Avidya and the Kleshas comes at you with a series of well-timed explosions. With her big band in tow (including rhodes, wurlitzer and all kinds of percussion), Avidya manages to attack life’s dissatisfactions with a torrent of folk-jazz truth, all in the pursuit of her unique spiritual journey in tracks like ‘Mother and God’ (streaming) and ‘Body of Lead.’ With new record in tow, the band’s set to release debut ‘Tree of Series’ June 5 at Rockwood Music Hall. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Desert Stars might have an unwavering penchant for Beach House and their ilk, but don’t mistake that for the entirety of their sound. These Brooklyn upstarts have been bringing their shoe-gazing pop to the masses since 2008, plenty of time to refine a particularly hooky and accessible take on the style. The band is currently mixing their new album, and recently released promising single "Past in the Trash" (streaming). The Stars’ Thursday, May 25 date at Cameo Gallery with Howth isn’t one to miss — they might not have such intimate performances before long, and the show’s great lineup is sure to make for a good time. – Zack Kraimer

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

Philly emcee Gliss just premiered a new single earlier today via VIBE called “Inner Visions,” which was produced by Chigz. The track will appear on his forthcoming LP High on a Weekday due out this summer, but you can listen to and download it for free below. We’d also like to congratulate Gliss on his recent nuptials this past weekend – wishing him and his lovely wife Tiara all the best! Cheers!

Preston Spurlock and Neil Kelly make experimental electronica under the moniker Tunetown Philharmonic, regularly uploading scattered tracks complete with Windows Media Player-esque swirling visuals directly to their Facebook page. The duo’s work has been somewhat ramshackle in nature thus far, but their finest and most fully realized composition to date is the haunting and futuristic ‘A Suckers Saturday’ (orange alert for those of you who are at work or with their ladies: more than some nudity after minute 2) which Kelly uploaded to YouTube as an alternative soundtrack to The Prodigy’s famous ‘Smack Your Bitch Up’ video. The band placed 73rd in our latest Best of NYC Poll for Emerging Artists. – Dean Van Nguyen

If you’re a fan of TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb’s garage folk-blues and Bukowski- esque tales, then you definitely should come out to Johnny Brenda’s tonight. The band will be performing two sets this evening so you know that they’ll be leaving it all on stage to help raise funds for Brat Productions, “a theatre company that produces both contemporary material and re-envisioned classics, working with new artists, working in non-traditional venues, and working to keep ticket prices low.” The Brat Cabaret will be on hand displaying their unique theatrics with a drag performance and two rock medleys, and Andrew Bird-inspired Brooklyn outfit Isadora will also be donating their time and talents. Help keep art alive and weird in Philly! Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 8pm, $12 – $30, 21+ – Alexis V.

The Brooklyn based Indie duo that is now Steel Phantoms (the band lately went through some line up changes) has just announced that they are set to self-release a new 7-track EP on July 16th. Former Islands drummer Aaron Harris pairs with Jessie Newkirk to bring you a special sect of Post-punk/Indie Rock that plays back like a catchy flood of dissonant guitar riffs, pleasant vocals and an ironically balanced composure. Listen/download the song “Curtain Call” (not an Eminem cover) from their upcoming EP below. Check them out at Muchmores on the 18th and Cameo Gallery on the 31st. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

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

Under the guise Port St Willow, native New Yorker Nicholas Principe creates spacious, ambient music led by roving guitar lines and the artist’s lingering falsetto, all showcased on his fine debut full-length record Holiday. The record’s conception was inspired by a three year period living in the Pacific Northwest, and the region’s grand, mountainous terrain seeps into the compositions which veer from soaring anthems to crushing ballads, all of which is draped in layers of atmospheric resonance as Principe assembles his arrangements with meticulous care. Met by critics with rapturous approval, the album has recently been re-released by Downtown Records with new 25 minute composition "Soft Light Rush" as a companion piece. – Read Dean Van Nguyen’s interview with Nicholas Principe here.

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

Brooklyn’s Vassals released their first full length "In My Dreams I Am A Sailor" this past fall. Stand out tracks like "Informers" utilize sparse bass guitar patterns and tom tom driven beats, allowing for a change to clearly understand the vocals. Singing about "ghosts" by way of their "father," the song builds from quiet levels to a bombastic finish. Another track we like, "Dark Circles" initially moves things into further solemn ground, before (again) rising to a dramatic sonic peak. There are references to "dead little stars" that "used to burn so bright." "Tambourines" presents itself as a start-to-finish rave up rocker, and finding the album title embedded within these lyrics positions it as a signature track. Album closer "The River" makes effective use of bended guitar notes to create a sonic image of water in motion. – Read Dave Cromwell‘s interview with the bands here.

Brooklyn’s Jack Skuller is a teen idol in the wrong era. He’s got all the makings of a 1950s rocker. One of his goals in fact was to write a tune that gives him something to play loud in the car, since he’s recently gotten his license to drive, and of course… he’s also got the looks of a jukebox hero. Teaming up with Nada Surf drummer Ira Elliot, Jack has just released his first single ‘Tell Me Your Heart,’ and the song is an unexpectedly well done tribute to the timeless teen freedoms of hot rodding and heart breaking. Buddy Holly would be proud. Catch him at Bitter End on June 1st. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Brooklyn powerpunk gaze-rockers Heaven’s Gate released their 7 song EP “High Riser” in November 2012, proving that packaging musical ideas in brief bursts of energy is often very effective, in particular when there’s a talented and commanding vocalist like Jess Paps behind the melodic wheel. With most songs clocking in under two minutes, the record has still plenty of hooks (and tension) to wrap your ears around.

“Pray” thrashes with abandon, like early Siouxsie & The Banshees (think “Carcass” from their eponymous debut album “The Scream”). “Pogo” taps the punk vibe mapped out by The Ramones and New York Dolls. “Salome” moves into pitch-bended guitar dreams, with a heart-tugging guitar progression paired against emotionally charged vocals. The image one might get from a song titled “Jesus Hair” is that of the quintessential rock dude with long locks parted in the middle. “All you want to give me, all that you can give – ‘cause you know that I’ll take it,” implies approval of type by our intrepid female vocalist. “Weakness Worm” would slot nicely between a Yeah Yeah Yeah’s and Hunters track, while “Skin Weed” merges the Peter Gunn detective beat with Sonic Youth guitar recklessness. Final track “Sea Swing” stomps and rumbles like a Patti Smith/Kevin Shields collaboration. The band will be performing at Knitting Factory on May 26. – Dave Cromwell

One of qualities we appreciate the most in a new band is how spontanous they sound – and that’s what a lot of people seem to relate to in the new decade after years spent glorifying rather contrived music. But it’s really, really hard to sound sponstaneous on record without sounding sloppy or careless. That’s obviously not a problem for newly formed NYC band Mesico, or that’s what we gather from this truly great alt-folk-rock tune streaming below, entitled "Lies" – check out the video here. 

Mixing traditional American music with authentic rock’n’roll attitude and a vein of psychedelia, "Lies" has the intensity of one of the best uptempo Nick Cave songs without being NOT fun. Mesiko released a three song EP in March, featuring Lies, and two country-ish noir ballads. See them live at Rock Shop on May 14 with Dawn Landes.

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