Fans of the dark electro-pop sound of the 80s don’t want to miss 2 Brooklyn based bands that are obviously inspired by the slightly robotic scene that expressed rad bands like Eurythmics and Depeche Mode. The bands in questions are Rewards (led by ex Chairlift guitarist Aaron Pfenning) and Val Loper ‘s young brainchild Rubbing Alcohol, which released a debut 2 song EP streaming here last December.

On Dead Leaf Echo‘s most recent single "Kingmaker," (streaming below, now out via Custom Made Music) you can almost feel the spirit of 90’s dreamgaze bands like Chapterhouse flowing through this modern updating of that classic sound. This shouldn’t surprise, since DLE was hand picked by that legendary band to open their reunion show in Brooklyn last year. Other similarities may be evident due to the hiring of legendary 4AD producer John Fryer, who added his ethereal mixing touch to the track. The song is more complex than much of that era’s simpler compositions, and showcases the band’s evolution towards a more personal sound. The track will be included on their forthcoming album titled "Thought and Language." The band is also is planning another 7" split single, coming out on the California based Green Fuse Records this spring/summer. Two new videos are also in the works as is a March tour, which will take them down to the SXSW Festival. – Dave Cromwell

Fronted by Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen, NYC’s The Pretty Reckless combines killer lyrics with seriously spirited guitar riffs on the debut album, "Light Me Up." Momsen’s voice is a perfect accompaniment to the band’s solid alt-rock sound – adding a feminine and yet dangerous edge to the music. Momsen, who is just 18, wrote all the songs on the album, with the band’s lead guitarist, Ben Phillips. Their breakout hit, "Make Me Wanna Die" caught the attention of hard-rock loyalists everywhere, while the ballad "You" (see its rather sensual official video here) took care of the layer of fans more interested in sentimental values. Their second EP, "Hit Me Like a Man," is set to be released on March 6th and will feature three new songs and two live songs from their "Light Me Up" tour. – Jen Mergott

“Second Year In Swine” may not roll of the tongue very easily, but mid-fi rockers Rotary Club nonetheless dubbed their sophomore album with the odd phrasing after seeing it on a flyer years ago. Headed by multi-nstrumentalist Tom Devaney, the New York-via-Boston ensemble mixes a little art with a lot of melody, offering a sound that mixes psychedelic layers with rock attitude and feels like a Meat Puppets/Love collaboration. The band will celebrate the album’s release with East Coast shows this Spring, starting March 3rd at Red Hook Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn. – Devon Antonetti

Mrs. Magician might be only a couple small steps away from Spacemen 3 in sound, but in personality, they hail from an entirely different sounding garage. Channeling dissatisfaction with everything from God to nightlife to the ’80s, singer Jacob Turnbloom and guitarist Tommy Garcia are able to make the blues come out sounding about as sweet as you’ve ever heard it, like something went wrong on their way to being pissed off, and before they knew it, their catchy hooks got the better of them. Perhaps some of the band’s strange fascination with the supernatural will be satisfied when their sophomore record ‘Strange Heaven’ drops April 17th on Turnbloom’s own label, Thrill Me! Records. The album includes crowd favorites, like the unexpectedly catchy ‘There is no God,’ and the jangly drug anthem of the year: ‘I’m Gonna Hangout With The Lesbians Next Door & Drop Acid.’ This is an album that delivers its medicine with plenty of sugar the whole way through. Preview their new record here and see them at The Troubadour on March 29. – Mike Levine

The SXSW-bound Craft Spells will be partnering up with Brooklyn-based indie pop band, the Drums, for a spring tour. Shamelessly retro and unabashedly catchy, the Seattle-based band has produced a full-length album and two EPs of buoyant pop tunes as indebted to Morrissey’s melancholia as they are to the synth-happy songsmiths that they so resemble. Craft Spells pair lighthearted and nostalgic instrumentation with frontman Justin Vallesteros’ whispery utterances, and the combination makes for dreamy soundscapes reminiscent of Vallesteros’ native California. Their first full-length album, Idle Labor, captures the dichotomy in 11 tracks. “Party Talk“ walks the line between dreamy and visceral, with airy melodies and hauntingly morose vocals squaring off against toe-tapping synthetic beats and decidedly party-ready guitar lines. Originally a one-man project, the addition of Jack Doyle Smith, Peter Michel and Javier Suarez adds layers of pulsing rhythms and humming guitars. Stoked by effusive online coverage and approval, the band’s success has taken them overseas on international tours, moving from bedroom recording sessions to headlining slots in a matter just a few years.After six appearances at the Austin festival, the latest Deli Band of the Month will kick off a 19-date tour on April 21 that will take them across the U.S. and Canada. Craft Spells will wrap the tour at this year’s Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, WA.

– Kate Shepherd

Kit Oh Nein! is the latest musical endeavor of The Hotwalls’ singer, Ryan Milligan. Their debut album, which was written entirely by Milligan, is a departure from previous projects into a more distorted and reverb-happy version of an indie pop group. "KON!", an acronym for the band’s name, is a fast moving album with an average track time of around two minutes. The album has a distinctive garage band sound with a polished indie twist and the songs are a disorienting trip down the rabbit hole. Echoing vocals, guitar reverb and spacey organ riffs give Kit Oh Nein!’s songs a dream-like quality. – Jen Mergott

Computer Magic – solo project of 22-year-old DJ Danielle Johnson – is making some big moves. This native New Yorker (hailing from upstate) is slated to release first full length via Kitsuné later this year. In the mean time, she’ll be releasing a selection of these tracks on the EP "Orion," set to drop March 12 – you can stream the single "Trinity" below. A little dreamy, a little sci-fi, with positively thumping beats, Computer Magic will be touring throughout this month, including stops at SXSW and a Webster Hall date supporting Of Montreal. – Corinne Bagish

On her upcoming debut album “King Con,” singer Alex Winston blends together everything interesting about her hometown of Detroit. Her lyrics dwell on everyday eccentricities, and their 60’s pop hooks only help to get them stuck in your head. Now in New York and already backed by an EP and growing Internet buzz, Winston’s music is light and accessible, joyful and intoxicating. And it should be with a production team that includes electro-poppers The Knocks. “King Con” won’t be released until April, but fans can check out the video for her first single, “Fire Ants,” which recently premiered on Stereogum. – Devon Antonetti

This year The Deli is in Austin during the unmentionable festival with a 2 stage party on Thursday March 15 (that’s tonight!) at the Gypsy Lounge in the East Side!

Awesome dancey bands on the outdoors stage will tempt the audience to some wild booty shakin’ action, while indoors fantastic rock and alt folk acts will alternatively punch you and sooth your soul. Check this lineup out and (if you are going to be in Austin) do not miss! –

This is a free event (no badge required) but please RSVP here to get priority access.

OUTDOORS STAGE
11pm Reptar (Atlanta)
10pm Body Language (NYC/CT)
9pm The Stepkids (NYC/CT)
8pm Gangstagrass (NYC)
7pm Vacationer (Philly)

INDOORS STAGE
1:30 Diavel (NYC)
12:45 BK & Mr. E (Austin)
12:00 ARMS (NYC)
11:15 Madi Diaz (Nashville)
10:30 Radiation City (portland)
9:45 Lucius (NYC)
9:00 Onward Soldiers (NC)
8:20 Loquat (SF)
7:40 The Veda Rays (NYC)
7:00 Jay Stolar (NYC)

RSVP HERE!!!

The Deli’s Staff

Boy Friend, the dreamy pop duo consisting of Austin musicians Christa Palazzolo and Sarah Brown, was fueled by the “rough breakup” of their previous band, and is sustained by a friendship spanning some 15 years. With watery, delayed guitars swimming through cloudscapes of slow synth melodies and beats that at times verge on trip-hop, Boy Friend’s music provides a warm backdrop for the duo’s soft, airy vocals and lyrics that float between love and longing. Their first LP, Egyptian Wrinkle, would be a perfect soundtrack to vague opium dreams about the girl next door, or a romantic, slow-motion montage in the next Ryan Gosling movie. It was released on February 6th by Hell Yes! records on a limited pressing of pink marble vinyl. – Brandt Kempin

Songwriters Tony Daugherty and Michael Winningham grew up on the same street in Houston, and after writing songs together since they were in their teens, they decided to relocate to Austin to put a band together. This band is called Gold Beach, a name inspired by the Oregon town where the Rogue River meets the Pacific Ocean. Now some kind of collective including a plethora of regional talent, Gold Beach manages to keep its sound sparse and intimate, notwithstanding the expanding lineup.

Mp3: Gold Beach: "The Soft Effect"