24 October 2007

CMJ Roundup - In Threes

A day (or three) late, a badge short, I know. CMJ is soooo last week, and yet what better way to achieve some sense of closure than a decidedly biased and brief three-sided roundup? I can’t think of one either... below are some bits (and a slew of links) from the two of us here at EAR FARM. We'll count you (the reader) as our third opinion; so, if you have some thoughts on CMJ - speak!

--Top three shows attended--
Matt
1. The Secret Life of Sofia @ The Delancey – 20 Oct (+)
2. A Place To Bury Strangers @ The Delancey – 20 Oct (+)
3. Islands @ R Bar – 19 Oct (+)
Mike
1. The Walkmen @ Avalon – 17 Oct (+)
2. Yeasayer @ R Bar – 19 Oct (+)
3. The Secret Life of Sofia @ The Delancey – 20 Oct (+)

--Top three CMJ disappointments--
Matt
1. the sound @ Bowery Ballroom for British Sea Power (+)
2. people talking, and talking and talking, loudly at nearly every show
3. R Bar
Mike
1. Free = crowded
2. The absence of worthwhile content within daytime panels (Joe Panelist: "Sales of compact discs are not what they used to be, but look at CD box sets, they're still going strong!")
3. A tie: the three-story walk-up and sweltering temperatures at the Indaba loft

--Top three shows I wish I could have cloned myself for, in order to see--
Matt
1. Torche, Jesu @ Blender Theater – 20 Oct – (instead I DJ'd the Stereoactive/Hot Rocks show at the Delancey) (+)
2. The Forms, Goes Cube @ Midway – 20 Oct – (instead I DJ'd the Stereoactive/Hot Rocks show at the Delancey) (+)
3. Islands, Trail of Dead @ Highline Ballroom – 18 Oct - (instead I saw British Sea Power) (+)
Mike
1. Islands, Trail of Dead @ Highline Ballroom – 18 Oct – (non-cloned me went to British Sea Power) (+)
2. Sam Champion, Yeasayer @ Music Hall of Williamsburg – 17 Oct – (non-cloned me saw the Walkmen) (+)
3. Band of Horses, Le Loup @ Bowery Ballroom – 20 Oct – (non-cloned me attended the Stereoactive/Hot Rocks show at the Delancey) (+)

--Three revelations from the past week--
Matt
1. You don't need a CMJ badge to have fun, unless having fun to you means standing in line for an hour and a half. In that case, get a badge for CMJ.
2. When CMJ is downtown, the best place to grab a bite to eat and chill (and blog - shhh) in between day shows is upstairs at Whole Foods on Houston - heyyyy.
3. Panels need a good moderator or else the stated topic of said panel most likely won't even come close to being addressed by the under-qualified members of the panel.
Mike
1. Stripper poles and blood-red padded walls do not a good live music venue make.
2. Just like in college, those who ask questions at CMJ panels really only want to answer those same questions themselves, loudly and in front of everyone.
3. Apparently nobody in New York City holds a day job.

EAR FARM videos of CMJ performances:

EAR FARM posts about CMJ 2007:Obviously, it’s impossible for two people to slay the CMJ beast on their own, and that's where you come in. What were your favorite shows, disappointments, revelations and regrets from the past week?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

best show was the jesu show. matt you missed out.

Anonymous said...

TORCHE (were awesome and better than Jesu.)