It’s really amazing how these days indie and even DIY bands are literally infiltrating quality music into many aspects of the entertainment and art worlds, in particular in NYC. This phenomenon is perfectly exemplified by the 2 day "Rock and Roll Circus" event, which will take place at Lincoln Center on January 3 and 4 and involve the Big Apple Circus together with many fantastic emerging indie bands including NYC’s own Japanther, The So So Glos, Electric Tickle Machine, Amazing Baby, and Nick Zinner from Yeah Yeah Yeahs playing with LA’s Aska. Japanther’s fun DIY pop aesthetics, as you can see from the video below, seems an especially good fit here.

With the release of their debut album, MIRRORS, Washington D.C.-based U.S. Royalty delivers on capturing the volatility and explosiveness that define their live performances. Early comparisons have been made to Local Natives, The Black Keys, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, and early Kings of Leon.

"With this record we wanted to present a body of work, a complete thought," says singer John Thornley.  To achieve this, the band wrote and rewrote songs for a year, demoing and dissecting while on the road and at home.  John continues, "Because we traveled for about a year and a half before we recorded the album, there is definitely a travel vibe to the record."

In March 2010, the band teamed up with engineer Gus Oberg (The Strokes, Albert Hammond Jr., Bloc Party) and Justin Long to begin recording the album.  The band recently released the first single off the album, "Equestrian," and set a release date for the debut album, January 25th 2011.

Catch U.S. Royalty live at the 9:30 Club on Dec. 17.

Equestrian by usroyalty

Deli readers,

The new issue of The Deli LA is out! Lots of articles, reviews and interviews with awesome LA based artists, plus a hilarious piece on "How To Become a Rockstar" penned by We Are Scientists bass player Chris Cain. Check out the pdf version of it here.

The Deli Staff

Los Angelinos and Los Angelinas,

The new issue of The Deli LA is out! Lots of articles, reviews and interviews with awesome LA based artists, plus a hilarious piece on "How To Become a Rockstar" penned by We Are Scientists bass player Chris Cain. Check out the pdf version of it here.

The Deli Staff

Brooklyn’s The Nico Blues released their first music video for the song "Living Proof" and celebrated with a neighborhood show at Bar Matchless on Sunday night. The video was directed by acclaimed film maker Jacob LaMendola and was the culmination of hours of DIY hard work and various creative minds. The Nico Blues helped build the set and got by with a little help from their friends. The song is off the band’s new album "Blame the Boredom, Blame the Basements" and can be downloaded at the official website of the Nico Blues here.

MNDR is an electro pop project born from the collaboration of Oakland transplant Amanda Warner and NYC based keyboardist-programmer Peter Wade. Their edgy but danceable tunes quickly found an audience in NYC and beyond, opening the doors to a series of shows supporting artist of the caliber of YACHT, Massive Attack, and Deerhoof. The band is currently at work on their first full-length album, tentatively scheduled for release in early 2011. The song "Fade to Black" from E.P.E was re-recorded in the Simlish language of The Sims and is featured in The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff. For a fun night of dancy electronic acts, don’t miss MNDR show at Santos Party House on Friday 12.17 with Zambri and Psychobuildings.

After playing the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover "I Put a Spell on You" live on Conan, Portland’s own 50s pop revivalist duo She & Him isreleasing a new digital single featuring that same song and their own “Lingering Still” – from their sophomore album "Volume Two", released in the spring. The She & Him band have just wrapped up nearly a year of touring including shows at Coachella, Bonnaroo, the prestigious Hollywood Bowl, the Treasure Island festival and more. The single can be found on iTunes and Amazon.

Often sounding like a young Bryan Ferry in his glorious, early Roxy Music days, Dylan Von Wagner’ voice confers a tortured trait to the restless and dark music of his rock band Linfinity. The group’s repertoire mostly consists of sparse, atmospherics ballads and mid tempos a la’ Tinderstick, that often build into alarming, semi-dissonant orchestral drones. The band is going to end their first headlining east coast tour with a show at the Mercury Lounge on 10.13 (tonight)

Bowery Ballroom was packed tightly for the hours of rock ‘n roll that were about to ensue. Around 10PM, Cavalier Rose shook the stage with Garrett Drinon’s retro-metal guitar solos and the Heather Christian’s powerful voice and echoing shrieks on notable tunes, “Sparrow,” “Atom Bomb,” “Little by Little” and closer, “Lie to Me.” The quartet is beginning a fundraiser via Kickstarter.com to fund the recording of their debut LP. CR have a Knitting Factory residency set for every Monday in February, starting February 7. Headliners, Earl Greyhound, asserted themselves with a fiery attitude matched by an intense sound wave that radiated from the stage. Matt Whyte (vocals, guitar) flailed his long blond hair as Ricc Sheridan (drums) maintained a poker face, and Kamara Thomas (bass, keyboards, vocals), who is carrying “ a little girl rocker,” played with force on highlights, such as “Shotgun,” “Oye Vaya,” and “S.O.S.” The trio recently released an acoustic EP, showing their softer side. Both groups demonstrated that rock is alive and well in NYC. – Meijin Bruttomesso

Tonight, two interesting NYC based bands from opposite ends of the eletro-pop spectrum come together at the Studio at Webster Hall. Sinister and sultry Living Days (who rocked awesomely at our The Deli’s CMJ party at The Delancey), and bright and bouncy Cassette Kids (pictured) will keep the crowds moving. Formed in 2007 and originally from Sydney, Australia, the three blokes and a sheila of Cassette Kids now reside in Brooklyn where they create infectious dance music based heavily in bassy synthesizers and peppy electronic effects. The power-pop quartet’s latest “Spin EP” begins with the title track, which opens with videogame-like syths, accompanied by a catching pace, and jumps into Noorbergen’s clear, youthful vocals and lyrics about, naturally, bringing “the house down.” Upholding their high-octane tempo and syncopated backbeat, Cassette Kids keep the energy surging on “Lying Around” and drum-driven “You Take It.” Come dance the night away at The Studio to some Brooklyn beats. Doors are at 8pm, and the show is 19+. – Meijin Bruttomesso

Although they punctuate their band’s name with a question mark, Shark?, play the kind of fun, irreverant and party-ready rock n’ roll that is best paired with an exclamation point. Combining the lo-fi recording aesthetic of many of their peers with quirky pop melodies and the raw energy of 70’s punk and sloppy 90’s indie bands, these guys offer a bit of something for everyone. Initially all the band’s recordings (standouts include Noise Maker and School Nights) were done solo by singer and guitarist Kevin Diamond in his apartment, but recently the full band entered the studio to record together. Diamond told The Deli the new recordings will still sound like the old Shark?, but more “fleshed-out” and containing “a bit of ear candy.” With the band already receiving praise from the L Magazine, Oh My Rockness, and more, the upcoming release should be more than enough for this Shark? to rise to the top. – Read Bill Dvorak’s interview with the band here.

The Deli’s November Artist of the Month, Rachel Platten, may have won listeners over with her catchy hooks and addictive smile, but the sweetheart songstress is one of the hardest working artists to grace the New York songwriters scene. Whether booking tours, singing gospel, promoting clothing and journal lines, or performing at venues all over the country, Rachel is quickly climbing the ranks to rock star status. After a successful release of her self-titled EP last spring, Rachel dove back into the writing groove, developing another round of songs set for a December release. As luck and a ton of hard work would have it, other plans have thrown a loop in the schedule, and Platten is now aiming for an early second quarter release with an exciting but undisclosed partnership. With a voice that drips with joy and sincerity, a megawatt smile, and a dominating stage presence, there is no question that this woman will be tantalizing the ears of American and worldwide pop culture for years to come. Don’t miss her show at the Highline Ballroom on 12.14. – Read Cristina Morelli’s interview with Rachel here.