The power trio of The Retinas recently shared a new song, “Necklace Stone”, which was recorded & mixed by Keith Abrams (Pine Barons, The Districts), to close out the year. Levelheaded vocals create a sense of calm, swaying seas, counterbalanced by the choppy grit of pace-establishing backend and escalating guitar. That steady build reaches unexpected heights in short order. Its sock-puppet video (with accompanying feline) playfully circles the globe.

Dear Deli Readers,

It’s been an honor covering Philly’s underground music scene for the past nine years, and we truly appreciate all who have been so supportive of our site and our mission. And of course, mucho love goes out to the all the local area musicians who have been kind enough to share their personal art with us. Without you, The Deli would certainly not exist. (Well, maybe in some form or another, but we might be covering some of our other loves like food, weed or puppies. ;-)

We truly enjoy taking this time to celebrate our wonderful Philly music community with you, so join us this Saturday night at PhilaMOCA for The Deli Philly’s 9^th Anniversary Bash! This year, we will be donating all proceeds from the event to the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit organization “dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable member of our society,” and we’d like to thank Deli faves The Retinas, Them Jones, and So Totally for donating their time and talents to entertain all of us for the evening. Now, if you’ve attended any of our anniversary celebrations in the past, then you know how we do it. If not, more deets are available HERE, but there will also be plenty of surprises that we can’t mention just yet.

Looking forward to partying down with you soon!

Cheers,

Q.D. Tran & The Deli Staff

P.S.

Shout out to Modern Baseball (who may be performing their final shows for the foreseeable future this weekend at Union Tranfer) and former Deli Anniversary alums Suburban Living (who will be returning home from tour with Frankie Rose, this Sunday at Ortlieb’s)!

Other places that will be almost as fun as our anniversary…

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI Hot Breakfast, F. Woods & The Fellow Humans, SAT The Deli Philly's 9th Anniversary Bash: The Retinas, Them Jones, So Totally, SUN Void Vision, Rodney Anonymous

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Upholstery, S.T.A.R.W.O.O.D, On The Water, SUN Ill Fated Natives

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Black Horse Motel, Former Belle

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Conversations, Goodnight/Goodluck, The Echogenic/Hulqamaniaq/Dev79, Sideswipe/DJ Deejay, SAT Blowdryer/Torito, Cody Cody Jones, Felipe Pupo/Night Drive, SUN Carolyn Thorn/Dog Tears, Allegra, Susie Derkins/Destroying Angel, David E. Williams, Janelle

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St.) FRI Andrea Valle, Brianna Cash

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden St,) FRI Modern Baseball, Small Circle, Harmony Woods, SAT Modern Baseball, No Thank You, SUN Modern Baseball, Shannen Moser, Greg Mendez

Electric Factory (421 N. 7^th St.) FRI Musiq Soulchild, Vivian Green, Bilal

Bourbon & Branch (705 N 2^nd St.) FRI One Take Dave, SAT Lapses, SUN Sea Offs

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) FRI (Upstairs) The Peace Creeps, The SB Deluxe

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Overwinter, Nikia Camp, SAT Tom Petty Tribute: Lally, The Contractables

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI The Phonies, Hambone Relay, SAT Commonwealth Choir, Saint Brendan & The Navigators, Please., SUN The Binary Sea, The Groove Merchants, Primatives

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI Nik Greeley & The Operators, David Hoagie And His Heroes

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Wolf Dem, Teknacolor Ninja, KT Caustic, SAT Pet Cheetah, Hoochi Cooch, SUN Suburban Living, Sad Actor

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Lee Mayjahs?, DJ Everyday, SAT DJ Deejay, SUN Peedi Crakk, Oschino

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI The Sea Tease, SAT Hunter Alive, Breaklite/Moonstomp

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SUN Holy Smoke

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Blvd.) FRI DJ Beatstreet, DJ Kevin Kong, SUN Tom Curtis Band

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) SAT Peek-A-Boo Revue, SUN Peek-A-Boo Revue

The Grape Room (105 Grape St.) FRI Operation RATM, Purple to the Core, White Limo, Almost There, SAT The Fearless Fly, In the Presence of Wolves, LOR, Dean

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) FRI Rugby Road, SAT David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St.) FRI The Morelings (Record Release), Madalean Gauze, Remote Control, Jo Kusy, SAT Julia Rainer, Mark Lanky

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Left & Right, Water Temple, Lester

The Vat (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Drums Like Machine Guns, Ada Babar

The Sound Hole (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more information.) SAT BB Basura

Dear Deli Readers,

Yes, it’s about that time of year again! We will be returning to our home away from home, PhilaMOCA, on Saturday, October 14th for The Deli Philly’s 9th Anniversary Bash, and we are psyched to announce this year’s lineup. You may remember our headliners for the evening. (Or maybe it’s about time you get to know them.) The Retinas threw down with us last year, alongside LOUDS and Suburban Living (who are currently on tour with Frankie Rose – hope that you are having a blast, fellas!), and were recently voted The Deli Philly Best Emerging Indie Rock Artist, so we are thrilled to see them graduate to this year’s headlining slot. They’ll be joined by two rad newcomers to the event, who have both received Record of the Month honors from us. “Reviving and reinventing soundscapes reminiscent of the Age of Aquarius” (September 2016), Them Jones are one of the talented emerging torchbearers of Philly’s ever-evolving psych-rock/pop community, and providing us with “the ideal soundtrack for winter sadness” (January 2017), So Totally will surely melt our hearts. It will certainly be a night of music not to be missed!

We are also happy to be donating all proceeds from our annual celebration to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit organization “dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society.” Whether you realize it or not, our staff (past & present) is made up of many proud immigrants and members of the LGBTQ community, who encourage all of our readers to do what you can to push back against this wave of hate that has risen in our society, emboldened as of late by the dishonorable Troll-in-Chief.

We hope that you’ll be able to join us for a fun evening of good vibes, great music and no hate! For more info, go HERE.

Much love,

Q.D. Tran & The Deli Staff

(Trump Troll Sculpted by Chuck Williams)

The Deli’s reigning Best Emerging Philly Indie Rock Artist, The Retinas, set up shop this Saturday at The Barbary. As we await the arrival of new material currently in the works and potentially on display, the band lay down a faded, fuzz-out set of well-crafted, rambunctious tunes. Filtered through a casual disenchanting haze, The Retinas cultivate unassuming, episodic adventures that tackily grab hold and gradually accelerate into anthem status without pretense. The psych-surf trio of Secret Nudist Friends twists and turns between a temperate sway to a ripping torrent. New York natives The Lounge Act channel secluded emotions into dominoing jams.

Meanwhile, many will their annual trek to Old Pool Farm, flocking for the 56^th Philadelphia Folk Festival. Among the cavalcade of acts throughout the weekend, the absorbing Vita and the Woolf, the multi-dimensional, baroque folk of Hezekiah Jones, and the harmony-stacking, campfire Americana of The End of America represent a small but potent sampling of what will be a long-ass weekend of good vibes and tunes. – Michael Colavita

Other places to soak in the summer this weekend…

Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N. Frankford Ave.) FRI Spank, SAT Philly Loves Michael Jackson

Boot & Saddle (1131 S. Broad St.) FRI Overcoming Gravity, Camp Candle, SAT Bel Heir, Blame Candy

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) FRI Drowse, Manbeast/Big Nothing/WhiteRice, Gummibear, BeeTee Beats/The Dull Blue Lights, SAT Midwestern Exposure, Brom Bones, Canyon Ride/DJ PHSH, Low Budget, SUN Androgynous Jesus/Crazy Bull

PhilaMOCA (531 N. 12^th St.) FRI McRad, Thantophobe, Barnes

Bourbon & Branch (705 N. 2^nd St.) FRI In the Presence of Wolves

The Trocadero (1003 Arch St.) SAT Lucid By Midnight, Public Noise/DJ Sylo, Astro 8000, Wes Walker, Charley Coin

The Foundry (1000 Frankford Ave.) FRI Dayne Jordan, DJ Ferno, Beano, The Bul Bey

World Café Live (3025 Walnut St.) SAT (Upstairs) Lily Mae

The Barbary (951 Frankford Ave.) FRI Thunderbird Divine, SAT RFA, Soraia, Ellen Siberian-Tiger/The Retinas, Secret Nudist Friends

The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) SAT DJ Baby Berlin, DJ Nightwitch, Korine

MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut St.) FRI The Barren Marys, SUN Thrills, St. James & The Apostles

Ortlieb’s Lounge (847 N. 3^rd St.) FRI Birthday Boy, Caracara, SAT Vincent John

Silk City (435 Spring Garden St.) FRI Bo Bliz, Low Budget, SAT DJ Deejay

Fergie’s (1214 Sansom St.) SUN Rusty Cadillac

Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 S. 9^th St.) FRI No Mere Machine, SAT Roxy Rollz, SUN Port Arthur, Cavity Kids

Voltage Lounge (421 N. 7^th St.) SAT Lloyd Maz, Hashland, Blaq N' Nappy, Ryze High, Zac Oracle

Morgan’s Pier (221 N. Columbus Boulevard) FRI DJ PiERSON, SAT DJ Beatstreet, SUN Burnt Sienna

The Grape Room (105 Grape St) Liberty Music Fest  FRI Chad Jenkins Band, Riverside Odds, Shadow Merchants, Lonesome Crow/Monie & Meeks, John Fahres, Mack & the Hooligans, Vinnie Paolizzi , SAT Xpresidents, The Sly Foxes, Aviance, Redux Envy, In Different Sounds, CHVNCE/Vanderlyle, E.Joseph and The Sparrows, A Better Class Of Criminal, Tyler John, Firm Taqtics, Steve Oakley Band/DJ 21HNDRD, Mike Nappi, Camp Candle, The Duke Brothers , Eloise Sharkey, Prin$e Alexander, Rotation Records Showcase, SUN Primatives, Fauxtron, Popular Creeps, Adventure Lost, Illusions Of Grandeur, Granz, A Ship Named Beagle/The Local Smokes, Bazmati Vice, Josh Nussbaum, Bluestime, Novyy Stil'

Ardmore Music Hall (23 E. Lancaster Ave.) SAT Splintered Sunlight, SUN Steal Your Peach, Brown Sugar

Frankie Bradley’s (1320 Chancellor St.) FRI DJ Ben Aire, SAT Ed Christof

Everybody Hits (529 W. Girard Ave.) FRI Whipworm

The Pharmacy (1300 S. 18^th St.) FRI Crossed Keys, Peter The Pianoeater, Wax Wav / The Mellowells, Snakeboy, Twin Beds

Creep Records (1050 N. Hancock St., Suite 76) SAT The Dull Blue Lights, SteveO & The Crippling Addictions

Hole Foods (Please contact one of the acts or venue for more info.) FRI Garden Club, Sinceres, Whine Moms

Philly Folk Festival (Old Pool Farm) FRI Andrea Nardello, Apache Trails, Ben Arnold and the 48 Hour Orchestra, A Fistful of Sugar, Anna Cecilia, Black Horse Motel, Butter Queen Sister, Chickabiddy, Dani Mari, David Amram, David C Perry, Deer Scout, Edge Hill Rounders, Gene Smith Band, Hezekiah Jones, Jessica Graae, Kicking Down Doors, Ladybird, Man About a Horse, Michael Braunfeld, No Good Sister, Rare Spirits, Ray Naylor, RUNA, Spirit Wing, Stevie and the Bluescasters, Sweetbriar Rose, The Theologicals, The End of America, SAT A Fistful of Sugar, Greg Sover Band, Hannah Taylor, Jay Smar, Jesse Hale Moore, Kalob Griffin, Lisa Chosed, Matt Wheeler & Vintage Heart, Michael Braunfeld, Rare Spirits, RUNA, Sarah Chodak, Silverton, Saul Broudy, The Theologicals, Two of a Kind, Vita & the Woolf, SUN Almshouse, Andrea Nardello, Boulevard Express, Courtney Malley, Dani Mari, David Amram, Dawn Hiatt, Instant Bingo Jam, Jessica Graae, John Flynn, Kicking Down Doors, Ladybird, Man About a Horse, Michael Braunfeld, Michelle Miller, No Good Sister, RUNA, Saul Broudy, Sylvia Platypus

This year’s Deli Philly Best Emerging Artist in Indie Rock, The Retinas, will headline a three-layered billing of Philly up-and-comers this Saturday at Ortlieb’s. Fuzzy, humid garage-punk permeates, as the loose, hazed-over relatability ricochets between the band and its audience. While employing a casual air, revealing lyricism invites you in. Then, those simmering, suburban storyboards reach a tipping point and scorch. Melding rubber-burning, fuzz-filtered fury with relaxed, melodic grooves, Tangiers zigzags the threshold of intensity, while relative newcomers, Lally, exhibit an inherently gritty, infectious batch of rock.

Also, this Sunday at the NoLibs watering hole, the adventurous psych/jazz guitar exploits of Nick Millevoi tear into the  underexplored, aided on the billing by the perception-altering, sonic-wanderings of Chicago trio Mako Sico and the ever-evolving, investigative musicality of Jeff Zeigler. – Michael Colavita