NE-Hi dropped a new EP called “XYZ" earlier this month. This is the anthemic indie rock of Jason Balla, Alex Otake, James Weir, and Mikey Wells.

The EP’s opening tracks “Exit Stations” is the perfect example how the band can create soaring, stadium ready, rock while keeping it grounded and garage or basement ready.

 Burlington indie-rock outfit Paper Castles is an exceptional voice coming from the still-snowy landscapes of Vermont.  Alternating between melancholy and optimistic (sometimes both simultaneously), their album, Vague Era, is a must for your last-remnants-of-winter playlist.  Strong psychedelic roots, uniquely catchy pop sensibilities, and introspective songwriting will keep these songs on repeat.  Catch them at The Monkey House in Winooski, VT on 4/2 with NE-HI and J Bengoy.  Philly and NYC readers can also catch them locally later this month. -Brian Varneke

Dear Deli Readers,

We have finally reached the end of the road for The Deli’s Best Emerging Chicago Artists Poll. As usual, it’s been a lengthy, exhausting, painstaking journey through an abundance of numbers, band names, and some seriously rad tunes. Now, before we get to our list of this year’s Top Performers, we would like to thank our wonderful, knowledgeable jury of local music experts/enthusiasts (which you can view below), dedicated Deli writers and all those who took the time to check out our nominees and cast their votes. You’re the best, and we wouldn’t be able to do this without you!

The Deli Chicago Jurors
Eric Muhlberger (So Far Sounds), Brendan Losch (Blogger), ERIC SCHELKOPF (The Total Scene), Robert Glick (Reggies' Music Joint), Coleman Brice (Cole's Bar), Elle Quintana (Reggieislive), Consequence of Sound (Year End List), Mike Gebel (Empty Bottle), Aragon Ballroom ), Double Door (Jesse Ewan), Jim Kopney (Music Writer), Jason Behrends (The Deli Magazine), Matt Baron (Coach House Sounds), Thalia Hall Events, Bill Valentina (Music Writer), Paolo De Gregorio (The Deli Magazine).

And now, without further ado, CONGRATS to…

1. Post Animal is a band of psych poppers that knows how to capture the imagination. Their songs are structured around sweet-sounding hooks and round, groovy basslines while the timbre is sugarcoated in atomspheric reverb. They've mastered the art of taking simple, starightforward pop into the weird and sometimes mysterious realm of psych, making them a must listen for Chicago psych fans. 

2. Lala Lala offers a refreshing dose of female energy to a male-dominated punk scene. Their songs drip with raw emotion, pulling the listener in a multiple directions from rage to heartache to bliss. With subtle harmonies that dance across beds of fuzz and distortion, the trio captures the kind of adolescent, coming-of-age sentiment that proves perfectly nostalgic. 

3. Ne-Hi creates the kind of indie rock that just won't leave the mind. They use jangly, reverb-soaked guitars to piece together delicious little tunes that are powerful in their simplicity. In a musical climate increasingly devoid of real instrumentation, they offer a glimmer of hope for listeners who love guitar-based bands.

4. Oops 

5. Jessie Winslow

6. Mano 

7. So Pretty

8. Natlie Grace Alford

9. Furious Frank  

10. Robbie Fulks 

Below are more of this year’s Chicago Top Performers…

11. Robbie Fulks
12. Archie Powell & The Exports
13. Todd Kesler
14. DIM
15. Varsity
16. monakr
17. Saba
18. Jamila Woods
19. Hood Smoke
20. Tara Terra
21. Al Scorch
22. Robert Rolfe Fedderson
23. releases Parent
24. Glyders
25. Yeesh
26. Melkbelly
27. releases Dehd
28. Emily Blue
29. Ravyn Lenae
30. The Right Now

Ne-Hi has released the first single, “Stay Young”, from their forthcoming LP Offers. The new album is due out on Feb. 24th, and is available for preorder now.

Ne-Hi will be touring the country this winter, but will be performing at The Empty Bottle on Feb. 24th to celebrate the release of Offers.

The Psych-Pop band NE-HI will be releasing their new self-titled debut 12" via Manic Static in early April. The band has been building stream lately including being included on the their Revolution Brewing compilation CD for the release of their latest brew JukeBox Hero. The lead single for the 12" is called "Since I've been Thinking".

You can catch NE-HI at Empty Bottle on April 6th with The Rubs.