Good Kids Sprouting Horns from Portland, ME gained the most votes for the open submissions poll amongst New England based artists that submitted to be considered for our Best of New England Poll 2010. They will therefore access the next stage of our poll. The votes were cast by two other Deli editors, the editor of the Los Angeles Deli and the editor of the Chicago Deli out of 25 bands.

Good Kids Sprouting Horns (taken from the lyrics of an Andrew Bird song) are a dreamy, creative indie-folk band from Portland, ME. Good Kids Sprouting Horns is a little keyboard crazy (but in a good way). They've recently announced that they will be putting out a new album as soon as (hopefully) Spring. 

Here's how the rest of the bands fared in the Open Submissions voting process:

1. Good Kids Sprouting Horns -- NOMINATED FOR NEXT PHASE

2. The Wandas

3. Spirit Animal

4. The Luxury

5. Hey Mama

6. Air Traffic Controller

7. VILLANELLES

8. Bobb Trimble's Flying Spiders

9. Camp Island

10. This Blue Heaven

-- Meghan Chiampa

Deli readers, indie bands and artists,

This year, our local Year End Emerging Artists 2010 Polls are proving to be more challenging than ever, with 10 US scenes involved and 1,500+ submissions between our own system and the Sonic Bids applications. We spent a significant portion of the recent Holidays listening to your music (thanks for that by the way!), and we haven't even had the chance to check out the bands selected by our jury of local promoters, bloggers and scene makers yet...

ANYWAYYYY... we have the results of the Open Submissions at hand and we are slowly going to publish them in the next few days. Sonic Bids selections coming soon. Whether you were selected or not, always remember that in 1961 The Beatles were rejected by Decca with the following gems: "guitar groups are on the way out" and "The Beatles have no future in show business." Just a friendly reminder that there is no final authority on music, despite what pitchfork.com would have you believe.

Year End Poll Next Phase: The Fans' Poll
The next phase of the Poll - a vote open to the fans - is likely to start towards the end of this week and the end of the next. We'll spread the cities out a little bit to minimize contemporary traffic spikes that repeatedly brought our site down last year. So stay tuned. We should have the final results for our two separate final charts (fans poll and composite chart including the jurors' vote) by the end of January.

Also, of course all this is possible also because of our sponsors - many of them are providing free studio time and prizes for the winners. Here they are God Bless 'em!

LIST OF PRO AUDIO PRIZES FOR POLL WINNERS HERE!

The Deli's Staff

Once again the kindness, generosity and incomparable sense of community that defines the unique Boston music scene comes together to support a dear friend and drummer, John Sands, who in November suffered a terrible heart attack. He is expected to recover, but the recovery is going to be long and arduous and the medical bills are building up.

Two legendary Boston musicians, Aimee Mann and Lori McKenna (also two artists Sands has played with) will be preforming during a very special benefit show for his family at the Paradise on 1/21. Other performers and special guests will be announced later. There will also be a silent auction. More info on that at the bottom of this post.

“John’s family and friends are touched by the love and support they’ve received from the community during this very difficult time,” said local bassist and longtime Sands friend Richard Gates, who has spearheaded benefit efforts. “John faces a tough road ahead, but I can’t think of a better way to help him and celebrate him on his way to recovery than with a benefit show featuring a lineup of some of his favorite artists and collaborators. He’s a passionate about the artists he accompanies, and he’s a musician’s musician. Plus, he’d be the first guy to pass the hat for anyone else in need, so we’re happy to help do exactly that for him.”

Tickets are $40 and are available via Ticketmaster, and the Paradise Rock Club box office. Concert organizers are looking for additional items for the silent auction. Anyone wanting to donate items can contact concert organizers at teamhuggybear@gmail.com. Information on how to make individual or corporate donations to the John Sands Care Fund is also available at: http://www.teamhuggy.com

--Meghan Chiampa

One of the most hardest working Boston bands, The Lights Out, are releasing Primetime (produced by Benny Grotto Boston Music Awarded best producer in 2010), their self proclaimed “best album of their lives” on New Year's Eve (album to be officially released at midnight) at Church on 69 Kilmarnock Street in Boston. The release party is sure to be one of the best nights in Boston music the end of 2010 will see. Primetime is a concept album that speaks to many about what the reality is of being in a band. It also touches upon what their motivations are for doing what they do, and how it affects the people around them. In addition to a great show, the guys in The Lights Out also have their tricked-out 2000 Dodge Ram “///PRIMETIME///” van for sale here. If interested please send an email with what you'd like your dream tour van to come equipped with to tim@thelightsout.com. The music starts at 9pm with the female punk trio Apple Betty, and white wigged Boston rock veterans The Upper Crust close out the night and help bring in the New Year at 11:30pm.

Facebook Event

-- Matt Lambert

Get ready to rock your face off. The Deli is pleased to present the first show of a January residency at Precinct in Union Sq. Precinct is an awesome venue. Big bar in the front so you can catch the score of the game between sets. It's got a funky vibe, used to be the police station and who hasn't ever wanted to drink a beer in a police station. The staff is nice and the food is delish.

Heavy sound with classic-rock roots, female vocalist fronted Alchemilla will be starting off the show with some new tunes, I hear. Lesser Knowns are from New Bedford. They are dance-worthy, and contain strong hints of old school Buddy Holly rock 'n' roll and Weezer. You can download their most recent album here. Dan Blakeslee is a multi-faceted artist with a soulful and snowy voice and powerful lyrics. 

Alchemilla

Lesser Knowns

Dan Blakeslee  

Doors are at 8pm -- cover is 7 bux 21+ 

-- The Deli Staff