Burbank’s punk trio Dustin and the Explosions play whatever they feel like. Sometimes it’s abrasive, in-your-face hardcore punk, and other times it’s pacific and briney surf rock. Sometimes Mike Trejo and Cindy Sukrattanawong switch instruments between songs. We haven’t seen Evan Piehler step off the drums yet, but who knows? It could happen.

One thing is constant about Dustin and the Explosions: in their years of existence they’ve run non-stop DIY. The group has been actively setting up and playing shows with the locale, usually at The Smell: bands like Kid Cadaver, GRMLN, Post-Life, and WASI. It’s no question that the band exists for their love of music, even the production and label aspect — the trio even release friends’ records via their startup Bed Weather Records. And yeah, they tend to share a musical connection with Southern California’s hardcore punk bands, like The Dead Kennedys, only their lyrics aren’t sardonic and politically charged — they’re pretty introspective and hit really close to home.

Dustin and the Explosions’ newest 7" release Serpents was released last May, nearly two years since their debut album Off-White Noise, and they’ve just released a music video for their song "I Don’t Know Any Kakarot, That’s Not My Name" filmed by members of Ghost Noise. Catch them again next month for a live performance at (where else?) The Smell. Maybe you’ll see Evan on guitar for a song? – Ryan Mo

Once a month The Deli sponsors Hypnocraft‘s lovely shows at the Greenpoint restaurant/piano bar Manhattan Inn – the series goes under the name "At the Inn." This upcoming Monday July 13th, some artists very dear to The Deli will be performing within a night that’s a tribute to John Lennon & Harry Nilsson. Not many of you will be aware that super talented Nicole Atkins (pictured) was on the cover of the third issue of The Deli a few years a go (more than a few actually…). We are also huge fans of Sam Cohen and TEEN, bands we covered abundantly, while Jared Samuel’s newer act Invisible Familiars recently got a full feature on our NYC print issue. All these artists, among others, will be performing in the Inn’s intimate setting, and – should your company be not incredibly entartainig – the room will be well lit enough to allow you to read the latest issues of The Deli in between sets! See ya there! More info here.

Sleepy Brother, a folksy acoustic duo from Richmond, VA released a single called "Glimpse" last month featuring lulling plucks on guitar and smooth vocals explaining an upbringing inspired narrative. This month they are preparing for the full unveiling of their upcoming album "Let in the Light". They will be celebrating this achievment with a performance at Sound of Music Recording Studios on 7/18 accompanied by fellow Richmond based band Ocean Versus Daughter and NC’s Bear Stevens. Heather Wiederholt’s voice enters the sacharine, her lyrics encouraging nostalgia and optimism, while Nathan Burns brings the grounding keys, guitar, and percussion.

– Leora Mandel     

You shouldn’t let go of an ideal band mate: Katy Gunn and Anna Lidell found each other, and not even an ocean in between is slowing down their collaboration, that goes under the name of Teenage Love: the Brooklyn/Copenhagen based duo’s beautifully textural ‘Gold’ EP is out today (July 7th), and, besides bright musical talent, it showcases a playful approach to gear and musical technology, which is surely also crucial in keeping this long distance relationship alive. We asked Katy and Anna a few questions about their gear and creative process in this interview (link below). Check out the EP’s title track streaming below.

Delicious Audio Interview: Teenage Love’s Gear and Creative Process

If you’ve still got some beach vibes left over after July 4th, but you don’t feel like hoofing it to Coney Island, then Larry & the Babes’ new EP ‘The Dolphin Tapes’ will take you there (streaming below, opening track ‘Perfect Person’). It’s the perfect blend of dreamy doo-wop and old-school surf music, with a sound that’s both bubblegum pop and garage rock. Larry and the Babes is a throwback to the California surfing days you were definitely born too late for, but comes on a… cassette tape, a format you were also born too late for, but that, against all ods, was reintroduced by broke Brooklyn bands in the new millennium. The Brooklyn-bred band is headlining at Palisades this Tuesday, July 7th, and it’s their leading man Larry’s birthday, so it’s sure to be an extra special show. – Sam O’Hara

MCBC has come a long way since his days with the live funk band b.Funk. Six years and as many mixtapes into the game, he’s proven himself an intrepid bombast in the independent scene with a talent to match his will. With a rap style akin to a young Jay-Z with a more creative perspective and a budding beat fetish, he crafts songs that bump and energize. It’s like the first line from his R.A.R.E. Mixtape, “It’s mister ‘All About My Highs,’ stay away from lowlifes… little do they know we about to go around the globe twice.” Keep an ear out for where he lands.

The multi-instrumentalist duo Gliss dropped their newest album Pale Reflections after a heady recording/mixing process in Berlin, and it’s been on perpetual repeat for me. 10 songs merge Kick in Your Heart’s ’60s garage rock revivalism with newer modes explored in Langsom Dans: gossamers of synth and boy/girl whispers drape over the slow-burn of distortion that’s simply to die for. It’s hypnotic, it’s carcinogenic — it’s a brilliant return for the Copenhagen/Los Angeles veterans of the art pop underground, bridging the lustrous textures of The Kills and Beach House. Fans of The Vandelles and The Raveonettes will feel right at home with Pale Reflections‘ tenebrous instrumentation full of feedback and toxifying hooks.

The entire album is available on Bandcamp, Amazon, iTunes, and the band’s personal label Kraftwööd Musik Fabrik; listen to the title track below. – Ryan Mo

We have no idea how this new video by NYC alt rockers Highly Suspect was shot, but it sure is breathtaking. In 2014 this single, entitled "Lydia," provided the trio with a lot of attention from blogs, Deli included, since they made our latest list of Best Emerging NYC Artists. The band’s debut album, "Mister Asylum," is set to drop July 17, and although strangely enough there’s no mention of a US tour to support the release, the band already has shows booked for a 2016 UK tour (talk about planning things in advance!).

Having just released their EP ‘Break Me Free,’ Connecticut/New York soul octet Mad Satta today premieres through our blog the music video for the work’s second single, “Simpler Times.” Elegantly infusing present struggle into a reflection on past joy, this horn-blared song is almost intensely candid. However, behind these crisp visuals, which intercut scenes of frontwoman Joanna Teters quietly singing and her band jovially playing, the track becomes a melancholic yet ultimately triumphant piece of musical meditation. Watch the music video for “Simpler Times” below, and head over to here to find out more about Mad Satta’s summer tour. The band will be opening for SF’s R’&B songwriter Goapele at the Bowery Ballroom on July 10th. – Zach Weg

This year’s 4Knots Music Festival will take place on Saturday, July 11th in its new location at Pier 84 in Hudson River Park.  This move away from lower Manhattan’s South Street Seaport reflects the new partnership with Friends of Hudson River Park, also allows a later finishing time (10pm) than the previous four editions. For the first time the Festival will be a ticketed show, with tickets starting at $25 and proceeds benefiting the Park.

Opening the day are two local acts that make it worth to show up early.  Brooklyn punk rockers Surfbort (a band we blogged about earlier this year) kick off the event with their female fronted lyrical nihilism and Ramones inspired roughness.  Song titles like “Trippin’ Over Babies” (streaming) “Perversion” and “Junk Estate” keep faith to the band’s mission statement to “laugh in the face of the end of the world,” while “getting emotional about the slushie streets.”

More controlled local dream pop veterans Heaven are also scheduled to play early in the day.  It will be interesting to see how core members Matt Sumrow (guitar, vocals, songwriting) and respected drumming powerhouse Mikey Jones have evolved their sound.  Album tracks "Mountains Move" come off moody, dark and dreamy (all rolled into one) as Matt’s outstanding guitar work alternates between clean-note arpeggios and wah-wah effected choruses. While other tracks like "Once The Heartache," "Falling Apple" and "Centuries" added majestic keyboard pads to clearly defined chord progressions and atmospheric dream-gaze vocals.  “Telepathic Love” accentuates Matt’s soft yet sandpapery vocals, weaving imagery about having seen “the ugly and the beautiful,” and simply trying to “figure it all out.” As always the drumming of Mikey Jones gives the band a tightness often lacking in this genre and a forceful edge in the live environment.

The big name headliners this year include Super Furry Animals, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Twin Peaks and Mikal Cronin.  Also scheduled to appear are Screaming Females, Happyness (Meatbodies and Heaters. – Dave Cromwell

Husbands is a dreamy bedroom-pop duo made up of two married guys (though not to each other) Wil Norton and Danny Davis. They met at undergrad in Oklahoma City while Norton was playing in instrumental prog-rock band "The Non" and Davis was recording songs with Beach Boys inspired vocal harmonies. The two started a project that would later succeed in transcending state boundaries when Norton moved to DC to attend Georgetown for an MA in Literature. Not only has the band’s production survived, but flourished! On July 2nd they released their first full, 8 track album, "Golden Year". They’ve noted that this particular record was made with the intention of playing live shows, which for the duo meant less experimenting with Animal Collective reminesent sampling, but also gaining the discipline necessary for writing tighter, catchier tunes. We’re excited to hear their future work, which will without doubt further perfect combining both of these songwriting methods. Golden Year melts seamlessly with warm and drowned guitars, sad surfy vocals, bright synths and samples, and hip shaking percussion. These songs derive strength from the duo’s ability to add layer over layer (sent over dropbox) without overdoing it and washing out the core of the song. Give the lyrics a look-see when listening, there are some real gems. Husbands is proud, excited, and fast at work on their next two albums already. So go to Bandcamp, enjoy your new summer jams! We’ll likely have some more good news from Husbands in time for fall or winter.

– Leora Mandel

Ezra Tenenbaum used to write about guitar pedals for our Delicious Audio blog. We were pleasantly surprised to see his new band EZTV signed with super buzzworthy Brooklyn label Captured Tracks (home to notable artist such as Mac DeMarco, DIIV, Widowspeak and Wild Nothing among others). Since we had his email, we thought it was time to ask him a few questions about his favorite pedals… check out the Q&A on Delicious Audio. The band is about to release their debut album and is currently on a week long tour with Jacco Gardner and DINNER.