NYC based fans of shoegazer rock may want to check out Soren Well‘s CD release party at Mercury Lounge on May 27, also featuring The Morning After Girls – a band that moved here from Australia, leaving their mamas thousands of miles away to live their shoegazing dream in the Big Apple (we respect that!). Soren Well’s wall of guitar is almost revivalistic – it will throw you back to those glorious days when you lost your hearing dancing to MBV’s Loveless (or myabe that was your older sibiling?) The band’s new EP is entitled "Starry Eyes Gone Blank.
 

We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record store personnel and DJs).

Consisting of former members of the Brooklyn group Flying, Glass Ghost released its debut album “Idol Omen” in October of 2009. Swishing, low bass beats contrast the high-pitched subtle vocals as songs go up and down from tribal and slightly dancey to slow and confessional. The deadpan vocals dance playfully with the melody of the keys and the beats jump in and out. Glass Ghosts watery demeanor, with hollow beats and swelling keys, displays a diverse range of influences expressed in a really unique way.

Drew & the Medicinal Pen sound like they belong on the soundtrack to a movie like “Juno.”  Drew’s sound is of the stripped-down-sing-a-long kind, witty and honest.  The recordings sound somewhat "casual", like it all took place in a musky, old basement, but it’s exactly this rawness that gives the songs both their charm and sincerity – reminiscent of Pinkerton-era Weezer.  The opening track from the “dream, dream, fail, repeat” album,  provides the first hint of an ongoing theme – catchy and charming melodies set beneath lyrics expressing real and often difficult emotions, unanswerable life questions, and a search for purpose…he accomplishes this expression not only through this juxtaposition of poppy-ness and depth, but also through surrealistic imagery.  The accompaniments are sparse and primitive – some whistling, clapping, and keyboard effects – but they are often the most infectious and driving forces of the songs.  It’s bare and it’s genuine — Drew & the Medicinal Pen accomplish more with those two adjectives than most others can with their popular opposites (e.g. over-production and bullshit, respectively). – PJD

With Soft Black‘s new ‘We Scatter Light’ EP, River City Extension‘s new ‘Unmistakable Man’ LP and deli band-of-the-month nod, Pepi Ginsberg‘s recent outing with Dr. Dog, and Werewolves not being dead yet, now is a good time to see all of them in one place while you still can. Turn off your TV and dig this incredible night of new music May 25th. At Death By Audio (49 S. 2nd St. btw Kent + Wythe)- (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

NYCMUSICSHOW is a new TV show airing on NYClife (channel 25) on Sundays at 10pm. This is currently the only show on TV dedicated to the independent New York music scene (New York Noise, that was mostly but not entirely focused on local artists, hasn’t been airing in the last few months). NYCMUSICSHOW is currently scheduled to deliver a total of five episodes. After that, the editors will need to get funding from sponsors to continue producing future episodes (to this point, this has been a self financed project). The second episode, airing on Sunday May 23 at 10 pm, will feature local funk masters Soulive, veteran rockers The Giraffes, and dancey combo Navegante. Check it out!

We’ve been following indie poppers My Other Friend for quite some time and it’s good to know they are finally about to release their debut album – a digital release out towards the end of July. In the past few years the band has collected a series of rather prestigious supporting slots, sharing stages with the likes of Titus Andronicus, Bear Hands, The Beets, and Drink Up Buttercup. The full-length, entitled "Burning Bright Tonight" was produced by Kevin McMahon (The Walkmen, The French Kicks).

We continue our "Best of NYC Countdown", covering every day one of the artists that made our Year End Best of NYC list (a chart compiled by a jury comprised of local bloggers, music writers, promoters, record sotre personnel and DJs). Many of the bands in this list will play The Deli’s Best of NYC Fest in Williamsburg in May (6 shows in 3 different venues between the 13 and the 15).

Unapologetically mainstream, Double Wonderful creates in-your-face, energetic pop melodies, often accompanied by 80’s snyths and even that nifty T-Pain vocal effect. It’s pop-geek-dance-rock, and I can’t imagine these guys take themselves too seriously…which isn’t necessarily a bad thing here; if nothing else, this music is fun. The snobbier listener may immediately dismiss this, but I don’t give a shit who you are, it’ll be hard not to smile and move to these sounds. Double Wonderful seem to exist on the border of obnoxiously generic and pop genius. They don’t care – they’re having a blast. – Paul Dunn

NYC bands and artists,

Make Music New York  is a unique festival of free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City, all on Monday, June 21st, the first day of summer. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 327 cities around the world — a global celebration of music making.

Spike Hill – the bar / music venue in the middle of Williamsburg’s busy Bedford Ave – will have an outdoor concert starting at 2pm and is looking for NYC bands to headline the festival from 8pm till close. Other bands will also play inside Spike Hill, with the venue’s doors open to the street to pipe live music straight to the street crowds.

If you are interested in submitting your band for this event please sign up here. – artists will be selected by the Spike Hill promoters, not by Deli staff.

P.S. As this is a free event, there isn’t a budget for performing bands, but a tip jar will be passed around the crowd after each performance to gather some money for the artists performing.

The Deli’s Staff
www.thedelimagazine.com

When you think of the city of Singapore you’re not likely to conjure up thoughts of early 90’s shoegaze/stoner/noise/dream-pop. Yet that is in fact where the band Stellarium hails from. Their debut album combines shoegaze textures (and attitude) with shredding, bombastic, noise assault guitars. Opening track "Any Day Is Fine," immediately hit our eardrums with a barrage of guitars that shriek, wail and churn with controlled chaos. Multiple layers swirl and feedback, melding together in a beautiful synchronicity of hazy sonics. "Chocolate & Strawberry" is a driving piece that redefines the "fuzz bass" sound. A Place To Bury Strangers’ Jono Mofo would be proud. “Harbinger” sets a deep reverb echo to its cautionary tale about war. Exploding into a gorgeous wash of sound, straddling the lines between heaven and hell. “Fader” employs a rising sonic effect giving the sensation of your head “lifting off.” Stellarium show musical sophistication with their tempo changes within songs. The over 8 minute “final” track on the album – “Dead Nebula culminates in a shredding dual guitar attack. For the final 4 minutes it’s nothing but this – what’s not to love? – Dave Cromwell

El Jezel sparked when George and Dan randomly met at house parties in Massachusetts years back and discovered that they actually only lived a town away from each other. Both eventually linked up with Jessica about ten years ago, which led to playing open mic sessions in downtown Manhattan and ultimately the three formed a band. Recently performing along the East Coast, El Jezel brews bigger plans for its new EP due to release this Spring and desires more extensive tours, although they always value the importance of intimate settings for live shows. – Read Gina Alioto interview with the band here.

Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears are frightening only in their unmatched energy and dynamics, both live and on record. The quintet’s recently debuted “Mad Valentines EP” showcases mastermind songwriting by Bryan Scary (Lead vocals, Keyboard) and his shredding tears, Mike Acreman (Vocals, Keyboard), David Ostrem (Vocals, Bass), Graham Norwood (Vocals, Guitar), and Paul Amorese (Drums). In six outstanding tracks, these Brooklynites pack in operatic vocals and dramatic delivery, and mix theatrical enthusiasm with glam and power-pop, creating a whimsical sound that is elaborate, entertaining, and borderline frantic. After fully sampling what the “Mad Valentines EP” accomplishes, it is hard to imagine the songs’ complexity recreated on stage, but Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears erase any doubt and even outperform expectations. Choice tracks, “Andromeda’s Eyes,” “(It’s a) Gambler’s Wind,” and “Bye Bye Babylon” take listeners on a ride through “Scaryville” and showcase BSST’s top-notch compositions. – Read Meijin Bruttomesso’s interview with Bryan here.

Now in its fourth year, New York City Popfest has highlighted numerous indie-pop bands from around the world and more importantly local. Since its inception it’s produced bands such as The Pains of Being Pure At Heart and The Drums who have now gone to international stardom. This year, the fest will highlight long time veterans and fresh new acts, including Deli’s recent CD of the month The Secret History. The 4 day fest will start on Thursday May 20 with a show at Cake Shop involving two NYC acts that deserve attention, catchy The World Atlas (in the picture), that could be appropriately called NYC’s own Belle and Sebastian, and Dream Diary, operating on similar acoustic and dreamy musical coordinates.