CMJ 2014 – Day Three Recap

The Kills killed it on Day Three of CMJ....
CMJ

CMJ 2014 - Day Three Recap

Another year, another CMJ. New York’s multi-venue music industry festival has had its ups and downs, but in 2014 seems to be on an upswing, with a slew of big shows to go with the millions of struggling bands at tiny places, Tuesday-to-Saturday, October 21st to 25th:

 

 

NYC Taper party @ Cake Shop

Beach Day

Beach Day

Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice

 

The Kickback

The Kickback

Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice

 

Rivergazer

Rivergazer

Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice

 

Amanda X

Amanda X

Click image for full gallery – Maryanne Ventrice

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CMJ party @ Rough Trade NYC

Spring King

Spring King

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

The Wytches

The Wytches

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

Happyness

Happyness

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks

Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz

 

Twin Peaks

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

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CMJ showcase @ Passenger Bar

The Hunting Party

The Hunting Party

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

Poor Remy

Poor Remy

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

Big Harp

Big Harp

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

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Holy Underground showcase @ Cameo

Taymir

Taymir

Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz

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FADER Fort @ Converse Rubber Tracks

Cathedrals

Cathedrals

Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase

Like at South-by-Southwest, the best unofficial event at CMJ, one of the best events period, is FADER Fort, thrown by FADER Magazine. After moving around for years, it seems to have settled at home at Converse Rubber Tracks, the studio/event space run by the same people (with pictures of FADER record label artists Matt & Kim – QRO spotlight on – on the bathroom doors). It’s got free drinks, its own RSVP wristband, CMJ artists you want to see, plus special guests. That does make for a line to enter – unless you’re VIP or press, like QRO…

Got there are the start to get the wristband and catch Cathedrals, electro-emotional lady (with some sexy) that is so hot right now.

 

DMA’s

DMA’s

Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase

FADER has become largely a music-fashion magazine, mostly hip-hop with some fashionable indie, so it was nice to have some upbeat Anglo rock ‘n’ roll at the Fort in the form of DMA’s.

 

BØRNS

BØRNS

Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase

An all-caps band with an O with a line through it, BØRNS played some electro indie-pop. FADER Fort also hit max capacity while they were on – the one downside to having the Fort at the not-large Rubber Tracks.

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Ernest Jennings Record Co. showcase @ Grand Victory

Sunshine & Rain

Sunshine & Rain

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

Grandchildren

Grandchildren

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

MiniBoone

MiniBoone

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

But your correspondent was pulled away from the free drinks of FADER Fort for a personal longtime CMJ staple, MiniBoone. The band was at their suitably wild self in the small-but-classy Grand Victory (first place I’ve seen serving an alcoholic cider from the tap). Did they sell “Wait Until Tomorrow” to the Hallmark Channel?

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Flood Magazine showcase @ Brooklyn Bowl

Colony House

Colony House

Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz

 

Small Black

Small Black

Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz

 

Beach Fossils

Beach Fossils

Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz

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Tinderbox Festival showcase @ Pete’s Candy Store

Alyson Greenfield

Alyson Greenfield

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

Fiona Silver

Fiona Silver

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

 

Sylvana Joyce & The Moment

Sylvana Joyce & The Moment

Click image for full gallery – Donald Lee

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CMJ showcase @ Bowery Ballroom

The Kills

The Kills

Click image for full gallery – Bashira Webb

Alongside James on Tuesday, the best act playing CMJ ’14 was The Kills – and the duo was playing at the intimate (for them) Bowery Ballroom (QRO venue review). It was surprising that one could still walk in with a CMJ badge just before they went on, considering that three bands played before, but maybe people were just worried about the line so skipped it, making no line…

The Kills playing “DNA” at Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY for CMJ on October 23rd, 2014:

Allison MosshartJamie HinceTheir loss, because of course The Kills were amazing. Such a visceral band, this close up? It’s really hard not to have a crush on Allison Mosshart, jerking to every beat – no offense to Jamie Hince, but he’s married to Kate Moss, so no sympathy for him. The group totally encompassed Bowery Ballroom, and did everything you needed and more from The Kills to a totally psyched crowd.

The Kills

The Kills playing “Monkey 23” at Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY for CMJ on October 23rd, 2014:

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Other notes:

-Goodnight Records’ showcase at The Gutter was cancelled due to Ebola fears – that concert venue was also the bowling alley where the infected Dr. Craig Spencer visited after doing more in one day than most non-Ebola New Yorkers do in a week.

 

Unfortunately missed:

-Mac McCaughan @ Hi-Fi, 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Founder of Merge Records and frontman of Superchunk (QRO live review) and Portastatic.

-Caveman (QRO album review) @ Bowery Hotel, 11:30 PM.

 

Categories
Concert Reviews