Another year, another CMJ. New York’s multi-venue music industry festival has had its ups and downs, but in 2014 seems to be on an upswing, with a slew of big shows to go with the millions of struggling bands at tiny places, Tuesday-to-Saturday, October 21st to 25th:
NYC Taper party @ Cake Shop
Beach Day
Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice
The Kickback
Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice
Rivergazer
Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice
Amanda X
Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice
~
CMJ party @ Rough Trade NYC
Spring King
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
The Wytches
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
Happyness
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
Twin Peaks
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
~
CMJ showcase @ Passenger Bar
The Hunting Party
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
Poor Remy
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
Big Harp
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
~
Holy Underground showcase @ Cameo
Taymir
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
~
FADER Fort @ Converse Rubber Tracks
Cathedrals
Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase
Like at South-by-Southwest, the best unofficial event at CMJ, one of the best events period, is FADER Fort, thrown by FADER Magazine. After moving around for years, it seems to have settled at home at Converse Rubber Tracks, the studio/event space run by the same people (with pictures of FADER record label artists Matt & Kim – QRO spotlight on – on the bathroom doors). It’s got free drinks, its own RSVP wristband, CMJ artists you want to see, plus special guests. That does make for a line to enter – unless you’re VIP or press, like QRO…
Got there are the start to get the wristband and catch Cathedrals, electro-emotional lady (with some sexy) that is so hot right now.
DMA’s
Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase
FADER has become largely a music-fashion magazine, mostly hip-hop with some fashionable indie, so it was nice to have some upbeat Anglo rock ‘n’ roll at the Fort in the form of DMA’s.
BØRNS
Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase
An all-caps band with an O with a line through it, BØRNS played some electro indie-pop. FADER Fort also hit max capacity while they were on – the one downside to having the Fort at the not-large Rubber Tracks.
~
Ernest Jennings Record Co. showcase @ Grand Victory
Sunshine & Rain
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
Grandchildren
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
MiniBoone
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
But your correspondent was pulled away from the free drinks of FADER Fort for a personal longtime CMJ staple, MiniBoone. The band was at their suitably wild self in the small-but-classy Grand Victory (first place I’ve seen serving an alcoholic cider from the tap). Did they sell “Wait Until Tomorrow” to the Hallmark Channel?
~
Flood Magazine showcase @ Brooklyn Bowl
Colony House
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
Small Black
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
Beach Fossils
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
~
Tinderbox Festival showcase @ Pete’s Candy Store
Alyson Greenfield
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
Fiona Silver
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
Sylvana Joyce & The Moment
Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee
~
CMJ showcase @ Bowery Ballroom
The Kills
Click image for full gallery – Bashira Webb
Alongside James on Tuesday, the best act playing CMJ ’14 was The Kills – and the duo was playing at the intimate (for them) Bowery Ballroom (QRO venue review). It was surprising that one could still walk in with a CMJ badge just before they went on, considering that three bands played before, but maybe people were just worried about the line so skipped it, making no line…
The Kills playing “DNA” at Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY for CMJ on October 23rd, 2014:
Their loss, because of course The Kills were amazing. Such a visceral band, this close up? It’s really hard not to have a crush on Allison Mosshart, jerking to every beat – no offense to Jamie Hince, but he’s married to Kate Moss, so no sympathy for him. The group totally encompassed Bowery Ballroom, and did everything you needed and more from The Kills to a totally psyched crowd.
The Kills playing “Monkey 23” at Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY for CMJ on October 23rd, 2014:
~
Other notes:
-Goodnight Records’ showcase at The Gutter was cancelled due to Ebola fears – that concert venue was also the bowling alley where the infected Dr. Craig Spencer visited after doing more in one day than most non-Ebola New Yorkers do in a week.
Unfortunately missed:
-Mac McCaughan @ Hi-Fi, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Founder of Merge Records and frontman of Superchunk (QRO live review) and Portastatic.
-Caveman (QRO album review) @ Bowery Hotel, 11:30 PM.
