Mad Scene

Roya (mems Habibi & The Clean) released first song (stream), playing Northside with Perfect Pussy and Shilpa Ray
Roya is a brand new Brooklyn trio with a pretty strong pedigree: singer Rahil Jamilifard fronts Habibi, drummer Hamish Kilgour is a member of legendary band The Clean (as well as NYC's Mad Scene), and Jay Heiselmann is in Grooms (and formerly French Miami)...
Jowe Head (Swell Maps, TV Personalities) released new LP, playing East Coast shows, including 2 in NYC (dates, stream)
Onetime Swell Maps and Television Personalities member Jowe Head released Confessions from the Twisted Tower last year. The album's somewhere between the postpunk bands he's known for and proggy English folk, and can be streamed via Rdio below...