THE DELI

This Saturday, August 23rd, Craig Greenberg will perform at Joe’s Pub in celebration of his birthday and in anticipation of his upcoming album, to be unveiled this fall. The singer-songwriter will be backed by a five-piece band and will give us a glimpse of what we can expect from the next release. The record will follow Greenberg’s “Spinning in Time” EP, a short but cohesive collection threaded with the twang of a country album, the melodic structure of pure-hearted pop and a light hearted vocal delivery reminiscent of Cake (the band). Known as “the troubadour piano man,” the artist is sure to put on an entertenining show this weekend. – Jillian Dooley

Le Rug is a band that has seen the ins and outs of this city, and to see them continue to make music is noteworthy and comforting at once. Lead singer/guitarist Ray Weiss might be a complicated guy, and he’s not quiet about it (he started perversely entertaining flame wars with half of the bands in Brooklyn via Facebook), but his music is undeniably passionate and fun and downright punchy.  I know Le Rug from Bleenex, their first album, but revisiting the stuff I missed in between has been a real treat.  There’s no wonder the man is fed up with the slacker vibes that have taken us by storm, Weiss puts all himself into the music, and what more can you ask for from anyone who practices their art seriously? Sometimes his songs are ridiculous, sometimes they’re angry, sometimes they’re 20 seconds long, but, invariably, the energy is there and it never falters.  Ray Weiss and friends recently released a Le Rug Collection called Press Start (The Collection) off Fleeting Youth Records.  It’s 32 songs of fuzzy maddnes including three albums, two EPs, and singles that never saw release.  If you’re unfamiliar with Le Rug, it’s a great place to get started.  Stream a couple of my favorites below.  -Jake Saunders

Michael can use the phrase “raison d’etre” in the same review as the phrase “awwww yeahhhhh,” because that’s how he rolls. 

 

 

 

Catch The Sluts this Friday at Liberty Hall; they’ll be playing #ASSJAMZ: Bands That Will Make You Dance, along with Approach, Paper Buffalo, and Spencer Brown. Show starts at 8 pm. Facebook event page. If you’re in KC, see them this Sunday at Vandals. They’ll be joined by fellow LFKers Mr. and the Mrs., Mannequin Pussy (NYC), and KC’s Anson the Ornery. Facebook event page. 

 

  

27-year-old producer Jeremy Lawrence (aka Visionary Jeremy, pictured) crafts tracks that sit in the pocket and groove at the tempo of a beating heart. Enlisting soft-spoken female voices, he creates a percussive balance between dark, heavy downbeats and shrill, hasty hi-hats and tambourines, moving his tracks along with purpose and admirable technical skill. Listen to his latest single entitled ‘Long Time’ – featuring Lily Virginia’s vocals.

Pandafan (pictured) is the work of Grace, Delaney, and Joe, an indie folk trio that crafts impressive harmonies, layering their three voices atop one another with elements of folksy crooning. The band keeps their tunes energetic and commanding, moving along at a speed reminiscent of traditional Irish music. They maintain a spirit of positivity threaded throughout their music, setting them apart from many more melancholic contemporaries. – Jillian Dooley

These artists submitted their music for coverage here.

After dropping her debut full-length album “Anti Venus” this past November (preceded by two EPs released in 2009 and 2012), sound architect, vocalist and feminist force Vandana Jain has been focusing on bringing her eastern music influenced, noir electro-pop to a larger fan base through several live appearances, including one at Highline Ballroom earlier this summer. Band members Yusuke Yamamoto and Ryan Casey contribute to forging an intriguing analog sound, driven by Vandana’s sophisticated velvety vocals.

The record’s opener “Ecstatic” (streaming) is the strongest track, emphasizing distant percussive mechanical clicks and whirrs recreating sci-fi atmospheres reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome To The Machine” sci fi experiments. Dark, foreboding (yet warm) analog synth notes pulse and rise from distant ethereal mists. Recorded at Jain’s home studio, inspiration came in part by delving into Henry Miller’s classic novel “Tropic of Cancer,” and its embrace of “the grip of delirium.” “You freak – you make me ecstatic” becomes the central, single line and rather addictive vocal hook.

Other tracks like “Claw” are less instrumentally dense, allowing more space for expressive vocals. With a style reminiscent of Kate Bush’s penultimate work combined with the modern deeper vocal textures of British pop vocalist Sophie Ellis Bextor, Ms. Jain’s voice becomes instantly appealing. While “Mask” (a track about the proverbial camouflage we all put on every day to function) is recurrently stark and minimal in places, the overall effect sounds incredibly big, and Vandana’s seductive vocal delivery makes for a delightful headphone listening experience. – Dave Cromwell

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