Fan-Tan’s origins lie in the college town of Chapel Hill, N.C., which has sparked the musical careers of the likes of Superchunk and Archers of Loaf and more recently, The Love Language. The quintet’s distinctive “city” sound – dark, mysterious and alluring – probably disoriented the town’s residents and sonically clashed with other local musicians. Now based in Brooklyn, Fan-Tan is comfortably playing shows with artists that compliment its synth-pop sound such as Cale Parks and Led Er Est. On the band’s second EP “The Age of Discovery,” the urgent vocals compel the vivid guitar and looming bass with an overlay of atmospheric, subtle synths. The music is full of dramatics and tension, and it has an unyielding ability to remain in listeners’ heads for days. To celebrate the release of “The Age of Discovery,” Fan-Tan will be playing with New Zealand’s Surf City at the Mercury Lounge on March 26. Tickets are $10. - Nancy Chow

Brooklyn based post-hardcore/metal outfit Descender returns to CakeShop on Friday March 12th along with fellow local heavyweights Clean Teeth (members of legendary Detachment Kit) and Heks Orkest (members of Sparta, Avail, Denali, Kepone) for a night of explosive face-melting loud rock. While acknowledging the likes of 90s staples Unsane, Helmet, Snapcase and Quicksand, Descender has been making a name for itself by expanding upon those references to become a fresh new voice in the local heavy music scene. Their latest EP can be downloaded on their myspace page. - (as posted in The Deli's Open Blog - post your band's entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

Kidrockers organizes shows targeted to a very specific niche: the hipster parents and their soon to be hipster children. This is why they promote their events by saying that "every adult must be accompnied by a kid between 3 and 13 years of age". Their next show will be on Sunday March 21 at 92YTribeca (11 AM) and will involve two interesting local bands - and also two comedy acts.

STEEL PHANTOMS is a recently formed, four piece band based in Brooklyn, named after a roller coaster in Pittsburgh (where they hail from). Featuring the ex drummer from Islands Steel Phantoms uses many of the same pop sounds that defined the Montreal music scene, with a punkier approach in the attitude and vocals. 

DYNASTY ELECTRIC is a electro-rock duo also based in Brooklyn, NY, with a rather sexy live show (I'm sure your 13 years old will appreciate that!). The band features vocalist/theremin player Jenny Electrik and multi-instrumentalist Seth Misterka who plays saxophone, electric guitar, and programming. The band will soon be releasing its first album on BluRoc Records, the latest venture of hip-hop mogul Damon Dash, and recently collaborated with Brian Chase of Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Alan Palomo, aka Neon Indian, has unveiled his first new track since the release of the much-acclaimed Psychic Chasms: "Sleep Paralysist", recorded with Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, is now available for download at Green Label Sound. You'll also have several opportunities to check him out live if you happen to be an Austin-based or Austin-bound individual: Neon Indian is as busy as everyone else this SXSW, playing the Terrorbird/Force Field gig, the Pitchfork gig (which makes sense, since Pitchfork gets the assist in launching Neon Indian), the Friendly Fire gig at Club de Ville (excellent venue) and Mess With Texas 4, a huge hoedown on East 6th that also features Gwar, Crystal Antlers, and Billy Bragg - reason enough.  

Luke Temple was honored with our CD of the Month title back in 2007, when he was a solo artists singing folky tunes dressed electronically. In 2008, what appeared initially to be a side project involving a bunch of friends - called Here We Go Magic - gained momentum thanks to an ecstatic Pitchfork review (of course); since then the band has become Luke's main project. They spent much of 2009 on successive North American and European tours with bands such Department of Eagles, Grizzly Bear, and the Walkmen, before retreating to a house near East Branch, NY to record their second full length LP, which is scheduled to be released in June on Secretly Canadian. If you can't wait to get this record, we recommend you to check out Luke's solo material - it's absolutely stunning.