Dear Deli Readers,

We are proud to announce that The Deli Austin’s Best of 2012 Emerging Artist is Whisky Shivers! Congratulations are also in order for indie/blues rock outfit The Couch who came in second place, and americana-folk band Shakey Graves who came in third.

Please take a look at our chart of 40+ Austin area artists below. The highest value of votes came from our jurors, who included individuals involved in local music. This includes promoters, venue owners, press, DJs and other music experts (who are listed below – thanks y’all). The remainder of the votes was compiled by The Deli Austin contributors, readers, and open submissions voted on by national Deli editors.  

BEST OF 2012 POLL FOR EMERGING AUSTIN ARTISTS – FINAL RESULTS –

ARTIST J W R OS TOT   1 Whiskey Shivers 10   0.03   10.03 2 The Couch 6   0.5   6.5 3 Shakey Graves 5   0.06   5.06 4 Deep Time 5   0.04   5.04 5 Crooked Bangs 5   0.01   5.01 7 Borrisokane     2 1.5 3.5 7 hhhhhh     1.5 2 3.5 9 Hard Proof 3   0.08   3.08 9 My Jerusalem 3   0.08   3.08 10 Mike and the Moonpies 3   0.05   3.05 12 Dana Falconberry 3   0.04   3.04 12 The Vliets     0.04 3 3.04 16 Good Field 3   0.03   3.03 16 Holy Wave 3   0.03   3.03 16 Marmalakes 3   0.03   3.03 16 The Bad Lovers 3   0.03   3.03 18 david thomas jones     0.02 3 3.02 18 The Ghost Wolves 3   0.02   3.02 21 Hello Caller 1   0.01 2 3.01 21 The Calm Blue Sea 3   0.01   3.01 21 The Eastern Sea 3   0.01   3.01 24 Peterson Brothers Band 3   0   3 24 The Church Shoes 3   0   3 24 Yum 3   0   3 25 A Giant Dog 2   0.18   2.18 26 MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR     0.12 2 2.12 27 The Able Sea 2   0.1   2.1 28 Pharaohs 2   0.06   2.06 29 Creationists 2   0.04   2.04 30 The Boxing Lesson 2   0.03   2.03 32 Crooks 2   0.02   2.02 32 Not in the Face 2   0.02   2.02 36 Black Books 1   1   2 36 Ditch Witch 2   0   2 36 The Young 2   0   2 36 White Walls 2   0   2 37 Residual Kid 1   0.19   1.19 38 Bobby Jealousy 1   0.12   1.12 39 Wild Child 1   0.04   1.04 40 The Del-Vipers 1   0.03   1.03 41 Dikes of Holland 1   0.02   1.02 42 Spray Paint 1   0.01   1.01 43 Xander Harris 1   0   1 Legend: J = Jurors, W = Deli Writers, R = Deli Readers, OS = Open Submissions

List of Jurors: Lawrence Boone (Covert Curiosity), Michael Maly (Sonic Itch), Jen Leduc (Superpop!), Scott Osborn (New Deli Austin Editor), Max Meehan (Beerland), Ben T. (29th St. Ballroom), Taylor Browne (Ex Deli Austin Editor), Tyson Swindell (Red 7), Lee Haze (Swan Dive) John Laird (Side One: Track One), Dan Plunkett (End of an Ear), Lawrence Boone (Covert Curiosity), Travis (The Parish), Kristyn Ciani (Lambert’s), Dianne Scott (Continental Club),Maggie Lea (Cheer Up Charlies), Kristyn Ciani (Lambert’s), Julie Schlembach (Austinist), Spot Long (Trailer Space), Winston Bee (Trophy’s).

Congrats to everyone who made the list and thanks to all those who voted!  

Much love, 

The Deli’s Staff

SF Deli Readers,

The Deli SF’s Best of 2012 Readers and Fans’ Poll for local emerging artists is over, thanks to all those who cast their vote in support of the emerging local bands and artists in our list of nominees.

Congratulations to americana/newgrass group The Brothers Comatose (pictured and video streaming) for being The Deli Readers’ Best Emerging SF Artist of 2012!

Here’s this poll’s top 10 chart, full results can be found here.  

Congrats also go out to Lauren O’Connell and Planet Booty, who came in second and third place. 

BEST OF SF 2012 – READERS’ POLL RESULTS

ARTIST VOTES   1 The Brothers Comatose 325 2 Lauren O’Connell 310 3 Planet Booty 265 4 Tumbleweed Wantderers 239 5 Ash Reiter 142 6 Guy Fox 134 7 Heather Normandale 85 8 French Cassettes 76 9 Permanent Collection 57 10 Seabright 53

MOST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH! Stay tuned for the composite chart, to be released soon, which will include the point nominees accumulated from the jurors and Deli writers’ votes, and will crown The Deli’s Best Emerging SF Artist of 2012.

The Deli’s Staff

Our year end polls closed yesterday and the results are coming in! As you may have noticed, our artist pool this year was so massive we had to organize qualifying bands by genre. While the end results were based off most overall votes, regardless of category, each genre had it’s own winner as well. Apollo Run took first place in our Alt Rock category. 

I’m a sucker for stuff like this. Emotional doods, on top of tight grooves. For Brooklyn’s Isadora, that’s the way it goes. Fave track ‘Barcelona’ (only slightly ahead of ’21 1/2′) details some difficult experiences (and several types of lizards), but the slick feel will carry you away even before you’ve realized the weight of some of the material. It’s a balance hard to effect, and makes the band all the more necessary. Check out their latest and see the group live when they release their debut EP at Glasslands on Fri, Feb 22. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

He might be fresh on the music scene, but Gianni Napolitano and his rotating group of musicians, The Pine Hollows, have the distinguished sound of a band that’s been around for ages.  There is a warmth and familiarity to Napolitano’s voice that is reminiscent of early John Lennon.  Their debut album, “The Pine Hollows” is filled with upbeat tunes comprised of easy rock riffs and vintage melodies.  Standout tracks include the slightly slower-paced “Morning Sunrise” and “I Just Want to Tell You” which sounds as if it was recorded decades ago.  Look for their sophomore album, “Something My Heart Understands” which is set to be released February 26, 2013, and catch them at The Sidewalk Cafe on 2.13. – Jen Mergott

Friday February 1, WNYC brought to the stage 14 Brooklyn bands to kick off the 4 th annual “Battle of the Boroughs,” during which each band performed one song live on air to garner fan votes to elect them into the next round of online voting. Each borough will be whittled down to finalists who are set to perform at the Apollo Theater on June 21 for the ultimate showdown between the winners from individual boroughs. Ranging from solo artists to bands of 18 members, the handpicked bands showcased the versatility that New York embraces and played to a panel made up of Alicia Olatuja, John Sinclair, and Wes Jackson; between sets, one band member was also interviewed by Terrance McKnight. The results are in and the final voting round from Brooklyn include trombone- heavy electro instrumental group, Super Hi Fi, progressive rock, Er-hu-led The Hsu-nami, ghostlike and improvisational Dollshot, and rhythmic infused spoken word group, Yes Noyes, and swingy and sultry Victor V. Gurbo & Co. You can vote here to select the band that will continue on to the final battle! – Meijin Bruttomesso

Olga Bell is a deluge of instincts and passions filtered through a thousand different faders and filters. After collaborations with everyone from Dirty Projectors to Phiip Glass, there’s really not too many areas where she hasn’t flung her soaring soprano and world textures. Hard to pin down, it’s best to just jump right in to her record ‘Diamonte.’ Every track opens a different door, and keeps you wondering how many different voices Bell must have in her head. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Thick as Theives has all of the grit and grime of a true American rock band. The duo, comprised of Chris Moran and Howzr boasts a sound that’s bluesy and punchy, reminiscent of established duos like The Black Keys and The White Stripes. Their 6-track self-titled EP was released online in November, and features uniquely infectious melodies and an equally hard-edged sound. “I Gotta Girl (With a List of Needs)” starts out with a fuzzy surf-riff reminiscent of Little Barrie’s “Surf Hell” and plunges into pounding drum-heavy solos. “Abilene” is a slower-paced track, complete with drawn out guitar solos and bluesy riffs. Look for their upcoming show at Brooklyn Bowl on March 19th. – Jen Margott

If you look towards the Pacific every evening, the LA skyline is usually painted with a gorgeous golden sunset. It’s easy to miss in the rustle-and-bustle of everyday life, but it’s a pleasure when a singer-songwriter like BETS comes along to vividly remind you of nature’s mysterious gifts. "Rooftop Lover" isn’t a song about contemplating this notion. Far from it – the image it evokes is one that comes naturally when we associate being in places that expand our viewpoint for at least a second. Composed of a weeping ukulele arrangement, the lackadaisical tune calmly strums over a gently pulsing keyboard that details a vast ocean. Her vocals are unerringly sweet, a brittle tonality that’s honey-dripped with frolicsome ennui; the thought of Nina Persson came to mind while entranced in her little dinky story about a girl who wonders about the whereabouts of her object of affection. Though there sound may be more west coast, this bi-coastal band spends a good deal of time in NYC. BETS’ debut EP, just released via iTunes, should make the perfect companion while taking the scenic route through Pacific Coast Highway. And if nothing else, at lease it’ll make you curious to go up your own rooftop for once and let your thoughts run free.

Anybody out there following the saga of those dot paintings? The ones by Damian Hirst that have the art world running in circles trying to catch its own tail? Yeah, well, that’s kinda what this latest single by Psychobuildings reminds me of. This time Peter LaBier discards his signature warbly vocals for crisp, lean pronunciation and he brings on Amanda Warner of MNDR for some blue-eyed soul vocals. But other than that, it’s business as usual: morbidly indulgent lyrics set to prancy, darkwave rhythms. What is harder to figure out this time ‘round is whether, like Hirst, Psychobuildings is commenting on the “me-me-me” credo of the times, or whether they’re actually compliant. Given the band’s background, I’m gonna guess there’s some outsider declaration here. Either way, I hope they contact Damian Hirst’s agent and find a way to make a music video filled with bouncing dots. – Brian Chidester

Brooklyn based artist Laura Stevenson has the ability to attack her own feelings of isolation and the weight of the world with a graceful lightheartedness, delving into the realms of humanity and grasping the world of relationships and feelings. the Long Island songwriter will host a release party for her 7” EP Wheel February 8th at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The EP will feature her first single “Runner,” accompanied by two other songs. After that date she will hit the road in March with her band The Cans for a set of gigs throughout the east coast and southern states, including a stop at SXSW. Soon after, her full-length album "Wheel" is scheduled to be released on April 23rd. – Tina Aita

A Deli favorite (and on the cover of our current issue), Brooklyn indie pop quartet People Get Ready has announced a tour dates this April with Deerhoof.  Starting in Chicago, the bands will be playing shows in the northern states, reaching over to Michigan and making their way back east, with their last show in Philly. Unfortunately none of the shows are in NYC, but lucky for us People Get Ready will be playing next week (2.08) at our winter issue launch party at Mercury Lounge. – Lucy Sherman