Starting the night on a great note catching Dan Mangan. Recently signed to the Arts & Crafts label this impressive song-writer plays some really great alt-country tunes. Of course he ended the show singing into the crowd as every Canadian musician seems to do.
Had no intention to see John Vanderslice on next as I think his new stuff is kinda boring, but NYCTaper was there so listen here. We bolted to the Delancey to catch a band on my radar called Sky Larkin. This trio from the UK played a great collection of songs full of hooks and chiming guitar melodies. During their song Still Windmills, Katie sang “I know there’s potential” which I believe this band surely has.
Ran back to Mercury Lounge to catch The Extra Lens comprising of John Darnielle (the Mountain Goats) and Franklin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue, the Human Hearts). Although I’m not a fan of the tunes of this collaboration, I’ll never pass down a chance to see John in such an intimate setting. They were extremely comfortable on stage and John was quite chatty between songs. Franklin had to constantly persuade him to tune his guitar and stop talking. For the encore he jumped off stage to sing from the back of the crowd.
Went back to the Delancey to catch First Aid Kit but the set times were running late and unfortunately Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson was performing who I can not stand seeing live and has a knack of ruining my CMJ experiences.
http://www.danmanganmusic.com/site/
http://www.weareskylarkin.com/
my CMJ photos.