11:58 AM - CMJ recap - day 4
I knew I wouldn't be able to get to all of the shows I wanted to last night, but I think I did pretty good job. The thing is that I like to watch a band's whole set - not just a few songs. That doesn't make it very easy to catch multiple bands who are starting at the same time. I started early with the Deli Magazine show at the Annex. The Jealous Girlfriends were about halfway through their set when I got there. The first thing I noticed was how small they looked on the very high stage, but their sound was good and it worked best when they got the male/female vocals working together just right. They're one of those local bands that I just haven't ever paid attention to before, but that will have to change now. See them on Saturday, November 11th at Union Hall in Park Slope. The band I was really there to see were up next. Up the Empire sounded great on that stage but the layout of the Annex is just an odd one for them - since it was only the mid afternoon (but hey it was after 3 so if you ask me it's time for a beer or three) the crowd was pretty sparse and mostly sitting around sipping tea and probably nursing hangovers. This is not how this band should be watched. By the end of their set they had obviously inspired some new fans to get up front and move a bit (dudes in bands, I'd wager) but with their sound they need to be playing to a thousand kids going crazy in the middle of the night. Some day soon, I hope. Oh and somehow they manage to convince me more and more each time I see them that they're the indie rock demon spawn of Tom Petty. All of them. For that, I love them. You can see Up the Empire at the next Beg Yr Pardon party this Tuesday (Nov. 7th) at the Delancey. I was going to go home and do some work at this point. I swear I really was. Then I ran into a friend on the street who had just come from Fontana's and when I asked if it was insanely packed over there she said I was the third person to ask that, and that no, it wasn't packed at all. Good. Onward then! Fontana's has a strange layout. I'd even call it a bad layout. It's like taking the Delancey (which I love) and smashing the front bar and upstairs lounge of Pianos (which can be very frustrating) inside it. You have to walk all the way through the crowds to get to the door that will take you down to the performance space. On my way through the growing crowd I saw more than a few hipsters standing around scratching their heads. "I swear this is where it is, the sign outside says so!" To the back, behind the pool tables, dudes. Downstairs is where the free Brooklynvegan show was happening. That guy deserves some serious credit for putting on free shows with incredible lineups. The host of the show was Dave Hill. I'm not sure if he was drunk and funny or funny and drunk, but he made all the boys with hoodies and messenger bags laugh at themselves. Did that guy ever get his $500? Oxford Collapse played. I've seen them before. I've enjoyed their live show. I've had very pleasant conversations with members of the band. I've enjoyed their records quite a bit - more than everyone I know (except this dude). They played their songs fine but I don't think I need to go see them again any time soon. The sax was cool though. I was there for the Thermals. Everybody was there for the Thermals - I wonder how many people there were seeing them for the second time in 24 hours (they played the night before to a sold out crowd at the Bowery Ballroom). The new album is good of course but a little hard to swallow with it's god/fascist dictator concept. I'm happy to have found that those new songs come across much better live when Hutch has the audience in the palm of his hands and you can almost believe that he'll be the one leading us out of the grips of the evil empire than they do on record. Of course the older songs inspired some serious sing-alongs and fist-pumping. Hot. Here's them doing the opening to "How We Know" - Quick question to anybody who might know - what's up with the second guitarist? In the band? Hired gun? Friend of the band helping out? I didn't know anything about that. He sure had a lot of feedback going on. Mary pointed out that the Thermals just put out a concept album and now they've got this touring second guitarist, whereas they used to be more of an in-yer-face punk trio. Green Day syndrome, perhaps? 6pm. Crackers United pre-party. I met a couple of Muggabears and enjoyed the free beer. Quite a nice time with nice people. I was also able to help the Obsessive Compulsive figure out how to get their dj setup to work, so I felt useful and thus worthy of the fancy fancy Budweiser Select (even though to me it just tastes like, well, beer). The show at the Delancey was a mishmash of totally unrelated bands, but lucky for me it fit right in a hole in my plans for the night when there wasn't anything else I wanted to see, so I got down in time to catch Palomar. It's like a ritual to see them at CMJ at this point. They're an example of that rare breed of band who are totally competent in their songwriting and playing, but somehow always look like it's their first time playing in front of people until about halfway through their set when some invisible wall falls down and they become the friendliest, goofiest, cutest people in the universe. Go listen to Palomar and be happy. Note: keep an eye on Dale, the drummer. He plays effortlessly and makes the best faces. They're playing at the Delancey again today, at 2pm. Though one of my favorites, O'Death, were to play after the next band at the Delancey, we'd just seen them and had other bands on the agenda, so it was off to the Knitting Factory for the third night in a row (MPS had joined me at this point). The End of the World were finishing up when we got to the Tap Bar. I believe they're down a member from the last time I saw them... right? They didn't seem as excited as at past shows, in fact it was downright somber. I don't know what was going on but I wouldn't count it towards my opinion of the band. They still have one of the best names and shirt designs out there and their records are quite good. Plus they were there for MiG's infamous "I see you, el diablo!" moment in Dallas this spring so I feel like was have a special bond (ask Jared some time). Hah. To end the night we gave Pianos a shot for The Big Sleep but the line was out the door. It's ok, we'll catch them today. We made a run for Sin-e (with jog-by "hey guys!" to two parts Unsacred Hearts on the way) in hopes of seeing most of Pela's set but they were almost done and nobody was getting in. Good job on another insanely packed show, Crackers United! That's alright, we called it an early night and headed home to regain strength for tonight... In the plans? Brooklynvegan day show at the Annex (the Big Sleep and Silversun Pickups, finally, hopefully). Cody Chesnutt, Via Audio, Takka Takka, Morning Theft, Forget Cassettes/Apollo Up/De Novo Dahl, the Fall? We'll see... One thing I know for sure is that I should probably keep myself far away from this.
As I've mentioned, Beauty Pill were a must see band for me at CMJ this year. I've been listening to them for a couple years and just never gotten a chance to get out to a show. We planted ourselves front and right-of-center and settled in for a good time. That's exaclty what we got. A sure sign of a good show is when anyone in the band starts by getting down on her knees and plays percussion on a frying pan. And two drummers will always be an exciting addition to a live show. The sound wasn't perfect in that room but the band is just so full of talented players that I think they can sound good anywhere - their performance of "The Western Prayer" has been my favorite song to see during this festival so far. Listen to Beauty Pill on Myspace.
Comments
I think you would've enjoyed the band that played prior to big zzz at pianos. don't know what they're called but they seemed up your alley.
posted by: d at November 4, 2006 01:54 PM
Yeah, assuming Limp Bizkit is up your alley.
posted by: j at November 4, 2006 01:59 PM
nookie baby, nookie.
posted by: d at November 4, 2006 02:32 PM
it was the plastic constellations
posted by: e at November 4, 2006 07:53 PM
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