The Rare Occasions sold me from the first guitar stroke of their “Applefork” EP which has the cadence of the Cranberries and the upbeat attitude of the Strokes. "Battin' Lashes" has the chops with Brian Mclaughlin's charming lead vocals that are seamlessly complimented by bright guitar licks. The rest of the EP shows an affinity for experimenting with rarely mixed genres. “Miss Mary Mack” combines baroque pop and garage with a bit of psych and prog mixed in. The EP came out a short 10 days ago and they’re playing at the Middle East next week for a show to benefit cancer research with a bunch of other local bands. RSVP below. - Hillary Anderson
4.26 - Backyard Block Party (benefit for cancer research) @ the Middle East Downstairs - RSVP
While Skösh is known around their hometown of Buckfield, Maine for their funky, high-energy cover sets, their original tracks might be better described as hipster-country. “Tall Grass” the first single off their upcoming self-titled debut, sounds best on a lonely dirt road as the upbeat twangin’ of that acoustic guitar entwined with a cheery whistle melody blends with the more somber lyrics of jack-of-all-trades bandmate Jedidiah Allen. The band recently won the Young & Free Maine 2013 Sound Off and will be taking the stage with some national acts at Kahbang this summer. Hopefully you can make it to one of their stellar shows up north before they take the region by storm with original material come this summer. - Samuel Hill
There are so many guys with guitars nowadays. They’re a dime a dozen. But Max García Conover is one that you wouldn’t stop if he brought his guitar to the campfire. His latest album, Burrow, was recorded in his attic studio during a long, cold Maine winter, and it shows. The music is stripped down to the bare minimum, just Conover, his raw vocals, poetic lyrics and a tricky folk-guitar melody. This is the kind of music you’ll want to turn up during those long, scenic car rides this spring. Check him out soon, as he’s playing shows throughout New England all season. -Sam Hill
Whether your spring break was this week, or it starts next week, or maybe you just don’t have one because you no longer live in the fantasy lands of “high school” and “college” and have a real gundamn job, or you just aren’t ready to hear the term “spring break” because you’re still all partied out from SXSW – listen to some sage advice. If you’re working, not working, have class for 8 hours, laying in bed bemoaning last weekend: just stop. Spring break is a great excuse to have some awesome shows. Check out the lineup Speedy Ortiz has going for this weekend with plenty of locals and out-of-towners playing some righteous jams. - Hillary Anderson
3/21: WMUA 91.1 FM spring break show (amherst, ma) w/ Krill, Squarehead, Spelling Bee RSVP
3/22: Machines With Magnets (pawtucket, ri) w/ Radical Dads, Plates of Cake link
3/23: bs (allston, ma) w/ arvid noe, spelling bee, rad dads, plates of cake link
Sink your teeth into some crunchy sound bites from Hope & the Husbands, who released their “Demo ep” in February. It features Pixies-sounding punk rock vocals from both Hope and her husbands (?) (or at least Hope and someone male in the band, whether it be her husband or not). Hope & the Husbands is a four-piece female-fronted band. Despite the Wordart cover, this demo is way rock and roll. If you’ve been looking for a harder, grungier, Boston band, this is the band to go see. - Hillary Anderson
There's an irresistable alternative sound bite coming out of the Boston band Gentlemen Hall - it's called "Sail Into the Sun", and it's the first single off their upcoming full-length. They've been named "Best Act" by the Boston Phoenix in 2012, and they've shared the stage with a number of big names. Their synth-pop sound likens them to other popular electro artists coming out of the area right now - but these guys have a unique add-on to their stage presence and sound. Their 6-piece band includes a flute/piccolo player. So, lovers of wind instruments and catchy synth-pop - you've met your match. - Hillary Anderson
The Deli's Austin 2013 issue is now online - with The Lone Bellow on the cover! They are playing City Winery tomorrow by the way (03.08).
You can read it (but you can't feel it) HERE. If you want to feel it you'll have to come to Austin during Music Week (March 12-17), we'll distribute 10k of these pocket rags between Downtown, the East Side and South Congress.
The Deli will be in Austin on March 15 with a two stage night party hosted at Austin's legendary gay bar Rusty's. Great lineup of artists and even greater list of Special Guests who will be announced shortly. See here for more info + band links!
Like local music? Like cheap beer? Like helping out a local hero with medical bills for his recent brain surgery? Then don’t miss BRAINFEST 2013 -- TONIGHT (March 1) at The Worthen (upstairs) at 141 Worthen St, Lowell, MA. The show is only $5, starts at 8pm, and is 21+. Featuring performances by local punk gods: HIVESMASHER -- BEWARE THE DANGERS OF A GHOST SCORPION -- BIG MESS -- OH THE HUMANITY -- OLD GREY. All proceeds go to benefit the medical bills of local music guru Tom Southerton, for his recent and successful brain surgery (which turns out to be stupid expensive even with insurance). Come celebrate the gift of brains, and if that doesn’t sell you, the 50-50 raffle should... - Carrie Ingraham
Friendly People’s debut, self-titled 3-song EP gives a concise taste of a promising young Cambridge, MA-based band. Their jangly indie pop is peppered with hints of Americana, roots rock and folk with vocals that owe a debt to Neil Young. The EP’s clear highlight is its opening track—their namesake song—“Friendly People”. It’s a tremendous, positive track buoyed by a horn section in the bridge which lends a mariachi feel. “A Lot of Work To Do” brings out Harvest-era Neil Young, starting as a plaintive acoustic ditty which builds slowly into a passionate electric number. Closing track, “Branches”, follows the same acoustic-to-electric path. As the song builds, it introduces tribal rhythms that are reminiscent of 80s indie-punk legends, the Volcano Suns. Friendly People are scheduled to record their debut full-length in March. If the Friendly People EP is indicative of what we can expect from this young group’s next batch of tunes it will be a record to keep an eye on later in 2012.--George Dow
