An artist usually known for Bossanova influenced piano-based tunes, Bird Call has now cast her spirit in an entirely new direction. Returning after a year spent exploring how artists on other planets approach music making, singer Chiara Angelicola is returning this fall with a new full-length to match this new orientation, in ‘Will we Get to Mars?”

Apparently this record was titled before Mars Curiosity touched down on the red planet earlier this week. But no matter, according to Chiara, the new record is “not about the landscape, it’s about the emotion you’re trying to get across in the song.” Nevertheless, the new landscape couldn’t be more exciting. The video from the first single ‘Miracle Man’ (streaming below) finds the singer cast as the shamanic vision of exotic dancers and cosmic hallucinations, backed by hand percussion and droning synths courtesy of producer Bryan Senti. The new direction might take you away from the world, but the emotion will pull you inwards. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Oakland-based doom rockers Weekend have decided to become…. no longer Oakland based. The trio will be abandoning their hipster wasteland satellite metropolis for the mothership. That’s right, Weekend are moving to Brooklyn!! Washing up on a wave of reverb and distortion, Weekend will take a break from craigslist furniture searchings to make their East Coast Society debut at Cameo Gallery on Tuesday, September 25th. Also taking the stage will be Woodsman (see post below) and Eraas (currently on our Artist of the Month Poll).

Brooklyn transplants from the mile high city, Woodsman, are releasing new cassingle (that’s right … a cassette single) "All Tangled Up" on October 9th.  Recorded during sessions for their upcoming 3rd LP, "All Tangled Up" is a droney instrumental with oriental sounding guitar ornaments. Denver roots shine through the twinkly waves, grounding the title track with some earthiness. Don’t miss the spacey, floaty, ambient goodness of the cassingle’s A-side, streaming below. Can’t get enough Woodsman? You’re in luck; the four-piece will be embarking on a September tour in support of the release, including 2 NYC dates – the first one is at Cake Shop on September 14. – Corinne Bagish

The independent Hip Hop scene in New York City is a dynamic and competitive array of artists striving to establish themselves as your new favorite headphone haven. The best way to experience these acts, however, is of course to see them on stage in full swagger and bravado. On Friday September 7th, the Tiger Stylez Party at Paper Box in Bushwick will deliver some of the best and the brightest emerging local hip hoppers The Deli has encountered in the past few years. As if the aural excitement weren’t enough, there will be a smattering of world-class street artists adding color to canvas while the rap groups bring the house down. From Strange Famous Records’ Metermaids (pictured + streaming) to Brooklyn Sweat-fest Deathrow Tull to the Lyrical Boom-baptivism of PremRock and Willie Green, this show is perfect for seasoned indie rap aficionados as well as the curious and uninitiated.

(Photo by Todd Zimmer)

The Quivers are one of the hardest working bands in Kansas City. Having only been together for over a year, they’ve released 2 EPs with plans for a full-length next year. They bring high energy to their live shows and a Motown flavor that most original bands in Kansas City lack. Our editor Michelle got to sit down with The Quivers while they were getting ready to release their latest EP Gots To Have It! and got to listen to their answers to Zach’s questions in this week’s Artists on Trial. Find out what secrets we were able to uncover below.

The Deli: Gun to your head, 1 sentence to describe your music. What is it?

The Quivers: Take my wallet, take my watch…please don’t kill me.

The Deli: Tell us about your latest release or upcoming shows. What can we expect?

The Quivers: We have just released out second EP, Gots To Have It!. (See our review of the album here!) We’ll also be headlining Greaserama on Sunday, September 2. There is this show that we are excited to go see, The Deli’s Music Showcase on November 9. We aren’t playing, but we’ll be there.

The Deli: What does "supporting local music" mean to you?

The Quivers: We live it. We love it. We love all our friends’ bands.

The Deli: Who are your favorite "local" musicians right now?

The Quivers: We love all our friends’ bands and Big Joe Turner.

The Deli: What is your ultimate fantasy concert bill to play on?

The Quivers: Thee Oh Sees, Tom Jones, Public Enemy, My Life With the Thrill Kill Cult.

The Deli: Would you rather spend the rest of your life on stage or in the recording studio?

The Quivers: Yes.

The Deli: A music-themed Mount Rushmore. What four faces are you putting up there and why?

The Quivers: Abe Haddad, Terra Peal, Bernie Dugan, and Todd Grantham. Because we are THE FUCKING QUIVERS!

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

The Quivers: www.facebook.com/thequiversband
www.reverbnation.com/thequiverskc
www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheQuivers1
itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-quivers/id338441795

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

The Quivers: When eating onion rings, don’t settle for something that came off the back of a Sysco truck.

If they’re not too busy eating onion rings, The Quivers will be headlining Greaserama on Sunday, September 2 at 7:00 pm at Boulevard Drive-in Theatre. They’ll also be playing at Davey’s Uptown on Friday, September 14 with Deco Auto and Urges from Elsewhere (Minneapolis).  

–Zach Hodson

Zach is a lifetime Kansas City resident who plays multiple instruments and sings in Dolls on Fire and Drew Black and Dirty Electric, as well as contributing to many other Kansas City music, art, and comedy projects.  He is very fond of edamame, treats his cat Wiley better than he treats himself, and doesn’t want to see pictures of your newborn child (seriously, it looks like a potato).

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Somewhere, creeping through scattered reverberations of vocals and guitars, Total Slacker’s sonic beauty splinters through their sarcastic lyrics and lethargic lo-fi vibe. Tucker Rountree and Emily Jane belt out undeniable, neck-tingling harmonies atop steady drum grooves and searing guitar solos, leaving little to the imagination of the vast range of talents this band possesses. Total Slacker brings all the warmth and charisma of Summer of Love surf music, with a witty side that was all too ironic to rear its stylized head in the 60s. See them live at Public Assembly on 09.21.- Read Ed Guardaro’s interview with the band here.

Annie Lynch has a lot of traveling in her background, so she finds it easy to stir America’s pot with her music. Hailing from Cape Cod, studying at Berklee School of Music, and finally landing with her band The Beekeepers in Brooklyn, she’s made good use of her Bonneville, a car dear to her that has also made it on to her new record’s cover photo. Lynch’s music takes you through coffeehouse blues, extended folk jams, and torch songs that show off a confident, affecting voice. Annie’s been to a lot of places, and seen a lot of transformations, but her upcoming record, "My Bonneville," is her most ambitious yet. – Read Mike Levine’s Q&A with Annie here.

a couple of years ago, High Highs came from Australia to the Big Apple with a mission: get frantic New Yorkers to chillax a little. They are succeeding, and while they are at it they are spreading their gentle and soothing vibes in every corner of the world. The band is in the studio finishing their debut album, but found the time to realize this incredibly pretty video of the single "Once Around the House" – which is today’s Vimeo "staff pick".

Photo Source: Erik Blood

Erik Blood is playing at Vibrations 2012 tomorrow, the second annual day festival curated by Cairo. Other musicians performing include King Dude, Night Beats, Witch Gardens, Stickers, and more.

Blood’s latest is the full-length Touch Screens which came out earlier this month. His music tends to oscillate between raucous, drum-driven works and subtler, pulse-beat pieces which lift their bouyant weight to levitate.

"The Lonesome Death of Henry Paris" introduces itself orchestrally before mutating into a hypnotic pairing of bass and beat. His vocals are clear, without effect, speaking sans reservation; their forthrightness makes for good storytelling. Urgent noises start to erupt halfway through, including the entrancing reverberations of a siren-like synth.

"Constance and Casey," on the other hand, tears right into the fabric before letting up on the gas a bit. The guitar see-saws and whirs like My Bloody Valentine; the passages which bookend the shoegazey, psychedelic spinning are tap your foot, come and sing along worthy.

Touch Screens malleability as an album is of the highest order, revealing its water-like quality that allows its sonic forces to form whatever shape is necessary for the song at a given moment.

Make sure to check out Volunteer Park tomorrow August 25 between 1:00-10:00pm for Vibrations. Attendance is free! Listen to "Amputee" below and check out Erik Blood’s bandcamp to stream the entire record. You can purchase a copy for $10.

– Cameron LaFlam

Brooklyn’s Skaters are hard at work to become one of the most fun indie rock band in NYC. This is the second video they release this year. Probably inspired by* the [orange sexy alert if you browse from work!!!] Esquire video of Daisy Lowe dancing on the track "Tiger" by Dave Sitek’s Maximum Balloon, their new video of "I Wanna Dance" focus its attention on a cute African American girl dancing in various places – probably in Brooklyn. Enjoy it below and don’t miss their next show when they’ll be opening for the Whigs on September 19th at the Bowery Ballroom.

*Some of our more open minded writers (we pretty much only listen to NYC bands) suggest that this video could be an answer to the [blue sexy alert if you browse from work!!!] Black Keys’ video of "Lonely Boy".

With their sound that often builds on heavy drum patterns as single stroked guitar chords chime down over distant synthesizer pads, and passionate vocals frequently giving way to atmospheric lead guitar figures, ambient psych-pop band Fort Lean will headline a free end of summer party at Rockaway Beach Boardwalk this Sunday, August 26. Songs like “The Precinct” come at you with measured pacing by way of a deceptively calming descending chord progression, until the big coda crashes you over the head with layers of guitars, cymbals and voices.

Also playing are (The) Tony Castles, who operate on an even dreamier level as on their song "Black Girls in Dresses," offering also a distinctly soulful element carried by lead and background vocals. Atmospheric and spacious, the instruments used in their songs are unpredictable, creating an appealing sense of wonder.

There are two more NYC bands on this bill: theatrical rock quartet Workout and synth-droners Behavior, while a DJ set by Timmy (Of Call Box Lounge Fame) will keep the crowd pumped after the live music. – Dave Cromwell

Brooklyn based, gritty pop duo (sometimes trio) Slam Donahue last night released their new EP "Hemlock Tea" with a show at Bushwick’s new venue Delinquency. The band has a knack for simple, catchy melodies, delivered by front man David Otto’s alto, slightly reminiscent of Billy Corgan’s nasal sneer. – The first single from the EP, "Bug in the Sun," was added to our NYC Indie Rock SoundCloud Channel here.