Fresh Bread

CMJ 2008 - Brooklyn Vegan Showcase @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg 10.21.08

CMJ 2008 kicked off on Tuesday.  Lots of parties with lots of bands trying to become the next big thing all over New York City's great venues from smally-small to large.  This year is going to be light for me unfortunately, dammit stupid life.  Won't  even be in town for Friday and Saturday (my birthday).  Gonna  try to fit as much great music in the time I have though. 

Night one I took in the Brooklyn Vegan showcase at the Music Hall Of Williamsburg.  Only caught the first three bands which was a disappointment but the quality of the first three was outstanding.  Favorite set was by the band from North Cakalacki, The Sammies.  This band has some really catchy rock tunes and a live set that one just has to see.  A few of my pics are below and the rest are on my flickr.

Shearwater

The Sammies

 

Emmy The Great

Better Late Than Never - Gothamist CMJ Day House (Friday) - Jukebox the Ghost - 10.19.07

I was only able to catch one of my two "blame you cmj" bands a few weeks ago.  D.C. based Jukebox The Ghost were as good as I hoped.  You can't help but like the voice of lead singer Ben Thornewill and his band's Ben Folds meets Flaming Lips-like sound.  As I said before, "Good Day" is a brilliant pop song (download it here) and was the highlight of a fun 30 min set.  I only wish the set was longer (and more on time) than it was. 

JBTG is back in NYC next week, playing Columbia university; they are also playing Union Hall December 1 with Ra Ra Riot.  That is a nice lineup.

Orba Squara - Southpaw (CMJ 2007) 10.18.2007

I've already professed my love for Orba Squara. They play songs that you can't help but listen to over, and over, and over again. They opened for Imperial Teen at the Southpaw last Thursday during CMJ. Believe it or not, this was my first trip out to the cool Brooklyn venue.

Most of the set was songs from the recently released (on CD) Sunshyness with two unreleased tracks midset. If you haven't heard this band (which most likely you have even if you don't know it) check out some of their music on their myspace. It's worth it. Be prepared to go into a dreamy state of musical enjoyment.

The Black & White Years - R Bar (CMJ 2007) 10.17.07

Austin trio The Black & White Years are kooky cool. Outfits (and mustaches) just as sweet as their Talking Heads-ish electro rock sound. Live, though, it's another story. I can only take so many looped backing tracks. Peep a couple of their tunes on their myspace page though...definitely worth a listen.

Beat Radio - Indaba Music (CMJ 2007) 10.17.07

Last time I saw Beat Radio was about 6 months ago at the Mercury Lounge. I had heard good things about this band. That night though, the band was not in synch; I came away scratching my head wondering what was all the praise about.

Since then, the rhythm section has changed. In steps a new bassist and a new drummer and voila! MUCH better sounding band. They sounded like a brand new band last week and despite terrible acoustics at the Indaba Music offices, were able to play a solid set. "Mexico" is probably one of their best tracks on their LP The Great Big Sea. Download it on their myspace page here.

Brooklyn Vegan Presents CMJ 2007 - Bon Iver / The Shaky Hands / The Most Serene Republic / Dean & Britta / The Rosebuds / Voxtrot - Bowery Ballroom 10.16.2007

Bon Iver

The Shaky Hands

The Most Serene Republic

Dean & Britta

The Rosebuds

Voxtrot

A new camera and the wrong type of converter (plus an upcoming wedding...mine) severely hampered my posting of CMJ pics and reviews this week.  Sucks getting this up so late but I guess better late than never.

I kicked off CMJ Tuesday night at the Bowery Ballroom at Brooklyn Vegan's Official CMJ Showcase.  Leading up to the night I was most excited to see Miracle Fortress for the first time.  Then this happened.  But the show must - and did - go on. 

Canadian band The Most Serene Republic were  for me the highlight of the night; their sound brought a smile to my face and some pep in my step.  Bon Iver was mesmerizing.  Shaky Hands was...well...shaky.   Rosebuds did their dancey rock vibe thing; that was kind cool.  Dean & Britta....Britta....Britta....see pic above....Britta.  Rounding out the night was Voxtrot.  First time catching them; really enjoyed the set.

Stereogum has a good review some pics.

I'll Blame You For No Sleep This Week CMJ...the Jukebox The Ghost Edition

  Another band I am looking forward to seeing for the first time this CMJ 2007 is Jukebox the Ghost. 

Jukebox the Ghost writes a fresh breed of melodic pop tunes driven by fiery rock momentum. With quirky lyrics and inventive songwriting, fans and critics have drawn parallels with the pop sensibility of Elvis Costello, the flamboyance of Queen, the wit of They Might Be Giants, and the creative rock of The Flaming Lips. (JBTG myspace)

Not really sure how this Washington DC-based band has not made my "seen-them-live" list yet.  I plan to rectify that immediately...well...not right this very second but at some point this week.  Good thing I'll have a couple chances as they are playing three times.  I'll probably end up seeing them next Saturday the 20th at Underrated Magazine / Indaba Music / This Side Up Showcase.  Until then, I'll listen to these mp3s over and over and over.....

Jukebox The Ghost - "Hold It In".mp3

Jukebox The Ghost - "Good Day".mp3

Playing the same showcase are Brooklyn based The Diggs.  If you've read Fresh Bread for a while now, you know I like them.  I saw them last year at the KEXP / Cracker United's Sin-e CMJ 2006 showcase; during  their set, my camera broke.  Hopefully the dreamy sounds won't break any of my cameras this year.

I'll Blame You For No Sleep This Next Week, CMJ...the Miracle Fortess Edition

I  am really looking forward to next week's CMJ Music Festival.  Lots of "the next big thing" bands converge on the city for five days of live sets, long nights, and hopefully exposure and growth.  While I have yet to finalize my show-going schedule, I have decided on a few I can't miss.  One of them is Miracle Fortress. 

My previous post got me thinking about roses, which of course is part of the name of Miracle Fortress' debut LP (Five Roses).  Definitely under the radar here in the US but back home in their native Canada (Montreal to be exact) they are almost a house hold name....almost.  What exactly do they sound like?  Well according to their myspace:

Miracle Fortress is Graham Van Pelt's main recording project, based in Montreal.  It's inspired heavily by (and occasionally pays homage to) weirder Nilsson, Phil Spector and Beach Boys stuff, but draws mainly from straight-up studio accidents/surprises, FX mush, ambient drones, drum programming, post-rock, classic rock etc.

What I hear is invitingly sweet indie pop.  Van Pelt can write some catchy, hooky tunes that just seem to scream "play me again!"  For me, no moreso than  the track "Maybe Lately."  Peep it below as well as the title track from MF's first full length album.

"Maybe Lately".mp3

"Five Roses".mp3

Van Pelt Has another band, Think About Life, that is just as sweet.

I will be in the house Tuesday night when Miracle Fortress makes their first US appearance during Brooklyn Vegan Presents at the Bowery Ballroom.  Pretty fantastic bill including Dean & Britta, The Rosebuds, and headliners Voxtrot.  What a way to kick off CMJ!  Cheers to no sleep this week ^_^

Pop Tarts Suck Toasted has a pretty good guide to CMJ 2007.