NYC

Zula and Tony Castles Play Pianos Tonight 1.24

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Experimental indie-pop band Zula (pictured above) will be playing/hosting a show tonight (1.24) at Pianos with avant-indie-pop band Tony Castles. Zula, a psychedelic-electro take on indie-pop, is currently working on a debut album to be released this spring. Tony Castles, a Brooklyn based trio with grooving melodies and diverse instrumentation, released their EP “Sharon Stone” this past October. The show will also include performances by Candide and Honey Octo. – Lucy Sherman

NYC

NYC Indie Folk: Freak Owls

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Every once in awhile I come across an artist pulling from so many disparate corners of the map that the influences converge into something entirely new. For Freak Owls, there’s a deep commitment here to channel personal stories amidst a wide backdrop full of earthy textures. In the spirit of The Shins or Gnarls Barkley, singer-songwriter Josh Ricchio has found a home for his acoustic guitar to dance on top of deep grooves and patterned sequencers. For an artist with a lot on his mind, it’s the way he pulls his frustrated visions over a serviceable beat that won me over. Check out debut record ‘Taxidermy’ on his BandPage. –Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

NYC

Artists on Trial: Antennas Up

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(Photo by Gene Smirnov)

 
For the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring artists playing the MidCoast Takeover fundraiser shows, sponsored by Midwest Music Foundation.
 
Antennas Up has found local and national success since its formation in 2008, touring with bands like Girl Talk, Flogging Molly, Company of Thieves, and others. The four-piece band has played official SXSW and CMJ showcases, and its music has been featured in ads and TV shows. In 2012, the energetic synth pop band released The Awkward Phase, which spent over 10 weeks on CMJ’s Top 200 list and was lauded by critics. We talk with lead vocalist and bassist Kyle Akers about what Antennas Up has going on right now.
 
The Deli: Down and dirty: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?

Kyle Akers: An electro pop-rock band from Kansas City that fuses post-new wave guitar hooks with vocoder synths.
 
The Deli: Tell us about what Antennas Up has going on. What can we expect this year?
 
Akers: Right now we’re working on music videos, booking tours around the Midwest and up to New York, and always writing and recording. Keep your eyes on our Facebook and Twitter for announcements as they come.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you?

Akers: I’m a big fan of sharing other bands accomplishments, songs, videos and anything else cool that local bands are doing on the Internet. It feels great to help spread the local bands we love to our fans. Everyone in KC benefits when the listeners get more opportunities to find out about all the other great bands around here.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite local musicians right now?

Akers: Hidden Pictures and Not A Planet always hit me in the right place. I’m really anticipating the new Republic Tigers album too. It’s going to be a monster, I hear.
 
The Deli: Who are you most looking forward to seeing at the upcoming MidCoast Takeover fundraisers?
 
Akers: Honestly, I am just excited to see so many great lineups all focused around supporting a huge showcase of Kansas City and Midwest music. It’s a great way to show off what we can do here in KC at one of the biggest music festivals around.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now?

Akers: I’ve hit a rash of female-vocal led bands that have been tugging on my ears recently, most noticeably this band called HAERTS. They’ve got a song called "Wings" that you have to go listen to right now.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?

Akers: Well, if we could totally throw out the idea of making a cohesive bill, right now it’d have to be Prince, Electric Light Orchestra…wait. I really think just playing the 2004 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction for George Harrison performance of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" would do it for me.
 
The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio?
 
Akers: On stage. Although the day-to-day necessities of life would probably be harder to come by on a stage than in a studio.
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?

Akers: This question worries me, because it’s asking me to pick the four most important people in music history, and I think that’s an impossible task. I’ll just take the easy road and pick The Beatles. We all know that the project would only get about 1/5 of the way done and run out of funding anyway. It’d just be a mountain with four mop-top haircuts on it.

The Deli: All right, give us the rundown. Where all on this big crazy web can you be found?

Twitter: @antennasup

The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?

Akers: You can spend all day long researching and learning HOW to do things, but that can only get you so far. Just go out and do things. I’ll quote Adventure Time: Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something.
 
Antennas Up is:
Kyle Akers – lead vocals, bass
Jon Ulasien – guitar, keys, vocals
Bo McCall – guitar, vocals
The Ryantist – drums, vocals
 
You can see Akers and his crew this Saturday, January 26, where they will headline the first MidCoast Takeover fundraiser at recordBar. Antennas Up will play at 12:15, after a lineup starting with She’s A Keeper, Drew Black and Dirty Electric, and Molly Picture Club. The band was also one of over 40 KC artists selected to play the 2013 MidCoast Takeover showcase at SXSW from March 13-16 at Shangri-La in Austin, Texas.

–Michelle Bacon

 

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NYC

Ticket Giveaway: All Mighty Senators w/ Cowboy Mouth 1/26 @ 930 Club

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We’ve teamed up with 930 Club again for another awesome giveaway.  Baltimore rock & soulers All Mighty Senators are opening up for the established N’Orleans group Cowboy Mouth this Saturday 1/26 at said venue. AMS has"toured the United States and Canada extensively. AMS released their first recordings under Baltimore indie Merkin Records before releasing four albums under their own Dog Eat Dog Records to both critical and popular acclaim."

There’s still time to grab tickets here before it sells out. And meanwhile, we’ve got one set of passes to give out courtesy of 930!  All you have to do is email us by 3 PM on 1/24 and let us know what your favorite Cowboy Mouth or All Mighty Senators song is. Please include your first and last name for guest list requirements. The winner will be emailed back.

NYC

MidCoast Takeover: First Round of Bands Selected

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Here’s the first round of bands have been selected to play the 2013 MidCoast Takeover showcase at SXSW in Austin, Texas. The fourth annual showcase will be held at Shangri-La on East 6th Street on March 13-16, and will feature these bands along with other groups from the Midwest and around the country. The bands will perform outside on the main stage, and a second stage has been added inside for acoustic acts. Those artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
This is a free, unofficial SXSW showcase. No wristbands or badges will be required. For those of you staying in Kansas City, the entire showcase will be available to stream live on the web. More details on that soon.
 
The Deli KC will be featuring interviews and reviews from some of the bands playing MidCoast fundraisers and the Austin showcase. Find out more about each band and listen to its music by clicking on the links below.
 
MidCoast Takeover is organized by Midwest Music Foundation.
 
Congratulations to all of these artists!
 

–Michelle Bacon

NYC

Artists on Trial: Drew Black and Dirty Electric

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(Photo by Randy Pace)
 
For the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring artists playing the MidCoast Takeover fundraiser shows, sponsored by Midwest Music Foundation.
 
Starting as a solo project with the early 2012 release Wanderlust, Drew Black (formerly of The Belated) soon enlisted frontmen from two other powerful KC bands (Terra Peal of The Quivers and Zach Hodson of Dolls on Fire) and multi-band drummer Michelle Bacon. The result is Drew Black and Dirty Electric, a dark glam sound with a rhythmic powerhouse. We sit down with a few members of the band and discuss what they have going on.
 
The Deli: Gun to your head: 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it? 
 
Terra Peal: Dark Sexy Glam with a fist full of rock-n-roll.
 
Drew Black: I’d like to think that it’s modern glam with elements taken from T.Rex, Bowie, Ladytron, and Queens of the Stone Age.
 
The Deli: Let’s talk about your upcoming EP. What can we expect? 
 
Terra: BOOM!
 
Drew: It’s beat-heavy and guitar-driven. When I wrote this group of songs I wanted to write with tempos that would make the ladies shimmy and shake. The lyrics tend to be dark, but border on playful and sexy too.
 
Michelle: Our EP, Dead Kings and Queens, was mixed and mastered by the great Duane Trower at Weights & Measures Soundlab. We’re hoping to release it digitally this week and plan to have albums pressed by March.
 
The Deli: What does supporting local music mean to you? 
 
Terra: Contributing, viewing, and heckling as much as possible.
 
Drew: Being in a band, I feel like that means we have to foster a community. For me, it’s not enough to just go to other people’s shows. If I am in the position to recommend a band to a venue then I will. To me it’s more than: go to a show, buy a CD… I feel like you’ve got to go and have a conversation with the artist and let them know you appreciate what they’re doing. Many times, as a local artist, we don’t get kudos. We leave a gig feeling like it went well, but everyone kind of shies away and doesn’t say anything to you. A simple “I really enjoyed your set,” goes a long way.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite "local" musicians right now? 
 
Terra: Schwervon!, In Back of a Black Car, Soft Reeds… so many great artists out there right now! Way too tough to name em all!
 
Drew: I really love Victor and Penny, The Latenight Callers, and of course Radkey is making a wave lately. I also love The Quivers. I feel blessed to live in a city where the music scene is so vibrant.
 
The Deli: Who are you most looking forward to seeing at the upcoming MidCoast Takeover fundraisers?
 
Terra: Antennas Up, The Latenight Callers, Molly Picture Club.
 
Drew: We’re playing with She’s A Keeper, Molly Picture Club, and Antennas Up. I know that’s going to be such a good night of music. I think I’m, selfishly, just really looking forward to being a part of that night and supporting such a great cause.
 
Michelle: Tiny Horse, The Latenight Callers, Six Percent, Rev Gusto, Cherokee Rock Rifle, and everyone we’re playing with this Saturday.
 
The Deli: Who are your favorite not-so-local musicians right now? 
 
Terra: Thee Oh Sees, Queens of the Stone Age, Peaches, Nikki & The Corvettes, Prince, and anything else with Soul and Balls.
 
Drew: Oh, I’ll get into trouble for this! Somewhere along the line I started listening to music all the cool kids scoff at. I have been pretty obsessed with Lana Del Rey since the past summer. She sounds like a damsel in distress, but I just KNOW she’s hiding a knife behind her back! I also spend a lot of time listening to Ladytron, Queens of the Stone Age, and recently, Black Joe Lewis.
 
The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on? 
 
Terra: T.Rex, Sparklehorse, Queens of the Stone Age, and Stephen Malkmus.
 
Drew: That’s a tough one. I’d like to rewind time and open for Bowie during the Ziggy Stardust era. But heck, is it too much to ask to open for Lady Gaga? I’d also like to be the fifth Beatle while we’re at it.
 
The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio? 
 
Terra: Stage is where I come alive.
 
Drew: I feel the most elated after playing live. I love the studio too, but I feel like if you only record music and don’t play it live, then the songs kind of die. They will always remain the same. Playing live gives me the opportunity to breathe new life into the music. So, my vote goes to playing live.
 
The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why? 
 
Terra: Otis Redding, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Keith Moon, Marc Bolan. None of these should need an explanation.
 
Drew: I’ll put PJ Harvey, Nick Cave, Kurt Cobain, and Bowie up there because those artists have been pivotal in shaping my sound. They retaught me how to listen to music and they gave me the inspiration to start writing songs.
 
The Deli: Okay. Where on this crazy web can you be found?
 
Soon, we hope to have a Bandcamp to let you download our new EP!
 
The Deli: Always go out on a high note. Any last words of wisdom for the Deli audience?
 
Terra: Tacos will save you when you least expect it!
 
Drew: We all have delusions of grandeur, but the point is to create. Start where you are. Be confident and get out there. Don’t wait for anything to come to you. Go get it!
 
Michelle: Trust me; I’m Asian.
 
Drew Black and Dirty Electric is:
Drew Black – vocals, guitar
Terra Peal – bass
Zach Hodson – lead guitar
Michelle Bacon – drums
 

You can catch Drew Black & Dirty Electric this Saturday, January 26 at the first MidCoast Takeover fundraiser show. The group will be playing at 10:30 pm, after She’s A Keeper, and will be followed by Molly Picture Club and Antennas Up. The band was also one of over 40 KC bands selected to play the MidCoast Takeover showcase at SXSW from March 13-16 at Shangri-La in Austin, Texas.

 

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NYC

Tempers play Death By Auduio tonight (01.23)

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With electronic beats, noisy guitars, distorted synths, and indistinguishable vocals, Tempers is all of NYC’s favorite indie sounds in one band. The duo comprised of Jasmine Golestaneh (ex Seasick) and Eddie Cooper have yet to release a full length, but the tracks they have online hold a lot of promise. Their electro shoegaze track "Eyes Wide Wider" (streaming below) keeps noisy guitars on a steady beat, and the video for it, produced by Damien Taylor, will be released this February 14. Tempers is playing tonight (01.23) in Williamsburg at Death by Audio. – Lucy Sherman

NYC

NYC Artists on the rise: Leverage Models play Cameo on 01.31

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Leverage Models are mixing business with pleasure. Pulling from the colorful bullsh*t of popular industry, they’ve given new meaning to the bland business of deliverables and accounting in ready-made dance classics like the undeniable ‘Sweep’ (streaming below) off latest EP ‘Cooperative Extensions.’ This is world beats turned into booty-shaking dirtiness, topped off with Shannon Fields’ roof-shaking falsetto. It’s the kind of band worth doing business with. See them when they play Cameo Gallery Jan 31. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

NYC

The Deli Readers’ Kansas City Artist of 2012: #1 – Dollar Fox

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(Photo by Todd Zimmer)

Congratulations to Dollar Fox, The Deli Readers’ Best Kansas City Artist of 2012! 

Dollar Fox is a five-piece Americana collective that bursts with talent, energy, and depth. Made up of Tommy Donoho, Justin Penney, Ryan Watkins, Nick Dothage, and Ethan Taylor, the group was featured as The Deli KC’s first Artist of the Month. This multi-instrumental band has found success across the KC region and beyond, with engaging live shows that can range from a folky, stripped-down string set to a bombastic rock show.
 
Dollar Fox has released two LPs: Close To Home and its most recent effort Little Mother’s Things I Am Keeping, released in October 2012 (see our review of the album). The band also released a split 7”, Big Rock Candy Mountain, with labelmates The Peculiar Pretzelmen. As the flagship band on Money Wolf Music, Dollar Fox has amassed a loyal following, which makes it easy to figure out why readers have chosen this talented band as their #1 artist of the year. Congrats, guys!
 
 
–Michelle Bacon
NYC

The Deli Readers’ Kansas City Artists of 2012: #2 – Gentleman Savage

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(Photo by Jason Comotto)

Gentleman Savage has only recently been making waves in the Kansas City music scene, but has already made an indelible impression. The second place group’s psych-pop sensibility appeals to wide audiences with its tightly composed hooks while channeling pop greats like The Beach Boys, The Zombies, and Big Star. The group, made up of Holden Simpson, Kyle Anthony, and Nick Talley, released its debut EP Open Eyes in October 2012 (see our review of the album). They are currently in the studio working on new material, which promises to be another solid release and expand its audience.
 
Note: Gentleman Savage placed third in Open Submissions poll for emerging Kansas City band.
 
Gentleman Savage will be performing at recordBar next Saturday, February 2, with The Casket Lottery and The Dead Girls.
 
 

Today I Realized from Gentleman Savage on Vimeo.

–Michelle Bacon

NYC

The Deli Readers’ Kansas City Artists of 2012: #3 – We Are Voices

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(Photo by Sandy Rushing)

Rounding out The Deli readers’ top 3 is We Are Voices, an atmospheric indie rock quartet whose songwriting continues to grow with each release. The band’s debut release, What Makes Us So Alive?, peaked the interest of indie lovers across the area, while its second album Fighting Fires established its reputation as a polished Kansas City mainstay. Its anticipated third album Tread Lightly (here’s our review),  which was released last month, garnered rave reviews inside and outside of Kansas City. The group includes Lucas Larson, Eric Baldwin, Joshua Greenlee, and Carson Land.
 
Today it was announced that We Are Voices will be among over 40 KC-area bands featured at MidCoast Takeover at SXSW this year. This will be the band’s third showcase at MidCoast.
 
Note: We Are Voices placed second in the Open Submissions poll for emerging Kansas City band.
 
This Saturday, January 26, We Are Voices is playing at the Jackpot with Grenadina and Forrester.