The annual CMJ festival begins today and runs (officially anyway) through Saturday. Just like everyone else, I’ve got a guide for this festival, to help you make the most of your time. Here’s my recommendation for this week:
DON’T GO TO CMJ SHOWS
1) CMJ’s band selection relies on the same internet hype-mongering as Pitchfork and Flavorpill and so generally throws up thousands of college kid indie rock bands which, while not all exactly the same, will always underwhelm you due to the internet rumors that they’re the next “X” or “Y”.
2) CMJ’s scheduling routine is basically random- So if you actually FIND a good band, chances are you’ll hate the bands on before and after… This is designed to get you to venue hop and spend your money at more bars.
Not only that, but the times listed for bands (especially those after 10pm) are notoriously inaccurate. You may think Jay Reatard is on at XPM but you get there at XPM and have to suffer through some whiny indie rockers’ shot at “stardom” until ZZZZPM when he finally shows up.
3) CMJ only benefits CMJ. Bands, except for headliner acts that are given large guarantees, do not profit from these shows– many play for free. The vast majority of the hundreds of bands playing will get NO media coverage whatsoever on blogs, pitchfork, or elsewhere. So in reality, they’re playing a show to a random crowd of people in a random venue at a random time all in the name of “exposure”. Getting your show at CMJ reported on is like winning the lottery: it might happen to someone, but chances are it isn’t going to be you.
On the other hand, CMJ wisely ties the festival into its pathetically subpar music reporting site/magazine and boosts magazine subscriptions and all important “relevance” for its advertisers… pure profit motive. Same goes for indie rock hype blogs that set up their own
showcases as well as the venues who are often in it to bring more people to their lame digs.
INSTEAD of joining this pointless circus, why not go to a non-CMJ show with GOOD bands and GOOD DJs booked by GOOD promoters? They happen all the time (even this week- watch this space!), and you can find them on our show calendar.
BUT, if you choose to ignore my hateful screed, here are some mid-week CMJ shows with some groups of interest:
Wednesday/Oct22
Howlies @ Canal Room – this Atlanta band has started to make frequent visits to NYC. Never seen them but I’ve heard it’s more good ATL style garage punk… this venue sure looks lame though.
Thursday/Oct23
The Blue Van @ Public Assembly – rare visit to NYC by this Danish garage band who have gotten better with every album…
Black Hollies @ Cake Shop – Rare show at a smaller venue for these Jersey garage-psychers.
Note: we have tried to add all the CMJ-tainted shows to the garage punk show calendar despite our overall ambivalence towards them.
SHIMMY
Tags: black hollies, blue van, cake shop, cmj, howlies, hype, pitchfork, public assembly
COMMENTS