Deli Summer 2008 cover band Buke and Gass‘ raise to legendary status seems to proceed unstoppably. After supporting SF experimental indie masters Deerhoof, the band was asked to open for NYC scene legends Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson on Tuesday 02.15 at John Zorn’s venue The Stone in the East Village.
The Brooklyn based duo of multi-instrumentalists builds their own instruments and has forged one of the most edgy, unique and innovative sounds we’ve heard in a long time. This show’s ticket might be a little expensive for our readers ($40), but these guys play regularly regular and DIY venues in the two rock NY boroughs – if you can’t afford this show, don’t miss their next affordable show.
Read: The Deli’s feature about Buke and Gass – Delicious Audio interview with Buke and Gass about their instruments

Redhook flies under the radar in the NYC music scene but is home to two great venues, Jalopy and Sunny’s which are the epicenters for NYC’s roots/bluegrass revival. Here musicians come together to perform, jam and learn from each other. The Rooftops will be playing Jalopy Theatre this Thursday and you want to check out this lively scene before it blows up.
The Rooftops are a new band that has been nurtured by this bluegrass and old-time scene, they have played at BB Kings, Jalopy and Banjo Jim’s. This show will showcase the release of the their new EP. Unlike those who pick up the banjo simply to tinker with the open tuning and the novel sound, this band can actually play it. They may not be the easiest to Google, but their music proves to be more original than their name. They’ll be sharing the stage with WA songwriter Ali Marcus The Rooftops go on at 9PM, Ali Marcus plays at 10PM, cover is $10. Jalopy is a little hard to find so look it up first. – Alex Borsody

Singer-songwriter, Alex Vans, has released a new EP titled Old Souls and Other Cellar Songs that has been filling my stereo (alongside his self-titled EP, released in April of last year) this week with his ragged voice and blues guitar. He’s also been cool enough to offer the new EP for free for a limited time if you sign up for his mailing list. 

The thing that will surprise you about these EP’s is not Alex’s emotional voice or his masterful guitar playing, it’s just how versatile his songwriting is. The tracks span effortlessly between bright pop songs, wrenching and raunchy blues anthems (with harmonicas blaring) and delicately lamenting ballads. The common thread amongst these songs is a bare, exposed arrangement of chords and words that lets your ears know that what they’re hearing is utterly honest.

You can wash away your Valentine’s Day hangovers with Alex Vans next week at Iota on February 15th. He’ll be opening for Star FK Radium along with a handful of other like-minded artists. (8:30, $10 Cover.) -Jarrett

Photo Credit: Bruce Willen

Baltimore rockers Double Dagger and their stripped-down and modernized garage punk are making an overdue appearance at Black Cat on February 24th. ($8.00 Backstage, Doors open at 8:30) They’ll be sharing the stage with Imperial China and Tiny Bombs. You can expect a show that’s loud, intense, fun and that doesn’t always take itself too seriously. It’ll be a great time. Now, if only I could convince them to start scheduling shows when I’m not out of town…

-Jarrett

Remember when you fell in love with Chan Marshall? Late 90s Chan, before she got sober, and her messy, moody, melodic sound and cute haircuts wooed us into her web.
Get ready to be wounded by the dark, beautiful sounds of LA’s Chelsea Wolfe, celebrating the release of her new album “The Grime and the Glow” tonight (Saturday 02.12) at Show Cave. Joined by her PENDU NYC label owner and DJ Todd Pendu plus The Present Moment, King Dude, WhITCH, and Robert Disaro, this show should produce many surprises and broken hearts. – Whitney Phaneuf

Smart, sensitive and wielding accordions, Dark Dark Dark is a nomadic tribe spreading its love of making music across the globe. Nona Marie Invie and Marshall LaCount met and almost instantly hit the road, forming Dark Dark Dark in 2007. Today the pair is joined by equally enthusiastic instrumentalists — Todd Chandler, Jonathan Kaiser, Walt McClements and Brett Bullion — who contribute to the haunting, lush melodies created by a moody mix of piano, banjos, horns, accordions, vocals and more. While known for passionate live performances, Dark Dark Dark captures this energy on its new album “Wild Go,” the follow up to its well-received EP “Bright Bright Bright.” As heard in the new single “Daydreaming,” the genre-defying music gains a dreamlike quality through Invie’s childlike vocals and personal lyrics. Members of Dark Dark Dark hail from Minneapolis, New York City and New Orleans, but belong only to the strange world they’ve together created. – Read Whitney Phaneuf interview with the band here.

The last few months were an exciting time for NYC indie rockers Grandfather – the band recorded their debut CD in Chicago with master sound engineer Steve Albini (the guy doesn’t like to be called a "producer", although he is one), and then opened for legendary post punk pioneers Mission of Burma at Maxwell at the end of January. Deli contributor Dave Cromwell had the chance to review the guys record and ask them a few questions, read the interview here.

I have one question about Alex Winston. Where does she hide the helium tank? Don’t get me wrong, Sister Wife (download link under the video) is a light and fun jaunt, with soaring melodies and satisfying hooks…but I’m serious about that helium thing. Winston’s soprano is so ethereal and high, that I feel like she’s sucking birthday balloons dry before recording each track. Kate Bush fans, rejoice! Title track "Sister Wife" catches you with the "ooooh," so hard you don’t even realize it’s about bigamy. And let me say, it’s one of the best songs about bigamy I’ve heard since…a while. Her debut EP is consistently filled with breathy girlpop dreamscapes that lets your mind wander, with enough of a backing beat to keep you from floating away – "Choice Notes" and "Fingers and Toes" especially. "Sweet James" is a stand-out, a sweet and pretty nostalgia-infused Motown crooner, conjuring visions of summer love and picnics in sunny parks. Put that one on your make-out playlist. And add "Sister Wife" too…y’know, if you’re into bigamy. – Allison Levin

DOWNLOAD: Alex Winston – Sister Wife (MP3)

Brooklyn-based band and Deli NYC favorite Very Fresh (featuring members and ex-members of Larkin Grimm, Quilty, Ava Luna, The Kitchen Cabinet, and Viva L’American Death Ray Music) will be playing their inaugural show as a full band at Bruar Falls (in Williamsburg, Brooklyn) on Wednesday, February 23rd at 8pm: 11:30 Life Size Maps 10:30 Very Fresh 9:30 Strawberry Hands 8:30 The Rex Complex $7, 21+ Very Fresh’s EP ‘Americana’ was The Deli NYC’s CD of the Month in July 2010! – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

New York catchy and upbeat popsters and recent Deli band of the month Murder Mystery will be playing this Friday night (February 11th for those not near a calendar) at Zebulon. According to the band, the show will be inspired by the great success of the Spiderman musical "Turn Off The Dark," and also include dramatic acrobatics, embarrassing technical problems, and most importantly fatal injuries – mixed with new music of course! That sounds like a winner to us. Friday night the band will be playing with Philadelphia band The Homophones and New York bands MiniBoone and Shiv Hurrah. – Leah Tribbett

Brooklyn experimental pop band Octant (whose only human band member we covered in the past and also interviewed about his crazy robotic band mates here) are playing two pre-release shows, one in Brooklyn and one in New Brunswick. The Brooklyn show is completely free and takes place on Saturday, February 19 at Pete’s Candy Store. Octant goes on at 10:00 sharp and will be joined by New Brunswick band Trintron. Available at the show will be limited edition CD versions of the record with hand-stamped covers, as well as free posters and free 1" buttons (there will also be 2.5" buttons for $2.00). The New Brunswick show will take place at CoLab Arts Space on Sunday, February 20. The doors are at 6:00, the show starts at 7:00 and Octant plays second. There will be complimentary wine and cheese while supplies last. Also playing are New Brunswick bands Trintron, Seahorse Valley and Fairychaser. The poster and 1" buttons will be free at CoLab Arts as well, but the CD versions of the record will be $5. You can listen and download a copy of the LP, or pre- order the vinyl, at Octant’s website or purchase it via iTunes. – Leah Tribbett