What started off as a side project for Autry Fulbright (And They Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead, ex-Midnight Masses), Peter Hale (Here We Go Magic, ex-Boggs, ex-Midnight Masses), Eric Rodgers (VHS or BETA, ex-Midnight Masses) and Leif Huckman (the Boggs), Haunted Hauses has the potential to become a main course served by the NYC music scene – isn’t that what happened to Here We Go Magic anyway? While these musicians’ busy schedules can make it difficult for them to get together, the group is making it work, involving another former Boggs member, Alex Luther, on the drums whenever Hale has Here We Go Magic commitments. Influenced by 1970s kraut-rock (in their Facebook page the band states "Neu! York" as their hometown), Haunted Hauses has a unique sound full of Can inspired rhythms, tight harmonies, bouncy bass and textural guitar and keyboard elements. The songs sound light and fun but have a certain intellectual aura, at times reminiscent of Brian Eno’s early records. Co-vocalist and lyricist Fulbright gives more insight: “I feel free to write about anything, though the very name of the band hints at a prevailing theme: songs about nostalgia and reflecting on loss. Still, it’s more upbeat. More like moving forward rather than looking behind.” You can check these guys out September 1st at Union Pool. Highly recommended! – Kristen Ferreira

NYC musician John Brodeur reached the sem-finals at the Googie’s Lounge Songwriting competition. He recently released "Tiger Pop Ten", a 2-CD set featuring a newly recorded version of his debut album coupled with a 10th-anniversary reissue of the original disc. The other semi-finalist is Massachusetts’ enfant prodige Grace Kelly. The final night of the competition will be at 154 Ludlow Street NYC on August 30th.

With structural nods to local favorites The Head And The Heart, and some subtle Nirvana influences poking through the vocals, Pocket Panda are an exciting confluence of new and old Seattle.

There’s not much out there, but the six Pocket Panda songs I was able to find between their myspace page and iTunes provide a promising start for a new local band.  First thing you notice about the band is front man Eric Herbig’s gritty vocals and they way they contrast against hooky piano riffs and co-vocalist Megan Jade’s softer harmonies.  Sometimes this contrast arrives in something I would describe as Grand Hallway meets Nirvana (see "The Vampire"), but more so it comes to us in a folk-rock based package (see personal favorite "City").  It’s good music to throw down on a Sunday morning, and just as welcome on a Thursday night. 

With such a small sample size currently available, it’s welcomed news that Pocket Panda are planning to release a second EP around October, followed by a northwest tour in support of the EP. You can also catch them debuting new song "My Brother The Dreamer" at the Conor Byrne Pub in Ballard tonight.

–Wes McMahon-

 In this modern age, it sometimes seems almost too easy to learn all the pertinent details of a musical act’s biography with a simple click of the mouse.  Such is not the case with Seattle’s Broomsticks.  Very little information can be found about this project, and the facts that are available are somewhat contradictary.  The band may be the project of one Barry Whitehead, it may be a husband/wife duo featuring Ruben Mendez and Lacey Swain, or perhaps, all three are involved.  There is rumor of Broomsticks involvement with the so-called "pizza party scene."  The band may be on a label called Haunted Horse Records, if said label does exist.  What we do know: Mendez and Swain are former members of punk act Charming Snakes, and Broomsticks will be opening for Chicago’s Disappears and Brooklynites Obits tonight at the Crocodile.  If the dirty-garage track posted below, "Ghost," is any indication, this is a band worth investigating, so head down to Beltown tonight and see for yourself what Broomsticks are all about.  

Ghost by broomsticks

NYC’s The Nico Blues may enjoy theblues, but they are in no way an obvious blues band, nor are any of their members named Nico. The quintet’s latest record, “Blame the Boredom, Blame the Basement,” commences with hard hitting percussion, crunching guitars, and vocals that trade-off between melodious and roaring on “Three’s a Crowd.” The record carries on with highlights, an appropriate titled, twangy “Folk Song #2,” which indeed has folksy undertones, psychedelic and seductive “Living Proof” and “Story With a Purpose,” dark and dancy “Unprofessional,” and fast-paced alt-rock closer, “Adjust Accordingly.” The Nico Blues gather up their roots in rock, folk, blues, and punk to formulate widely appealing hooks. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s Q&A with the band here.

Here at The Deli we take pride of our "band genre labeling", but with acts like The Budos Band, classification is subject to change. They’ve been making music together since 2005, and they’ve gone from producing classic afrobeat to something closer to Black Sabbath. It’s typical for an artist to evolve subtly as his musical interests change, but with ten heads in the game, it’s no wonder why The Budos Band’s music has turned so many corners. In the writing process, a wide variety of influences is brought in to make a unique sound, which could now be called “a sort of afro rock thing.”  – Read Caitlin Clive’s Q&A with the band here.

Ohnomoon may not seem like they’re in a rush, but trust me… they’re moving plenty fast. While their music’s got the whole slow-motion moodiness thing down pat, this Astoria-based band’s been laying a fast path around town. They played their first show just this past January, and have been playing out almost every weekend since. They recorded a bunch of material last March at Astoria Soundworks, and the one song they released from this record has hit its download limit on the band’s Soundcloud after being available for less than a month. The slowly ambling ‘Sleeping Limbs’ has a hook that pulls inward as singer Kat Lee breathes out ‘Protect me from what I Want’ into the track’s many empty spaces. This somnambulant moodiness gives way to a riotous finish when the band tries their best to disturb Kat’s softly pedaling vocals… but to no avail. Kat knows what she wants and keeps pace to her own rhythm, and I’m excited to see where she takes things next. Hopefully they’ll give us some new recordings soon. For now, they’ve got a couple shows coming up in early September. See them when they play at Don Pedro on September 2, and check out ‘Sleeping Limbs’ here. – Mike Levine (@goldnuggets)

Dolchnakov Brigade will be playing at Fontana’s NYC (Eldridge Street between Broome and Grand) on 08.19, and if what you need is a zany Friday night, look no further. Expect masked backup dancers banging big drums, vegetables thrown at the audience, and hilarious electro-rock songs like “Baltimore on Fire” and “Dating in Space”. Check out what Phyllis Diller had to say about this here.

The Stepkids are a NYC/Connecticut based trio that plays an interesting blend of groovy psych-lounge in indie/DIY sauce. The soulful vocals and psychedelic keyboard and guitar flourishes add extra complexity and depth to the sound – one of the most refreshing we stumbled upon recently. Check out their songs, on their Myspace profile, they are all noteworthy. And if you don’t have anything going on tonight, you can see them at The Mercury Lounge as part of Spotify’s Late Nights, with another Deli favorite: Delicate Steve.

Mp3: The Stepkids: "Legend"

NYC based established singer songwriter Rachel Yamagata is going DIY with her upcoming album "Chesapeake", which will be released in October on her own label Frankenfish Records. The fact that an artist with Rachel’s talent and profile (who was signed to RCA and Warner Bros) is choosing the DIY route speaks volumes about the current state of the record industry. NYC fans will be able to see her live at The knit on November 4. Enjoy her brand new video.