Who? Delta Spirit comes from San Diego, where bassist Jon Jameson and drummer Brandon Young started the group Noise Ratchet in 1999. They signed to Rick Rubin's American label but the band didn't last, and soon after meeting vocalist Matthew Vasquez, guitarist Sean Walker and multi-instrumentalist Kelly Winrich, the boys joined forces to form Delta Spirit. After releasing the EP, I Think I've Found It, in 2006, the band hit the road with Cold War Kids, Dr. Dog and Tokyo Police Club; the Ode to Sunshine LP was self-released earlier this fall.

What's the Deal? The group's instruments are shiny and crisp, and Vasquez brings an edge to the songs with his gritty vocals. At times, they may be loud, but they always have their sound under control, like on the sweeping "Strange Vine" that features punchy piano hits paired with a brash tambourine and buttery harmonies. The title track echoes the Beatles-influenced melodies of Dr. Dog, and "Trashcan" sounds as if the group ripped a page out of Cold War Kids' song diary.

Fun Fact: Delta Spirit intends to record new material as they travel across the nation. But instead of holing up in a studio at each locale, the group converted their studio into a mobile recording rig so they can lay down tracks at any time. 

Now Hear This:
Delta Spirit - "Children" DOWNLOAD MP3

On the Web:
Delta Spirit at MySpace
deltaspirit.net

Talk: Can you feel the spirit?