Released by local DC label Sister Polygon records, Cigarette’s “warm shadows” is a dreamy mix of 90s shoegaze and the music of 2009’s chillwave summer.  But it’s not just nostalgia for dated genres that keeps their music interesting, Cigarette uses lush string and brass orchestration to add an extra nostalgic aesthetic to their music.   

Catch Cigarette with Governess and Scanners January 18^th at Black Cat. 

If Long Island’s Oogee Wawa was a meal their ingredients would include a cup of reggae, a spoonful of rock & pop, a pinch of hip hop and a lot of feel good sauce to top it all off. Their chill, upbeat music – paired with a sunny day like today’s – has the power to make you forget that it’s the middle of January in NYC. Oogee Wawa is following the sun this winter with dates later on this month in Florida, but first, they will be making a stop at Amityville Music Hall tonight, January 13th. Check these guys out live for some guaranteed fun, and if you’re wondering why you might have already heard their music (like streaming 2012 hit "Spliff"), it’s because they have opened up for big names including Slightly Stoopid, Sublime with Rome, and 311. – Jocelyn Huggler

NYC’s Golden Suits is the solo project of Fred Nicolaus of the band Department of Eagles (Grizzly Bear Daniel Rossen’s original project,  responsible for one of our favorite videos ever). They recently released debut ablum ‘Kubla Khan,’ an indie rock record with folk overtones. They recently unveiled a video for single ‘Don’t Let Love Go By,’ shot at the Brooklyn location The 1896 where David Bowie filmed his final video. The video is a collaboration of dance, music and technology, filmed using the VR 360 technology, which – although really cool – we find a little distracting, at least on a PC screen. Daniel Rossen has recently released a cover version of a Golden Suit song ‘You are Crossing a River‘ (we assume) to help promote his friend’s new release.

The Undercover Dream Lovers’s cover might just have been blown. The NYC synth-pop band recently sold out Rough Trade, and has been getting attention from a glut of music blogs. I guess it’s hard to stay covert when you’re busting out catchy dancehall tunes–especially when tracks sound far larger than the bedroom they were recorded in. The solo project of Brooklyn-based Matthew Koenig, The Undercover Dream Lovers delivers synth-heavy hooks, angular instrumentals and soft, understated vocals that together have the kind of magic that will instantly draw you in. Catch him at Our Wicked Lady 2/4 with Saint Marilyn and Violent Sands, but in the meantime, stream his latest single below. – Olivia Sisinni

With a sound expansive enough to get lost in, Cavern serves up stoner metal vibes with the atmospheric depth of post-rock. Fuzzy but tight soundscapes adorn their latest record, Outsiders, but there’s also tons of angular riffage to chew on as the band weaves between full-force metal grit, and more nuanced, dulcet melodies. Catch them at the Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge 2/25 with Foghound, Caustic Casanova, and Mantis Toboggan and in the meantime, listen to them below.-Olivia Sisinni

Howard County Maryland resident Brandon Perry is K.A.A.N, or “Knowledge above all nonsense”.  Sporting an unstoppable flow, brutally honest lyrics, and groovy beats, Perry’s music is a veritable tour de force.  Unafraid to broach heavy subject matter such as police brutality and depression, Perry says he wants his music to be emotionally serious, not just for people to party to.  To Perry, making music is a cathartic experience, one that offers emotional release.

Check out K.A.A.N’s music video for the song “Phoenix” and the song “Concealed the Outro” available on Soundcloud. 

Slay gurl, SLAY. Ex-girlfriends’ new single is fierce, fun, and catchy as hell, and we here at the Deli are stoked to be able to premiere it. "Slay" is the latest release from the all-girl garage punk band, and the track is a dirty, glitz-and-gritz romp that pulses with the fervor of a bare-knuckle brawl at a glam rock show. Fearless, in-your-face, and just oh-so danceable, "Slay" is a slice of lo-fi goodness that you won’t be able to resist sinking your teeth into. Stream Ex-girlfriend’s new single below, and catch what can only be a livewire performance from them on 2/2 at Shea Stadium playing with Fruit & Flowers, Kino Kimono and Sutro Baths. – Olivia Sisinni

Since it inception, Rock’n’Roll has always been music feeding itself with paradoxes (hey, it was born from a mix of white country and black blues!), and throughout its history it has thrived on sonic contradictions such as the psychedelic pop experimentations, shoegazer’s blend of noise and celestial melodies and the ’90s loud/quiet/loud leanings. Brooklyn’s Diet Cig‘s comment their new single ‘Tummy Ache’ (streaming below) in a way that perfectly fits with this narrative: "Tummy Ache’ is all about unpacking the feeling of approaching punk with radical softness, and the struggle when it’s not always read as powerful or cool or whatever enough. Its the shout into my pillow when what I’m saying isn’t being heard, and a big old I FEEL YA to all the femme folks creating space for themselves in a world that wants to keep us quiet." The duo is taking the opportunity of this single to announce the release of their debut album ‘Swear I’m Good At This,’ scheduled for April 7 on Frenchkiss Records. They will promote it through several live shows at SXSW and a month long US tour starting at Baby’s All Right on the dey of the release.

DC based Black Masala continues lighting up venues across the DMV with their signature blend of Eastern European Dixie funk.  Think polka and funk make strange bedfellows?  Think Again!  With a mix of screaming brass, strong guitar/bass riffs, and frenetic singing, the 9-piece band brings the funk to every show.  And with two albums and counting, the band just keeps on moving forward. 

Catch Black Masala January 27^th at the New Deal Café in Greenbelt, MD, or February 18^th at Big Chief in DC.  

In their recent sophomore LP ‘Illuminate Your Room,’ Staten Island’s slack rockers Bueno display a knack for unique story telling sung over a perfect mixture of sloppy-yet-organized instrumentation. If that brief description, and the band’s self congrutalory name, aren’t enough to convince you of their goodness, it may impress you the fact that these guys, after an east coast tour in the fall of 2016, are starting off the new year right, with what appears to be a three date residency at Shea Stadium on January 14th and the 26th, and on February 4th.  – Joeclyn Huggler

The Shivers, the project of songwriter Keith Zarriello, have been playing around New York since 2001, releasing their arresting, 19 tracks debut album ‘Charades‘ in 2004 (The Deli interviewed them back in 2010). They’re coming into 2017 with a fresh start after a brief hiatus and a lineup change that now sees Zariello playing solo, with a rotating cast of guests. A favorite of bands such as Deer Tick and celebrities like Aaron Paul and Rose McIver, the band has been consistently delivering mesmerizing and soulful songs that feel truly timeless – don’t miss break out single ‘Beauty.’ You’ll find in them the introspective thoughtfulness of Leonard Cohen and occasional departures in more experimental directions. Their latest album ‘Forever Is A Word‘ was released in 2015 and features single ‘Puppy Dog’ (streaming).

On February 18, The Shivers will perform at Music Hall of Williamsburg with opening acts Max Jury, Ashni, and Ben Talmi. A portion of ticket sales from the event will go towards The Jed Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting the emotional health of teens and young adults across America. – Will Sisskind

Few band names are more accurate than NYC’s Dizzyride. The band’s unique combination of dream pop, electro and soul music takes listeners on a wild ride that is bound to disorient in the best way possible. "Soundtrack," a single off of their forthcoming debut LP, feels like riding on a roller-coaster going in slow motion. The shuffled high-hats and bass drum parts seem ready to speed up, but are held tight by the expansive synth patterns and shimmering vocals. The best part comes at the end though, when sleepy saxophone riffs join the mix to form a stabilizing outro. We’re definitely looking forward to their debut album, due on 1/20, whose release will be celebrated at Baby’s All Right on 1/18. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber