Earlier this month we ran a virtual costume contest where folks submitted ideas for their best Phish-related costume contests and now that Festival 8 is finally upon us we’re asking
Words: Jonathan “Kos” Kosakow
Each year, the CMJ Music Marathon descends upon New York City for five days in October. For bands, it is a chance to be discovered. For journalists, bloggers, photographers and the recording industry, it is an opportunity to stumble upon the next big thing. And for the fans, it is a chance to discover new music, a chance to witness the origins of a band, and perhaps more importantly, a chance to run around New York City for five days without a plan or a clue as to what they will find.
There is no “right” way to get through CMJ. Of the almost 1,100 musical acts who performed over the five days at this year’s marathon, even those fans heavily immersed in the music scene were familiar with only a small percentage. Some choose to see only the bands they already know and are familiar with. Some choose to pick a venue and stick with it for an entire evening. Others choose to pick bands based on their names, and still others just go to an area with the highest concentration of shows (generally the Lower East Side of Manhattan), and bounce around between venues. But no matter what method you choose, you are bound to find something you love, something you hate, or something completely weird.
As I am just one man, I was only able to see a (very, very, very) small percentage of the music played. But of the bands I was able to see, here are my recommendations.
These United States bring a sound similar to a combination of The Black Crowes and The Band, with vocals slightly reminiscent of the Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz. Comparisons aside, this quintet had a sound too big for Piano’s, the small bar that played host that evening. By adding a steel pedal guitar to the classic southern rock, they are allowed much greater diversity of sound and can bring in many more influences. And that may be their only true drawback – the lack of a definitive sound. Give them a little bit more time to find their true sound, though, and I’d put some money on seeing these guys in much larger venues.
READ ON for more of Jonathan’s recommendations…
The Faces reunited on Monday night at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London for a one-time charity show with Simply Red front man Mick Huchnall, Kiki Dee and Mel
Words: Daniel Schneier
Pictures: Will Porter
It’s taken The Avett Brothers 9 years, 11 albums and a tireless touring schedule to abandon the indie label cradle and enter the musical mainstream, though one evening with this North Carolina foursome leaves no doubt as to why they have courted the interest of big city suitors. The group is currently in the throes of a touring and promotional blitz in conjunction with the late September release of I and Love and You
Having sold out two straight nights at the formidable “Fillmore” at Irving Plaza back in June, the Avett’s took on an even larger New York City stage on Saturday, October 17th, delivering a high-energy set of music to a packed house at Terminal 5. The band, consisting of talented multi-instrumentalists, Scott and Seth Avett, longtime bassist Bob Crawford and cellist, Joe Kwon, wasted no time in setting the night’s hootenanny tone, taking the stage around 9:15 to a roar of raucous approval from the audience.
With a swarm of homemade signs and t-shirts pressed up against the stage, and denizens of flannel-wearing, 20-somethings leaning off the venue’s 2nd and 3rd story balconies, the Avett’s broke out the ringing acoustical chords to opener, Paranoia in bFlat Major and proceeded to power through a breakneck paced 90-minute set of rock-infused folk and bluegrass.
READ ON for more on the Avetts from Dan and Will…
The first-ever Marco Benevento & Friends DVD – culled from footage shot during their Sullivan Hall residency in January of 2008 – hits stores on November 10. Those who pre-order
Cold War Kids have announced details of a new 4-song EP. Called ‘Behave Yourself.‘ it will be released on January 18 in the UK and a day later on January
The Dead Weather have released a digital EP entitled ‘Live From Third Man West‘. Recorded at the short lived Third Man Records And Novelties store in Los Angeles, the EP
Passion Pit have added a third straight night at New York‘s Terminal 5 venue. The band who are currently on a UK tour, will now play January 10 on top
The stars must have been perfectly aligned when Red Hot Chili Pepper’s drummer, Chad Smith, guitarist Jeff Kollman (Cosmosquad) and keyboardist Ed Roth were brought together to help out Glenn Hughes’ latest project.
Brock Butler’s debut studio album, “Lately Here Though” is now available for digital download on Brock’s official website, www.therevbutler.com. Produced and recorded by David Barbe (Drive-by-Truckers, Cracker) at Chase Park
