Photo Source: Kingdom of the Holy Sun

Kingdom of the Holy Sun have an up and coming performance this weekend at the Rendezvous. They are on the bill alongside Levator and Prescription Pills.

Self-dubbed as "psychedelic garage and shoegaze," their music cultivates an environment that is both raw and expressive. Every track feels spiritially imbued; they have taken the rock in garage rock, slowed it down, and made their songs self-contained rituals.

Their latest release Pharmacokinetics came out last month. Its four songs exhibit the persistent themes of exploration and wonder – there is a sense of awe planted in the singer’s voice. He immediately draws comparison to the late Jim Morrison of The Doors with his poetic, washed out vocal style. Kingdom of the Holy Sun move in a decidedly different direction musically though; their sonic experiments are less pop-focused and chorus-intensive.

The eponymous track "Pharmacokinetics" ushers itself along at a deliberate pace, unfurling amid a steady evolution of repetitive rhythms and bright melodies. Imagine the sun rising at dawn, amid a hazy film of fog blanketing the sky.

Kingdom of the Holy Sun will appear on stage this Saturday, August 4th at the Rendezvous. Doors are at 9:00pm and tickets cost $5. Give a listen to "Pharmacokinetics" below and carry onto their bandcamp to navigate the rest of the release – as well as their two other albums.

– Cameron LaFlam

NYC punk-rockers Wyldlife just released a new video for their second single, "(She’s Making Me) Nervous" (streaming below). In under two and a half minutes, it’s got everything you could ask for: loitering, stealing, reckless driving, junk food, drinking, Bill Murray movies and of course…ROCK AND ROLL! Make sure you catch the guys with Awkward Girls and The So So Glos on August 10th at Union Hall for a night of loud music and heavy drinking… – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here). The Deli’s NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building.

‘Today’s Supernatural’ (streaming below) is the first single from Animal Collective‘s upcoming new album "Centipede Hz," out on Domino Tuesday, September 4th. The single is out tomorrow digitally. The song was premiered live last night on the just launched Animal Collective Radio (radio.myanimalhome.net). Every Sunday night at 9PM EST though August 19th a different member of the band will broadcast a new radio show live.

Animal Collective is also encouraging fans to create their own radio show mixes. To help people get started the band has provided a sample pack download of "Centipede Hz" sounds and radio IDs as well as detailed instructions on how to create your own sounds. More details on user generated mixes is available on the band’s website.

On Tuesday July 31st The Bowery Ballroom will host a show featuring a noteworthy list of Brooklyn based acts, co-headlined by three bands which emerged from the neighborhood’s DIY scene in the late aughts. The variety of sounds on display, from The Death Set‘s furious spaz electro-punk (pictured and streaming) to the Atari powered pop of Anamanaguchi and Ninjasonik‘s electro-Hip Hop, is a testament to that scene’s open mindness and omnivorous-ness. Opening acts are disco rockers Hussle Club and electro noise assaulters FIGO, who will get the atmosphere ready for what promises to be a super fun gig.

So, New Beard is not just a clever name, since the band is indeed dominated by facial hair. The Brooklyn-based five-piece, consisting of Tony Waldman, Ben Wigler, Yazan, Maria Eisen, and “Tuba” Joe Exley (not just a clever alias either), adding a creative take on the low end, is not just your average rock band. The title track of their new album "New Beard City" combines feel-good, jazzy melodies and bouncing rhythms, while “I Walk the Streets” features intricate percussion and moments of calypso beats, haunting distortion, and unexpected modulations, which contrasts with somber, low-key, tuba-centric, “Terran Holiday.” New Beard’s self-proclaimed “weird rock” genre is infectiously entertaining and builds the anticipation of their upcoming show at Unin Hall on August 18. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s interview with the band here.

JBM, the moniker of solo artist Jesse Bryan Marchant, underscores each song with a howl of the isolation and yearning of a much older soul. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Marchant is now based in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, and has released a follow-up to his “only in July” debut called “Stray Ashes.” The singer has already drawn favorable comparisons to that of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Jim James of My Morning Jacket, due in large part to haunting reverb on songs like “Only Now” and “Winter Ghosts.” JMB records most of his work in a cabin in a rainy northern New York town, giving his music an undertone of isolation as he searches within himself. Though JBM may not initially strike an immediate chord with all listeners, it’s in his music’s subtleties that channel his emotionally wrought spirit and draws in audiences. – Read Devon Antonetti’s interview with the artist here.

It’s great to know why musicians do what they do. Why they write songs about heartache or joy. What kind of emotion they’re trying to express. Who they most look up to. That’s the magic of what they do. But then there’s the science of it. How do they make the most raw or sensual sounds come out of their instruments?

For our newest feature, Grinding Gears, we first sit down with guitar extraordinaire Chris Meck, who has been a mainstay in the Kansas City music scene for years. He and his lovely wife Abigail Henderson have been writing music together in The Gaslights, Atlantic Fadeout, and currently, their duo Tiny Horse. Chris, with Abby, is also a co-founder of the Midwest Music Foundation.

Read our interview at the link here!

-Michelle Bacon

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Aputumpu, Birddog Productions, My Social List and Brooklyn Brewery present Breakout Sessions‘ Summer Highlights Fest this Saturday at Brooklyn’s newest venue, Delinquency (1031 Grand St.). The day-long event is not to be missed, and will feature such local luminaries as Grand Rapids, Lost Boy?, The Yellow Dogs, GunFight!, Osekre & the Lucky Bastards, Roadside Graves and more! It’s also the CD release of current Deli NYC Artist of the Month Dust Engineers (streaming below). On top of all these sweet bands, Brooklyn Brewery has generously donated two, two-hour blocks of open bar to the event, which means you’re more than getting your money’s worth. More details here.

This Saturday, July 28, band of three and recent Deli Artist of the Month, Viva Mayday, will be rocking Mercury Lounge in honor of their new full-length record, “Consuela,” named after the band’s beloved mascot. The 10-track album, which has been keeping the group busy for the past two years, highlights the trio’s swaggering and swinging fusion of blues, rock, reggae, and soul. Three tracks are already available to tantalize on the band’s Facebook page, including surf-tinged “Demonic Woman,” funky “Monster,” and gritty “Bay of Pigs” (streaming below). Everyone who attends the show on Saturday will get a copy of “Consuela” upon entry, so don’t miss the chance to get one of the first hard copies. Doors at 7:30pm, 21+. The late show is also feature great line-up, featuring Philly’s Cold Fronts, and NYC favorites, The Click Clack Boom and The Gay Blades. www.vivamayday.com – Meijin Bruttomesso

Singer/songwriter Ben Chase might be the Devendra Banhart of Brooklyn fried soul. Like Banhart, his folk revival group Bird Dog expresses the undercurrents of Americana soul told through an urbanite’s eyes and unique experiences.

While his gritty voice has the ability to chop up lines like a rusty nail, Chase’s matter-of-fact storytelling on songs like ‘Lost Teeth’ (streaming) and ‘Hard Luck Kids,’ belies the Brooklyn singer’s imaginative imagery and warm spirit. With lyrics like ‘I fell into a feeling I can’t explain’ from his just-released ‘River’ EP, it’s hard to think he’s quite as rugged as his last (and louder) release ‘Cabin’ conveyed. But their mix of salt-of-the-earth truth and idealistic romance will make Brooklyners feel at home on the range.

See the band perform when they play Spike Hill on Sun, July 15th with Lynette Williams. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets) – This artist submitted their CD for review here.

Ever want to make chicken schnitzel, but you’re having trouble finding the right music to accompany the recipe? Well… look no further. The Sanctuaries have the perfect blend of indie songwriting charm and culinary know-how to ensure the perfect meal every time.

For the band’s latest EP ‘Not Guilty,’ they’ve included two instructional videos to accompany singles ‘Judgin’ You Is Easy’ and the title track ‘Not Guilty’ (video below). The tracks show off an odd juxtaposition between boyish charm and schoolyard taunts, especially when set to meal preparation visuals.

“Judgin’ you is easy because you’re easy, you were put here just to please me… ” Not the kind of lyrics you usually expect from someone with as sweet a voice as David Stern, but it only helps season the meal to the right temperature. The band’s new EP also includes some fantastically unexpected remixes by Bedouin Tea City Center and Erik Gundel.

Check out their videos below and see the band when when they at Big Snow Buffalo Lodge on August 1st. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

Not Guilty Pt. II from The Sanctuaries on Vimeo.