NYC music lovers into charity and the mellow, thoughtful, jazzy pop style of female songwriters such as Fiona Apple and Norah Jones may want to head to Tenth Rail on 413 Tenth Ave @ 33rd St. tonight (Thursday 04.21) for what promises to be a rather smooth night in company of 3 talented NYC female singer-songwriters. Allison Tartalia (pictured) distinguishes herself for a slightly aggressive songwriting edge and for sophisticated arrangements that range from the orchestral to the electronic. Alexa Wilkinson, who has toured and shared the stage with Ingrid Michaelson and Bess Rogers amongst others, offers more intimate songs with big melodic openings, while Chloe Temtchine, who had the good fortune to licence a song for an American Express TV commercial, is the more folky of the bunch, preferring to have her beautiful voice accompanied by a simple acoustic guitar.

Baltimore’s folk-noise duo Wye Oak have collaborated with B-more artist Katherine Fahey and photographer Michael O’Leary to make a sweet video for "Fish" from their latest album Civilian, which was also featured as DC Deli’s Album of the month back in March. Check out the video below.

I’ve been following DC’s alt. art-rockers The Chance ever since I picked up their s/t debut EP in the local punk section at Tower Records (RIP!) years ago. I’ve heard their sound progress from DIY punk to epic arena rock, and after several line-up changes over the years, it now appears that Joshua Padgett (vocals/guitar) and Viraj DeSilva (drummer) have found their bass niche in Christian Baldo (Death by Sexy), all of whom totally brought it in a powerful way to Black Cat’s mainstage last Friday.

Their set kicked off with the title track off their upcoming release "New York City Girls", a ridiculously catchy anthem about high-heeled chicks in said metropolis that combines elements of pop rock and fuzz, complete with a memorable chant along chorus, a danceable rhythm section, and guitar licks that remain in your subconscious and emerge again at the sight of a skyscraper.  To say the least, it set the pace for the rest of their set featuring tracks that harped on a vast spectrum of genre, including noise, shoegaze, 80’s metal, alternative, and even a bit of goth as Padgett’s falsetto reached Siouxsie-like quality tinged with, I’m going there, a Latino octave-changing yodel, which was very apparent during "The Abyss of Love."

Also apparent during "Abyss" was the near mimicked moves throughout the crowd following the swaying onstage from Padgett and Baldo. DeSilva’s gargantuan pounding beat was spot on as keys swirled over layers of intensified loops that continued to grow until its fulfilling climax, proving it to be their most dance-friendly track to date.  Following soon after was their ballad "Lapdance in Heaven" that went from beautiful string plucks and synths to a beyond awesome guitar solo from Padgett that was the most Frank Zappa/Stevie Ray Vaughan thing I’ve ever witnessed at the Cat, and something I’d only expect to hear/see at a 100,000 capacity stadium.  At one point during the epic battle of the pick, some staff got onto the house’s light board and turned the stage into a complementary light show- enhancing the journey up and down the fretboard, and thusly validating the arena potential The Chance has grown into.  And based on the crowd’s reaction, we heard it too. (Gif by Chris B. Pic by Binh Ngo.)  –Dawn

We keep exposing the bands and artists that made our latest Best of NYC Emerging Artists Poll – Jangula placed 93rd.

Jangula creates an ethereal, spacey mood with beats that are like liquid crack, a deadly combination in anything besides music. Pulling off a music conundrum, just listen to “Genji Glove” and “Pachinko” both of which mix a frantic backbeat with dainty synth pinches. This fresh band released their first EP in 2010 and is currently working on their next effort, which includes the new single “Light Left Hand.” Having had opened for Yacht and The Postelles, you may want catch this band when they play next at Brooklyn Bowl on May 25. – Michele McManmon

The Tablets is the newest project of Liz Godoy (also half of the fearsome sparrow, best new band 2009 nominee by the Deli magazine) They were recently blogged about by Double Denim Records: "This one from The Tablets drips with a hazy sound reminiscent of ‘Young Liars’-era TV On The Radio. Blown-out toy drums tick with lo-fi abandon alongside fuzzed out bass and withdrawn organ while singer Liz recalls Nico with her deadpan delivery and slightly strange enunciation. Honeyed pop melodies hold things together into a nice gooey mess". Deli favorite song from their Myspace profile is "I Love You in Your Tragic Beauty" (candidate for best song title of 2011 by the way) – that sounds like some kind of hybrid of The Pentangles and Vivian Girls. The Tablets will be playing at Public Assembly on May 13th 2011.- (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.

A collective of musicians led by former Cloud Room members Dave Horowitz and Steve Milton, Lavalier churn out a well-crafted range of chamber pop that should satisfy the palates of all kinds of music lovers. The band just debuted this lo-fi collage-style video for the song "Santa Claus Ain’t Coming". One of their most rocking tracks to date, the track revolves around a very Pixies-ish (or "Pixian"?) alternation of tempos (4/4 and 6/4) and a melody reminiscent of the best post-Beatles Lennon. We like this a lot. Lavalier (Deli NYC Band of the Month in January) will be playing The Deli’s NYC B.E.A.F. (Best of Emerging Artist Fest) in Williamsburg on May 2011 together with about 50 other up and coming NYC artists.

If By Yes is the avant-pop supergroup helmed by LA based Petra Haden (that dog, Decemberists) and NYC’s Yuka Honda (Cibo Matto, Sean Lennon) also featuring Hirotaka Shimizu and Yuko Araki of Cornelius. The collaboration began way back in 2002, when the Petra and Yuka started working on some material via email, but the distance separating the two didn’t allow them to keep a quick creative pace. Fast forward almost ten years, and If By Yes finally managed to release their debut album "Salt On Sea Glass" on Sean Lennon’s Chimera label, which was greeted by good press in places like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, LA Times etc. If By Yes’ "Eliza" (Petra’s duet with David Byrne) will be in the film "This Must Be The Place," starring Sean Penn, which comes out later this year.

Louisiana born, SF bred Painted Palms is sure going to have a memorable spring of 2011. The highly respected indie label Secretly Canadian just announced that will be releasing the band’s debut EP "Canopy" on April 26 (it was released independently in November 2010). Iimmediately after the release date the spacey avant-indie duo will embark on a US tour with Of Montreal. Fans of Animal Collective might enjoy the free mp3 embedded here.

MP3: Painted Palms – All of Us

Imagine the best coffee shop you know… no wait… the coffee shop of your dreams. Jars of beans rest on wooden counters, and the space is sunny and peaceful. There is a small (but acoustically perfect) stage. Now imagine who would play there. I’ve got an idea. Tony Scherr has a multitude of recording credits to his name, so he’d obviously be no open-mic man. His mastery of his instrument is clear, as is the sound he’s going for. There is a country twang, but enough rock sensibility to please those who scare easy when they hear the "c" word. Scherr‘s voice is soft and weathered, and fits his work like a well-worn, comfortable glove. Don’t miss the cover of "Wild Horses." You won’t regret it. – Tony Scherr placed at #95 in The Deli’s Best of NYC Emerging Artists 2010. – allison levin

It amazes me how much mileage Crsystal Stilts keep getting out of their rigid formula of garagey surf rock. The band’s been around now the better half of a decade (also landing of the cover of a Deli mag in the meantime) and released more than a handful of tight, cohesive albums, each adhering to this same formula, but managing to sound unique within the band’s growing canon. One might expect things to begin getting a bit tired by this point. But instead of contracting, Crystal Stilts’ bizarre little spacebeach just keeps getting bigger.
In Love with Oblivion (Slumberland Records) is Crsystal Stilts boldest step yet into their strange and curious world. While this record marks a much more playful and exploratory use of electronics and guitars, the biggest leap forward here is Brad Hargett’s voice. He displays an unexpected range on songs like ‘Blood Barons,’ and some of his lyrics are great (at least when I can understand them).
Beyond this, In Love with Oblivion gives us some of Crystal Stilts’ catchiest songs, lovingly coupled with some of their strangest sonic adventures to date. ‘Shake the Shackles’ is catchy as hell, while ‘Invisible City’ is so dance-ready it strangely recalls Dub Narcotic Sound System. The experimentation from the squeaks and squawks in opener ‘Sycamore Tree,’ to the nearly 40 second long fadeout at the end of ‘Alien Rivers’ sounds like the band’s dance party is traveling the cosmos. This is an LP with a much fuller vision than most of their surf rock Brooklyn peers, and one that reveals itself more fully with each subsequent listen. Next time you host a dance party on an outer space beach, be sure to bring this record along to the cabana. – Mike Levine

Many of you may remember Rahim, an angular, post rockish indie band signed to Les Savy Fav’s Frenchkiss Records. Some of the members previously involved with that project formed RARECHILD, which released a debut 7" in January (cover in the picture). Rare Child shares with Rahim a rock sound rich in percussive sounds, although here we find ourselves immersed in decidedly less aggressive and more mysterious and sophisticated 80s atmospheres, reminiscent of Depeche Mode (in the vocal department) and Peter Gabriel (in the arrangements). You can see Rare Child live at Pianos on April 26 and at Glasslands on May 04.

Hey fellow NYCers,

We have a super fun Deli-BMI party happening on Wednesday April 20th at Le Poisson Rouge in the West Village.

Eclectic, dazzling and somewhat bizarre indie poppers Rubblebucket will be releasing their new album "Omega La La" and kick off their US tour. Full horn section is expected for this show.

Two brilliant synth fiddler arounders will be showcasing their dancey electronic compositions ranging from Com Truise‘s electronic experimental jams to the’80s infused pop songs of (Florida based) Million Young.

This is going to be a fun show, hope to see you there!

The Deli’s Staff