Back when Mike Taylor won The Deli Philly’s 2008 Year End Best of Emerging Artists Fans’/Readers’ Poll and placed third in the Overall Poll, he was known at the time as Tu Phace. It was exciting to see the multi-faceted entertainer go from performing at Silk City (where he still hosts “Mo Money No Problems”) to having his name on the marquee of the Theater of Living Arts as the headlining act within a few months. That is why it was not really a surprise to us when Taylor tweeted that he had signed to SonyMusic/Epic Records. Well, his long-awaited first label single “Perfect” and its video just premiered on MTV.com and MTVU.com. You can check it out below. But what we really want to know is where can we get that sweet Lego boombox? You can download the new single as well as his entire mixtape From the Stars for free HERE. Enjoy! – The Deli Staff

 

It’s going to be a hot, sweaty mess tonight, but you’ll have a chance to cool down on some fine-ass Philly homebrewed beers when Mellody Brewing and TJ Kong present the Future of Philadelphia Nano Brewing Showcase featuring an all-you-can-drink tasting. Well, all-you-can-drink while supplies last, and as any seasoned drinker should know (as well as anyone who has every hung out with TJ Kong and co.) is that good beers can translate to no beers very quickly. However, TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb will still be providing a full set of entertainment even if the beer runs out. Ha…maybe, but make it to PhilaMOCA early enough to get your fill so you don’t notice just in case he doesn’t ;o). But we’ll definitely make them this Sunday when they also perform at The Deli sponsored Dock Street 3rd Annual Philly Beer Week Music Fest! Cheers! PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., 7:30pm, $10 (for show and art not beer tasting), 21+ – H.M. Kauffman

 

?uestlove will be hosting an all-star evening of deejays called “Philadelphia Sound Konnoisseurs” on Sunday, July 3rd at Voyeur as part of The Roots 4th of July Jam. Joining ?uesto on the lineup will be Diplo, DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Spinna and J Rocc. You can purchase your tickets HERE (and entering “psk215” as the promo code will allow you to bypass the always ridiculous Ticketmaster service charges). – The Deli Staff

 

Yohske, frontman for Blackhawks and BAnanas Symphony, has two new tracks (which you can take a listen to below) exclusively available on MJ MJ Records’s Kickstarter dual cassette. Unfortunately, the LA-based label “got robbed real bad”. The fundraising compilations include contributions from Cloud Nothings, Weekend, Truman Peyote, and many others, which you can check out and download HERE, so pay it forward and grab your copy! – The Deli Staff

 

The Philadelphia Folk Festival just announced their second wave of artists for their Golden Anniversary event that includes The Levon Helm Band, The David Wax Museum, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and more national acts as well as locals Jim Boggia and Suzie Brown. You can check out the complete lineup and purchase tickets HERE. – The Deli Staff

 

Electric Simcha describe their sound as “Old-school Hasidic Punk Rock”. The Eastern European tinged melodies are reminiscent of another Deli favorite West Philadelphia Orchestra, and yes, Electric Simcha can certainly bring a “Balkan dance party” of their own. What I find interest is the laid-back guitar work of shredder Nick Millevoi. Well, “laid-back” in comparison to the work of his other band Many Arms and his 12-string electric guitar solo project, which have much more frenetic moments, but that is not to say that you won’t be treated to Millevoi’s learned shredding abilities because you will. However, for the most part, Dan Blacksberg’s trombone and Julius Masri’s drums standout as driving forces for their compositions while Travis Woodson lays it down nicely with the precise bounce of his bass lines creating plenty of joyous moments for any listener. They’ll be bringing the good times to the Highwire Gallery this evening so make sure to have on your Eastern European dancin’ shoes. To get you ready to break it down, I’ll leave you with this 20+ minute track/jam “Simcha Medley” below. Highwire Gallery, 2040 Frankford Ave., 7:30pm, $6, All Ages (Photo by Matt Hurst) – Q.D. Tran

 

We are very excited to share with you one of the new collaborations that we are working on with The Vamp Group, a rad crew of film and video enthusiast who are just as passionate about music! Below is the debut of our new performance and interview series called Choice Cuts. This episode features one of our favorite Philly acts and definitely true supporters of our beloved local music scene Grandchildren. The footage of the West Philly/Danger! Danger! crew that you are viewing is from their show at the Theater of Living Arts on May 1 with Peter, Bjorn and John & Bachelorette. Please check it out, and we’d like to thank all who were involved, especially The Vamp Group and Grandchildren – YOU ROCK!!! Enjoy! – The Deli Staff

 

As we mentioned yesterday, we’ll be co-presenting tomorrow night’s show with Y-Not Radio at the North Star Bar with locals Cheers Elephant, Springs and Crills Wilson. Well, the guys are getting pumped up for the evening’s festivities and wanted to share a few tracks with you to get you in the mood. Yes, according to the US Census Bureau’s 2008 American Community Survey, Philly has the most bicycle commuters per capita of the nation’s most populated cities so obviously we love our bikes and so does Cheers Elephant. “Relive your life cycle riding your bicycle” with “My Bicycle Ride”. Springs, the collaboration of Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken and Brooklyn singer-songwriter Mike Visser, enjoy “Wasting Time” and recorded it here in Philly for Weathervane’s Shaking Through while Crills Wilson’s “The Scrapper” could be the new anthem for Philly’s Dumpster Divers, who were green way before it was trendy. You can download all three tracks below for free and remember to swing on by the North Star and thank the guys (preferably with drinks in hand). Cheers! – The Deli Staff

 

There are plenty of artists in Philly that should be way more popular than they actually are. A Stick and A Stone a.k.a. Elliot Harvey is certainly one of them. With a voice that can cut to the core of all your emotions and lyrics that weave effortlessly epic tales, you can’t help but root for the right person to discover her already. (Hello! Is there anyone out there?) Harvey will be taking the stage tonight at PhilaMOCA, one of our favorite newer venues, with Eskimeaux, the moniker of Gabby Smith, and Ed Masuga. PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., $6, All Ages – H.M. Kauffman   

 

Spank Rock is back with a new album and a rad title Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a Fucking Liar, which will be released on September 27 via his own label Bad Blood Records. Teaming up with producer Boys Noize, who was responsible for most of its tracks, you can download its first sampling “Energy” below, which samples Can’s “Vitamin C”. He also received contributions from Santigold, Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams, Big Freedia, Sam Spiegel (aka Squeak E. Clean of N.A.S.A), Chris Rockswell, and original Spank Rock producer XXXchange. – The Deli Staff