Hideout, the solo project of Manhattan-based singer-songwriter Gabriel Rodriguez, will perform at Berlin in good old ex-Alphabet City on the first four Tuesdays in January, starting Tuesday the 3rd. This residency is one of many things Rodriguez has coming up in early 2017. For one, his sophomore album under the HIDEOUT name, titled ‘So Many Hoops/So Little Time,’ comes out on February 3rd. The first single, "I Got Your Message", is a melodious piece of indie pop with a tragic backstory. It’s already received words of praise from Billboard, so fans of Rodriguez’s music or his work with Cults have good reason to get excited. The band will also play Baby’s All Right on Sunday January 15th, for those who can’t make it out on a Tuesday night. – Will Sisskind
Weekend Warrior, December 30 – January 1
Soul artist on the Rise: Lady Moon & The Eclipse play Brooklyn Bowl on 1/30
With 2016 reaching its end, it is only right to look back on the past year to see what fresh tunes and artists escaped our searches through New York’s hectic music scene. One such gem is Lady Moon & The Eclipse, a dynamic multi-genre roots and world band that released their EP, Believe, back in February. As their astrological bandname might suggest, every track on the record is steeped in some kind of cosmic spirituality, but that mood is manifested in distinct ways throughout the project. Each tune has an instrumental that takes influence from different genres, such as the soulful slow-jam "Rollercoaster" (video below), or upbeat, funky "Travel the World." These differences create striking contrasts, while the lone staple on each track is Ngonda Badila’s cool vocals and clairvoyant lyrics. This band is one to look out for in the new year, and you can see them live on 1/30 at the Brooklyn Bowl. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber
Something Sneaky Rings in the New Year at O’Brien’s 12/31
Still looking for a way to bid a not-so-fond farewell to 2016? Ring in the New Year with Boston indie-garage rock quartet, Something Sneaky! Infused with fuzzy guitar tones and catchy vocals, reminiscent of the best of 90s anti-grunge (a la Weezer), Something Sneaky will provide an angsty, rockin’ soundtrack to next year’s ball drop. You can check them out at O’Brien’s Pub on NYE, alongside Today Junior, The Dazies, and Bruvs. Also check out their latest single, "Brighten", below. –Brian Varneke
New England Record of the Month: I Was Awake – Facade
With their new album, Facade, I Was Awake has released upon the world a substantial effort that shows the versatility and raw talent of the five-piece metal group. Weaving together a dynamic web of prog, metal, and alt-rock that invokes the greatness of bands like The Deftones and Porcupine Tree, while maintaining an original and modern energy, the boys from Beverly, MA have created a deeply engaging sound that will keep this album on heavy rotation. From beginning to end, each track shows a different facet of the band, starting with the title track, a one and a half minute crescendo, leading up to the hard-hitting "Erasing", filled with chunky guitars and mixed meter grooves. Facade is a journey, maintaining those strong grooves, taking periodic stops for high-energy riffs ("Gravity") and softer dynamics ("As Within…", "…So Without"). If thought provoking lyricism and intelligent songwriting is your thing, then I Was Awake will likely become a new favorite. Give Facade a listen (or twelve) and keep your eyes open for live performances in 2017. -Brian Varneke
Mood Music: Maze Koroma – “Even Though I Can’t Keep Up With You”
Maze Koroma has been on our radar for years. Assuming you haven’t been sleeping on the young rapper’s talents, he’s likely on all of your radars, too. The EYRST and Renaissance Coalition lyricist has recently translated what he’s seen in pop culture and the digital age into a triad of hip hop and electropop based projects that could soundtrack the movie on millennial life.
He’ll be playing some of his conceptually appealing extended plays, including the recent TrackList EP, tonight during this month’s installation of Mic Check. St. Johns/Chi-town rap vet Vinnie Dewayne is also playing the monthly hip hop showcase thrown by McMenamins, StarChile, WE 96.3, Pabst Blue Ribbon & XRAY FM at the White Eagle Saloon.
Tickets are $7 and the show starts in just a few hours at 9pm, so come get your much needed monthly dose of hip hop.
The Spiral Electric Releases New Album + Plays Elbo Room – 1/19
The San Francisco based neo psych band, The Spiral Electric has released their new album entitled, Ask the Sky this month. Make sure you take a listen and find yourself taking a trip down Ask the Sky’s psychedelic sonic rabbit hole.
You can catch The Spiral Electric live at The Elbo Room on January 19th with Hollow Sidewalks and New SUN Company!
darkDARK release new single “Fake It”
Heavy synth mash ups melt into the whitewashed drum machine to create the futuristic sound of darkDark. Genevieve Vincent and Chris James together create a visionary way to feel the music you listen to, casting a spell on your inner demons with every beat. I’m happy to announce that Netflix original series “Stranger Things” just found its season two song opener; at least my vote is cast. Kayla Hay
Check Best Behavior’s real behavior at Brooklyn Bazaar on 01.11
Notwithstanding their name, the guys in Best Behavior don’t come across as exemplar human beings – not at all for that matter! First of all, they are said to partake in rambunctious parties during which they play electrical musical instrument, dance incontrollably, and sweat while wearing leather cloths – disgraceful behavior! Some decadent New Yorkers seem to enjoy that, may they find the Lord’s true path. Secondly, they use sexually disturbing images on the cover of their records… we are speechless!! As if that wasn’t enough, take their song ‘Bad Habits‘ for instance (streaming below); it’s a track inspired to sinful music of the ’50s that discusses how bad habits are impossible to destroy… how self indulgent!!! Their 2015 album “Good Luck Bad Karma” includes other hummable songs such as “Magic” and “Buried on the Mountain,” which would be our favorite if we weren’t so turned off by the band’s moral terribleness!
(We are flirting with the idea of catching them live on January, 11th at Brooklyn Bazaar.)
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best punk/garage songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out! (if you hear nothing, turn the widget’s volume up!)
New Horsecops LP Available for Streaming & Download
Philly four-piece Horsecops grabbed our attention with its heady four-song debut Dog, and before 2016 gets tossed in the can, the band has dropped its first full-length album, Annie, via Bald Spot Records. With most of the LP being recorded at Big Mama’s Warehouse by Evan Bernard (of The Superweaks, ex-Dangerous Ponies) and at the group’s home, Horsecops traverses between crunchy fuzz rock and lo-fi synth-noise on its latest offering, creating an oddly balanced, enjoyable collection of recordings. Take Annie for a spin below.
Artist on the rise: Raia Was plays LPR’s “On The Rise” on 02.01
In recent years, West Village venue Le Poisson Rouge has been expanding their booking tentacles to many local venues, and also making an effort (very appreciated by The Deli) to support the most promising local artists with "On the Rise,’ a series of shows involving emerging locals. The series’ upcoming appointment is on February 1st, with a show involving two acts we’ve been following for a while in this very blog (Lip Talk and Dinowalrus), and also a very new singer songwriter that’s about to release her debut album: she goes under the moniker Raia Was, and she has recently performed at National Sawdust’s The Revolution (another series featuring mostly emerging local acts). Single ‘Grant it Cause’ (streaming below), showcases an intimate sound with ambient electronic elements, and an expressive and soulful voice that strives for sophisticated melodies. Looking forward to the record, expected to be out some time in early 2017. – Photo by Samson Debela.
