CMJ 2010

I managed to get out last night again, but I started out the evening with an unCMJ event at The Greene Space. Baratunde Thurston, Judah Friedlander, John Hodgman, Amy Sedaris and Les Savy Fav were all at WNYC’s west side headquarters for a live taping of Jesse Thorn‘s The Sound of Young America. After watching the show (more on that later) and then grabbing a bite to eat in Soho, I headed down to the LES to do the Ludlow street shuffle. I managed to catch a really great set by LA’s Pepper Rabbit at Cake Shop, but then before you the door girl at Pianos could say “no more badges”, it was 10:45 and I wanted to get Williamsburg to see Dan Mangan. It turns out that I needn’t have left so early, because as usual, things were running on CMJ time and Death Comesto Mateson was still on the “Stair Stage” when I got to the Loft Party. When Dan and his band finally hit the stage some time after midnight, he basically brought the house down with a no holds barred set that left the crowd literally begging for more (and, in fact, they did get more when when the band obliged with an unexpected encore of “Road Regrets”). I’m probably spent for tonight, but here’s what I might do, if I were to go anywhere.

Saturday Picks (by venue):
Black Dub – Rockwood 2 (5 PM)
Gunfight, Gringo Star, The Hounds Below – Ace of Clubs
Sweden Showcase – Backstage Bar
Angus and Julia Stone, Devotchka – Big Top (Lincoln Center)
Surfer Blood, Neon Indian, DOM, Wild Nothing – Bowery Ballroom
Eternal Summers, Woven Bones, Frankie and the Outs – Bruar Falls
Acrylics, Buke and Gas, Gobble Gobble – Cake Shop
Kisses, The Knocks, Marnie Stern, Secret Guest – The Delancey
The Jezabels, Dinosaur Feathers, Miracles of Modern Science – Fat Baby
Turbo Fruits, Ty Segall, AIDS Wolf – Knitting Factory
Shrag – Lit Lounge
The Woes, The Protomen – Littlefield
The High Dials, Capstan Shafts – Local 269
Screaming Females, Corin Tucker Band – Maxwell’s
The Bogmen (2 shows) – Mercury Lounge
Anni Rossi, Sunglasses, Million Young, BRAHMS – Pianos
Dead Heart Bloom, The Click Clack Boom, Two Hours Traffic – R Bar
Harper Blynn, Holy Ghost Tent Revival – Rockwood Music Hall
Hey Champ, Elizabeth and the Catapult – Rockwood 2
Chris Cubeta & Liars Club – Rock Shop
Asobi Seksu, School of Seven Bells, Big Freedia – Santos Party House
French Horn Rebellion – Santos Party House (down)
Marie Stella – Trash Bar
Heart of Darkness (comedy) – Union Hall
The Golden Filter, UNKLE – Webster Hall

As always, there’s lots on tap for tonight, but what looks most interesting to me is the sure to packed VFW Group Showcase at Bowery Ballroom (featuring crazy popular bands like Neon Indian and Surfer Blood), the very solid looking NME showcase at The Delancey (with Marnie Stern and a “secret guest”), Maxwell’s with Corin Tucker Band‘s only(?) CMJ performance and Screaming Females, the Windish Showcase at Santos Party House with Asobi Seksu, SVIIB and Big Freedia, Portland’s Marie Stella at Trash Bar, and last but not least, if comedy is your thing, there is a great looking “Hearts of Darkness” show at Union Hall tonight. Also, if you can get out early, check out Black Dub with Daniel Lanois and Trixie Whitley at Rockwood Stage 2 at 5 PM.