Category: Music

Fort Wilson Riot, an energetic duo from Minneapolis juggled a variety of instruments to play some very catchy and intriguing songs. Really fun to see live. Part theater, part music, all fun.

Cloud Cult is one of the bands I always buy tickets for. Their live shows have this amazing sense of community among the fans and their songs always contain a lot of positive energy. I was eager to catch them play some of their new stuff. They started the show energized with their 2 artists painting feverishly on rotating canvases and the show never lost momentum. They played many of their hits with added enthusiasm. There was something very special in the air tonight. Maybe it was the perfect setting of the Bell House, the flawless set, or the great new songs, but there was an amazing energy coming from the stage. It was easily one of the best and most moving performances I’ve seen this band do. The live show does a better job capturing the energy found on their new album. I could feel the chance of new beginnings around me. It was an unforgettable night.

http://www.fortwilsonriot.com/
http://www.cloudcult.com/

A girl prancing around in her underwear onstage will surely garner attention. The 18 year old from Berkshire England had these great electro gothy pop songs. After a few songs I was kinda hooked to what The Good Natured were doing. Someone to watch out for.

Very eager to catch Brooklyn’s Cults. There were way more people onstage than I had expected. I absolutely love their 7″ as it has this years best summer songs that are so damn catchy. However they couldn’t pull it off live and the setting just didn’t seem right. Better listening to this outside on your ipod as the sun is setting over the horizon.

Chain Gang of 1974 is essentially 1 guy from Denver Colorodo. Tonight he had help onstage doing some pretty addictive indie electro tunes to dance to. The set got better and more energized towards the end where he utilized a crazy percussion contraption for the beats. Reminded me a little of Professor Murder.

Venue got really crowded to catch Asobi Seksu. I dig their recordings but their live show just didn’t capture all the nuances and delicacies in their songs. People around me surely disagreed.

Stuck around for School of Seven Bells whose latest album has been heavily played here as of late. When I caught them debuting their new material, both sisters were there, but tonight they were a trio. They played their dreamy pop music to a receptive crowd. An interesting highlight was the drummer proposing to his girlfriend onstage. And on their final night after a long tour, she said yes.

The Good Natured: Be My Animal video
http://www.myspace.com/thegoodnatured
http://thechaingangof1974.com/
http://www.asobiseksu.com/
http://www.myspace.com/schoolofsevenbells

my CMJ photos.

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.

My plans to take it easy this year for CMJ backfired when the marathon finally posted their lineup of bands. I was very excited to catch Ume from Austin play a free Relix Mag show at some store in soho. Weird setting for their post punk guitar driven sound. I was hooked after the first song and slightly in love. Highly recommend. A great start to CMJ.

Then ran to Santos Party house for the Stereogum Party. Came in for the Tamaryn set. This band from San Francisco played their drony shoe gaze music in complete darkness. Nothing new here that you couldn’t get from the Cure and Siousie.

The buzz around DOM was already pretty heavy so I was excited. These guys came strong with their energized arena rock. With 3 guitars shredding the tunes it was full of sound and excitement and they hooked a good crowd. Heavy layered sounds but I’d rather catch Free Energy.

The highlight was Marnie Stern, armed with a charming yet biting stage presence. Very impressive on the guitar with finger tapping and jumping into elaborate and jarring guitar melodies. It’s hard not to be impressed or at least intrigued by her. Her banter was great saying things like “We’ve got two more, and then Wild Nothings are up. I wish it were Wild Somethings!” as she gyrated her hips to the crowd. Marnie, you are a rock gem. Please call me…..

http://www.myspace.com/umemusic
http://www.myspace.com/imagesmusic
http://www.myspace.com/imfur
http://www.myspace.com/marniestern1 (awesome media)

my CMJ photos.

It’s amazing to see this band go from Mercury Lounge to SXSW to selling out The United Palace Theater. The venue was a perfect spot for this very young band to go from sexy whispers to angst pop. They had an effective yet simple stage design with long fluorescent tube lights that changed colors throughout the night. It wound up being a very magical night.