Sonically, Brooklyn based duo Tiny Victories could be defined as a shoegazer interpretation of electro-rock, their songs filled with droney parts, but without giving up the textural details of electronica. However, their sober melodies seem to find inspiration in the controlled and almost austere vocal delivery of post punk heroes Husker Du or their DIY followers Parts & Labor. Today the band is releasing their debut EP "Those Of Us Still Alive", and then hop on a van to tour their way down to Texas for some SXSW related shows.

Blonde Valhalla (who made it in our recent Best of NYC Year End Poll for emerging artists) is ex-Suckers drummer Brian Aiken’s new band, and it comes across as a homage to the sounds of brainy electronic acts of the 80s like early Ultravox, Depeche Mode, Cars and even Brian Eno at times. Born as a one-man project, it has now expanded to a 7 piece, including musicians previously involved in Clouty, Shit Yeah Girl, Po Johnson, and Let’s Go Serotonin. You can see Blonde Valhalla live at The Delancey on 02.28.

Boston based post-punk rock band Grass is Green has a sound that leaves us wanting to hear more. Resisting the tendency of certain bands to blend their albums into one long song, these guys offer a huge variety of sonic elements ranging from math rock angularity to lo-fi casual attitude. With two albums already under their belt, Grass is Green is putting out a new CD, “Ronson,” which will be presented in NYC with a release party on Sunday, March 4 at Pianos. Hear the single "Nice Guy of the Year Award" below. – Christine Cauthen

Based out of Gowanus, the NYC neighborhood best known for its polluted canal (which helps keep the area’s rents relatively affordable), Lightouts boast an appreciation for punchy tunes filled with power chords. After playing CMJ and local Brooklyn haunts The Knitting Factory, Union Hall and Rock Shop, the band has caught some buzz. They released their fourth single, “The Cure for Shyness” on February 7^th, an energetic anthem which displays an evolution in their musical aesthetic towards faster bpms and fuller wall of sounds. Be sure to catch them at SXSW and you can listen to their new single streaming below. – Chelsea Eriksen

Not to be confused with avant-soul group Ava Luna (who played our 29th issue party last night), Avan Lava is an electronic Brooklyn band that seems to find inspiration in Prince’s mix of dancy tunes and irresistible soul melodies, sung in a vocal range alternating from tenor to falsetto. This is music with the potential to animate a lot of upcoming parties, check them out on 02.25 at Mercury Lounge for their CD release party. Opening, Chrome Canyon, formed by ex members of legendary Apes & Androids, which were featured on the cover of The Deli’s 15th issue – that was 2007.

This may sound surprising, but ARMS is one of the first NYC bands I ever heard.The song was “Heat and Hot Water”, and the year was 2009 – I was 16. The setting was an NYU dorm room. I don’t think I had ever fallen in love with a song like I fell in love with that song, playing it over and over and over again, much to the annoyance of everyone around me. Naturally, I was thrilled when I heard about the band’s new album, "Summer Skills," released in November, but upon first listen what I heard exceeded even my wildest expectations. The album (which features a newly recorded version of my favorite song) is beautiful and conveys blissfully melancholy in the best way. Songs like “Sore” and “Curtains” stir up nostalgic feelings that you can’t quite put your finger on but are powerful and passionate like the best summer memories. – See ARMS at The Mercury Lounge on February 28 with Glass Ghost (who graced the cover of our magazine a few years ago), read Amanda Dissinger’s interview with front man Todd Goldstein here.

Like a young Gillian Welch, songstress Madi Diaz has absorbed the best of Nashville into her alt-country bag of tricks. Along with co-songwriter Kyle Ryan, Diaz has been writing and performing since attending the Paul Green School of Rock Music as a teenager. Now she’s re-packaged classics from her catalogue along with some new nuggets for her first release off eclectic label TinyOGRE Entertainment. "Plastic Moon" finds the artist in a romantic mood, with tracks like ‘Gimme a Kiss’ and ‘Love You Now’ as perfect excuses to take a summer drive with that person you just met over Valentine’s Day. Madi will be playing The Deli’s UN-OFF party at Austin’s Gypsy Lounge on 03.15, the show will be announced soon. – Mike Levine

After two EPs, both released in 2009, Seattle sextet Sweet Secrets saw their first full-length album hit the shelves of local record stores back in December. The 12-track deep Color Force is a collection of easy-to-digest indie pop tunes that often hint at an underlying, folky sensibility. Standout numbers include the understated, but stirring opener, “Air Travel”, and slow-burning foot-tapper “Pinhole Camera”, both of which have been getting spins on KEXP. The record is accessible, without being conventional – a testament to Sweet Secrets’ ability to craft songs that are at once appealing to the masses, while maintaining every bit of credibility they’ve accrued since their formation in 2008. Frontman Roger Lloyd’s voice anchors tracks like “Evidence of Good Times”, with Eleni Romano’s pristine backing vocals and Corrina MacFarlane’s subtle violin accenting a rich bed of instrumentation. The band markets themselves as the purveyors of music for smart, sexy individuals, and for the most part, this album delivers the goods. Sweet Secrets will be playing a benefit concert for Planned Parenthood at the Sunset Tavern this Sunday, along with former Deli band of the month, NoRey, and the Volcano Diary.

– Kate Shepherd

Atmospheric pop ensemble Hands are definitely one of the most interesting new bands coming out of the City of Angels – that’s probably why they did very well in our year end poll for emerging LA artists – where they placed 11th. The band will enjoy an exciting spring, with a series of shows scheduled in Austin during SXSW (including the Buzzbands LA Day Party) and an EP release in April. They just launched the video for the single "Warm Night Home," which will be featured in the records.

Deli followers,

After Thursday’s sonic awesomeness at Pianos, The Deli has another show scheduled for Friday February 24 at The Mercury Lounge – it’s our 29th issue party! We’ll have four deli-ghtful bands, including Ava Luna of course, who graced our latest issue’s cover (you can read the issue in pdf format here).

Check out their music streaming below, and join us on Friday if you wish.

8.00 – CINDY LOU GOODEN (ex-Very Fresh)

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9.00 – DARLINGS

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10.00 – CELESTIAL SHORE

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11.00 – AVA LUNA

The Deli’s Staff