SXSW 2017 is officially under way, so we figured we'd take the opportunity to showcase a few of the New England acts making their way to the mecca of Austin, TX. Connecticut rockers Ovlov are getting ready to bring their brand of fuzzy, lo-fi alt-rock to a horde of new fans in Austin.  Their last full release, 2013's am, is a shining offering to the genre, a powerfully dynamic album that is straightforward rock, without getting dull.  Check them out at The Velveeta Room in Austin, TX on 3/17. -Brian Varneke

Typically I'm weary of the word patio, after seeing it applied to countless local ads for senior-home condos or the over-friendly neighborhood brick layers stumbling through radio commercials. The Brooklyn trio Patio however has lightened my jaded little heart with their perfect blend of sweet melodies and post-punk grit. Marked by subdued vocals that read in a genuine post-cool way, Patio's first EP, Luxury, is driven by mobile bass lines and punctuated snare hits. The band emphatically paints anthems for the current malaise plaguing twenty-somethings and their infectious tunes are furthered by the band's sense of fun and loving devotion of chicken sandwiches. See Patio live on August 8 at Shea Stadium supporting Ovlov, Happy Diving, and Peaer, and check out their single 'Arbitrary Numbers' below. - Olivia Sisinni

My last day of CMJ was my most anticipated.  Started off by getting my ticket in advance for Exploding in Sound's 3rd birthday bash at The Silent Barn, where almost every EIS band in some form or another would be playing.  After that I headed over to the warehouse spot over on Hart and Wyckoff known as Hot 97.4 for the 1.21 Gigawatts issue release (read some of my words in the new issue).  There I caught the tail end of Journalism, a tight band of Brooklyn cats who sound like a cross between My Bloody Valentine and Ty Segal, a good combo in my book. - Keep reading Jake Saunders' report of Day 5 of the CMJ Music Marathon 2014.

Bueno has been a frequent name in our blog as of late.  It seems like every other week these Staten Island natives are playing a show somewhere, and rightfully so: they're a live band with a lot to offer, including an upcoming debut album (entitled, Guilt) and a tour with Baked.  Bueno started out as an improvisation-based band, but their songs have slowly been making the transition towards a more structured environment; we see this in their very recently released single, "C-C-C-C-Convenient" (streaming) The song is one of nihilism and frustration, a feeling fully embodied by Luke Chiaruttini, whose half talking vocals set the stage for a raucously hard hitting track: "Things are more convenient than it was back then/Sometimes I forget what it was like back then/Things now easier, fun and fair/It's nice to know that no one cares."  Bueno's jammy influences are ones for the books, because they've got it down to a T.    They're playing at The Silent Barn this Wednesday (8/20) - don't miss their set at Baked's record release show this Friday(8/22) because the lineup is one to blow you away: Ovlov, Bueno, Porches, and Baked.  - Jake Saunders 

We added this song to The Deli's playlist of Best guitar rock songs by emerging NYC artists - check it out!

There is a growing connection between the up and coming grunge rockers out of New England and a select few New York City bands.  Artists like Krill, Ovlov, and Pile have been taking and doling out influence from and to NYC bands like Bluffing, Big Neck Police and the focus of this review, The Gradients.  The last time I saw The Gradients was at the Living Gallery in Brooklyn last summer, so when I witnessed the solid crowd of followers that the band had amassed at Hot 97.4 this past weekend I was excited to see how their sound had evolved.  Indeed The Gradients have come a long way; their songs contain powerful, driving melodies complete with an exciting, New York City-themed frustration.  Their use of lazy harmonies is especially effective on their new single, "Growing Pile," where the chorus becomes layered in raspy vocals of that good, sweet teenage angst we all know and love.  You can check out The Gradients next week on July 29th at Palisades with Washer, Palm and The Doozies.  - Jake Saunders