2012 has been a fantastic year for local music. With a couple hundred albums released in several genres, The KC/Lawrence music scene continues to make an impression both locally and regionally. 2012 brought national attention to Kansas City music in USA Today, who featured prominent local bands at MidCoast Takeover, the annual SXSW showcase spearheaded by Midwest Music Foundation. The Deli Magazine recognized this showcase and allowed us to launch a Kansas City branch of the publication, among the ranks of larger musical cities like NYC, Nashville, and Los Angeles. 

The results are in from the Open Submissions stage for our Chicago Year End Poll for Emerging Artists. All of the submissions were ranked by Deli Editors from other scenes and the list of acts that have advanced to our Readers’/Fans’ Poll phase are below.

A quick reminder that these list are not final nor complete – most of the bands accessing the final stage of the poll are currently being chosen by our local "scene expert" jurors – we’ll publish the complete list of nominees very soon.

When you talk about Martha Wainwright, there’s a host of expectations that precede her. From her heralded lineage including Loudon Wainwright III (dad) and Rufus (her bro), to her controversial first single ‘Bloody Mother Fu*king As*hole,’ Martha seemed destined to conquer modern folk right out of the gate. And so far, she’s set out to move beyond her roots toward a more assertive approach that’s earned her praise from all angles. From playing with legend Emmylou Harris to recognition in worldwide tours, covering ground as far away as Japan. Her latest record ‘Come Home to Mama,’ brings her music back to her family, discussing what it means to become a new mother amidst the pain of dealing with the loss of her own mom. A grivous but refreshing glimpse into the artist’s vulnerabilities, set in her careful acoustic arrangements and raw alto. Martha’s over in England and Ireland for a little while next year, but take a listen to new song ‘Everything Wrong‘ from a recent performance below to get excited for when she comes back home.

A four-piece dream-pop band fronted by the talented Rebecca Scott, Panda Riot first formed in Philly, but has been a staple of the local Chigcago clubs for several years now. 2012 saw the band release a 7" singled called "Serious Radical Girls" while they worked hard to complete their forthcoming full-length album Northern Automatic Music which is due out in February 2013. The band scored an impressive rating average of 8.16 out of 10.

Formed in Austin, TX a few years back The Vliets became part of the Chicago scene in the summer of 2012, when founding member Daniel Gonzalez moved to our fine city. This year also saw the band release their latest EP "God’s Drug." Despite the distance between Gonzalez and his songwriting partner Ty Bohrnstedt, The Vliets managed to release two outstanding and physedelic videos this fall, and continue to work on upcoming releases. The band is also planning a cross country tour in 2013. Our jurors assigned them a rating average of 8 out of 10.

With a modern and vibrant take on soul music and the powerful vocals of Gina Bloom, The Congregation released a new instant classic in 2012 in the form of their full-length debut "Right Now Everything." The eight-piece band sports its own horn section in addition to keyboards, piano, guitar, drums (lots of drums). This is original gospel soul mix in an indie rock form, i.e. what critics love about Alabama Shakes, but so much more authentic. 

Both bands scored a rating average of 7.66

Glittermouse is one of those bands with that added element required for taking things to the next level, i.e.: the determined will to make it happen! The band had a fairly quiet 2012 having released their latest EP back in December 2011, but have big plans for 2013. The band is currently working on a full length album and will be launching a kickstarter page to raise funds for the project shortly.  Their rating average was 7.5 out of 10.

(Photo by Todd Zimmer)

In case it slipped under your oh-so-rad hipster radar, Six Percent’s story is worth mentioning. For starters, they’ve been making music since I was taking sex education in the 8^th grade. They had embraced the ways of the ‘90s, rap-rocking in venues with the likes of The Urge, 2 Skinnee J’s and Kottonmouth Kings. Following a couple released, and changing lineups, as many times as Taylor Swift changes boyfriends, Six Percent officially disbanded in 2001.

Man Made Sun (headed by former Emok guitarist and long time Brooklyn resident Ofer Tiberin) take us back to the good old days when rock was as explosive as nitro – i.e. the late 90s. Sounding like a more psychedelic and less hip hop version of Rage Against the Machine, Man Made Sun’s upcoming EP "More a Devil than a God" (which can be streamed here) definitely doesn’t sound like a NYC record, which is probably a good thing. The genre’s implicit epic and mathy tendencies are kept in check through the right balance of energy, attitude and instrumental dexterity, while the quality of the material and production make this record sound like bedroom records will never sound – kind of refreshing at this stage of the home recording revolution. Check out the video for "Waiting for the Sun" below You can see them at Pianos on January 15th, 21st and 28th.

band : MAN MADE SUN song : WAITING FOR THE SUN director : ANTOINE PRAT from Antoine Prat on Vimeo.

As the adage goes, “opposites attract.” Such is the case of Adam Green (formerly of the Moldy Peaches) and Binki Shapiro (formerly of Little Joy). The duo has brought their divergent styles together to create an ultra cool and harmonious EP, called "Fall," dense with 60’s nostalgia. They manage to cover “Collage” by the James Gang with originality but keep the groovy vibe. Their single, “Here I am” (streaming below) is laced with dream-like qualities that I thought was only possible by late heartbroken crooner, Nick Drake. Their style of call and answer singing heightens each half’s perspective on the most recent breakups that they have gone through. Perhaps this EP is indicative of the change that they both need and want; two friends able to work through the heartbreak and create something magical. – Julia Kwamya

Brooklyn natives Hawk and Dove are giving fans a download of their latest release, “Things We Lost So Far,” off the debut full-length album “This Yesterday Will Never End,” to be released in the spring of 2013. The single, slightly more upbeat than the band’s other material, bops along with poppy background vocals accompanying a raspy lead vocal. Hawk and Dove channel a 60’s pop band and a modern alternative outfit in one tune, for fans of storytelling lyrics and expressive instrumentation. The band will be playing at Arlene’s Grocery at 8 p.m. on January 30th alongside The Pine Hollows and Ludlow Thieves. – Christine Cauthen