–-Zach Hodson

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Photo Source: Prism Tats

Prism Tats is set to perform at Barboza this Friday, October 19th. Part of the week’s City Arts Fest, the set will also feature Howlin Rain, Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound, and Fox and the Law.

A one-man project, Prism Tats inks out a passionate, minimal aesthetic that shimmers from the first strum. G Vanderkrimp – formerly the singer/guitarist for Seattle band Koko and the Sweetmeats – takes listeners for a fuzzy but spirited ride with his self-proclaimed "future garage trash pop." He has a hodgepodge of songs available to stream currently.

"Death or Fame," forms immediately and eagerly; the sweet-singing guitar stabs mesh well with Vanderkrimp’s high-pitched, incandescent vocal style. The simple bass drum beat and supporting electronic effects are subtle and help anchor the snarling wails he breaks into later in the song.

"Lizard Scum" carries on its shoulders a more somber, secluded vibe. The chorus, though, is as melodious and ear-grabbing as many of Seattle’s catchiest and inclusive folk bands. Here, the climaxes are always kept on a short leash without exploding into overwrought harmonies. Its armor of fuzzed-out pop has cracks; synthetic echoes and murmurs lurk nearby.

For one further example of ‘trash pop’ validation, "Vacant & Impatient" is a more straightforward, bluesy number that oozes with aliveness. It is catchy, dark, and urban – and very replayable.

Head over to Barboza on the 19th of October to catch Prism Tats accompanying a good lineup through and through. Tickets are $13 and doors open at 7pm. Listen to "Lizard Scum" below and visit his bandcamp to hear a handful of tracks. Whooping Cranes Records is releasing a debut 7” on Nov. 20 for $6. Preorder here.

– Cameron LaFlam

Schoolhouse Rock once noted that “three is a magic number.” This Wednesday, October 17 at Bar Matchless in Brooklyn, Rocker Stalker, EiPR, and The Outlet Collective present an official CMJ showcase demonstrating the power of three. The “Trios Do it Better” showcase will feature Birmingham-bred indie rockers La Resistance (NYC), electronica-laced outfit  Black Bird White Sky (NYC), the blues-driven sound of Chainwave (NYC), late Deli ‘Artist of the Month’ Viva Mayday, with the communicative energy of their reggae/r’n’b rock fusions(NYC), psychedelic genre-busters The Gypsy West(NYC), garage band The Phuss (DFW), in town for a few dates, and alt-rockers Lights Resolve (NYC), and you will have a chance to dance, groove, and head bang all in one night. It’s a not-to-be missed event with 21 of the top music makers. Doors are at 7:30pm, 21+, FREE entry with CMJ badge, $10 without. – Meijin Bruttomesso

Indie pop trio Yellow Ostrich has released the title track off its upcoming EP, “Ghost.” The EP will be released digitally on October 22nd. While listening to “Ghost,” one can immediately tell this is the work of Alex Schaaf, the band’s singer, guitarist, and chief songwriter. Most notable are Schaaf’s signature vocal harmonies, which gently float over the peaceful instrumentation. In support of the new EP, Yellow Ostrich will embark on a month-long fall tour, culminating in a hometown show at the Bowery Ballroom on November 14th. Listen to “Ghost” streaming below.

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!