I woke up this morning, ready to grab my badge and camera and head to Fader Lounge for a breakfast Red Stripe. Once I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, I realized that it was Monday. Back to work. No more free drinks. No more bandfest during the day. Sigh. I was a little bit sad.
I'm sure the sadness will lessen as the days go by and I start to count down the days to SXSW. Austin is already calling my name. Anyways, here's a mix for you to enjoy. Back to regularly scheduled posts tomorrow.
From now on, every 10 shows Nora and I will recap the past bunch of artists. This way, you won't forget just how awesome they are. And our clever banter. And something else...that I can't remember right now. I'm so tired.
But seriously, this is a great mix so do head on over to www.breakthruradio.com and click on "The Blog Show." It's a nice collection for this rainy rainy day.
Playlist!
Let's Call It Off - Peter Bjorn & John
Elegy - Beat Radio
Why Not Me? - Locksley
Pile Of Gold - The Blow
Fille A Plumes - Malajube
Labyrinthian Pomp - Of Montreal
All The Days - Aeroplane Pageant
Our Lies + Your Smile - Via Audio
30 Helens Agree - Morning Theft
So Far We Are - French Kicks
Calendar - Bishop Allen
Trouble - Voxtrot
New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
Closer - Hourly Radio
Ex-Girl Collection - The Wrens
Like Cursing Kids - Kevin Devine
No Ace - Seth Kallen & The Reaction
The World Is Smaller Than You Think - Mason Proper
Ruby - Kaiser Chiefs
Wake me up when it's the weekend.
I know I say this every week but this episode of The Blog Show just might be my favorite. Maybe it was the girl scout cookies combined with Trader Joe's wine that made us so fun. Who knows! I think it's the music though. We premiere some new songs from our friends Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, plus awesome tracks from Kevin Devine, The Wrens, and Oh No! Oh My! .
Oh! And blogger of the week goes out to Dave over at Slap You In Public. Pants off dance off!
Check it out here if you know what's good for you.
Playlist!
Brooklyn Boy - Kevin Devine
You'll Only End Of Joining Them - Kevin Devine
Just Stay - Kevin Devine
Love Song No. 7 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Emily Jean Stock - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Satan Said Dance - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Walk In The Park - Oh No! Oh My!
I Love You All The Time - Oh No! Oh My!
I Have No Sister - Oh No! Oh My!
Everyone Chooses Sides - The Wrens
Happy - The Wrens
She Sends Kisses - The Wrens
Justice vs. Simian - We Are Your Friends
Oh boy. It's over. I survived.
Just barely.
Let's recall how I spent my last day. I know it began with making cookies, and ended with an almost fight outside some bar. Somewhere in the middle I saw some bands. I talked to a statue. No better way to end this five-day ridiculous festival.
I woke up at the ass crack of dawn, ran to the super market and bought enough cookie dough to feed a small army. I got the oven going, which was a pleasant surprise for my -3028209 degree apartment. There were lots of cookies. I checked out on my fire escape to see when the bands arrived and checked in with the folks across the street before heading to Dunkin Donuts and buying three boxes of coffee. Best idea ever. Not only were the bands so appreciative, but man...I needed that coffee too.
We hit off the party with local favorites The Head Set, whose new songs sound so so good live. I love their album, but they are totally a band I enjoy seeing live. Jordan's vocals are so incredible. I was so happy to have a NY band amidst the out of town lineup. It's nice to have some familiar sounds once in a while.
I managed to dj without headphones, as I forgot that mine were broken. I think I did okay. I couldn't really hear much of it anyways, but there's never any problem when you put on The Rapture. The place began to fill up, the cookies were being eaten and I was feeling like a million dollars. No alcohol yet.
Division Day, who I had been dying to see for months now played an awesome set regardless of how tired I'm sure they, and all the bands were. They kicked it off with "Lights Out" and ended with "Tap, Tap Click Click" and Peter from Birdmonster got up on stage and helped out with some beats. It was so great to see a band that you've listened to endlessly for the very first time. No one can take that back. Nope. Don't even try.
And then all of a sudden Sin-e was packed. It's no surprise. Ra Ra Riot is easily the buzz band du jour and had played so many CMJ shows this week, everyone is talking about them. Delightful people both on and off the stage. They need to put out an album asap, but it's funny that I know all of their songs already. Watch out for this band. They'll take over the world in a very short time.
Time for a beer.
I've yet to be completely sober for Birdmonster, so I figured if I had a beer, I wouldn't look completely crazy when I rocked out. I made my way front and center, because god dammit I love this band too much. They put on an even more rowdy show than Tuesday at Pianos and even played "Resurrection Song." Amazing. They ended the set with an encore, my favorite, "Janine". The boys let it all out. I couldn't have asked for anything more.
I was on a complete high after the show, so pleased how everything turned out and so appreciative of all the bands that came out and played. It was definitely one of my favorite lineups and I can only hope everyone else there had as much fun as I did. I said my goodbyes, cleaned up the cookies, and grabbed my coat. It was still so early.
Grabbed a drink with Katie who was in town from DC before heading to some Blogging for Beers party up at Hi-Fi. I don't know what exactly that entailed, but I did get free pints of Brooklyn Lager. Genius idea, if you ask me.
From there we went down to Gothamist House for the Charles Bissell from The Wrens. I must admit I was a bit intoxicated at this point, but the set was entirely enjoyable from what I remember. Then I ran over to Cake Shop and realized we were a bit earlier than anticipated. Probably should have gotten something to eat, but instead the $1 PBRs were calling my name. We caught the end of Maison Blanche who I think I liked. Then I pushed my way to the very front because White Rabbits were on stage. Let the record reflect that this band is one of my new favorites, so there's a good chance you'll hear a lot about them. While the sound was iffy in that venue, they put on an amazing show. Drumbeats were everywhere. Lots of people. Couldn't contain my excitement. Get your cd done already!
Thank god for Zozos. Grabbed a burger and then stumbled our way to Annex. Couldn't get in, of course. This was either before or after I started talking to the statue outside Zozos, convinced it was going to come alive. This is where I realized my exhaustion and alcohol level was at an all time high. Met up with Chris and Pat who I'm sure I insulted. On to Arlene's where of course I didn't see any bands, but did drink some more. Then another bar. Then there was some kid who I didn't like and I decided I wanted to fight him. He called me whitey. I knew it was time to go home.
Bye CMJ. I had fun. But please don't call me for at least a year.
I am ready to move on past CMJ related posts, but I must say as exhausting as this entire week was, I had a really great time. With the chance to see a lot of my favorite bands all within hours of eachother, catch up with some old friends, and find an excuse to start drinking at 11 AM...for free, I can't really complain about anything.
Except that I know I missed all of the amazing shows that everyone else will repremand me for, but I am only one gal. I am also partial to the bands I hold near and dear to my heart, and will never pass up the opportunity to sing and dance my heart out seeing them live. So no, I didn't go to even half the shows I expected/wanted to, but I did get to see some really incredible ones. I have a bunch of pictures up on flickr, but here are some of my favorites.
Birdmonster @ Pianos
Sure Juror @ Pianos
The Undisputed Heavyweights @ Rockwood
The Changes @ Fader Lounge
Tall Hands @ White Rabbit
Wrens @ Skirball
The Walkmen @ Skirball
Kevin Devine @ Bowery
Annuals @ Bowery
White Rabbits @ Cake Shop
But of course the real highlight of the whole entire week was the Underrated Party at Sin-e. Seriously couldn't have asked for a better bill, and I thank all the bands and everyone that came out. It was so much fun.
The Head Set
Division Day
Ra Ra Riot
Birdmonster
Find all pictures from CMJ here.
My head hurts. A lot.
I felt fantastic when I woke up yesterday. I was well rested, hydrated, and ready to take CMJ on. Today I feel exactly the opposite. 11 hours of straight drinking will do that to you.
Woke up early yesterday and got all of my work out of the way before I left my apartment. That was good. Going to head over to White Rabbit for Pela but found myself drawn to the wonder that is The Changes. I can't see that band enough times. The Fader Lounge is a pretty sweet place thanks to the free Red Stripe. The Changes are another band that makes me happy. I should open a musical therapy practice with bands like them. You can't help but smile.
From The Changes we headed over to Pianos on the word that there was free food and alcohol. This is what makes CMJ special. Apparently it was a Stereogum party. Said hey to Amrit, ignited my mouth with buffalo wings, and looked up meaning of words with Matt. This is why I shouldn't drink in the afternoon...I become this coherent idiot. I told Nora it is nice to be intoxicated when its light outside. I can see better.
From Pianos we walked over to White Rabbit where Gothamist is having their daytime shows. Really comfy place with great sound, if only there were free drinks. Oh well, can't please us all. Caught a set by Land of Talk whom I'm still ambivalent to, and caught up with some co-workers. More drinks. Saw Tall Hands who I really like and then sat up front for Bound Stems. I think I'll always be drunk when I see this band, but at least this time I was aware of that fact. Still really like that band. And yes, Nora, I'm still listening to the album. Stop making fun of me.
Snowden took the stage and we caught a couple slowed down acoustic tracks before heading back to Fader Lounge. Is that where I went after? Oh yes. I was rushing everyone because of Annuals. This was at 6 pm and already I was stumbling. My goodness. Back to the land of free Red Stripe. Ran into the Birdmonster boys and began to exclaim my love for Annuals. Too bad the sound in Fader Lounge destroyed their set. Saw Adam outside afterwards and he didn't seem too pleased. I told him not to worry and that I'd burn the album for everyone so they'd know how awesome they are. He said that was ok. He's cool.
Hopped in a cab with my intern and headed west to my alma matter. We picked up some 40's in the deli and snuck them into NYU. I felt like a badass. The venue at NYU made me realize where all my money went to for those four years. It's almost too nice. You can sit in very comfy chairs, which caused Jerry to leave early on. He didn't think people would rock out. Oh, but they did. I remember a bunch of kids up on the stage. One of them took his shirt off. I remember wanting to go up there too.
I heart The Wrens.
Yet another band that makes me happy in a completely different way. Their songs are just so damn good. It sounded amazing in that venue and I was so pleased I made it to see them. Maybe my highlight of the week. Seeing The Wrens is always such an awesome experience.
Up next were The Walkmen who I hadn't seen in quite some time. They started out their set strong and Sean and I finished my 40. My intern drank one on her own. She's awesome. After the band played "The Rat" and I rocked my little socks off, I got really sleepy. The Walkmen didn't do much for me after that and I think I took my CMJ nap for a couple minutes. Felt nice.
Said goodbye to silly NYU and made it back to home turf. Met up with Nora and The Changes at El Sobrero for some margaritas. Yummy. Followed Piper to Annex where there was some horrific band on stage. Popped downstairs for a smoke and then tried to finish my vodka tonic. At that point I was happy to still be standing. It was time to go to sleep.
CMJ is kicking my ass.
