Deli Readers,

The Deli DC Area's Best of 2014 Readers and Fans' Poll for local emerging artists is over, thanks to all those who cast their vote in support of the emerging local bands and artists in our list of nominees.

Here is the top ten, and streaming track of the top four bands - which we congratulate!

1. Footwerk

---

2. Peoples Blues of Richmond

---

3.  Vexine

---

4.  The Walking Sticks

---

Here's this poll's top 10 chart, full results can be found here.

THE DELI'S BEST OF DC AREA 2014 - READERS' POLL RESULTS   Artists Votes   1  Footwerk 855  2  Peoples Blues of Richmond  522 3  Vexine  114 4  The Walking Sticks  104 5  Party Like It's  72 6  Sleepwalkers  51 7  Sean Barna  37 8  Walk The Plank  32 9  Fortress  31 10  The Cowards Choir 28

Stay tuned for the composite chart, to be released soon, which will include details about the point nominees accumulated from the jurors and Deli writers' votes, and will crown The Deli's Best Emerging DC Area Artist of 2014.

The Deli's Staff

Thanks to all the artists who submitted their music to be considered for The Deli's Best of DC Area Year End Poll for Emerging Artists. After tallying the votes for the Open Submissions stage, it’s time to release the results. Please note that to avoid conflicts no local editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene.

Total submissions from the DC Area: 42

Jurors: Terra J Jura (The Deli Nashville), Michelle Bacon (The Deli KC), Paolo De Gregorio (The Deli NYC)

Acts advancing to our Readers/Fans Poll:

1. Avers (Psych Rock) - 8.16

---

2. People's Blues of Richmond (Blues/Psych Rock) - 7.83

---

3. Andrew Aylward (indie Rock) - 7.33

---

3. The Northerners (Folk Rock) - 7.33

Honorable Mentions (ranked above 6.5):

Caustic Casanova, Paperhaus, Exit Vehicles, Clones of Clones, Flo Anito, Classified Frequency, Jacob Ungerleider, Bencoolen, Red States, Harness Flux.

-------------------------------

WHAT’S NEXT: These results end the first phase of the poll. We will soon unveil the artists nominated by our local jurors, and we’ll let our readers and our writers influence the poll with their vote.

Keep creating, keep supporting, and stay tuned for your chance to vote!

— The Deli DC Area Staff

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