NYC

NYC Bands News: Ghastly City Sleep, Syvia, The Prettiots

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September is here and our "Press Releases!" inbox is already getting out of control. Let’s deal with some news about emerging NYC bands in quick succession…

Definitely not a band lacking in intensity, Brooklyn indie rock quartet Ghastly City Sleep (pictured) will be releasing their sophomore album ‘Lulling Skulls’ in October, and have just unveiled a single from it (entitled ‘Clumsy one’) on Diffuser.fm.

We remember Syvia as an electronic band, but they just debuted this ‘no budget’ video for new single ‘Two Homes’ that definitely conflicts with that notion. The band will be releasing a full length entitled ‘FWD’ later this year, cool song and edgy video considering the budget!

The Prettiots charmed us to the core at our recent Ten Year Anniversary Parties, and this new video of single ‘Boys (That I Dated In High School)’ is further proof of lead singer Kay Kasparhauser’s appeal. We sure wish we dated as many people in high school as she did! The band has a Pianos residency in September, starting tonight! (09.02).

San Francisco

Talk of Shamans False Priest Peachelope and bAd bAd Play Publik / Private Event at Amnesia TONIGHT

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A stellar line up of some of the Bay Area’s finest garage folk and alternative bands will be performing for the first night of the San Francisco based arts and music nonprofit, Publik / Private’s Tuesday night residency at Amnesia.

Journalist and radio host, Victor Valle curated the event under the moniker Counter Culture Presents after his management firm Counter Culture Artist Management. But it’s not about business tonight, this event is for a good cause and every Tuesday in September Publik / Private will highlight a new line up from a local promoter, artist or community leader who believes in supporting the Bay Area arts community as much as Publik / Private and The Deli Magazine SF do.

We know that San Francisco has been going through a super rough time when it comes to venues and artists no longer being able to work and live in their own community. This event will help bring opportunities to artists and writers by connecting them with job and internship opportunities, it will also allow Publik / Private to continue to put on events that give exposure to young and seasoned musicians alike. We like this!

Make your way out to Amnesia tonight to see Talk of Shamans, False Priest, Peachelope and bAd bAd.

Philadelphia

The Deli Philly’s September Record of the Month: Great Pine – Seagulls

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With spindly strings horning in the opening instrumental, “Dragoon” awakens Seagulls’ debut LP Great Pine, seamlessly transitioning into “Swimmin’,” a song that is initially given a steady-footed beat around which a more intricate and illuminating composition is built generating a peaceful yet purposeful layered sound, setting the tone for what lies ahead. “You and Me” plays like a surf-folk love letter, developing a warm, earnest vocal confession, while fitting nicely with the tug and pull groove of the scratching guitar and persistent bass. The vocal harmonies provide a sweetness accompanied by reserved bursts of trumpet and accordion-like effects offer a tease of nostalgia.
 
“Love, Give” follows a similar theme as vocals, strings, and snap-percussion set a pleasant, pensive, strolling pace as echoing harmonies and backing vocals reinforce, “Love give your hands to me, for someday I’ll be on bended knee.” “Old Habits” maintains an up close lo-fi aesthetic and underlying 8-bit accents, but the perspective has changed, shining a light on the dark side of relationships and a groove that has a somewhat worn and dusty ascetic, enhancing the lyrics meaning – “Old habits, die hard or they never do/so keep lying til they all catch up to you.” A well-placed take on Big Star’s “Thirteen” incorporates the honest-loving sentiments of adolescence, falling neatly inline with the group’s heartfelt vocal honesty, while simultaneously acknowledging one of their potential influences.
 
The record’s title-track “Great Pine” serves as a breath-catching ambiance builder before the turbulent “Holy Smokes” emerges. Enlisting peaks of aggressive kick-in-the-door instrumentation – particularly percussion between smooth stretches of vocally dominant valleys – in essence, layering pieces of clear skies between moments of violent storms.
 
“Distracted” concludes Great Pine with an uplifting blanket of vocals, allowing the guitar to stretch its sea legs as the backend force steers the musical ship; holding the course. This album starts on the shore, and while there are moments where it seems destined to searchingly drift out there, Seagulls appropriately demonstrate an ability to reel it in, taking a beautiful inaugural voyage. – Michael Colavita

San Francisco

Congratulations to Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah for Winning the Deli Magazine SF Artist of the Month Poll!

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Congratulations to Lee Gallagher and The Hallelujah for winning the The Deli Magazine San Francisco Artist of the Month Poll!

It was a bit of a close race, but they came out on top and have become The Deli Magazine SF’s Artist of the Month! The fans and readers have chosen their top choice and we personally love this band’s high intensity Zepplin – psych revival style of music. If you want to witness a pristine rock and roll show that will make you think in the back of your mind that you’re having a religious experience, Lee Gallagher is the band to see.

We wish them the best in all their endeavors! We dig the music!

You can catch them live at The Chapel in San Francisco on Thursday, September 4th!

 

Philadelphia

Radiator Hospital Record Release Show at Golden Tea House Sept. 2

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Radiator Hospital celebrates the release of their latest LP Torch Song (Salinas Records) with a show this evening at Golden Tea House, as well as the launch of a corresponding tour. Sam Cook–Parrott continues to deliver a heartfelt blend of personal, powerful tunes with no shortage of catchy pop-appeal. Building momentum on honest lyricism, his songs ride on a wave of free-flowing instrumentation, putting a positive spin on sometimes melancholy sentiments. Tonight, the duo of Katie Crutchfield (Waxahatchee) and Keith Spencer (Swearin’) team up once again as Great Thunder, dishing out a wide-ranging mix of experimental rock that can switch gears at any moment. Keeping with the friendly-familial vibe, Attendant (whose debut album, Freaking Out, includes multiple contributions from within the same excellent creative circle) are set to bring their songs out of the lab and onto the live stage, while Wild Flowers of America will be performing their second show ever. Golden Tea House, (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.), 8pm, $5, All Ages – Michael Colavita

NYC

Buzz Alert! Nick Hakim gets serious love from NPR

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Brooklynite (via DC) Nick Hakim just ended an August residency at Baby’s All Right in support of his debut EP “Where Will We Go, Pt. 1.” The stunning collection hit New Yorkers hard, impressing local music fans with its heartbreaking sultriness and genuine soul. While the tracks are indisputably melancholic, they don’t drag – and this is a balance that is often hard to perfect. The fact that single’I Don’t Know’ (streaming) was included in a NPR playlist called ‘10 Songs Public Radio Can’t Stop Playing‘ is certainly helping build the hype. Though the release was unveiled last month at the peak of summer, we have no doubt it will be the soundtrack for many this upcoming fall. As this particular release is deemed “Pt. 1,” we’re excited (and a bit impatient!) to see what Hakim has in store for Pt. 2. – Jillian Dooley

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Nashville

Congratulations to The Ugly Kids Club, Our New Artist of the Month!

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Congratulations to The Ugly Kids Club for winning our Artist of the Month Poll. The duo has been winning Nashville hearts and minds with their method to electro-pop music: go back to the initial spark of the 1980’s and take flight from there. What results is bright, fun, and entirely organic. Their nomination is just a fraction of the flurry of attention they’ve been recieving since the release of their single "Good Love," which has only intensified after a stellar show at The High Watt last Tuesday with Field Day and Lylas. Keep up with them at: http://www.uglykidsclub.com/ -Terra James-Jura

Chicago

American Wrestlers

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I don’t know a lot about this new band, American Wrestlers, but I’ve been streaming their new 7-track digital album AW. It is classified as dream-pop and there is a certain amount of haze, but it is the subtle use of electronics and the higher pitched vocals that remind of American Analog Set that I really connect with.

NYC

Fun indie folk from New Jersey: Pine Barons

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Forming in the basement of Keith’s parents house whilst the guys were still at school in New Jersey, Pine Barons (Keith Abrams, Brad Pulley, Shane Hower and Collin Smith) write tunes constructed of off beat rhythms underneath simple chord structures: the product is a sound reminiscent of Frank Turner or City and Colour. Last year they put out their seven track debut EP, a collection of rugged tracks from a group of like minded souls who see themselves as troubadours. ‘Carnival’ twinkles with electrics as it fuzzes, but this is probably the only track (together with lo-fi piece ‘Chamber Choir’) to veer off piste, even momentarily, from the record’s folk’n’roll vibe. Despite appearing to be buoyant and rhapsodic, the lyrics are not always so happy, the most pertinent and powerful perhaps being on ‘Smile America’ (‘the end told me that I don’t deserve to breath’) and the most radio friendly ‘Since I’ve Been Away’ (streaming): ‘it’s raining on my head sometimes I wish my head was dead.’ Bounding along with positive boisterousness, Pine Barons is perfect for intimate end of summer festivals when the sun is dipping and the rugs come out (although there are a heck of a lot of references to rain.) Folk with a hint of attitude; we like. – Francesca Baker

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Rootsy songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

Chicago

Bitchin Bajas

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The local label Drag City released the latest from Bitchin Bajas last week. The self-titled double LP or double cassette with full relaxation versions. The tracks are each a new exploration in sound, space, and mind. Below is the video for the 12 minute track, not the longest track on the album, "Bueu".

Philadelphia

Free Download: “Got It” – Mumblr

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Here’s a new track from Mumblr‘s forthcoming album Full of Snakes called "Got It," which you can stream and download for free. It’s the third single from the record, and is about "being a strange, confused young man; feigning confidence and asking people to take him as he is," according to frontman Nick Morrison. Full of Snakes will be available on September 16 via Fleeting Youth Records, and the band will be celebrating its release on Friday, September 19 at Golden Tea House.