*photo by James Rexroad

A duo befitting of their name, A Volcano execute a sound that's explosive, eternal and impactful. Distinctly but appropriately defined "cave noise," Johnny Brooke and Jesse Chambers echo a harsh and piercing experimental sludge that while jarring at first is completely accessible and near addicting. That same feeling carries over to their new music video for their track "Spooky," where the style of it is something you'll want to watch over and over again.

"The name 'Spooky' came from the chorus riff, I guess. It was the spookiest, most evil riff we'd written at the time," says Brooke, the guitarist and vocalist for the band. According to Brooke, the track's name also partially came from the two falling into a hole of watching X-Files and Chambers asking if was "time to get spooky" (which Chambers can be heard screaming at the beginning and end of the song).

As for the video, the idea for the concept and the process came from illustrator Nate Sonenfeld who also did the artwork for one of their tapes. Sonenfeld filmed at least two versions of Brooke and Chambers performing in their practice space, layered the images over one another and then rotoscoped nearly 1,600 separate frames to give the video the look. "This is why the video looks so nuts," Brooke says. "And Nate's nuts, too."

View the craziness of "Spooky" below.

A Volcano - "Spooky" from Nate Sonenfeld on Vimeo.

Deli Portlanders,

It's been a months long road in the process of nominating and voting on who all of you feel are the city's best musicians for the year. After thinking back on all the shows played and albums released from 2016, we've finally got a solid list of Portland's finest. Take a gander at who you all fell for (and just how much you fell for them), while also showing some love to yourselves and the lovely jurors that participated.

Thanks to our jurors: Linneas Boland-Godbey (Next Northwest), Aaron Sharpsteen (Photographer), Tony Prato (Bunk Bar), Duffy Rongiiland (Gnar Tapes), Rob Cullivan (Portland Tribune), Leigh Belacic (PDX Pop Now), Jeni Wren Stottrup (Gritty Birds Podcast), Annie Ostrowski (Riot Act Media), Blake Hickman (Good Cheer Records), Clifford Prince King (Photographer), Mo Troper (Impose Magazine/Portland Mercury), Chad Davis (Musician), Jordan Stamm (Drunk Dial Records), Hunter Skowron (Dazzleships Records), Todd Walberg (Photographer), Yousef Hatlani (Faces on the Radio), Corbin Corbinn (Crush House/Photographer), and Andrew Olson (dr0ne PR).

Let's get down to the nitty gritty of what you all have been waiting for...

Lithics

Lithics exude mystery. From their experimental punk drone to their intentional lack of an internet presence, they're the band you may not have known existed until you saw them accidentally. They've been coasting in Portland's formerly under-appreciated but always DIY post/art punk scene for almost three years now with just two releases under their belt. Their three track, self-titled tape from 2015 gave us a taste, but it was their 2016 release Borrowed Floors that helped propel them into being Portland's best band of the year.

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2. Cat Hoch

This isn't the first success Cat Hoch and her band have experienced with the Deli. She came out on top entirely in 2015, when she was voted the Best Emerging Artist of that year and was the readers' choice for best in shoegaze and psych rock for this year. From opening up for Ride to commanding even bigger stages, Cat Hoch and her talented group of musicians aren't stopping anytime soon.

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3. Abronia

Ambiently soft yet broodingly heavy, Abronia have expanded their lineup to match their beautifully atmospheric and expansive sound. Our overall pick for best in electronic and experimental and perfect for moments of mental reflection (but easy to enjoy in damn near every other scenario), Abronia's dominanation of the experimental side of the poll makes total sense, and we can't wait to hear new releases from them.

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4. Ice Queens (Alt Rock/Metal, 7pts)

5. Fur Coats (Hip Hop/R&B, 6pts)

6. The Toads (Indie Rock/Post-Punk, 6pts)

7. Mr. Wrong (Punk/Garage, 6pts)

8. Shrine of the Serpent (Alt Rock/Metal, 5.5pts)

9. A Volcano (Alt Rock/Metal, 5pts)

10. dolphin midwives (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

11. Gold Casio (Electronic/Experimental, 5pts)

12. Chanti Darling (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

13. Lola Buzzkill (Hip Hop/R&B, 5pts)

14. Laura Palmer's Death Parade (Psych/Shoegaze, 5pts)

15. Wave Action (Punk/Garage, 5pts)

16. Donte Thomas (Hip Hop/R&B, 4pts)

17. Little Star (Indie Pop, 4pts)

18. Candace (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

19. Zozma (Psych/Shoegaze, 4pts)

20. On drugs (Punk/Garage, 4pts)

21. James Curry IV (Electronic/Experimental, 3.5pts)

22. Mini Blinds (Indie Pop, 3.5pts)

 PDX Pop Now's 2016 festival weekend is coming to a close and with its posted lineup, it'll be ending on a high note. Youth bands Fossa Club and the Living Skins open up this sunny Sunday, leading into the blowing up and of Blowout.

Cilantro will be offering a more worldly spice, followed up by a lively punked fueled performance from Bobby Peru.

Deli Portland favorites A Volcano, Force Publique and Cat Hoch have slots on the closing day, along with experimental noise act Consumer, who shared his spontaneous sounds on the PDX Pop segment featured on KATU.

Renaissance Coalition breakout artist Maze Koroma will spit some mad flows just before one of Portland's current biggest bands Summer Cannibals closes out this year's fest just before the 10 o' clock hour.

This year's PDX Pop Now festival was one of the best to date, with an outstanding turnout backing one of the most diverse lineups in its history. It'll be exciting to see what the non-profit has up its sleeve next.

If there's one thing Portland can seem to do right, it's produce some fun lovin', beer chuggin', good ass garage rock. Today, the Deli is premiering two new, soon to be hit singles from a couple of the best garage acts in town, Melt and Mister Tang. Both bands share a member or two, but don't think that makes them in any way the same.

Melt's single, "Take a Walk," coming off their upcoming Fun House tape, takes a fuzzier surf route to the genre, with Jeff Tang's vocals being refreshingly nostalgic to the genre's predecessors.

"Where You Goin?," the Mister Tang track on the cassette of the same name, is grittier, more raw, and straight up rock n' roll. Stone Tang delivers the lyrics frankly and unforgivingly in your face, drawing you in.

Both Mister Tang and Melt are also going on tour together in celebration of the tapes' releases, which are both dropping within days of each other. To kick it all off, a show featuring both of them, the Deli Portland Emerging Artist of the Month nominees A Volcano and a famed special guest will be happening next week, March 10th, at the Liquor Store. Cassettes and tees will be available to fund the tour. It'll be an auspiciously awesome situation for everyone involved, so be sure you're there to witness it. You'd be Better Off Dead than missing it.

-Cervante Pope