Jackie’s CMJ Rundown

Well, CMJ was a couple of weeks ago. Being already in NYC for the semester, I got a badge and tried to do as much as I could while working a full-time internship. So, I’ll try and take this day by day, but it’s quite possible I forgot what I did.

Day 0: The pre-game
We went to the pre-party. I didn’t stay long…couldn’t find free swag.

Day 1: Nothing compares…to you
Picked up badge, got my free bag! Woot woot! Not as good as last year’s messenger bag, but it looks pretty swag-tastic. There’s a witch-house-like triangle on it.
I went to a Music Startup panel. It was AMAZING. I am based in the mobile startup world already, but it was great to hear how to go through each stage of how to start a startup! These guys also focused it on music based startups, so we were able to learn how Sound Exchange helps with that, along with ideas of what great music startups do. One of the founders of Turntable was there, and I believe that was the most inspiring. They started as a completely different company and just switched over to that! How awesome! I won’t bore you with my nerdiness love to all things computers, but it was really interesting.
We went to Brooklyn that night. We sorta started at 285 Kent, but decided to bounce back and forth between 285 and Glasslands. I remember seeing Delicate Steve and Titus Andronicus…I’m not sure who else I saw that night. They were both awesome! You might remember Titus Andronicus from a show we put on last Winter. AMAZING. Always full of high energy and a great crowd! It ended up being Amy’s last show with them, which is a bittersweet thought. She is going on to create her own music and she will be great! But, that’s a whole other blog entry! I can go on and on about this show and how sad I was when I had to leave a little early (at around 1:30 am so I could wake up for work the next day).

Day 2: What did I do?
I seriously don’t remember. I’ll have to research this subject and get back to you. I think I saw King Krule and some others at Glasslands. It might’ve been raining?

Day 3: I knew I liked you guys
Stood outside Cake Shop and Pianos for a split second deciding what to do. Went to Pianos since I wanted to see Zambri again (Punk, Rock, and Roll brought them to campus last year as well!). That was a show full of surprises.
The band before Zambri was okay, I forgot their name as well, but they were not memorable. After Zambri was the Ill Fits. Thanks to the CMJ app, we were able to find out who exactly they were (some members of MGMT, supposedly). They had this 80′s punk feel that was really awesome! The singer pranced on stage, and I know it has been done, but I never saw it!
This was my first CMJ over the age of 21. That being said, I spent a lot of CMJ realizing that it was better when I didn’t have to pee as often at shows. On line for the bathroom at this show, the guy behind me convinced me to stay for Caveman. I remember him saying, under his ironic mustache: “Find me afterwards, I promise you’ll thank me.” So, one song into Caveman’s set, I looked for him in the crowd and gave him the most astonished look I could muster. He was right, I wanted to thank him for convincing me to stay. Probably one of the most memorable sets from the entire weekend.

Day 4: Hopping Brooklyn or Hopping around Brooklyn
I got off work, tried to get into the Neon Indian show, failed. Saw Fred Armisen and Jemaine Clement within a half hour of each other. I then preceded to hop between a Brooklyn Vegan Loft party (where I couldn’t really hear any music) and Music Hall of Williamsburg. I caught a glimpse of Active Child’s set. That was really amazing, they were a prefect opening band for Braids. I got to see about half of Braids’ set. It was great, I wish I got there earlier. MHOW also housed them really well: their sound swallowed us rather than their sound getting swallowed by the venue. I really enjoyed it. I ended the night laughing with friends by the waterfront watching someone trying to get a kickball from the East River. Gross.

Day 5: I CAN’T STAND ANYMORE
Day show!!!!!!! Wooohooooooo. Went to the AAM day show at the Knitting Factory. Although I was exhausted, it was the only showcase I stayed from beginning to end. Here’s what I remember:
Vacationer was really great. You could tell they were brand new, but in that adorable naive puppy way. They looked like they were just starting to get used to playing in front of an audience at the end of the show, which was really adorable. Plus, they were really catchy, so I can’t wait until they have more songs out.
Casiokids was like a Norwegian 5-year-old’s hyperactive birthday. I believe this was the first band that I saw a multi-instrument switch train during a song (it’s hard to explain this far past my bedtime). They also seemed really happy just to be playing for us! I also really enjoyed one member’s rain coat and wanted it really badly.
Dom – they were better at Brandeis. New guitarist, Kenny, is pretty sick though, although I won’t compare him to Cosmo.
That night: we were exhausted and watched the Adam’s Family movie. We finally went to the Spin/Ray Ban’s secret show, but most of the kids I was with couldn’t get in (since it was 21+). After waiting outside for a bit, one of my under 21 friends convinced me to go in for just 2 songs. And it was pretty cool. Free beer and Crystal Castles. It was also the one picture I took from CMJ that lasted.
I couldn’t find free Ray Bans for the friend who told me to go in. I felt bad and left after 2 songs and enjoyed the rest of the set from outside. When the party let out, I got to see Pete Wentz. 13-year-old Jackie was really happy and wanted to ask him to be my John Cusack…and then I was embarrassed for remembering that song.

Overall, I had a lot of fun and enjoyed all the shows. I wish I had time to go to more panels, but I did have to work. I also wish I got to see a few other bands (WIM, Gauntlet Hair, and Zola Jesus, to be exact), but I did get to see a lot and I am grateful for my CMJ experience. It’s also late now, and I’m doing the wrong thing by posting this before I edit it! So awesome! Enjoy my typos!