Oberhofer is rapidly emerging and reaching beyond the boundaries of the vast Brooklyn "bedroom-fi" scene. After playing about 36 shows in 5 days at CMJ in October (including a Deli show at Brooklyn Bowl), the band is announcing an extensive US tour in support of Cloud Nothings, Tapes N’ Tapes and The Vaccines amongst others, and the relase of a new 7" on Inflated records scheduled for January 2011. Their next NYC show will be on 01.20 at Bowery Ballroom.

Portland based and Chop Shop Records/Atlantic Records signee Mackintosh Braun just release the album "Where we Are" and the video for the song "Could It Be". The electro-pop band played a show at Albert Rose Hall in Protland last week – check out their myspace page for upcoming shows.

San Fran’s own The Morning Benders recently relocated to NYC in the effort to "contaminate" the east coast with their infectious quasi-orchestral indie pop. The band reveals their inner "west coastness" through a chilled repertoire filled with friendly melodies, gentle textural percussive elements, and interesting choices in the instrumentation department. Lead singer Christopher’s vocals pen melancholic and slightly thoughtful melodies that allow the band’s music to touch souls. If you are in NYC, you can check these guys out at Webster Hall before they embark on an Australian Winter Tour (which is only a winter tour to us, because in Australia January is the peak of the summer).

Portland, Oregon transplants Paper or Plastic bring their 1970s punk- and soul-influenced piano rock to Lit Lounge on Saturday, Nov 20 (where the band is giving away a large living, carnivorous plant to one audience member). Joining them is Bones Howell, Friend Roulette, and Rocket Stove Workshop. Paper or Plastic’s latest EP, "Ron Save The King," was recorded live to 2" analog tape by the band’s songwriter, keyboardist, and producer David Pollock (Menya, Nyle, Beast Make Bomb, The Woes). Their video "Low Budget Film" was the band’s first and favorite attempt at shooting and directing video, and took place in a meadow in southern Oregon. A pair of winter tours on both the west and east coasts are in the works, as Paper or Plastic continue to share their crushing rock with as many eager pairs of ears as possible. Large (carnivorous) plants will be given away nightly on the tours, as well. “Keep it green, and keep it real,” says Paper or Plastic’s sax player Ian “Sten” Christensen.- (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

The NYC Singer Songwriter Circle has been around for about 20 years, constantly supporting talent from the entire North America, in particular through their Annual Songwriting Contest, now in its 5th year. In the past the contests the Circle’s jury was able to recognize the potential of artist such as Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton and Lisa Loeb among others before they became mainstream. The Circle recently announced the 12 finalists of the 2010 contest – chosen from thousands of submissions. The NYC/NJ area is well represented by female duo Lucius, Todd Alsup and NJ based Amber Skye (in the picture). The SongCircle’s 2010 Grand Prize winner will be determined by live performances by the twelve finalists before an esteemed panel of judges on November 18 and the 19th at the City Winery in New York City. Tickets for both shows can be purchased online here for $25.

Stressed out New Yorkers should listen to Callers on their way back home from work – these guys’ music has therapeutic, stress relieving effects. Sparse to the point of no return, this Brooklyn based duo plays some of the most elegant and sophisticated alt soul out there. Also the "video in the video" concept is pretty cool here. Don’t miss their CD release party at Le Poisson Rouge on 11.22

Ten Million Lights is new band out of Portland that combines shoegaze guitars, male/female harmonies and trip-hop beats and that’s somewhat reminiscent of School Of Seven Bells or M83 – but much noisier, at least as far as this single we are streaming is concerned, which almost sound like some kind of industrial shoegaze (interesting combination!). The band’s debut record came out a couple of weeks ago and can streamed here.

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Emil & Friends are the new Cantora Record signing, the band plays some kind of quirky indie-soul, check out this new video of the song "Short Order Cooks". Their debut EP "Downed Economy is out now. See the band live at Littlefield on December 5 or at Death By Audio on December 18.

"Prog-Rock" is a term that has some kind of stigma attached to it – in particular in and around "Hipsterland". For some reason, at some point in the history of rock music, that genre started to define the self-indulgent, pompously wanna-be experimental rock music, while the more lo-key, unassuming "weird" stuff was called either "avant-" or just (often generously) "experimental rock". But of course, perceptions keep changing and we are sensing that we are heading towards a re-evaluation of the word "prog", that’s admittedly been out of flavor for a very long time.
South Bronx, NY based Wires Under Tension, recently signed by Western Vinyl Records, definitely have a "prog" component to their sound, but – as simplistic as it sounds – this is not a cheesy element. With their mostly instrumental, lusciously arranged tracks and recurring references to eastern melodies, this band sounds like a more electronic, sober and cinematic version of Ozric Tentacles – which in my limited knowledge of the genre is the most awesome prog rock band ever existed after pioneers King Krimson. The album "Light Science," will be released on February 8th.

USVS, a Brooklyn indie rock quartet that sounds a little like a post rock version of early U2, recently released their second EP which you can stream on their website. Their music is built around spacious drum patterns that rhythmically interact with alternatively angular and textural guitar parts, on top of which floats a single layer of vocals. The band will perform live at Mercury Lounge on November 22.

Young Magic is the newest addition to the Carpark family. Hailing from the east coast of Australia and currently residing in New York, Young Magic is Isaac, a portable studio, and friends. These songs were recorded over the last six months in various places around the world: old spy bases near Berlin, empty rooms in Iceland, kids’ playgrounds in Melbourne, and no water flats in New York. These various locales are sampled and integrated into the fabric of Young Magic’s sound: the fluidity and songwriting of late 60’s psychedelic soul combined with modern-day beat making. We dig, dudes!

After spending the last two years in and out of the studio, Acrylics will be releasing their first full-length on January 25, 2011 on Hot Sand Records. The band has been on tour with A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Morning Benders and The Smith Westerns, through SXSW and beyond, and just performed at this year’s CMJ. Acrylics will perform live Glasslands on Friday 11.19 and Cameo Gallery the day after, awesome opportunities for a first date – the band’s mellow and intense tune can help spread love in the air.