Our Deli jurors just finished rating all the bands that submitted to be considered for our Year End Best of Austin Poll for Emerging Artists - and here are the results for you to check out! The artists in this list will qualify for the next phase of the poll, starting early next week, and will be added to the bands nominated by our jury of local scenemakers.
Gashat's music is a stunning carnival of sounds and influences, ranging from folk-rock to what we like to call avant-indie. Their tunes reveal a rare songwriting talent, paired with imagination in the arrangement department, where horns, synths and strings alternatively accompany the omnipresent power-rock instruments. Fun and musical craft amalgamated in one convincing package.
In the convoluted but somewhat predictable mind of an indie music lover, white light naturally recalls white heat, so we were expecting a very, very, very hot sound from a band called The White White Lights. Well that's exactly what we found. These guys play some of the most energetic, creative and tense post-punk we stumbled upon in recent times, and their front lady has a voice to die for. Check out this track if you don't believe us.
The Saint James Society is not for the faint of heart. Brooding, tense and dark, these guys' songs draw inspiration from semi-goth bands from the new wave of the early 80s (early Echo & The Bunnymen, Joy Division) and develop them in an entirely new sonic direction, which flirts at once with stoner rock and apocaliptyc drone-rock.
We always like it when rootsy music sounds like new again. Whalers achieve this effect in the song "Cheat on Each Other" by introducuing some kind of early Beatles vintage-pop element in this otherwise tratidionally constructed tune, delivered with convincingly raspy vocals. But Whalers are not just that: their latest EP "Paddle Easy" showcases a band able to convey a wide range of emotions and styles.
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These runners up will also qualify for the next phase of the poll:
That's right the 2011 "Best of Portland" Fans' Poll is now live. Look to right of this content column to find the poll and vote. The current tallies are quite close so this could very well tip the scales for your favorite band, your band, your friend's band, your cat's favorite band--so get out the vote.
Good luck to all the band's involved! You're all doing great things in this great city.
After a month and a half long painstaking process, we finally have the overall results of The Deli's Best of NYC 2011 Poll for Emerging Artists.
Congrats to Caveman - who won the poll after being featured on the cover of the NYC Summer 2011 issue of The Deli. This fantastic band received a record number of votes from our jury of NYC scene makers (see list here), which sealed the deal since the early stages of the poll.
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Congrats also to Lucius, who will be featured on the cover of our Spring 2011 issue, since we never give the most coveted glossy page of The Deli to the same band more than once. Lucius - a female fronted alt-roots band we highlighted and booked several times in 2011 - earned the cover by winning the Readers' and Fans' Poll. But make no mistake: they fully deserve this prize, just go see them live tonight (01.25) at The Mercury lounge and you will understand why.
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Well done to dream-pop masters Widowspeak for their third place, sanctioned by lots of love from our jury and writers. Their stunning debut album on Captured Tracks Records was The Deli's Record of the Month in August 2011.
Artist
J
OS
W
F
TOTAL
1
Caveman
13
2
0.023
15.023
2
Lucius
4
2
3
9
3
Widowspeak
6
2
0.012
8.012
4
Friends
7
0.015
7.015
5
Monogold
4
1
1
0.128
6.128
6
Ski Lodge
6
0.003
6.003
7
Big Wilson River
3
2
0.234
5.234
8
Ava Luna
3
2
0.014
5.014
9
The Denzels
5
0.009
5.009
10
Apollo Run
3
1
0.203
4.203
11
Kung Fu Crimewave
3
1
0.101
4.101
12
Tall Tall Trees
3
1
0.077
4.077
13
Ambassadors
3
1
0.033
4.033
14
Fort Lean
4
0.013
4.013
15
Arms
3
1
0.007
4.007
Grassfight
1
3
0.007
4.007
17
Body Language
4
0.005
4.005
18
Stephie Coplan & the...
1.5
2.5
4
19
Starlight Girls
1.5
2
0.007
3.507
20
Hurrah! A Bolt of Light!
2
1
0.239
3.239
21
Black Taxi
2
1
0.052
3.052
22
A$AP Rocky
3
0.041
3.041
23
The Can't Tells
3
0.017
3.017
Yellow Ostrich
2
1
0.017
3.017
25
Spirit Family Reunion
3
0.011
3.011
26
The Men
3
0.009
3.009
27
Diane Cluck
2
1
0.008
3.008
Zambri
3
0.008
3.008
29
Devin
3
0.007
3.007
30
North Highlands
2
1
0.006
3.006
Skaters
3
0.006
3.006
32
Hidden Fees
3
0.003
3.003
Illuminator
3
0.003
3.003
34
Brothers
1
2
3
35
The Bottom Dollars
1.5
1
0.113
2.613
36
Field Mouse
1.5
1
0.027
2.527
37
MiniBoone
1.5
1
0.008
2.508
38
Futurist
1
1.5
2.5
39
Merrily & the Poison Orchard
1.25
1
2.25
40
Exemption
2
0.213
2.213
41
Mal Blum
1
1
0.196
2.196
42
Deathrow Tull
1
1
0.17
2.17
43
Snowmine
1
1
0.134
2.134
44
Clementine and the Galaxy
2
0.087
2.087
45
The Sneaky Mister
2
0.074
2.074
46
j.viewz
2
0.066
2.066
47
Reverend John DeLore
2
0.061
2.061
48
Robin Bacior
2
0.042
2.042
49
Firehorse
1
1
0.035
2.035
50
Brick & Mortar
2
0.03
2.03
51
Due Diligence
1
1
0.024
2.024
The Courtesy Tier
1
1
0.024
2.024
53
Bird Call
2
0.02
2.02
54
The Sway Machinery
2
0.011
2.011
55
Dive
2
0.008
2.008
56
The Beets
2
0.007
2.007
57
Slowdance
2
0.006
2.006
58
Dead Leaf Echo
1
1
0.005
2.005
Ice Choir
2
0.005
2.005
St. Lucia
2
0.005
2.005
61
Lady Lamb The Beekeeper
2
0.004
2.004
62
Lissy Trullie
1
1
0.004
2.004
63
Caged Animals
1
1
0.003
2.003
64
Coasting
2
0.002
2.002
Papertwin
2
0.002
2.002
Penguin Prison
2
0.002
2.002
Timeflies
2
0.002
2.002
Wise Blood
2
0.002
2.002
69
Superhuman Happiness
2
0
2
70
Tayisha Busay
1.5
0.052
1.552
71
Pass Kontrol
1.5
0.051
1.551
72
Thinning The Herd
1.5
0.048
1.548
Xenia Rubinos
1.5
0.048
1.548
74
Fall of the Albatross
1.5
0.011
1.511
Food Will Win the War
1.5
0.011
1.511
76
Chappo
1
0.289
1.289
77
Sinem Saniye
1
0.265
1.265
78
Motherfeather
1
0.153
1.153
79
My Pet Dragon
1
0.15
1.150
80
The Third Wheel Band
1
0.115
1.115
81
Cuddle Magic
1
0.085
1.085
82
Himalaya
1
0.077
1.077
83
The Stepkids
1
0.047
1.047
84
The Bandana Splits
1
0.041
1.041
85
Grace Weber
1
0.039
1.039
86
Indyns
1
0.038
1.038
Wazu
1
0.038
1.038
88
In One Wind
1
0.033
1.033
89
Oh Whitney
1
0.022
1.022
90
Ex Cops
1
0.019
1.019
91
Appomattox
1
0.017
1.017
92
Blonde Valhalla
1
0.015
1.015
93
Quilty
1
0.014
1.014
Twitchers
1
0.014
1.014
Young Boys
1
0.014
1.014
96
Nicholas Jaar
1
0.01
1.01
97
Babies
1
0.009
1.009
98
Fredericks Brown
1
0.008
1.008
Gross Relations
1
0.008
1.008
Idgy Dean
1
0.008
1.008
Psychobuildings
1
0.008
1.008
102
Yvette
1
0.007
1.007
103
OhNoMoon
1
0.005
1.005
104
Aaron Roche
1
0.004
1.004
105
Spanish Prisoners
1
0.003
1.003
106
Happy New Year
1
0.001
1.001
107
Motive
0.5
0.272
0.772
108
Bugs in the Dark
0.5
0.189
0.689
Legend: J = Jury - OS = Open Submissions - W = Deli Writers - F = Fans
A quick explanation of the point system: Jurors (see list here) could freely pick any emerging NYC artists, and assigned 3 points to their first choice, 2 to the second and 1 to the third. For example, Caveman scored 13 points by having 4 jurors choosing them as 1st band and one as third. Open Submissions - rated by Deli Editors from other cities - assigned 3 points to the overall winners (Grassfight), 2 points to the genre category winners, 1.5 points to the artists placing 2nd in the genre categories, and 1 to all the other ones. Under this column you'll also find bands that qualified through SonicBids. Since the number of bands competing in tha list is much smaller, we decided to assign them lower scores: 1.5 for the winner, 1.25 for 2nd place and 1 for all the other bands. Deli Writers were asked to cast 3 votes for any of the artists in the list of nominees compiled through Jurors picks and Open Submissions. Each vote was worth 1 point. Readers' and Fans' votes counted 0.001 points each, apart from the top 5 bands, rewarded respectively with 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5 and 1 points.
Doubts? Feel free to ask questions via email at info @ thedelimagazine dot com!
Here's summary of the progress of each one of our 11 regional Year End Polls for Emerging Artists. Due to high number of NYC submissions we organized that scene's results by genre.
BEST OF 2011 FOR EMERGING ARTISTS - LATEST NEWS: 01.27.2012 - Austin Submission Results Announced
01.23.2012 - LOS ANGELES READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.24.2012 - NYC FINAL RESULTS ARE IN!!! - HERE 01.23.2012 - PORTLAND READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE
01.23.2012 - SF BAY AREA READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.18.2012 - NASHVILLE READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.17.2012 - PHILLY READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.17.2012 - CHICAGO READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE 01.17.2012 - Portland OR Submission Results Announced
01.16.2012 - NEW ENGLAND READERS' + FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - HERE
01.12.2012 - DC AREA READERS' AND FANS' POLL LAUNCHED - VOTE HERE
*** See below for results full list and schedule ***
A big thank you to our sponsors for supporting our poll and providing prizes to the winners!
The raw, punk authenticity of Brooklyn noise-rockers Hunters is something many aim for, but few pull off quite as memorably. The band’s sound is unrefined and visceral. You can almost hear the grit and dirt on their instruments as they bash out their grungy, feedback-drenched riffs and almightily-whacked drum loops, while the desperate yelps of lead vocalists Derek Watson and Isabel Almeida add extra frenetic energy. According to the band, the makeshift way each track was constructed was a beautiful accident, more a product of circumstance than design. - Read Dean Van Nguyen's interview with the band here.
Like a lot of folk singer-songwriters, Alec Gross paints a specific time and place for the experiences that his character (Ron Avery) makes his way through. Most of these aren't happy times, and this comes through loud and clear on songs like the haunting ‘Burning Grounds,' inspired by Alec’s trip to the Holocaust museum in Jerusalem and a poem he saw there by Anatoly Kuznetsov.
Most tracks are quiet and moody impressions of an imagined idyllic existence, from the Irish ballad ‘Be Not Jealous of the Sea,’ to the tormented ‘Looking Glass Lies.’ It isn't until barnburner 'Strip the Lanterns' that we hear Gross really cut loose, but it’s well worth the wait through the record’s more even-tempered and traditional sections. - Read Mike Levine interview with Alec Gross here.
The LA-based lo-fi outfit 3 ½’s sound may be as adorable as its debut EP First Recording’s album art, which depicts each member of the trio, instrument in hand, with the head of a cat. Led by vocalist Leila Jarman, the three-piece produces straightforward, uncluttered indie-pop with sugary sweet melodies. After taking a two-year hiatus, local radio station KXLU rediscovered the EP, with the help of local record label Co Wave’s radio show on the station, resulting in a scheduled performance at this year’s SXSW festival. You can discover the EP for FREE on the band’s site, and for those of you lucky dogs (or cats) heading down to Austin in March, be sure to check out 3 ½’s set! - Katrina Nattress
To be or not to b.FUNK? It’s a silly question, really. Tis more noble to spit fly rhymes about outrageous fortune than to effuse a sea of wackness, and by opposing the forces of weak lyricism and poor stage presence, to rise – to sleep no more. b.FUNK is a charismatic MC with a natural talent for engaging lyricism and enthralling energy. Even Shakespeare is rumored to have kept him on regular rotation in his ipod. He’ll be opening for the Legendary Phife Dawg at B.B.Kings on Feb 23rd. Bring your lute. - BrokeMC
Unsane's press kit offered a quote from an unlikely source: The New York Times. The Grey Lady described the band's sound as representative of the East Village, which may be accurate if you're talking late 80's New York. Unfortunately since then the East Village has lost most if not all its musical reputation to the LES and Williamsburg, hosting now just a couple of venues and a shrinking community of musicians. The fact that the band chose to record their latest album, "Wreck," out in March 20th, in Brooklyn, speaks volumes even louder than Unsane's aggressive vocals. Unsane have mastered their own brand of noise rock, powered by unstoppable bass and smashing percussion, meshed with grinding guitarwork and the raw vocals mentioned earlier. Unsane will be touring with punk rockers The Melvins, and land in New York on April 29 to play a show at Webster Hall. -allison levin
If there is one thing to adore about Ape School, it's Michael Johnson's unpredictability. In one instant, he'll throw you moments of poppy synth-psych fuzz that's made its way through a chunky shoegaze meat grinder. The next, you could be caressed by bittersweet, cloudy ambiance, like on his latest single, "Beneficiary (Don't Blame Me)." And then he may completely surprise you with a dark, rockin' set, like the one he played at the recent Union Transfer show with the War on Drugs. On paper, it may seem frantic, but in sonic art form, it's seriously enjoyable. If nothing else, Ape School is consistent with offering this intensely beautiful haze that's insidiously captivating. For that reason alone, diehards should be more than excited by his second LP, Junior Violence, slated to drop late spring/early summer. Johnson will preview some tunes from the new album Saturday night at Kung Fu Necktie, where he'll play with other adored local acts, Norwegian Arms and Nightlands. Expect Norwegian Arms to offer a twisted mix of freak pop, weird folk and alt-Americana, while Nightlands stretches out an empyrean blanket of polished, dream-time soundscapes. You're welcome. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 8pm, $8 - $10, 21+ (Photo by Q.D. Tran) - Annamarya Scaccia
Other things to keep you entertained this weekend…
Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Market East Record Release Show w/ Like Wild and The Mendles, SAT Ape School, Nightlands, Norwegian Arms, SUN Burden
The Level Room (2102 Market St.) SAT Charmaines Names, SUN Summer Love, Quiet Arcs, Fire in the Hearts and Minds
North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) FRI Whitewater Press, The Bailey Hounds, Sweet Eureka, SAT First Capital Funk, Sunshine Superman, Chail & The Beige Americans
The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Star Syndicate and Atrium Way, SAT Luther and One Win Choice, SUN Rasputin's Secret Police, Old People, Stinky Smelly
Tritone (1508 South St.) SAT Lust2Love, Butterscotch Grimm, Jurrassic Shark, SUN G. Calvin Weston
The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) FRI Pig Iron Theatre Company's Annual Benefit Cabaret and Auction, SUN Drake City
The Blockley (3801 Chestnut St.) FRI Splintered Sunlight, Philadelphia Brothers Reunion, Salsa Shark, SUN Caveman and Tha Itis
Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) FRI John Train, SUN Cowmuddy
World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI LP Stiles, SUN Stonethrown, Parachuting Apostles, The Lux, Sinners Saints, Mach 22, Modern Colour, Twenty 30, Mother
MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) SAT The Byways and American Schoolyard
The Legendary Dobbs (304 South St.) FRI Discount Heroes, Early Ape, This Way Home, Katie Barbato, Barakka, SAT Gray Fox, The Soundouts, The Good Excuses
Triumph Brewery (117 Chestnut St.) FRI Horizon Wireless and Fikus, SAT Coppertonic and Natural Selection
PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12th St. Philadelphia) SAT Bam Pow Vol. 3 Release Party w/Rasputin's Secret Police, Starwood, Northern Liberties
The El Bar (1356 N. Front St.) SAT Point Breeze, Bardus, Ratkicker
Little Bar (738 S. 8th St.) SAT Playboy Bunny Savage, Thee Sutdowns, Twisted in Graves
The Rotunda (4014 Walnut St.) SUN West Philadelphia Orchestra, The Horrible Department, Octomonkey
Arlington VA's darkwave duo Screen Vinyl Image emerge again with electronic shoegaze splendor in Strange Behavior (released Dec 2011.) IMO, Kim and Jake Ried are at the top of the leader-board when it comes to their genre, and after a listen- I think the SVI audience would agree.
One could simply spin this entire record at a Goth Prom night and have the place jumping with doom & gloom in SVI's catchy rhythms as heard in "Revival", a gothic boom layered in pumping beats and fuzzy guitars. And "Rx" hits even darker notes, welcoming a good ol'fashioned blood rave.
"Stay Asleep" gets beautiful with lush guitars oozing over that beat that keeps you swaying on the dancefloor, before pushing through into another realm of intoxicating synth swirls and hallucinogenic vocal reverbs. Acoustic guitars come in on "My Confession" as Jake's echoes melt into the atmosphere that remains from "Stay Asleep." Chilling yet soothing, and dark as all hell. -Dawn
