Monitoring pre-CMJ tweets, people were apprehensive about the lack of big buzz bands on the roster. I had low-grade concerns that the talent would be as flimsy as this year’s badge lanyard, but fully believe that CMJ doesn’t need bands already anointed with big label approval. Two years ago The xx played seemingly a hundred shows when they didn’t really need to, since they were already branded stars. Not exactly underground.
And while bands don’t remain undiscovered in New York all that long, CMJ is by far the best opportunity to find diamonds in the rough. It’s all so concentrated. Talking with publisher Jen last week, we decided that if you just parked your ass at Pianos all week, you’d probably hear everything you needed to and more.
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Join us at Pianos in NYC for our 4th annual CMJ Opening Day Party. We couldn’t be more excited about the line-up this year and hope to see you there! Also, if you are visiting NYC for the marathon, make sure and head to Wall Street to support the protests. And remember, they are always in need of food and supplies down there!
Who feels right rough today? CMJ blistered, deafened, and ran me over, but it was my own fault. I asked for it. What bands made it worth it?
French Horn Rebellion: color me surprised that an actual French horn was played during these disco kids’ set. Given that irony can camouflage all sorts of bad taste, FHR are unabashedly reviving 70s dancefloor. Against your better judgement, you will be seduced by their whispered plea: “Baby, we just want you to dance… will you dance with us?” And wow, if you don’t find yourself vibrating with bass in the middle of the dancefloor, you are made of iron. Heavy with synthy, fat beats, FHR is silly, yes, but highly addictive.
Wild Nothing: caught them twice, hard not to, since they, along with Oberhofer and Surfer Blood, seemed to be everywhere at once. Good on them, since their hazy, upbeat, 80s-revival pop grew on me the second time round at the Bowery Ballroom Saturday night. Part surf anthems, part John Hughes prom scene score, Wild Nothing’s songs are wistful little gems and conceal a serious soul beneath surface delicacy. Tunes for daydreamers.
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My first stop for CMJ Day 3 was Bowery Electric where I caught Savoir Adore. Savoir Adore is one of my favorite Brooklyn bands with their sweet, new wave, quirky fairy tale sound. Their set this evening was solid with the only negative thing being that they were plagued by sound problems for the first two songs- which went UNnoticed by most of the audience. Savior Adore played off the problems though with their infectious charm and by the third song everything was ironed out.
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In case you weren’t in town or were just unable to break-off in the middle of the day Tuesday and get a little (or in our case A LOT) day drunk for our CMJ party, here’s a round-up of people who were:
Bill from BrooklynVegan described the show “Pretty much all the free daytime action happens on Ludlow St. today. Biggest among them is The Music Slut’s party at Pianos”
NYPress’s Tina spent her first CMJ day with us: “A good starting point yesterday was the Lower East Side, particularly The Music Slut Day Party showcase at Pianos. The house was packed with some of the most buzz-worthy bands of the week all in one room.”
Prefix Mag sent the always lovely Maryanne to photograph the party:
Sentimentalist Mag was there from start to finish: “the hotly tipped Brooklyn-by-way-of-Tacoma quartet Oberhofer played to a packed room, slaying with a perfect afternoon cocktail of infectious and punky romp and stomp.”
And last but kind of least because he forgot to mention where he saw all these bands, Jon Pareles from the New York Times hung out with us all day and especially loved Zowie, Hooray for Earth and Oberhofer.
Day 2 of CMJ 2010 brought me to Bowery Electric where I was treated to a set from Smile Smile. Smile Smile’s music is simple, catchy and really nice alt-pop that can easily be heard on the indie station and the adult contemporary station. Basically Smile Smile is a band both you and your mom can enjoy.
Feeling the need to get my hard/punk groove on I headed over to The Cake Shop to see Freshkills and they did not disappoint. The band played a hard rockin’, blistering and very sexy set, giving CMJ the much needed punk shot in the arm it often times lacks.
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I checked in to CMJ headquarters, aka Judson Church in the West Village, at around 6pm to pick up my pass for the 2010 CMJ festival. From there I headed over to the Pure Volume House in the East Village, the Pure Volume house is a lounge for the press/VIPs and of course the artists participating in CMJ 2010. There are pool tables and a bar with free vodka and beer and lots of coffee drinks, Kangol hats and potato chips. At the Pure Volume House I had the pleasure of meeting New York by way of Alaska band The Lives of Famous Men who are playing a CMJ showcase at Arlene’s Grocery this Saturday 10/23.
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Just a reminder that our third annual CMJ opening day party is today at Pianos in NYC. It’s free with two stages of bands going throughout the day- many whom have come from afar to play. We hope to see you there!
New York City’s Electric Tickle Machine have been making best of lists and gaining airtime on stations like KEXP for almost two years. Their latest album entitled Blew it Again was released this past summer and features songs that swing from a British, 70s style to punk, bluegrass to the sad, haunting, anthem, ‘ Find a Home.’
Electric Tickle Machine will be playing our free, opening day CMJ party and are giving away their album Blew it Again for free as a special treat for our readers!
Download Blew it Again after the jump… (Read the article)
We’re pleased as freaking punch to announce the line-up for our annual CMJ Opening Day Party at Pianos. As usual, it is free, no badge needed and we’ll be taking up both floors of the venue with bands from all over the world. Check out the Facebook invite and let us know you’re coming!
