Armed with little more than a couple of tracks recorded in their practice space and a few months of existence, Otis the Destroyer is quickly earning the attention of fans and media alike. Not to mention landing a month long residency at the Empire Control Room for the month of April taking place every Sunday. Being a fan of the Couch, it was an easy sell to investigate the latest project from Couch members Taylor Wilkins and Jud Johnson. Not long after the demise of The Couch, Wilkins  (guitar, vocals) Johnson (drums) quickly set out to work on this project with songs driven by a passion and love for loud rock-n-roll. Adding Nick Joswick and Anthony Rucci to the mix, Otis the Destroyer have an EP in the bag set for release May 22nd coinciding with an appearance at The Mohawk. A nickname given to a father, passed on to a dog, and now residing as a band name, let’s hope that the only thing that Otis the Destroyer destroys, is the myth that rock-n-roll is dead.

Catch Otis the Destroyer at Empire Control Room April 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th for a mixed bag loaded with local talent curated by the band. -Written by Michael Maly

Voted runner-up in our Austin Best of 2012 Poll for Emerging Artists, The Couch seamlessly blends rootsy influences with electric indie-rock guitars, creating energetic folk 'n' roll with quiet/loud/quiet moments reminiscent of the glorious alt bands of the 90s (think Pixies and Nirvana). Dual female/male vocals add extra interest (and harmonic layers) to this prolific band's music catalogue.

Dear Deli Readers,

We are proud to announce that The Deli Austin’s Best of 2012 Emerging Artist is Whisky Shivers! Congratulations are also in order for indie/blues rock outfit The Couch who came in second place, and americana-folk band Shakey Graves who came in third.


Please take a look at our chart of 40+ Austin area artists below. The highest value of votes came from our jurors, who included individuals involved in local music. This includes promoters, venue owners, press, DJs and other music experts (who are listed below - thanks y’all). The remainder of the votes was compiled by The Deli Austin contributors, readers, and open submissions voted on by national Deli editors.  

BEST OF 2012 POLL FOR EMERGING AUSTIN ARTISTS - FINAL RESULTS -

ARTIST J W R OS TOT   1 Whiskey Shivers 10   0.03   10.03 2 The Couch 6   0.5   6.5 3 Shakey Graves 5   0.06   5.06 4 Deep Time 5   0.04   5.04 5 Crooked Bangs 5   0.01   5.01 7 Borrisokane     2 1.5 3.5 7 hhhhhh     1.5 2 3.5 9 Hard Proof 3   0.08   3.08 9 My Jerusalem 3   0.08   3.08 10 Mike and the Moonpies 3   0.05   3.05 12 Dana Falconberry 3   0.04   3.04 12 The Vliets     0.04 3 3.04 16 Good Field 3   0.03   3.03 16 Holy Wave 3   0.03   3.03 16 Marmalakes 3   0.03   3.03 16 The Bad Lovers 3   0.03   3.03 18 david thomas jones     0.02 3 3.02 18 The Ghost Wolves 3   0.02   3.02 21 Hello Caller 1   0.01 2 3.01 21 The Calm Blue Sea 3   0.01   3.01 21 The Eastern Sea 3   0.01   3.01 24 Peterson Brothers Band 3   0   3 24 The Church Shoes 3   0   3 24 Yum 3   0   3 25 A Giant Dog 2   0.18   2.18 26 MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR     0.12 2 2.12 27 The Able Sea 2   0.1   2.1 28 Pharaohs 2   0.06   2.06 29 Creationists 2   0.04   2.04 30 The Boxing Lesson 2   0.03   2.03 32 Crooks 2   0.02   2.02 32 Not in the Face 2   0.02   2.02 36 Black Books 1   1   2 36 Ditch Witch 2   0   2 36 The Young 2   0   2 36 White Walls 2   0   2 37 Residual Kid 1   0.19   1.19 38 Bobby Jealousy 1   0.12   1.12 39 Wild Child 1   0.04   1.04 40 The Del-Vipers 1   0.03   1.03 41 Dikes of Holland 1   0.02   1.02 42 Spray Paint 1   0.01   1.01 43 Xander Harris 1   0   1 Legend: J = Jurors, W = Deli Writers, R = Deli Readers, OS = Open Submissions

List of Jurors: Lawrence Boone (Covert Curiosity), Michael Maly (Sonic Itch), Jen Leduc (Superpop!), Scott Osborn (New Deli Austin Editor), Max Meehan (Beerland), Ben T. (29th St. Ballroom), Taylor Browne (Ex Deli Austin Editor), Tyson Swindell (Red 7), Lee Haze (Swan Dive) John Laird (Side One: Track One), Dan Plunkett (End of an Ear), Lawrence Boone (Covert Curiosity), Travis (The Parish), Kristyn Ciani (Lambert's), Dianne Scott (Continental Club),Maggie Lea (Cheer Up Charlies), Kristyn Ciani (Lambert's), Julie Schlembach (Austinist), Spot Long (Trailer Space), Winston Bee (Trophy's).

Congrats to everyone who made the list and thanks to all those who voted!  

Much love, 

The Deli’s Staff

They say all good things must come to an end.  (We don't really believe that, but for the sake of putting a metaphysical slant to a post, we'll claim allegiance.)  And, sorry to say, Free Week is no exception.  Waah.

But instead of bawling, let's go out with a BANG.  For tonight, we recommend going Holy Mountain or Red 7 -

Zorch, The Boxing Lesson, Boyfrndz, Tiger Waves, and Residual Kid will be doing the free thing at Holy Mountain tonight. 

And right next door at Red 7, on the inside you can find Troller, Marriage, The Sour Notes, Wet Lungs, and Spray Paint; whilest the outside stage will be taken over by White Walls, Cheap Curls, The Well, and Holy Wave.  

Saturday, we'd go:

The Mohawk has a huge going-out-of-Free-Week show with the outside stage hosting Silent Diane, FEATHERS, BOAN, and Rare Species.  Inside, we'll have The Sour Notes, The Couch, Shivery Shakes, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, and The Plastic Habit.

And Red 7 will host TV Torso, Oh No Oh My, Hundred Visions, and Tiger Waves. 

Last and definitely not least, you could scoot over to Club DeVille and catch Oh Look Out, Friday Avenue, (one of our best of 2012) Borrisokane, Knifight, and Hydra Melody on the outside stage, whilest inside you can see Pop Pistol and Migrant Kids.

New Year's Eve?  Plans?

Perennial local favorites The Sour Notes are throwing another one of their epic New Years Eve parties.  And Yeah, you're invited to hang out with them, Deep Time, Hundred Visions, Pompeii, Love Inks, The Laughing, and Mirror Travel for a night of fun and frolic at Cheer Up Charlie's.  Cool.

Meanwhile, over at Frontier Bar, Slacker Magazine is throwing a Blacklight Party with Ringo Deathstarr, JAPANTHER, The Boxing Lesson, Megafauna, Residual Kid, Mighty Mountain (Formerly PYRAMID), and The Sun Machine (Formerly THE SOUL PILOTS).

Stubb's is bringing in the New Year with T-Bird and the Breaks + Henry + The Invisibles.

The Beauty Ballroom is hosting Grupo Fantasma and Foot Patrol.

Neon Indian is headlining at The Mohawk, warmed up by Silent Diane and S U R V I V E.

And ND's NYE event includes Not In The Face, The Couch, The Sideshow Tragedy, and AC / ND.

Well, you have all day to decide.  And to get you prepped, mentally and emotionally, for that decision, Zooey and Joey are here for you.