We last wrote about Brooklyn-based psych-soul outfit Votive Crown last year when they played Mercury Lounge. Now the band returns to the blog as we premiere their video for "Pandemonium", a prog-psych single from their upcoming debut LP. The video intertwines shots of the band with scenes of New York City and its people swirling in and out of existence; the sequences are accompanied by the track’s easy drum beat and brooding, swelling guitars, with Melissa Orr’s intense and soulful vocals skillfully navigating the song’s fierce tension and release fluctuations. With the video premiere comes a celebratory live show, which will take place at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg on August 24th. – Will Sisskind

Recorded in basements and bedrooms, Prang Wince is the most recent release from New York-based, slacker-folk project Slanted, fronted by Casey Weissbuch, who previously worked with Diarrhea Planet, Colleen Green, and Mitski. The EP comes with a lyricism and tonal quality that matches early indie legends Modest Mouse, but with an intensely lo-fi twist, and Casey’s signature, muted vocals. Second track “Dream” (streaming below) is built on a crooked guitar line and a delicately addictive melody, and plods towards a distorted, reverbing guitar solo that melts into the following track (“Opening Number”), a more upbeat, fuzz-driven number. Slanted’s next show, alongside Rozwell Kid, Chris Farren, and Great Grandpa, will be at Baby’s All Right on August 4th. – Lilly Milman, photograph by Julia Bee

To paraphrase David Lynch, Always With You, the first music video by Main (aka David Maine of Frankie Cosmos) is not what it seems. Although the flashing Chinatown signs, dimly lit studio apartment, and attractive young people on bikes running in slo-mo set the perfect setting for a fashionable story, something seems off. In every space he inhabits, the artist exhibits a cold, nervous energy that matches the sound of his music. The four tracks on his solo electronic EP Dem are not sonically distant from the releases of other solo projects of Porches’ members Rivergazer (Kevin Farrant) and True Blue (Maya Laner), and considering that Maine is both Porches’ frontman Aaron Maine’s brother and Frankie Cosmos’ drummer, this fits. However, tracks like "O M G" and "DARK," with their deeper and darker electronic influences, showcase an artist with a personal sound and vision. – Allie Miller

NY-based PAWNS serves up harrowing post-punk that’s just itching to darken your day. Their latest release, Gallows, is 10 evil-sounding tracks that manage to navigate an aesthetic that’s at once grim yet infectiously danceable. With simple, bouncy melody lines, and reverberating vocals that sound as if they were recorded from beyond the grave, Gallows is the LP to reach for when you need something to jar you out of a cheery streak. Listen to "Cross" off the new album streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

The Fell Swoop, a Bay-area eight-piece R&B/soul band, will play at Hotel Utah Saloon on August 1st, alongside J.O.A. and Mighty Brother. On their most recent EP, Lions for Days, The Fell Swoop showcases a broad stylistic mastery, blending ’70s funk, blues, soul and even hints of disco with sincerity and ease. Check out the EP below! – Ethan Ames

With their EP Go one year behind them, Asbury Park-based Modern Crowds just released their new single "Eye of the Storm" online, with plans to include it on their official self-titled debut album. The indie rock quartet brought out their biggest sound to date on the track, taking inspiration from groups like Radiohead and Animal Collective. Trance-like guitar and drums come courtesy of original members Joe Pellegrinelli and Charlie Kupilik, as well as Doug Gatta and Adam Baczkowski on bass and lead guitar respecitvely. Synths and droning soundscapes round out the sound for a psychedelic summer pop experience. For more tracks like "Eye of the Storm", catch Modern Crowds at Arlene’s Grocery on August 25th. – Will Sisskind

With a debut EP on the way, New-York-via-Boston artist Jachary has released the single “Yellow Vision” (streaming below) which garnered him quite a bit of momentum. The funky alt-soul single is like a cross between semi-electronic groups Milky Chance and Glass Animals, with an even groovier synth beat and an undeniable flow. In the past, Jachary has also been busy as a producer, working on track “eve’s titties” for fellow hometown hero Deem Spencer – a rapper with great potential. Jachary’s full EP will be out on September 12th, and, before then, he will be opening for Homeshake on July 28th at Warsaw in Brooklyn. – Lilly Milman, photography by Tony Giambrone

Don’t let the matching shirts throw you off—Brooklyn’s The YeahTones are not here to be gimmicky, they’re here to serve you loud, unpretentious guitar-driven rock. Their new video for “Believe” (streaming below) provides a nice cross-section of who they are as a band; the three-piece shreds across unapologetically bluesy riffs that even your dad can’t turn his nose up at. The YeahTones kicked off their tour last night in NYC at Belle Reve. They’ll head down south, where their music belongs, and then make it back on August 25th fora homework show at The Hall at MP. – Lilly Milman 

Nashville-based Jon Worthy creates the type of feel good folk-driven alternative pop-rock you can just imagine yourself listening to while driving down an empty interstate. There’s even a song about taking off called “Down The Road.” With electric guitars, harmonica, and heart-on-his-sleeve lyrics, the newest release May You Live Happily Ever After is immensely charming—and more importantly, it’s so very Nashville. His next show is July 28th, playing Mercy Lounge’s Friday Night Special. – Lilly Milman

Listen to our favorite track “Can’t Help But Feel” streaming below.

If you are feeling in the mood for surfy sonic fun with garagey and psych overtones, we’ve got a band for ya: they are called Fruit & Flowers, they hail from Brooklyn, NY, and just released a deliciously droney single entitled . The four-piece is technically skilled, with fast-paced and fleshed-out guitar parts (as heard in tracks like “Pick Fairy”) backed by a tight rhythm section, which too often is the missing link in emerging garagey bands. To top it all off, they layer dreaminess all over their tracks through lead vocalist Caroline’s saccharine soprano (and a fair amount of reverb, not too much though!). Our friends at Delicious Audio heard the ladies dig guitar pedals, so we thought to ask them a few questions about them and other matters at the link below! – Lilly Milman

Q&A with Fruit & Flowers about gear and the creative process.

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best psych songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Bay-area garage/punk band Dirty Denim will be playing Rickshaw Stop on July 27th. On their self-titled demo, the four-piece is at once playful and attitudinal. The three-song demo incorporates elements of punk, surf, new wave, indie and even hints of Motown. Yet, Dirty Denim’s sound is very much their own, and it’s instantly catchy. Chances are, you’ll be humming "Meant to Be" for a few days after one listen. –Ethan Ames

San Francisco pop-punk band, The New Catastrophes, will play Bottom of the Hill on August 8th. On their 2016 full-length release, Your One Regret, the band deftly carries the torch of ’90s and early 2000s emo/pop-punk in the vein of Brand New and Green Day with tight song structures and high-energy angst. –Ethan Ames