First, thanks to everyone who entered our open contest to be included in our year-end poll. The response was overwhelming and all of The Deli’s writers were involved in narrowing the field down to arrive at three bands that will be included in the year-end poll. Those bands are Panda Riot, Daniel Knox, and Mr. Bear. These bands will be added to the list of bands hand selected by a jury of Chicago media, venue booking agents, and other Chicago music nerds. The year-end best of Chicago poll will be posted on January 6th and will run through the 15th.

Our favorite Chicago track of 2009 came from the mind of one Shawn Rosenblatt and his band Netherfriends. Emergency Umbrella released their debut ep, Calling You Out this year and on that ep we found the track "Nunya (Beeswax)".

The Smith Westerns took blogosphere by storm this year and their infectious basement surf sound has won us over as well. The debut LP was released this year by Chicago's HoZac Records and "Girl In Love" is taken from that album.

Artist of the Month Archives:
2008-2009 -2010