Even if you don’t have a badge, CMJ can be overwhelming… especially these days with the proliferation of day parties, unofficial showcases and afterparties. Running around like a crazy person trying to catch everyone you want to see can be fun, but sometimes it’s not such a bad idea just to pick one place and stay there. With that in mind, I’ve picked one day party and one evening showcase for each of the five days, as well as late night parties where applicable.
TUESDAY
DAYTIME: Day shows don’t really kick into high gear till Wednesday, but The Music Slut’s put together a great lineup at Pianos that includes iPod commercial stars Chairlift, quirky Philly duo Pattern is Movement, the first of many Emmy the Great performances this week, PWRFL Power and more. Of course, you might be forgiven if you snuck out and visited Pop Tarts Suck Toasted’s day party at Cake Shop, which is just a few doors down the block.
EVENING: Not to play suck-up to the boss, but Brooklyn Vegan’s showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg seems like a no-brainer. Passion Pit, Shearwater, finding out exactly what “Singing DJ Jens Lekman“ will be like, Ponytail, The Phenomenal Handclap Band… what a show. And do please get there early for Emmy the Great. She’s awesome. (More Info)
LATE NIGHT: Hopefully you RSVP’d to Stereogum’s party at Studio @ Webster Hall because, like BV’s official showcase, it’s pretty unmissable. Yes, you’ll be seeing Ponytail twice (if you went to all my suggestions) in one night but also a trio of great NYC bands: Crystal Stilts, Gang Gang Dance and Marnie Stern. (More Info)
WEDNESDAY
DAYTIME: Earfarm’s fest at Pianos is no doubt great (Takka Takka, Project Jenny, Project Jan, Sam Champion, and more), but I’ve gotta go with the Terrorbird Media party at Cake Shop that also features Takka Takka, but also Canada’s amazing Faunts, NYC’s shoegaze-trance-dancers School of Seven Bells, overachievers Women, Marnie Stern and many more.
EVENING: Blog collective After the Jump have commandeered the entirety of the Knitting Factory on Wednesday: the Old Office is dedicated to “the Best of New York” (incl. The Beets, The Lisps, Motel Motel); the Tap Bar is “fuzz pop” (incl. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, My Teenage Stride, Ringo Deathstarr); with the main space hosting Crystal Antlers, Bad Veins, Heloise & the Savior Faire and more. The only downside is that each of the spaces have a separate entrance fee for those of you without badges — but the Tap Bar would be enough for me. (More Info)
LATE NIGHT: Head to Cake Shop for a trio of bands on the 1928 label, including San Diego’s Muslims, one of ten (!) shows they’ll be playing during the week. You really should see them at least once.
THURSDAY
DAYTIME: Towing the company line, the Brooklyn Vegan day party at Pianos does have a lineup that lines up pretty close to what I’ve written about here (The Muslims, Wye Oak, UK dance-rock act Friendly Fires), not to mention Crystal Antlers, Peasant, Sebastien Grainger, and more. (More Info)
EVENING: If there’s one place to be Thursday night, it’s the giant night of rock scheduled at Music Hall of WIlliamsburg: Indie rock legends Mission of Burma, wild man King Khan and the BBQ Show, and Jay Reatard, with a break from the noise care of Seattle’s The Dutchess and the Duke. (More Info)
LATE NIGHT: Hit Studio @ Webster Hall for one of my favorite new NYC bands, Amazing Baby, plus Japanese Motors. It’s free with RSVP.
FRIDAY
DAYTIME: The fine folks behind the Seaport Music Radio Show (on East Village Radio) have put together a great show at the performance/art space at On-the-Side @Seaport (210 Front Street). The line-up is NYC/Bejiing’s Arms, two bands from Norway (Casio Kids and The Real Ones), UK indie poppers Bearsuit, Atlanta’s All the Saints and two more to be named. Sure, it’s Way the Hell Downtown but they’re mostly bands that aren’t playing a lot of other shows, and it’s a neat space. (More Info)
EVENING: While I’ll be stuck at Mansion drinking $9 beers waiting to see if Roisin Murphy is going to go on anywhere near her schduled 9:15 set time, I recommend anyone else with interest in dance music head to Irving Plaza for a night of well-curated artists. UK’s Late of the Pier have made one of the years best, weirdest major label debuts; The Whip are are fun if a bit cheesy; and Soulwax are simply one of the best live dance acts on the planet. In-between, BBC-1’s Rob da Bank spins, with a late-night sets from Pete Tong and Soulwax’s alter-egos 2manydjs.
LATE NIGHT: Brooklyn’s Cheeseburger are playing a lot of shows during CMJ but I am told on good authority that if you attend only one, make it this one as they are planning something wild. Supposedly it the show will be themed around Superjail, the Adult Swim show which Cheeseburger performs the theme song and was co-created by guitarist Christy Karacas. Be prepared for wildness.
SATURDAY
DAYTIME / EVENING / LATE NIGHT: Brooklynvegan’s doing it up at Knitting Factory from Noon – 9PM on Saturday, and we’d all like you to attend that of course, but it should be said that Crashin’ In has put together a pretty killer unofficial party at Public Assemby that goes from 3PM to 4AM, including Leeds, UK’s great Sky Larkin, thier pals and fellow Brits Johnny Foreigner, The Muslims, The Mae Shi, New Zealand’s Cut Off Your Hands, Drink Up Buttercup, Radio 4 and a bunch more. It’s not free but it’s certainly worth the $10 admission. (More Info)
Eat to the Beat 