When two guys start shouting, it usually spells trouble. Not so with Möbius Strip, an indie punk trio from DC. The vocals are harsh and gritty, the basslines are chunkier than Campbell’s soup, and the guitars cry out for the world to listen, all classic ingredients to a quality punk act. Möbius Strip isn’t just another punk act, however. Their latest 7” Palabras Podridas was recorded with living legend Don Zientara in his studio. You’ll be able to find these noteworthy rockers headlining at The Black Cat, 8/18. All ages, $10. -Jonathan Goodwin

Cindy Sukrattawong is one integral third of surfpunky Dustin and the Explosions. She causes a ruckus on the regular, trading dirty guitar licks and bass fills with Mike Trejo. But on her spare time, Cindy is strips down the guitar tone to its most basic form, harvesting acoustic timbres for her instrumental project Littlest Sister. Backed by drummer Evan Piehler (also part of D & the E’s), the duo’s sounds rolls like a summer wind with its rising and falling rhythms, with cascading strums that ease into a soft lull. Emotionally dynamic, Littlest Sister offers listeners a peak of the greatest heights for the heart to soar in the intimate expanse of its wordless narratives.

Watch their first official music video "Begin Again" below, and find the song on their self-titled debut, available on local microlabel Bed Weather Records. – Ryan Mo

Yesterday (Sunday August 9th) Selfie.com‘s large Tribeca headquarters hosted a Deli sponsored Sofarsounds.com show. Once again, it was a night of great music enjoyed by an extremely attentive audience.

Talented songwriter Tica Douglas was first on stage, for a solo acoustic set. Her latest release ‘Joey‘ received a flattering review on Pitchfork this past February, and for a good reason: the young songwriter has crafted a very personal style, and her live delivery of the songs from the album was touching and well performed. Check out the tune that closed yesterday’s show below.

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Tica was followed by three acoustic guitar strumming dudes from Astoria (in the picture), who represent 50% of the band Side Sattle (we blogged about them in January). The trio picked up the tempo with four catchy folk-pop tunes that stood out for flawless three way vocal harmonies – these guys don’t miss a note! The full band can sound completely different from what we heard yesterday, which was more on the lines of their single "When it’s All Done" (streaming below). We like both versions. You can see them live at Pianos on August 28. 

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NYC (via Seattle) dual sisterhood Chaos Chaos closed the show with something radically different: no signs of acoustic instruments in their set up, just keyboards and a drum machine – played by hand! Now, let’s get this straight: playing a drum machine with your fingers is not exactly the simplest thing in the world (we tried), and doing so while singing and shaking an shaker egg reveals superior, almost circus worthy motor skills. Chloe Saavedra pulled that off with flair, while singing back up vocals to her sister Asy, who also showcased a noteworthy instrumental ability at the keyboards. The duo offers electric piano driven songs that are at once catchy and quirky, and feature unexpected breakdowns and a airy openings. They played four new songs, check out their 2014 EP ‘Committed to the Crime’ here, and/or see them live at Baby’s All Right on 08.31.

Last year we featured heavily trippy psych rockers Sunflower Bean on the (uber-psychedelic) cover of The Deli NYC’s Fall/CMJ 2014 issue – always one of the most read issues of the year – so we are pumped to hear that they will be embarking on a 23 date North American tour with DIIV this fall. The band recently released single ‘I Hear Voices’ through Fat Possum Records, and just unveiled this mind bending video for it. The NYC date is on November 8 at Webster Hall, be there!

Suspicious Light is a three-piece indie rock outfit from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The three tracks they’ve released thus far are a collection of home recorded (but for the most part competent sounding) melancholic, reverb-soaked, indie-rock. The latest release from the band is "Tell Her Everything," a 5-minute long track about regret that is steeped in early indie-rock influences (Adam Franklin of the UK legendary band Swervedriver is featured on guitar). Our favorite track though is "Mistakes Were Made," (check it out below) which is vaguely reminiscent of that gorgeously blue masterpiece that’s the Doves’ debut LP "Lost Souls." The group’s first record is currently in the works, and their next appearance will be at Brooklyn’s Rough Trade on September 8th. – Patrick Wolff

With a tender yet firm voice and assured guitar work, Brooklyn-via-Knoxville singer/songwriter Millie Mason makes loneliness beautiful on her latest EP ‘Here On Up.’ “That could’ve been nice,/You can see me twice,/Now I’m not around,” the young musician sings on opener “In Town,” her invisibility hitting the listener with quiet power. As heard on other songs such as “Not Lonely” (video streaming below), Mason subtly portrays the intense pain of solitude, of not just being alone but feeling so, and does it both truthfully and compassionately. Listen to “Not Lonely,” and watch its icily warm music video (Filmed during the New York 2015 blizzard) below.– Zach Weg

The combined forces of Brooklyn and Long Island deliver impressive results with the Gingerlys‘ debut 7" EP “Jumprope,” out on Shelflife records just about one year ago. The title track (streaming) establishes essential band parameters featuring pitch-bended vintage keyboard hooks and dreamy female vocals. Softer story telling verses give way to an angular, syncopated chorus, whose urgency bring to mind fellow Brooklyn dreampoppers Field Mouse. “Summer Cramps” comes quicker via bass and clean guitar at a Cure/”Inbetween Days” pace, before polyphonic synths establish the dominant hook. “Better Hearts” surges forward with similarly sweet vocals and an optimistic feeling that slots closer to The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart. The lyrical content suggests all may not be entirely well, as they’ve “seen better hearts,” and “you don’t know me.” Closing track “Set You Off” evokes early era (pre Loveless) My Bloody Valentine with tandem male/female vocals and a light, airy vibe. Acoustic guitar driven, keyboards provide traditional pad backing, with electric guitar establishing the melodic hook. Gingerlys play tomorrow (Saturday August 8) at Palisades in Brooklyn on a stacked bill that also features Pill, Honduras and BAMBARA. – Dave Cromwell

The Brooklyn and Philly based, ten-piece chamber pop folk collective Cuddle Magic released their latest album "Info Nympho" way back in 2011. The record doesn’t feel that old though, and as a matter of fact we like it so much we are getting impatient for a new release. The band’s clever lyrics are beautifully phrased on top of dreamy orchestral pop arrangements, with tasteful male/female harmonies floating in the background. The result is music that is as comforting as it is moving, on both an emotional and physical level. In one of our favorite tracks, "Expectations," they swoon: “My expectations f**k me over/ and then my inclination is to do it again” Go check out Cuddle Magic at Baby’s All Right on Monday August 31st, they will be playing alongside Chaos Chaos and Margaret Glaspy. Check out their single release from 2014 :An Extra Life," streaming below. – Lauren Schechter

Angel Deradoorian’s bass, keys and vocals have notably lifted the Brooklyn-based experimental outfit Dirty Projectors and Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks, not to mention the songs she’s collab’d with Vampire Weekend, Flying Lotus, Matmos, and on. She’s oft seen live performing the duties of two or more musicians, a real testament to her skill as musician.

Her new project, christened Deradoorian, is a several-year long craft first received in 2009’s Mind Raft EP. It was lauded by tastemakers for its sensuality and adept layering. Almost six years later, the fruits of her labor are ripe for the picking. Listen to Deradoorian’s newest track "Komodo", off her debut album The Expanding Flower Planet. Organs, clavichords, brass patches and vocal overdubs join, depart, and reconcile in this cautionary song about the komodo dragon fusing worldly styles with harmonic artifice. 

The Expanding Flower Planet is set to release August 21 via Anticon Records. Get a live taste on September 22nd when she performs at the Echo with Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier. – Ryan Mo, photo credit: Bennet Perez

FIELDED is the stage name of Lindsay A. Powell, a singer and songwriter currently based in Brooklyn. She describes her music as both "future-pop" and "post-apocalyptic pop;" certainly seem to be apt descriptions after listening to her most recent full-length, "Ninety Thirty Thirty," infused as it is with dark gospel tones and hints of goth. Powell’s powerful melodies lend a pop sensibility to the varied and genreless instrumentation, which includes synths, electronic drum beats, pianos, and even some jazzy, 80s sounding saxophone work (like in older single "Eve of a New Moon"). The latest release from FIELDED is "I Choose You," a track from 2014 which will be included in her upcoming EP "Boy Angel," to be released on August 18th. The song (streaming below) is a wonderful testament to Powell’s vocal abilities and unconventional songwriting, as she crafts a powerful and personal pop-gospel sound accompanied by only a low-key synth line, effected backing vocals and, towards the end, some catchy finger snaps. The release party for "Boy Angel" is scheduled for August 27th at Cameo’s. – Patrick Wolff

With their unmistakeable Australian flair, the two front ladies of BOYTOY keep churning out super-hummable guitar pop gems that are likely to send listeners on an aural trip back to twenty years ago (that is, if you were already around then… if you weren’t, check this out). Their brand new single ‘Postal’ (streaming) is pure pop bliss counterfeited as garage rock (without the over-polished, production of the mainstream genre known to the masses as pop-punk). It’s a preview of the full length album ‘Grackle,’ arriving on October 2nd on PaperCup Music, a local label that’s releasing albums by a lot of garagey Brooklyn based bands. You’ll get a chance to see BOYTOY live tomorrow (08.07) at Shea Stadium.

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

Pete Roessler and Severine Casati’s recently debuted Late Nite Cable project crafts simple, manicured synth-pop songs for balmy summer nights. The New York based duo’s first track "Take Me Away" is a blissfully mellow cut, sourcing 80s-era vocal melodies and 90s-era drum machines for a dreamy duet. Today, we premiere the band’s newest effort, "All Nite Girl," a lead single to be featured on their forthcoming EP (set for release in September). The EP was co-produced by Anthony "Rocky" Gallo, who previously worked with Yeasayer, John Legend, and Cat Power. The production of "All Nite Girl" is more robust than previous single "Take Me Away," a soaring force of densely arranged melodies and rhythms, and the vocal hooks are tighter, stronger." – Angel Eugenio Fraden