annual M.I.N.I (Music in Nine Installments) Festival, set for 6/24. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of nine New-York based indie artists including the hip-hop band Track Seven Band and the acid punk artist The U.S. Americans. The festival is intended to become a yearly appointment with local emerging artists – and, as such, it has The Deli’s blessings! Check out all the bands involved in the playlist crafted for the event, streaming below. – Tafari Lemma
London Plane bring their dark indie-pop to Berlin on 6.17
In their debut EP, "Room City," (released in January), five-piece Brooklyn band London Plane manages to mix a variety of styles, blending ’80s alt-pop with the dreamy, synth driven atmospheres popular in today’s indie-pop. The ghost of Blondie and Grace Jones can almost be heard in single "Parting Days", where the slightly dark arrangement complements the sophisticated and warm vocals of lead singer, CiCi James. London Plane will be performing on June 17th, at Berlin NYC, alongside fellow local artists Controller and Tyger. – Tafari Lemma
Creative and technically superb teaser tracks on new Drewsif Stalin album
Drewsif Stalin‘s sophomore album “Anhedonia” sets its tone from the get-go with a spine tingling rage that seems like a pretty good interpretation of what anhedonia—the inability to feel pleasure—might sound like sonically. Behind a downright creepy vocal delivery of line “inching closer and closer” comes a snarling guitar lick which fits beautifully in the pocket of the groove. Just when the groove seems to get a little repetitive, Drewsif Stalin pulls out a new trick from his bag, transitioning first to a more energetic drum beat, then to a vocal section in a new register, and then even to an ambient dreamscape breakdown. In the end what carries both of the teaser tracks is the outstanding musicianship and very well thought out songwriting.
Check out Drewsif Stalin’s “Andhedonia”, dropping tomorrow, June 1st.
-Written by Michael Dranove