Soviet-born KA-TYA channels Kate Bush and 10,000 Maniacs through her own jangling indie pop composition, "Beautiful Faces", which you can hear in this Deli premiere. The songwriter’s music has touched all sides of the world, from Australia where she grew up to Southeast Asia and then to New York, where she now resides and continues to release her songs. "Beautiful Faces" makes for a dance-friendly mid-summer track about strained love; it’s sure to get you swaying even on a hot subway platform. And if you’d like to dance to this song live, KA-TYA will perform "Beautiful Faces" and more of her tracks at her single release party at Bowery Electric on August 23rd. – Will Sisskind
From the digital submissions: young talent Ice Cream Orphan
Ice Cream Orphan, a Boston-based project that started out with vocalist Cam Pulaski and evolved into a full-fledged, three-piece indie band, just released their sophomore album Things From My Mouth this June. This often upbeat LP takes cues from early Death Cab, providing sad songs you can dance to, like “10th Anniversary” (streaming below), with its deceptively fast-paced and catchy chorus (“But you’re the only one that I could ever hold / And now I need you, though I left you months ago”) and “You Just Wanted to Feel Loved” with its trombone part. Their next show will be on August 5th at a house show in Tewksbury, MA. – Lilly Milman
Airpark opens for Tennis at The Basement East on 8.7
Featuring previous members of The Apache Relay (the Ford Brothers), Nashville’s Airpark is a minimalistic force to be reckoned with. Their subtle, groove-driven atmospheric alt-pop is easy to listen to, but it is not garish or cheesy. It’s an ambitious project for the brothers, using a much more stripped down approach than their last project. It’s also technically demanding, as both brothers act as songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, and co-producers on the EP Early Works, Volume 1. They’ll be opening for indie pop darlings Tennis at The Basement East on August 7th. – Lilly Milman
Watch the official music video for their song “Plenty To Pine For” below.
Exploding in Sound’s Washer plays Alphaville on July 28th
You couldn’t tell by listening, but Washer is two unassuming New York natives: Kieran McShane and Mike Quigley. Like many a garage-punk band before them, these boys look like they would work for the geek squad but sound absolutely vengeful. Their 2016 release "Here Comes Washer" is an aimless punk album marked by Quigley’s casually passionate vocals. Washer’s lyrics have the tendency to stick in your head: "Nailed your picture/To the back’s of my eyelids," captures a violent, loving imagery whose bluntness pairs perfectly with their sparse, familiar sound. Catch them live at Alphaville July 28th. -Allie Miller
Psych rockers Blac Rabbit play Union Pool on 07.30
This Sunday night (July 30th), Rockaway based band Blac Rabbit will be bringing their vintage psych-rock tunes to Brooklyn’s Union Pool alongside Brooklyn fellows Taphari and Elbows. With their 2016 self-titled album, including six minute opener “Mind Space,” the band has drawn comparisons to Temples, MGMT, The Beatles, and Tame Impala. Check out our favorite track, the droney and ’60s inspired "All Good," streaming below. – Pearse Devlin
Yusuf Siddiquee brings Dance Rock to Pianos 08.06
On Sunday, August 6th, Yusuf Siddiquee will be performing at Pianos alongside Franklin Echoes, The Switch, and Moxa. Siddiquee is a Brooklyn-based DIY artist who combines dance, synth, and alternative aspects into his music, particularly in his most recent project, Softee, an EP released back in January. The synth-pop EP possesses plentiful synth layers, pop vocals and dance-driven beats. The opening song, “Honest”, particularly hits the nail on the head, with friendly vocals over electro-pop instrumentation that sound like something that would fit perfectly in a FIFA soundtrack. The EP abounds with other influences, however. The closing song “Maja” starts out sounding like a pop beat, but shifts entirely towards a dance-rock vibe of something like LCD Soundsystem. By combining electronic piano & his familiar dance-driven beat with a distorted guitar and soothing vocals, it becomes clear that the song, along with the project as a whole, is a very cool, modern-day combination of new wave, pop, and alternative. You can check out Yusuf Siddiquee’s performance at Pianos at 10 PM. – Pearse Devlin
Silent Pictures co-headlines at Bottom of the Hill 07.28
Bay-area psych quartet Silent Pictures will co-headline a show at Bottom of the Hill on July 28th, alongside United Ghosts and Breaking Lights. On their 2016 full-length release, Let It Begin, Silent Pictures weaves a melancholic tapestry of minor-key disillusionment. The band blends elements of Brit-pop, punk and new wave into a polished and impressive display of musicianship and cerebral songwriting sensibility. –Ethan Ames
Sad Baxter’s ‘Weirdy’ LP + tour with show at The East Room 8.4
Nashville duo Sad Baxter has come a long way since their debut EP release in 2015. While the EP (recorded live on an 8-track tape machine) showed their penchant for fast-paced grunge, their full-length LP, Weirdy, proves that none of the messy, lovable aspects of their music are lost in production. In Weirdy, their guitars are even louder, their energy palpable, but their harmonies are refined (specifically seen in “The Big One,” which is featured on both projects). Sad Baxter is currently on tour, with a stop in their hometown of Nashville on August 4th at The East Room. –Lilly Milman, photograph by Caroline Bowman
Listen to our favorite track, “The Drip” streaming below.
From the digital submissions: Jack Labbe’s tender Americana
When it comes to the New England Americana of Jack Labbe, there is a lot more than meets the eye. For example, his newest release, How to Behave Around Horses, comes with footnotes that, quite literally, teach you about horse etiquette. Meanwhile, his lyrics focus on past relationships. When combined, these two themes work well together, providing a unique approach to future relationships. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Paris Parks at Bennington College (where Labbe himself attends) the production of this EP is masterful—it’s intimate, warm, tender. Listening to this EP is like being in a room with Labbe; no background noise, no outside forces, just the serene picking of his guitar. – Lilly Milman
Listen to our favorite track "Plastic Rose" streaming below.
Old Table wants to save the environment and make rock music
Old Table may be the most charming punk band from Tuckahoe, New York. They may also be the only band from Tuckahoe, New York. Despite that, the music coming from this Tri-State Area group is no less charming from their lack of peers. Their accessible, folk-rock-tinged songs strongly recall the friendly sounds of The Beets and The Lentils. Despite their domestic name and homely-DIY style, Old Table shouldn’t be mistaken for a band playing it safe. Recent single, "Co-Own and Operate Your Locate Supermaket NOW!," is a politically-charged yet catchy folk song that brings a welcome appreciation for twee punk and classic protest music. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also backed by almost 10 years of even more experimental releases. You may now just be meeting Old Table, but you should see them as a childhood friend, ready to sit you down for dinner and give you some well-meaning, weird advice. Listen to their single below. -Allie Miller
88 Palms brings noir disco to Bowery Electric tomorrow (07.27)
Step into the synth-pop fueled disco of 88 Palms, a group that seduces through glamourous imagery and vintage electronic sounds. The duo released single “Bright Lights” last year, a groovy and smooth track born to be played in vintage looking, semi-lit nightclubs. Featuring lingering synth arpeggios, rigorous electronic drums and the sophisticated, semi-whispered soulful vocals of RIA, the track is accompanied by a sensual video (streaming below) that portrays, in slo-mo, a party for two in an empty NYC discotheque. Catch 88 Palms at Bowery Electric tomorrow (07.27), and watch the video for "Bright Lights" below. – Tafari Lemma
The Styrofoam Winos bring dynamic alt-folk to Betty’s Grill 7.25
Nashville’s The Styrofoam Winos are not a typical band—the three-piece describe themselves as a sort of revolving door of projects. Each member is a songwriter with their own projects, and they alternate between leading the bands live show. Made up of Lou Turner, Trevor Nikrant, and Joe Kenkel, the band is constantly shapeshifting between sounds, styles, and instruments. The Styrofoam Winos are very much a live band, but the band is also alive; it’s dynamic and difficult to pin down, which is why it’s so important to see them play in person. Their next show is tonight at 9 pm at Betty’s Grill, and they will be playing again on August 26th with Crave On at The End. – Lilly Milman
Listen to the newest release An Ex-Pat Returns (fronted by member Lou Turner) streaming below.