CMJ 2000

I drove into New York on Thursday, the 19th of October, and attended the K Records showcase. Since I am not that familiar with very many K bands, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had heard from a few friends in Utah that I shouldn't miss the Wolf Colonel show. Apparently, Wolf Colonel were touring out to the CMJ show with only an acoustic guitar, and they happened to play Utah on the way. From all accounts, they put on an exceptional show. So, much like the jackass I normally am, I accidentally missed the Wolf Colonel show while looking at guitars/amps at a nearby music shop.

When I returned from the guitar shop, I was able to catch acoustic songs from the Microphones, Mirah, the Softies, and Calvin Johnson (who also sang a capella). Probably the moment I enjoyed the most from this showcase was the Microphones set as Phil Elvrum was joined on stage by Mirah, who played guitar and sang along with Elvrum. It was a really nice show, and I enjoyed that K made the gathering seem more like a bunch of friends getting together than a CMJ showcase.

On Friday, I was able to attend the Temporary Residence showcase in Brooklyn. This was the show I was the most excited about since I enjoy the Halifax Pier album, and I think Tarentel and Sonna are some of the best bands around right now. The club was packed, and luckily everyone sat down (at tables or on the floor) for the show, since the bands didn't have a stage to set up on. Halifax Pier's set was rife with technical difficulties (loud low-end feedback off and on throughout the whole set and multiple other problems with trying to mic acoustic instruments) making it difficult to listen to. I would like to think that the poor performance was due to that, since I think their CD is such a nice listen.

Fellow CMJ attendees Nikki Sixx and Glassjaw

Sonna took the "stage" soon after Halifax Pier, and with Chris Mackie and Jeremy deVine on guitars, Jim Redd switching between organ & drums, and Drew Nelson on bass guitar, they started playing some of the most calming and beautiful music I've heard live in years. The guitars, bass, and organ intertwined with subtle and soothing drones underneath the interaction, with drums coming in and fading out. I didn't recognize any of the songs they played and was told later that they didn't play anything off of the These Windows are Pistons EP or the unbelievably great Eventual Bow EP. I am assuming all of the new songs were from their first full-length album that will be out next year. If it is even 1/10th as good as their live show, then that will be a truly tremendous release.

After Sonna finished, I left to go grab a bite to eat. I returned just in time to see Tarentel setting up. While listening to their releases I have often wondered how they would replicate their sound live, so I was really excited to see them play. Using bass guitar, guitar, drums, keyboards, and a laptop, Tarentel played an amazing mix of lulling drones, tone swells, interwoven bass and guitar melodies, and intense powerful rock. They played songs from From Bone to Satellite, their full length album, and a few songs I didn't recognize. The songs I recognized were played to perfection, and the songs I didn't recognize were really tremendous--I look forward to hearing in the future. They were nothing short of incredible.

Saturday afternoon I went to the Tiger Style Records benefit show. I showed up about an hour early, but it was nice to just sit and relax before the show. The Oxes went on first--two wireless guitarists standing on pedestals and a drummer. The sweetest M.E.T.A.L. I have heard in a long time. It was as if a scientist had spliced together the members of Arab on Radar, Shellac, and the Champs, and turned them loose in the club. The guitarists were running around through the audience and in the backstage area while the drummer sat and played while making wiseass remarks to the audience. It was a lot of fun, the rock was really tight and kick ass, and it was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed their set so much, I bought all three of their releases after the show.

Moby was there too, I guess

The reason I had decided to attend the benefit show in the first place was because Tristeza were playing it. I have really enjoyed their music for quite a while, and I think they are great guys: Jimmy Lavalle and Christopher Sprague on guitars, Luis Hermosillo on bass guitar, Stephen Swesey on keyboards, and Jimmy Lehner on drums. With swirling and intertwining guitars and bass lines, thick keyboard drones, and solid and creative drum parts, Tristeza put on a great, almost hypnotizing performance, playing songs from both of their albums. It is always great to see Tristeza, and always a treat to hear their new songs, and I was especially glad that they played some of my favorite songs from the new album Dream Signals in Full Circles as I hadn't heard those songs performed live before.

Right after that show, my friends and I rushed back to Connecticut to see Sonna play again in New Haven. We were so blown away by their show the previous night that we decided to see them again, and they were even more amazing the second night.

CMJ ended up being a great time. I was lucky enough to see the Oxes, Tristeza, Tarentel, and Sonna, and the shows I attended didn't seem to be the meat market that I had always assumed CMJ to be.