There are so many things to be grateful for today: family, friends, good food, good times. Here at Deli New England, we are grateful for one more thing, and that is the opportunity to cover New England’s always-thriving music scene. For ten years, we have been privileged to witness the rise of talented artists from Connecticut’s New York border to Maine’s Atlantic seaboard. Since the birth of this branch, on this date ten years ago, we have had our many editors explore with delight hip-hop acts, indie-pop darlings, rock-punks, and so much more. Below you will find nine posts from different editors of this magazine over the last ten years. A big thank you to Meghan Chiampa for kicking off this journey and letting me know of the special occasion at hand. Happy holidays and happy reading! - Rene Cobar

Meghan Chiampa on Brendan Hogan (2010)

Chrissy Prisco on Boy Without God (2011)

Dean Shakked on High Pop (2012)

Jake Reed on Deja Carr (2013)

Daniel McMahon on Here We Just Dream (2014)

Zach Weg on And the Kids (2015)

Olivia Sisinni on Dreamtigers (2016)

Cameron Carr on Clairo (2017)

Lilly Milman on People Like You (2018)

Julia Jacklin headlined at The Parish on Saturday with Christian Lee Hutson opening the show. These two folk-playing song-writing masters seized the full moon energy to entrance the audience in joviality despite their somber songs.

Christian Lee Hutson played a solo set on the acoustic guitar, most notably was his rendition of “I Just Can't Fucking Do It Anymore.” A gentleman dressed in all black with a white collar, he countered the melancholy vibes of his lyrics with playful interactions with the audience between songs. 

Julia Jacklin began her set with “Body” from her latest album crushing, released earlier this year. She appears as a humble angel, a siren from Sydney in a vintage plaid skirt and her hair clipped behind her ear. Her humility and humor complement her striking vulnerability. She shares with the audience that her music career started with her performing Evanescence’s “Wake Me Up Inside” at the high school talent show. 

The band moved into “Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You.” They’ve been saving the disco ball for this moment. The dancing spinning lights illuminate the room with blues and greens as soon as the electric guitar introduces the melody. The lights lighten the punch of the convicting lyrics: “don’t know how to keep loving you/ now that I know you so well.” Be careful thinking about that one. 

She encored with “Comfort” and I kind of resented her for it because I didn’t want to cry, but this song...the way her voice trembles, the slow soft chord progressions, the words she strings together and how they all coalesce to gently assault your heart with the truth. A song of affirmations following the pain of breaking up, Julia sings, “You’ll be okay. You’ll be all right. You’ll get well soon and sleep through the night,” and in the next verse, “He’s gonna thrive. He’ll be just fine.” It’s truly a positive song dressed in an achy tone. No matter where you are, you’re not alone in pain. Even angels like Julia Jacklin have experienced heart ache as part of our human condition, and her art aids to heal herself but also those who listen.  

Thank you, Julia, for your vulnerable display of affection and art. You inspire tender hearts to trust and stay tender even after they’ve been bruised. 

-Melissa Green 

Cheap City wants to welcome you to its sonic carnival of funky basslines and grandiose trashings. The group’s latest single “Welcome to Lizardville” is a festive track that leads listeners up and down the band’s tendencies for funk-punk stylings: one minute you are grooving and moving to an infectious bassline, and the next you are drowning in a gritty pool of cathartic noise-rock. The new track is tailored for crowd-interaction, and one could imagine the song being a flamboyant hit live. Cheap City keeps the big sound going and preserves that maniac jam-band feel that has always characterized the group; the good times keep on rolling. The group will be playing at the 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence, MA, on October 26th. Stream the new single below. - Rene Cobar

Instrumental Funk trio Van Loon is preparing to release their debut EP, “Huh? Vol. 1”, on October 24th. You can currently hear the EP’s opening and closing tracks below. This is foot stomping, body shaking, dance floor ready jazz and funk.

Van Loon is the work of Mich Shirey (Guitar), Nick Fane (Bass), and Dave Brandwein (Drums).