Megafauna have been busy lately gaining speed. They've had a long string dynamic live shows, and the trio’s forthcoming album, Maximalist, has the right amount of grit and whip-quick guitar work from front woman Dani Neff to fill the slick 37-minute run time to the brim. Want a preview? Check out the album’s dynamic first single, “Haunted Factory”. I don't see Megafauna slowing down anytime soon, and I hope to God they won't. 
You can get Maximalist on the 15^th, but the album’s official release is part of the bill for the 101X Homegrown Live show, April 19th at The Mohawk. The all-ages event will serve as a benefit show for SXSW Cares and will also feature UME, Black Books, and Young Tongue. –Written by Marie Meyers

The Scottish Rite Theatre couldn't have been a more perfect setting for Borrisokane's release of Murdering Teeth this Friday. The stage was an awe to behold with cutout trees of many greens surrounding the bands. Complimentary masquerade masks are amongst the other imaginative details that confettied the night. It was like a scene right out of Peter Pan, contrasting the sheer elegance of Wendy's world with the wonder of Peter's, making you feel like Wendy holding tight to Peter's hand as he shows you Never Never Land. You're flying one minute and missing mommy the next. It's simply beautiful. 

With each song, Murdering Teeth holds a fantasy world of its very own bringing listeners to a new consciousness. I loved the breathy opening in 'Amelia Fucking Earhart' that lead to escalating instrumentals and a consuming sense of urgency. My other favorite was the glittering keyboard of 'Victoria Please' that flew me through a nebula of sound and clouds of emotional infinity.  Check it out for yourself and pick up a copy of Borrisokane's new EP today! -- Written by Katy Glass

Deli Readers,

The Deli Austin's Best of 2012 Readers and Fans' Poll for local emerging artists is over, thanks to all those who cast their vote in support of the emerging local bands and artists in our list of nominees. Congrats to psychedelic keyboard driven quartet Borrisokane for being The Deli Readers' Best Austin Artist of 2012.

Kudos also to weird folkster hhhhhh and psych rock masters Black Books who placed second and third.

ARTIST VOTES   1 Borriskane 94 2 hhhhhh 52 3 Black Books 40 4 The Couch 30 5 Residual Kid 19

Stay tuned for the composite chart, to be released soon, which will include the point nominees accumulated from the jurors and Deli writers' votes, and will crown The Deli's Best Emerging DC Area Artist of 2012.

The Deli's Staff

We've tallied the results for the Open Submissions stage of our Austin Year End Poll. Deli Editors from other scenes ranked all of the submissions, and the list of acts that have advanced to our Readers/Fans Poll phase are below. We will also be releasing the list of nominees chosen by our local "scene expert" jurors very soon.

Thanks to all the acts who submitted their artistry to us. Our open submissions pool was truly a celebration of Austin&rsquos musical talent and diversity.

Total submissions from the Austin Scene: 27

Jurors: Q.D. Tran (Deli Philadelphia), Brandi Lukas (Deli Philadelphia), Paolo De Gregorio (Deli NYC).

The Deli Staff

Black Books announced their arrival with the appropriately titled EP An Introduction To...and those of us who enjoy their dreamscapes have had to wait until this January for the follow up. But it’s finally here, and it’s more of their trademark floating-above-the-clouds brilliance. Ross, Meg, Clarke, Kevin, and Mike -- the lineup features the all-too-rare singing drummer -- have hit on a sound they call Southern Dream Pop, which is fairly apt as three-word descriptions go. For a longer one, try some words from the blog Yvynyl: “Listening to this is like wrapping up in a navajo blanket and laying under the big Texas desert stars with your lover and, you know, making babies.” Yeah...it’s about that good. Word is starting to grow on these guys and it wouldn’t surprise anyone in Austin to see them strike some sparks this SXSW. You can see them live at Hotel Vegas with Lord Buffalo on April 7. - Tom Vale