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)

For the longest time, hip hop and r&b in Portland were backburner genres to the city's most popular categories of indie, rock and garage. Things started to change recently, where more artists took to the soulful sounds of rhythm and blues or incorporating the type of woke sensibilities often dropped in bars of hip hop tracks. The results for this round of our poll provide proof of who's been doing it the best in the last year, so keep scrolling to check them out.

Our top winners, Lola Buzzkill, are a supergroup of sorts dazzling audiences with their soulful croons and rhythmic tendencies. Their live performances integrate incredible makeup and costumes on top of their throwbacks to funky and sultry r&b and disco . They've got one of the best interactive live performances in town right now and if you haven't gotten a chance to see them yet, you're definitely missing out. Congrats on being our top dogs, Lola Buzzkill!

*video by blueheronvideo

Next is the Fur Coats, who swept the readers' poll without a hitch. The Fur Coats have been around for a little while now but have nonetheless been one of more dynamic iterations of modern psychedelic soul and mild jazz, using sax and organs in the most savvy of ways. They'll be heading off for a long tour of Europe and we couldn't be more excited for them.

Rounding out our winners are Chanti Darling and Karma Rivera, occupying two different sides of the same coin. Chanti Darling basically ran the last year, coming into it named Willamette Week's Best New Band. Taking over festival stages and running their own dance nights led by powerful vocalist Chanticleer, Chanti Darling mixeds soul, disco and r&b with electronic elements to produce some of the most danciest tunes in town right now. Karma Rivera is the only actual hip hop artist to place, and she one of the best to represent the genre. Her beats are banging as are her rhymes, and her femme power is much needed in music world typically dominated by men.

Reptaliens really do rule the Earth.

Some of us probably DO feel like the lizard elite run everything, or at the very least, the Cheeto elite do. After the way the last few weeks have gone that seems more like an actual fact than an alternative one. But when it comes to who has taken hold of our local music scene, there are a few names we just can't get out of our heads. One of them is Reptaliens.

Led by the lovely union of Cole and Bambi Browning (Sculpture Gardens, Wampire, Brainstorm), Reptaliens has included members from other talented acts like Fog Father, Cat Hoch Band and Lola Buzzkill over their course of their band-dom, but a constant enjoyment can always be found in their songs. A twee-like innocence presents itself amid the lo-fi instrumentation and angelically comforting vocals from Bambi, allowing their songs to easily sway from flirty bedroom pop songs to surrealistic dream daze productions.

As of right now, Reptaliens are scheduled to play their next show March 3rd with Skull Diver and King Black Acid at Mississippi Studios. Until then, congratulate Reptaliens for being your favorite Indie Pop act of 2016!

Many of us aren't old enough to remember the variety hour TV shows of yesteryear. Back in the 70's, the Bradys and the Partridges ruled the glowing tube with special celebrity guests, comedic fodder and of course, musical performances. For the sake of nostalgia and all out fun, soulfully funky Lola Buzzkill is bringing the variety show back, with a somewhat modern twist.

Lola Buzzkill will be one of two musical acts to take the stage, along with Melt, but the intrigue this show provides surpasses what it offers musically. A performance art rendition of the Nut Cracker is set to occur, with dancing from Amira Sereia and Briley & Matt, comedy from Wendy Weiss and DJ Tasty spinning.

Onstage quips are sure to include commentary on this tragedy of a year and the not-that-much-better holiday season, so be sure to come to the Liquor Store tomorrow and check it out. Proceeds from tickets, which run $8, go to benefiting the efforts of Standing Rock. Be there by 9pm to catch the night's festivities as they start!

We love XRAY. The community radio station has done tons in the realm of supporting not only local bands and solo musicians, but supporting other DIY outlets that promote artistic and creative endeavors. They give a lot to all of us so here's another opportunity for us to give back to them.

Tomorrow, Dig A Pony will be hosting a benefit show with the witty title of X-ILE on Ray Street. Tickets will be $5 and all proceeds going back into the volunteer run station.

Theo Craig and Chancie Chance will be playing tunes in between sets by the ever-entertaining Lola Buzzkill and the darlings of Psychomagic, not to mention the benefit also acting as the album release and tour kickoff show for the loveable Reptaliens (who also help set the benefit up!). Adding even more intrigue to the set, a secret special headliner will also be taking the stage.

Head down to Dig A Pony on SE Grand at 8 p.m. tomorrow to give a lil something to XRAY's cause, hang out with much of the fellow music scene and to figure out who the secret headliner is!