When a band classifies their sound as “Pussy Rock”, one can only assume they’re merely taking the piss out of themselves. But there really is something empathetic about Boat Culture’s sound. That’s not to say the tracks on their EP Half Old lack a backbone. Boat Culture have patented a style of punchy power-pop occasionally tinged with swirling reverb. All this is successfully expressed without an ounce of jangle. So many bands feel the need to get all jangly with their sound when exploring this territory. Not Boat Culture! Each song on the EP holds it’s own so well, it’s hard to pick a standout track. So we’ll let you decide which one is best. With that said, it would be wise to catch them at The Smiling Buddah on August 20. Don’t miss out! -Chris PJ D

These days, it’s common to find fans of indie rock with a nostalgic appreciation for early 2000s mainstream pop punk. While some dismiss it as a sound of yesteryear, others, like Hamilton’s No King For Countrymen instead choose to embrace the sound while incorporating it in their own style. The content on their recent EP A Year In Recovery channels this influence with modern indie rock production, resulting in five powerful tracks full of charging rock tempos and retrospective lyrics. “Alright You Win” a tour de force of heavy guitars, pulsing basslines and the signature passive-aggressiveness found in pop punk lyrics. No King For Countrymen have made a science out of blending introspective content with bursts of indie rock energy, all neatly packaged together with clean production. The Countrymen will be bringing their signature sound to The Cavern in Toronto on August 20. -Chris PJ D

  Apparently "lured into existence from the depths of a Portland basement," Tiny Little Empire is a young indie-rock quartet with a refreshing sound. The group released their freshman, four-track EP, "Above Ruins," back in May, and the debut single, "It's Working Now" (streaming below), serves as a powerful introduction to their sound. The track opens with intensity (a wistful guitar and keys melody layed over a driving percussion section), rising and falling from there between valleys of hushed verses and mountains of passionate and hauntingly melodic choruses. The rest of the EP ("All That I Want," "Make Me Stay," and "Weather the Storm") carries on in a similar tone, with the bass and the drums driving spirited-yet-somber melodies and vocals. Overall, "Above Ruins" is 21-minutes of polished indie-rock tracks that make quite the first impression. While Tiny Little Empire currently has no scheduled shows, their sophomore EP is reportedly in the works, so be sure to keep an eye out. - Patrick Wolff

Led by Danielle Sullivan's gentle and compassionate voice, Portland's indie pop outfit Wild Ones sounds anything but wild, although they do enjoy experimenting with sounds, which - in a sense - is kind of wild! Their music has the ability to sound at once warmly intimate and somewhat cerebral. This is must be the product of the fusion of the creative minds and talents of Danielle and keyboardist Thomas Himes. Our sister blog Delicious Audio asked them a few questions about their gear and compositional process. Link to the interview below. The band just released a new EP entitled "Heatwave," they'll be playing Mississippi Studio tonight (08.14).

LINK: Delicious Audio's Interview with Wild Ones.

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

There's nothing worse than when your extra value meal comes with old fries. Anyway, Toronto band, New Fries in all honesty...they might be insane. Listening to their 2014 EP Fresh Face Forward, their tunes are quick, rockin’ and trippy with most of the songs timing out under 2 minutes. The bass lines are groovy and the drums hold the fort, but it's the vocals that really stand out. Although imposing at first, I found myself really interested in what the messages were behind the jumble of madness, that is the New Fries. Keep it fresh, indulge in some New Fries, They'll be playing at the United Steel Workers Hall on Saturday August 8 –Kris Gies