Mary Page is a sultry, moody Montreal songwriter who recently moved to NYC and released her debut EP, "All Before the Head of State," last week. Her band includes many musicians whose "other" bands we covered here like bass player Turner Stough (Low Water, Bel Air) and drummer Tim McCoy (Savoir Adore, Rarechild). The EP is a compelling (and rather dark for singer songwriter standards) documentation of her journey from her hometown to the Big Apple. "All Before The Head of State" is available for free download on the band’s bandcamp page. See her live at The Delancey on June 15. – (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.

Pulled straight from the sonic viscera of New Jersey, Waking Lights is a powerful quintet that serve quality indie folk rock, reminiscent of bands like Okkervil River and Mumford & Sons (swapping the banjo for the violin). Formed in 2005, the brothers Matthew and Tommy Maroulakos, Dana LaMarca, Kyle McCammon, and Nicole Scorsone are more a family than a band, endlessly digging into the depth of their unique musicality to ultimately create an organic aural experience, driven equally by strong instrumentation and Matthew’s poetic lyrics. After independently releasing their debut EP, The Rabbit Hole, on vinyl in 2009, Waking Lights have pushed themselves to a more fantastical wonderland for their second release, (official release date TBA), paying homage to the heavy rock and roll of Springsteen while maintaining a contemporary tone, resonating the harmonic zeitgeist of today’s counterculture. The band played The Deli Mag’s B.E.A.F. fest two weeks ago, check out this recently completed video. – (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. 

Starlight Girls would have been the ideal band to write the the original soundtrack for the Austin Powers film series – at least, this is what we gather from "Gossip", the only track they have available online. This is a sassy indie pop gem strongly influenced by early 60s pop, with a loungy touch in the form of an addictive piccolo sample that screams "Austin Powers is at this party!!!". This is fun music, you can see these guys live on Sunday June 19th at The Delancey and Thursday June 23 at Bar Matchless!

The Deli is proud to premier last week’s NYC Artists of the Month Nico Blues‘ "Folk Song Number Two" video, the band’s second one after "Living Proof" made its way through the blogosphere and onto MTV. Just wait to see it, the artsy Williamsburg kids won’t be able to wrap their minds around this groundbreaking film trick: "Check it out, man, the guitar’s a camera!" Take it anywhere, put it in the drum set, put it on your lap in the car, show it down the frozen food aisle, all the places your electric guitar typically wouldn’t go. "Get the guitar out of my face, I’m checking e-mails, dude!" Wait, wait, wait, guys, wait… the guitar… it’s a camera! – Don’t miss Nico Blues opening for Blind Melon at Hiro Ballroom on July 1st. – Caitlin Clive

Month’s ago, Flo Anito graced the headline banner of DC Deli’s site as Artist of the Month. She had just debuted a music video off her latest album "No Dust Bunnies", and as of June 1, that video has recieved the grand prize in Ourstage’s Video Finals. Our intern Jessie caught up with her to find out her musical origins, performing at DC memorials, and how she found Rod Stewart. Full interview here…

Catch Flo Anito this Sunday 6/5 at the Sweet Tea Fest at Almaz, 8 pm, and 6/11 at Celebrate Fairfax.

It’s been more than a New York minute since electropop six-piece, Red Wire Black Wire, debuted their synthy and sonorous first album, "Robots and Roses" (2009), but this Saturday at Pianos the band will perform a slew of fresh material. While frontman, Doug P. Walters, aims for a fall/winter release date for an EP, he reveals that the band is in no rush, and in the middle of experimenting in search for a signature sound for the new work. RWBW bust out its new jams and older tunes at 11PM, with Santah, Steel Phantoms, and Dinosaur Bones playing before them. – Abigail P Devora

Releasing a few tracks here and there since founding, freshly graduated Teengirl Fantasy, students Logan Takahashi and Nick Weiss were suddenly shoved into the spotlight with the release of their debut album 7AM last September. Aptly titled, the record’s gentle brand of house music captures the hazy feel of a post-club comedown. With 2010 being a busy year in their fledgling music career, as well as their hefty study scheduled, it’s unsurprising that when I caught up with the duo my casually tossed out greeting is snatched upon as a chance to voice their exhaustion. – Read Dean Van Nguyen’s interview with the band here.

Homeboy Sandman’s presence escalated over the past couple years through his indefatigable hustle and mystifying ability to be performing at every possible open mic in the city on any given night. Compounded with a refreshingly unique rhyme style and ferocious stage presence, it is no surprise that he is finally living his dream. Recent collaborations with Das Racist and KRS-1 plus an episode of MTV’s “MADE” have garnered him even more props. Homeboy Sandman is one of those rappers who loves hip hop with every fiber of his being. He has always been more concerned with building and supporting the scene than fattening his wallet. This positive energy is focused in and channeled through his music infusing it with vitality and charm. – Read BrokeMC interview with Homeboy here.

This Friday marks the series finale of the nationally broadcasted music video TV show Strictly Global, based out of northern Virginia. It has been in syndication for 9 seasons, and hosted by Dawn Reed over the past 3 years, reeling in DC based indie bands as often as possible amongst its playlist of international bands. Tune in at 10 PM on 6-3-2011 to catch an interview with DC rock guitarist/singer Joshua Padgett of The Chance who will talk about their upcoming summer release New York City Girls, their new live line-up, and throughout the hour several of their new songs will be previewed including "You", "Forever", and the title track "New York City Girls."

Catch them live the same night at Rock & Roll Hotel along with The Honeyguns and the Electric 11s.

The Music Frees All Festival, which delivers some of the finest funk, afrobeat, soul, hip hop and reggae music acts from the five boroughs, began last night at Southpaw. Its founder, Miles Arntzen, created this three-day, three-venue festival not only to support a community of these musicians and celebrate their music, but also to encourage the famously "static" NYC audience to let go and dance! Expect to hear funkadelic tunes from Turkuaz and soulful spoken word/rap from NYC’s own Super Osei & Seattle based M$ney Jungle. The concerts at Southpaw (Night 1) and Public Assembly (Night 2) kick off at 8 PM and showcase four different bands and a DJ to continue the dance party. The Music Frees All Festival finally makes its way to Manhattan at Drom on its closing night. All the proceeds of this show will go towards the Scotty Hard Trust to help financially support the medical needs of Scotty Hard, an NYC-based music producer who became partially paralyzed after an automobile accident in 2008. While this show is a benefit, there will be no shortage of bootyshaking music from Nyle vs. Naysayers serving up clever rhymes and beats to Arntzen’s own band, EMEFE (in the picture), delivering dangerously danceable afrobeat. For more information go here. – Abigail P. Devora