Richmond has one of the most exciting local scenes in the country, and this Friday, January 16th, two of Richmond's most entertaining bands will play DC's Black Cat mainstage, complimented brilliantly by DC local M.H. & His Orchestra, for what is sure to be one of the tightest, most energetic, and interesting lineups of the year.  

People's Blues of Richmond (or "PBR") are already well known to many. They're a psychadelic blues power trio, like (early) Led Zeppelin from the Dirty South. Crazy-tight and loud, they deliver the energy live, and their fans are wonderful and almost as entertaining. I saw them on a pirate boat on the Potomac a few months ago, and it was easily the best show of the year.

M.H. & His Orchestra is wild and chill at the same time. Like a lot of the music I love from Richmond, they mix the cheesy, the dirty, and excellent musicianship into weird pop perfection, making them the perfect group to sandwich between two bands from RVA. M.H. is psychadelia and lounge music and soundscapes and fearless arrangements. Every listen puts a smile on my face, and each song is a unique surprise.

Toxic Moxie describe themsevles as "disco punk," and, while apt, that description doesn't express the balls-out freakshow awesomness of this band. Toxic Moxie's super sexyness sneaks up on you, 'cause they come at you super weird. I want to watch this band and dance and do unsavory things until the sun comes up. And they're opening the show. Like booster rockets.

Do it. Friday January 16th, Black Cat. Doors at 9. $12 adv/$15 day of.  --Natan Press

Have you seen the latest visual installment from DC's own avant-orchestral artist M.H. & His Orchestra yet? The video for "Washington DC" premiered July 2, and needs to be seen & heard. Here M.H takes to the streets all the while singing "there will be no more dancing in the street," though it totally inspires me to just jaywalk my ass off around McPherson Square. Awesome stuff, check it out below. -Dawn

The results are in from the Open Submissions stage for our DC/Baltimore Year End Poll for Emerging Artists. All of the submissions were ranked by Deli Editors from other scenes and the list of acts that have advanced to our Readers’/Fans’ Poll phase are below. We will also be releasing the list of nominees chosen by our local "scene expert" jurors very soon.

Thanks to all the amazing bands and artists who submitted this year. It was an overwhelming response, which just goes to show how awesome our DC/Baltimore scene remains to be.

Total Submissions from the DC Area: 44

Qualified to the final phase of the Best of DC/Baltimore Poll (having scored above 7):

1. Dance for the Dying 8.5 (out of 10)

2. Masked Superstar 8.33

3. M.H. & His Orchestra  7.66

4. Brooks Long  7.66

5. The WeatherVanes 7.33 

6. Ghost Hotel 7.16

7. Alex Vans 7.16

8. Pleasure Curses 7.16

9. The Young Rapids 7.00

10. Mission South 7.00

11. Sun Club 7.00

Honorable Mentions:

Jurors: Chrissy Prisco (Deli New England), Brianne Turner (Deli Nasville), Paolo De Gregorio (Deli NYC).

Fronted by the vocal stylings of Max Holiday, DC's own orchestral pop M.H. & His Orchestra is made up of over 40 musicians covering a plethora of genres ranging from Big Band to Latin. Check out their LP The Throes and you'll hear why they previously were crowned DC Deli's Band of the Month.

Virginia crooner Max Holiday lends more then just a voice to DC's music scene... he has a literal big band combining genres like orchestral pop and trip hop to back him up; his orchestra! His debut album The Throes (check it out below) shows off this talented composer's skills and adds a refreshing new sound to our mostly folk/electro/hardcore scene that's been dominating. And they were all voted as Band of the Month, so we got a hold of Max to find out more about this ever growing group. Here he tells us about vials of rakia, Patsy Cline's backyard, and jazz bands in DC. Now onto the interview...

Catch them live at the Velvet Lounge on Oct. 5, as part of the Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Festival.