It was a big hump day at CMJ.
Culture Collide/Dr. Martens/Kanine Records showcase @ Pianos
CMJ once again began down on Ludlow at Pianos (QRO venue review) and Cake Shop (QRO venue review), with The Worriers, Beverly, and Shopping, before heading to the new Elvis Guesthouse just north of Houston for Big Ups:
Shopping (upstairs)
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
Beverly
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
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BreakThru Radio showcase @ Cake Shop
The Worriers
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
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Exploding In Sound/Seagreen Records/Spectacles Sessions @ Elvis Guesthouse
Big Ups
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
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NME showcase @ Santos Party House
NME is a free weekly now, but still put on a CMJ showcase, at Santos Party House (QRO venue review) with Seratones and Car Seat Headrest:
Car Seat Headrest (basement)
Click image for full gallery – Deborah Lowery
Seratones
Click image for full gallery – Deborah Lowery
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Tune In Tel Aviv/By Oleh! Records/Israel’s Music Export Office showcase @ Fat Baby
Ninet
Click image for full gallery – Derek Klevitz
Israel’s Music Export Office put on a CMJ showcase at Fat Baby with Ninet.
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CMJ showcase @ Carroll Place
Nikki Hill
Click image for full gallery – Deborah Lowery
Meanwhile, Carroll Place had Nikki Hill.
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CMJ showcase @ Terminal 5
CMJ regularly has a few big-time shows at the big-time Terminal 5 (QRO venue review) – this year it was North Wales’ Catfish & The Bottlemen, along with opener Jamie N Commons:
Jamie N Commons
Click image for full gallery – Levi Pervin
Catfish & The Bottlemen
Click image for full gallery – Levi Pervin
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Pandora Radio party @ Rough Trade NYC
The Kickback
Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase
Pandora Radio threw a free RSVP event at Rough Trade NYC (QRO venue review), with an open bar but a capacity limit with a line to enter the whole night.
“I have a theory that a band named ‘The Kickback’ isn’t going to be any good,” overheard before they started playing. The group joked that the crowd didn’t know who they were, but they did sound fairly earnest, with songs about parents divorcing and such.
Tokyo Police Club
Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase
Oh Tokyo Police Club, it’s so good to be back. The Canadian group is what pop/rock should be; “Hot Tonight” sounds like them covering Miley Cyrus – in a good way. The set included new song “PCH” (Pacific Coast Highway), and for a second encore, a cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone”, which was featured on their 2010 covers album, Ten Songs, Ten Years, Ten Days (QRO review).
Also on that album was a cover of “Strictly Game” by gone-too-soon QRO favorites Harlem Shakes (QRO spotlight on) – in the crowd was Todd Goldstein, Shakes guitarist/frontman for ARMS (QRO album review).
Tokyo Police Club playing “Not Sick” live at Rough Trade NYC on October 14th, 2015:
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Pandora Radio party @ The Altman Building
Martina McBride
Click image for full gallery – Ted Chase
Pandora Radio had two CMJ parties, but for some reason they were on the same night. Your correspondent was still able to make it to the ‘Women In Country’ event in time to see headliner Martina McBride (who also had openers RaeLynn and Cassadee Pope join her on stage at one point). It was a full band show with a classy set-up, which included a cover of “Son of a Preacher Man” – just a great song for a woman in country to perform.
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Other notes:
-Two older women were having a ball dancing in VIP at Pandora’s ‘Women in Country’ event, even roping other men in (including your correspondent). It turns out one of them was the mother of Pandora’s founder…
Unfortunately missed:
-Holly Miranda (QRO spotlight on) @ Rockwood Music Hall (QRO venue review)
-Blonde Redhead (QRO spotlight on) @ Brooklyn Bowl (QRO venue review)
-Courtesy Tier (QRO album review) @ Matchless (QRO venue review)