NYC

Bridges and Powerlines release ‘Better’ – a celebration of Brooklyn

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For the band that loves all of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods, they seem to hold a special place in their heart for good old Billyburg. I can relate. Bridges and Powerlines’ latest video for their single ‘Williamsburg’ showcases a solitary biker going through streets, scenes of band rehearsals, and all things kaleidoscopic for an animated nocturnal adventure that finds the band at their most rocking and anthem-tastic. Check out the single ‘Greenpoint’ below, and grab the record ‘Better,’ just released last week. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

NYC

Marla Mase brings “Speak” to Summer Stage

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A veteran of the scene, New York based songwriter Marla Mase has been added to the bill of the annual local performance arts festival, Central Park Summerstage 2013. Other artists performing at this outdoor NYC series comprise music legends like The Zombies, Dead Prez and Rakim. She has recently received acclaim for her performance art concert experience entitled “Speak” (you can stream the entire record here), which combines dance choreography with the songs from her 2013 release, “Speak Deluxe”. Mase’s latest album is a compilation of songs that examine the oppression of women, while the live show features seven dancers who act out the series of the her musical vignettes.

Marla Mase’s will be performing “Speak” on June 15th, 2013 at Herbert Von King Park. If you cannot make that, you can catch her performing again at The East River Park on August 17th. Both concerts are free admission. – Jordannah Elizabeth

NYC

Weekly Feature: Napoleon plays The Deli’s B.E.A.F. on 06.08

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Released last year, Napoleon‘s accomplished debut album ‘Success’ was an emotive collection of spacious mid-tempo rockers and pretty indie folk ballads, expertly crafted at producer Kevin McMahon’s upstate studio, Marcata Recording. But not to be pigeonholed, their more recent releases- such as latest single "Moonlight"- have been tighter, more uptempo numbers. As frontman, Detroit native and former Harlem resident Julian Anderson explains to me, the group shares an ethos that each record should be a grand departure from the last. – The band will headline the indie stage at The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F. 2013 (Best of Emerging Artist Fest) on June 8 at Spike Hill. Read Dean Van Nguyen’s interview with the band here.

NYC

Album review: Slum Party – Flood

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(Photo by Chad Codgill)

Flood is Slum Party’s second LP released in six month’s time. Whenever a band puts out music at that clip, you have to wonder if you have an outfit content with putting out just about anything they’ve got lying around or if they really are on a streak of vast creativity. Fortunately, Flood is a case of the latter. Slum Party has tightened and evolved their groovy, dream pop sound to new heights on this eight-song LP.

 
The album is deliciously lo-fi, creaking and cracking in just the right ways like an old Tascam four-track in the hands of someone not afraid of the red light. The arrangements are lush and well-sculpted. It is nice to hear the care that went into the peripherals of production and mixing, while at the same time somehow still maintaining a gorgeous and honest lo-fi glaze.
 
The guitar work and vocals are handled by the duo of Riley Kurtenbach and Scott Chaffin (here’s our Artist on Trial with Chaffin). Together they spin a web of distortion and reverb that hectically caroms from side to side above the often overpowered drums and bass of Jen Chaffin and Brittney Smith. Having listened to Chaffin’s work for over a decade, this is definitely the best usage of his falsetto vocal stylings I have heard. They are paired with great effectiveness with Kurtenbach’s clean voice, almost at times difficult to discern who’s singing what. It is truly an impactful dynamic trick that serves as a strong point all throughout the record.
 
The album opens with a somewhat confused personality in “Like It.” Kurtenbach and Chaffin establish a soothing back and forth over the resonant jam beneath, the distorted bass and chill drums slowly rocking the cradle side to side, only to completely break down and reform with a vastly different and more aggressive closing strain.
 
“Surprise” is a standout track for me, driven by a Gnarls Barkley-esque groove, Chaffin’s trademark trash pop guitar work, and Kurtenbach’s tight self-harmonization on the chorus.
 
“Tracks” is a tidy stripped down glass of lemonade in the middle of the sweltering behemoths surrounding it, the familiar fuzzy riffs replaced by a delicately strummed ukulele.
 
“Batwing Beauty (Surprise Reprise)” takes a stroll more on the psychedelic or jam band side streets. I’m not sure which of the guitar players is featured here, but he or she manages to bring at least a sliver of a welcomed focal point over the looped madness beneath.
 
The album’s closer “There’s Something Wrong w/Everyone” is like intoxicated math rock, a time signature that stayed on the Ferris wheel for one too many rides and is offering back up the corndog and cotton candy.
 
Slum Party has shown a consistent and dynamic evolution of their sound with this record. Sure, it’s loose at times and overall heavily medicated, but it is done with purpose and care. Flood is an exercise in sonic exploration above and beyond all past crutches. Bring on Slum Party #3.
 
Slum Party’s next appearance will be at Club 906 in Liberty on Saturday, June 15. Go check them out and pick up Flood.
 
 
–Zach Hodson
 

Zach Hodson is a monster. He once stole a grilled cheese sandwich from a 4-year-old girl at her birthday party. He will only juggle if you pay him. I hear he punched Slimer right in his fat, green face. He knows the secrets to free energy, but refuses to release them until "Saved by the Bell: Fortysomethings" begins production.

He is also in Dolls on Fire and Drew Black & Dirty Electric, as well as contributing to various other Kansas City-based music, comedy, and art projects.

 
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NYC

Dear Georgiana releases debut + plays Rockwood on 06.02

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A southern belle has brought her charming voice and not so southern sounding tunes up north. Named after a town in her home state of Alabama, Dear Georgiana is Lauren Balthrop, former member of the retro rootsy-pop trio The Bandana Splits. She has recently released her debut self titled album, which features her signature soprano and open melodies that harken back to 1950’s pop.  Preview single "Wanna Be In Love" (streaming below) bears an intriguing mix of influences, from rockabilly to what we call "avant-indie." See Dear Georgiana live at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2 on June 02. – PJT

NYC

NYC bands on the rise: Gold Lake, plays Glasslands on 06.03

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Sometimes you have to go through a lot of changes before bringing it all together. For the soaring pop of Glod Lake, the band’s history has brought the duo through several bands (‘We are Balboa’), countries (Madrid) and hairstyles (I’m just assuming here, based on their stylish locks) before finally landing them at new single ‘We Already Exist.’ An anthemic journey showcasing singer Lua Rios’s insanely huge range, the new track nicely takes the group from rock’s roots to a kaleidoscopic maze of melodic movement. All that… and they’ve got a new remix by Helio Sequence to really get things started.

Stay tuned for their debut ‘Years’ dropping later this year, and see the group when they play at Glasslands on June 3rd with Little Children. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

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

NYC

KAYO DOT release teaser trailer for upcoming double-album HUBARDO

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The eccentric Toby Driver-led KAYO DOT brings hardcore avant-metal to the big apple in a way that you don’t see too often. With mellow instrumental turns, melodic vocals, and screams that aren’t too in-your-face, their music is a progressive fusion that soothes yet energizes. The band is set to drop a new double-album titled ‘HUBARDO’ this fall, just in time to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the release of their debut album, ‘Choirs of The Eye.’   KD has released a 13-minute audio teaser trailer for the new album via SoundCloud. They’re currently taking pre-orders for the album here to help make it all happen. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

NYC

Harness Flux Release New Track “Room Service”

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DC based indie rock solo artist Harness Flux (John Masters of Metropolitan and The Cheniers) just released a new single this week titled "Room Service." Check out the lo-fi gem below and get ready for 90’s reminiscing in the layers of alt guitar and echoed vocals that could pass for a lost B-side Sonic Youth track that would go on to inspire the Strokes Is This It. Super seriously you guys. –Dawn

NYC

Gondola debuts video + plays Spike Hill on May 29

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We didn’t highlight Gondola‘s gentle folk pop more than two weeks ago, but the Brooklyn band is already giving us another excuse to write about them by debuting this cute video of the single "We Are The Map," which successfully blends two vintage visual concepts like Super-8 and stop motion. Here’s an example of music and visuals that work perfectly together, enhancing each other. See if the charm translates live at Spike Hill on May 29.

NYC

From the NYC Open Blog: Kill the Monotone

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Kill the Monotone is a New York based Electro/Dance band created by brothers Artem Chernogod from Someday Static and Denis Chernogod from Zero Gravity. The duo recently recorded their debut EP which inaugurated a prominent collaboration with singer Malin Bray, with whom they played Webster’s Studio last week – putting together a rather impactful show (video here). – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

 

NYC

From the NYC Open Blog: Alien Trilogy plays Matchless on 05.30

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Alien Trilogy is a noisy synth-punk trio from Brooklyn New York whose music takes inspiration from 80’s and 90’s sci-fi films and the sound of bands such as Devo, Suicide and Nervous Gender. The trio combines catchy synth lines, effects laden vocals and the squeals and pops of circuit bending into a tightly focused cyper punk assaults. Alien Trilogy will be shredding audiences at Bar Matchless in Greenpoint on May 30th at 9 PM. – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.