After each Buke and Gass show, it is quite common to see a line of guys (mostly guitarists and engineers) queueing in front of Aron Sanchez to ask him one simple question: "How the heck do you get that crazy tone?" When they approach him on the stage, they normally realize two things: 1. He doesn't play a normal guitar, but what he calls a "Gass" 2. That kick drum he also plays while strumming the Gass not only has a tambourine attached to the outer skin but there's also a... snare inside it!

What prompted the invention of the Gass? I wanted to make more sound with one instrument. For a long time I'd been thinking of making an instrument that would replicate how Aston Barrett sounded on the Bob Marley records, he would double his bass lines with muted guitar. I never got around to making that instrument, but the last band I was in, Proton Proton, I was the only string player for awhile, so I began to develop the Gass, which has become a lot more versatile than my original idea. - Read Paolo De Gregorio's full interview with Aron Sanchez here.

Check out this new (non) video by Harlem Shakes, they sold out the Bowery last night. Here's a (very) old Deli interview with the band.

Have you ever felt the urgent need to get out of the city that never sleeps, to escape from the concrete jungle of New York? Well, next time this happens, just take a break and listen to Brooklyn-based quintet Motel Motel! Once you get into their songs, you notice their harmonic interplay and exceptional musical sense, which turns their performance into an absolute highlight. With their music they succeed in combining the city's vibrant energy with the peaceful, calm atmosphere typical for the countryside, thus showing the magic that's inherent in real life and successfully blurring the lines between the genres of Rock and Country. The melancholy delivered in the singer's voice combats with the energetic, partly even aggressive guitar play, adorned by the sweet sounds of a piano. - Susi Muhr

'Stars Still Pretty' from Aeroplane Pageant. The band will play live at Pete's Candy's Store on July 9.

The Brooklyn based group Spanish Prisoners have had a lot on their plate lately. After a quintessential debut “Songs to Forget, Exit Stencil”, the group have been gigging and interviewing compulsively for the last year generating quite a buzz for themselves. Led by vocalist Leo Maymind, Spanish Prisoners blend bubbily psych pop with dark telltale vocals and daydream guitar textures.
Some of their tunes are quite haunting, some are more poppy then some are melodic with a hint of a country influence. Recently the band has played shows with the likes of Daniel Johnston, John Vanderslice and Foals. Shortly after their debut Spanish Prisoners expanded with keyboardist Amberly Hungerford, who also shares in the vocals and gives their music even more diversity. They have recently released the “Los Angeles Guitar Dream” EP to a mass of good press. This hype has led to the band being invited to do a monthly residency at Cameo Gallery in Williamsburg. During the month of July Spanish Prisoners will perform on the 12th, 19th and the 26th alongside a score of other talented and diverse local bands. This event is being presented by the Music Slut and Deli Magazine (yes, that's us!). In the meantime the “Los Angeles Guitar Dream” EP is available completely for free at their website an on their Myspace page. - Lindsey Lawless

You don’t need too many ingredients to produce some catchy tunes that make hearts leap for joy: mix some funky beats with vibrant bass tunes and add some magical voice full of life and confidence – and here we go. Hank and Cupcakes is the quirky but auspicious result of this exceptional combination. There is no doubt about this group’s entertaining value emerging from their sweeping performance which shows not only their musical and technical skills but also this special synergy between the two band members, Hank (bass) and Cupcakes (drums and vocals), which makes their musical output even more hypnotizing. The distinctive edgy sound and overall attitude of this minimalist but successful duo is reminiscent of New York City’s energy and restlessness combined with bits of soulfulness and youthful spirit. The music is simple, but honest; diverting, yet at the same time highly expressive. Definitely go to check out their slamming live shows, the next one will be at The Delancey on July 6. – Susi Muhr

Skeletons wants you to think for yourself, and maybe buy their latest album, “Money,” released on Tomlab in November 2008. Most importantly, though, they want you to remain aware during this Information Age of digital media, internet television, and of course, MySpace. Combining elements of straightforward indie rock like quirky vocals and trebly guitar lines with loose, free-jazzy noise freakouts and a sensory-overloaded visual approach, the Brooklyn outfit has synthesized a unique brand through sound and image. Though they have a presence on the aforementioned ubiquitous social networking site, their own page at skeletons.tv is where they’d rather you end up. Maintained by creative center Matt Mehlan, the compellingly interactive site features ominous declarations of an impending “Revolution,” a treasure trove of hidden videos and subtle commentary on the media state. They have released material under the monikers Skeletons and the Girl-Faced Boys and Skeletons and the Kings of All Cities. - Read Toney Palumbo's interview with the band here. - Skeletons are currently touring with Dirty Projectors. Catch them Live at Death By Audio on July 3.

Quotes from Electric Tickle Machine's interview with The Deli.

You recently played at Death By Audio, how’d you like getting a piece of that Brooklyn DIY pie?
Tom: There was no difference at the end of the day. People needed to take money, have their rules, set it up in a certain way and that’s the deal. It didn’t really feel looser than the shows we’ve played at Cake Shop.

You guys play Cake Shop a whole lot. Do you favor that club in some way?
TOM: It’s a basement, it’s great! It’s just a dirty little basement. You’re on ground level with the kids and it’s a very face-to-face, immediate experience. I’m a fan of that basement.

- Read Nicholas Katzban full interview with the band here.

This Wednesday at Bar Matchless, Hannah Fairchild, Dustin Edge, Accidental Seabirds, and Natureboy (pictured) perform at Resonance, for FREE.

Hannah Fairchild and her soft, melodically crafted songs will get the evening started, followed by Dustin Edge’s rock-inspired, high energy acoustic compositions. After Dustin, Accidental Seabirds returns to Resonance with a full band, promising to deliver energetic and dynamic renditions of lead singer Jesse Lee’s exceptional songs. Lee stays on the acoustic as accompanying drums, bass, electric guitar and saxophone expand sonic horizons and create a solid launching pad for the singer’s striking vocals. Closing the night is Natureboy, the atmospheric, often minimalist, electric guitar driven songs of guitarist and vocalist, Sara Kermanshahi. Kermanshahi’s voice is gripping and haunting, and her songs simultaneously soothing and invigorating (listen to “Heart to Fool”). – Dan D’Ippolito

For show details, click HERE.

Indie rock quartet, The Telephones are Jesse Adelman on vocals and guitar, keyboardist Bradley Albert, bassist Anton Kreisl, of trio Tiny Animals, and drummer Mike Reed. The Brooklyn-based band established in 2001, has been compared to 70s rock groups Faces and The Babys. Hear tracks from their new EP "Volume 1", a follow-up to full-length release and fan-favorite "Fight Night At Rodeo Dodo", featuring Adelman’s unforgettable voice, belting clever lyrics atop tight licks, producing a larger than life, album-rock sound. Pick up The Telephones!- (as posted in The Deli's Open Blog - post your band's entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

In some dark, eerie New York City bar or club, you may by chance be surprised to encounter a local band with a fresh sound that’s reminiscent of such late 70s/early eighties groups as The Swell Maps, Pylon, Gang of Four, Mission of Burma, Catholic Discipline, Warsaw (pre-Joy Division), Alternative TV and the Desperate Bicycles. If you do, that band is most likely to be the one and only Imaginary Icons. With electrifying songs like Fade, Mirror Panics, and New Face of France they’re aggressively bringing that hot, stinging sound to today’s eager ears with a 21st century touch. See these guys live at Southpaw on August 15. - Full list of the Best emerging NYC bands of 2008 here.

First of all, go to www.orbasquara.com immediately. By far, one of the most well-produced websites I’ve ever seen, Orba Squara leads a musical journey with creative one-liners as we scroll sideways through photos from Mitch Davis’ tour across 10 states with Indie/acoustics as a backdrop from his newly digital-released album, The Trouble with Flying; CD release this July - the omonimous single is out already and can be heard on myspace and downloaded on iTunes. After exploring the thought stimulating photos, lyrics, quotes, and music, we feel as though we personally know the artist and that we have spent some time in his tour bus. What a special way to share his experiences and animate his music than through a journal-esque presentation appealing to all listeners. - Gina Alioto

A mature voice for a young pop/folk singer, Jennifer Logue has rising popularity on social sites like MySpace and Twitter. Appropriately titled A Woman in Me, J-Logue’s album speaks to young women with defining personalities and discovering love. Deserving of air-play, “How Much I Love You” will appeal to the pop-masses. As Jennifer’s “Paint the World Pretty Tour” promotes her new album, she also plans to perform voluntarily at a hospital or orphanage in every city she visits, which is respectable of any self-funded independent artist. Jennifer Logue’s tour launches with a show in New York City on June 30th at Mad 46 (45 East 45th St in Manhattan) - which is also her EP release party. - Gina Alioto

Familiar faces to the Deli, The Dig, are a group in which we have quite a bit of faith. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if before too long, they are wooed into a record deal and booked into some big-time tour. Until then, they are our city’s very own and we are prepared to take full advantage of that. This Tuesday the 30th, they’ll be playing a set of their regular tight, shiny rock of the indie kind at the Bowery Ballroom with As Tall As Lions. Since The Dig shows never fail to be spot-on, we recommend that you join us there for those hard-driven, expertly controlled rock beats and riffs in tribute mostly to dangerous women. - EO

NJ’s 7-piece outfit Roadside Graves are having the release show for their LP “My Son’s Home” (Autumn Tone Records) this Friday night at Pianos. The new album is chock full of roots-y indie-rock channeled through the dusty landscapes of Americana and folk, and it has already garnered some positive notes on several music blogs. The Graves’ rowdy “post-country” friends GunFight! will play right before their set, with Blair opening and The Loom playing at midnight. Stark Online and Aquarium Drunkard are sponsoring the show. Come on down to support NJ (one member of GunFight! also hails from the oft-forgotten state…). The Graves will also play Union Hall on July 3.