Queens-born Alex Kelly takes the singer/songwriter genre to a personal level with her power-pop/electro ambiance. This past June, Kelly released her debut record, “Orange Circle,” which showcases her clear, free-wheeling vocals backed by energetic beats, grungy guitar riffs, and evidence of an array of influences. Opening and title track, “Orange Circle” seduces listeners who are drawn in further by the sultry, reggae-tinged beats of “Veil.” “Magnet” and “North Star” feature hard rock guitar licks interweaved with danceable rhythms, and the dark mood continues on “Love Light” with nightclub pulsations and the haunting “Splendor-Solis.” Kelly’s single, “Catalyst,” highlights power-pop qualities with dub-step undertones. The album decelerates into “Eros,” an erie, heavy elecro-rock track. Catch Alex and her band on Tuesday, October 16 at Sullivan Hall and on tour through November with fellow New Yorkers, pILLOW tHEORY. –Meijin Bruttomesso

For several tracks off his new album “Sweet Talk for Pretty Daughters” – whose release is going towill be celebrated tonight at The Deli’s CMJ Rootsy stage at The Delancey), the Reverend John DeLore recorded the lead vocals in the room where folk legend Gram Parsons died in 1973. Clearly, the ghost of Parsons was trapped in that room for almost 40 years waiting for someone to set him free and refill the world with his music. That’s one explanation as to how DeLore could create such lovely folk gems. A more likely explanation, however, is the Reverend is an extremely talented singer-songwriter who incorporates his notable influences along with his refreshing take on folk music. Either way, surely Parsons would be very proud of DeLore’shis music, and DeLore should be too. The band will take stage downstairs on the main floor at 8pm. – Josh S. Johnson

DETAILS ABOUT THIS SHOW + STREAMING
COMPILATION OF ALL 14 BANDS HERE.

It took us a couple of weeks to come up with a title for this Deli official CMJ show. On Wednesday October 17 at The Living Room we’ll have a fair amount of orchestral instruments on stage, from You Bred Raptors’? frantic cello to Cuddle Magic’s gentle winds and xylophone, without forgetting the sparse piano lines of Doe Paoro and Starlight Girls‘ retro flute. But even though all these instruments are borrowed from the classical tradition, all the artists on this bill have a forward looking, at times even experimental attitude. This is why in the end we settled with the label "Post-Chestral", which is a term we are happy to notice nobody used before – at least not since Google was invented! This of course implies that we are either geniuses or terrible-new-word creators…

Early that evening we’ll have the noir chamber pop of Friend Roulette , In One Wind‘s orchestrated experimentations, and DT Rotbot intricate post-rock. Later at night we’ll be enterteined by the cinematic and atmospheric music of Industries of the Blind followed by cheerful Philadelphia based collective Dangerous Ponies. (in the picture, Cuddle Magic and You Bred Raptors).

DETAILS ABOUT THIS SHOW & STREAMING COMPILATION OF ALL FEATURED BANDS HERE 

For Wednesday’s Deli CMJ showcase at Spike Hill, expect a sweet crescendo from the sprightliest to the raunchiest of our pop/rock picks. Headlining the first half of the evening, featuring five of the city’s upcoming Indie Pop artists, we’re offering you the eccentricities of Eytan & The Embassy and the passionate ballads of duo The Last Royals, whose debut album is on the way. These two will be joined by Flying Points, a new record on the way, who will be opening show, followed by Fast Years, whose latest music video you should definitely be checking out if you haven’t already, and the only solo artist of the lot, Ace Reporter.

Subtle transition into the second part of the night, Motive will be the first headliner of our Alt Rock stage, opening the dance with their delectable indie rock before co-headlining cock-rock outfit Mother Feather comes to take over with its flamboyant tease of an act, heating the crowds up for the last two bands of the evening. Next up will be self-dubbed ‘weird rock’ troubadours New Beard, and to conclude the night, you’ll be entertained by the contemporary intepretations of back-to-basics rock&roll formulas served up by Raccoon Fighter. – In the pictures: Eytan & the Embassy and Mother Feather.

The 32nd issue of The Deli NYC is out in the streets people, but if you don’t like the streets you can still read it online here (flash version) or download it in pdf here.

Also, also! The Deli’s Stomp Box Exhibit at Main Drag starts in a week – more info here.

The Deli’s Staff

Hell yeah! – after a couple years on the LA punk scene, garnering a crowd of followers abroad for being one of those oh-so-satisfactory bands that’ll sing (=bark) all the stories you want to hear, silly girls, junk food, drugs, beer, more drugs, piss-drunk antics and more straight-up sillies, FIDLAR will be releasing on January 22nd a first self-titled LP, via Mom&Pop records. Anyone unaware of the band could honestly  just read through their song titles and gather what the deal is, i.e some fun-loving r&r, the kind that exists solely to soundtrack reckless exploits, rabid moshpits and messy house parties, not even half pretending to be anything BUT unserious. To preview the album, they debuted a couple of days ago ‘White On White’, second single off FIDLAR, skuzzed-out treat that’ll be joined on the record by tracks like ‘Blackout Stout’, ‘Wake Bake Skate’, as well as ‘Cheap Beer’ (I DRINK CHEAP BEER SO WHAT FUCK YOU, that one, yes), which they released just over a month ago. A lot to look forward to. And if that’s not enough, FIDLAR’s now off on tour and will be playing The Echo with The Shrine on October 26th! 

Photo Source: Alex’s Hand

Alex’s Hand are going to be performing at The Morgue, a DIY venue in Georgetown, on Oct. 27th with Zander Yates and Fang Chia.

Their self-released debut effort Madame Psychosis features the trio (now a foursome) grappling with a wild spread of musical flavors. The album name itself invites interpretations of conflicting sounds and desires; a veil of manners covering a unpredictable body beneath. Or perhaps the title is simply a fun play with words.

"Stalker" opens with possibly the most delicate passage of the entire EP. A softly strummed guitar, haunting piano chords, occasional ticks of sticks, a chime or two – and then wammo – a poignant pop song lurches forward that would not be out place in a circle of 1980’s post-punk ballads. The guitar solo near the close foreshadows harsher reveries to come, while it bizzarely ends with a Captain Beefheart-esque collapse.

The second track "Laura" erupts with a metal-tinged reverberation, peeling into drum rolls and odd UFO noises. Its three-part structure is exceedingly catchy and becomes hopeless to erase from one’s brain. Equally unsettling and groovy, this is prime evidence for Alex’s Hand’s penchant for avant-pop experimentation. Bonus points for writing a song that pertains to David Lynch’s classic series Twin Peaks.

"Reception," features Kellen Mills’ most convincing vocal performance. Arguably the best all-around written song on the EP, it offers something of value for most listeners’ predilections: big sweeping guitar melodies, gentle whispers of piano, loud emphatic drums, and otherwordly, baritone vocals.

At last, the closer "Robot," a two and a half minute spill of crunchy mania. The song is effortless in its raw energy and gives the impression of being played off-the-cuff in one take. For fans of bass so fat you can sink your teeth into and ’80s and ’90’s noise rock a la The Jesus Lizard and Big Black. And oh my, the feedback into guitar solo in the last minute: part metal, part progressive rock, part space groove.

Alex’s Hand are playing live at The Morgue in Georgetown on Saturday, October 27th. Catch them there with doors at 8:30pm and music beginning at 9pm. Listen to "Laura" below and visit their bandcamp to stream all of Madame Psychosis. It is available through the webpage or in person at Easy Street Records and Sonic Boom.

– Cameron LaFlam

DETAILS ABOUT THIS SHOW & STREAMING COMPILATION OF ALL FEATURED ARTISTS HERE. 

Those looking for a little escape from the craze of the CMJ week will find an ideal refuge at the East Village’s Sidewalk Cafe, where on Friday, we’ll be showcasing seven local singer/songwriters and anti-folk outfits for a free evening of intimate performances and sharp-tongued poetry. We’ ve got the funny, quirky ones like headliner Mal Blum, Luke Kelly & acolytes, a.k.a Kung Fu Crimewave, with their far-fetched stories, Crazy & The Brains, self-defined party-punk four-piece every bit as frantic as the name suggests, and Ben Pagano who touched at a true contemporary issue in one of his latest releases – yes, hipsters. We’ve got the emotional performances, courtesy of St. Lenox, and Bird to Prey who will be releasing her ‘Saved By The Storm’ album, and finally, we’ve got Go Love, eclectic collective of artists revolving around Ray Brown and whatever/whoever may tickle his fancy. Literally most everything we could file under ‘Anti-Folk’ – that is, expect some acts that may change your perception of this fairly versatile label. In the picture: Crazy & The Brains.

Once in awhile I get to listen to a band so ambitious, so full of ideas… it both drives me crazy with envy, and appreciation for what a fabulous scene we have around here. Plumes’ self-titled LP is a carefully constructed Baroque masterpiece, filled with orchestrated meditations on the peaks and valleys of love. This duo have written life’s epic soundtrack, and their vision can’t be overstated. ‘Hero & Leander’ finds you perched to an epic cinematic moment, ‘Kalimba Mountain Song’ luxuriates in a woodwind dreamscape, and album opener ‘Your Train of Thought, through Tunnels’ begins a journey through this feature film. It’s a large statement, and I’m excited to hear how they might possibly take this over to a live situation. I suggest you park yourself immediately and pop this magic in your ears. Plumes… I don’t know where you came from, but thank you. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Cosmonaut is one of those bands that almost seem too good to be true. When I first listened to them, the first thing I thought was… ok, which one of these guys was in a supergroup and is now starting over fresh? Turns out, these guys are all starting fresh. Just out of school, the quartet sounds like they’ve been at this for years, displaying a maturity in their songwriting far beyond their lean years. Sounding something like Pavement’s slack tied together with Cymbals Eat Guitars’ epic emotionalism, Cosmonaut has ‘hype’ written all over them. Just listen to ‘Hurry Up‘ EP opener ‘Your Knife (My Side)’ and hear what could be the envy of Julian Casablancas, coming through singer John Paul Manley’s tenor. Produced by Kyle “Slick” Johnson (Wavves, Modest Mouse), the band’s debut album is everything you want to hear from a young band in line with age old expectations of how classic rock songs is supposed to sound. Their next show is on Friday October 19th at Legion Bar, with Fast Years, The N’ere Dowells, & others. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)