CMJ

don't miss a single second of....

the MLB ALCS! go RED SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

I was looking over the four-day schedule, and though my newspaper wouldn't pay for the registration or the hotel, I'm still (not) going. I'm very poor.
Still, I kind of made a list of shows I would have gone to, though, to be honest, I've never heard of half of these bands. It could be cool to check out some of these lesser known bands while everyone else is waiting in line to see the Rapture.
On Wednesday, I might be tempted to check out what looks to be a Merge Records showcase (with Matt Suggs, Ladybug Transistor, Superchunk and more) at the Bowery Ballroom or the Barsuk showcase at the Irving Plaza. (with the Long Winters and Death Cab fur Cutie). Other interesting shows: Waxwings at Southpaw at 8 p.m. (if you like the power pop). There are some good bands at Webster Hall as well - the New Deal, Killing Joke, My Morning Jacket.
Thursday shows: I'd probably go to the Absolutely Kosher showcase ath the Luna Lounge. The new Wrens album is terrific (and I like the Bottom of the Hudson as well). I dig the new British Sea Power album, so I might sneak out to the Bowery at 9 p.m. (If I were actually going, which is still a sore point). Buck 65 and the Pharcyde shows would also be good. Of course, Love is playing at the Warsaw at 10 p.m. and that could be one of the shows of the conference.
Friday: Mod-ish power pop - the High Dials are a damn fine Canadian band. Those other Canadians, Broken Social Scene, are at the Bowery, along with Radio 4. Ted Leo is at CBGBs while both the Dillinger Escape Plan and Dirt McGirt are playing late at the Knitting Factory. Enon and the Rapture, a couple of buzz bands, will be playing a very crowded Roseland while Bloodshot looks like it's doing a showcase at Tonic.
Saturday: I'd probably stick at the Bowery to see the Constantines and the Shins, though I'd also be interested in seeing the new incarnation of Don Caballero, P.W. Long, the Decemberists and Pharoahe Monch. Also, Echo and the Bunnymen are playing Webster Hall at 9 p.m.
Of course, this is all moot because I'm not going.

"both the Dillinger Escape Plan and Dirt McGirt are playing late at the Knitting Factory"
-Bruce, are you sure about this? My ticket says "1 pm"... I am hoping that they made a mistake, but my pal claims it is the afternoon, 'cos Dirt is under a parole-related curfew...surely not?

the parole restriction thing is true, or was as of earlier this year. with that in mind plus cmj's generally fucked timetables, it's entirely possible that the knit show is in the afternoon.

Is Killing Joke on Wednesday?

Oh they are, and British Sea Power are really good live they dress up crazy-like and all. I've been told by friends that they're like a band full of mes, which is kind of weird, but I know what they mean by it.

Is Murdock indie?

Yeah, I might have read the schedule wrong. It could very well be the afternoon, which is even better. No conflict with evening shows.

I can't wait... Probably going to Output/DFA party on Thursday and Richie Hawtin on Saturday. Ghostly party at Rare on Friday from midnight to 4am.

the dfa party will be fun! also, kill me tomorrow on friday at lit, automato (dfa produced their record) at the dim mak showcase at the knitting factory on saturday and the starlight desperation later that night at the etnies showroom.

what's the DFA party?! i don't see it on the schedule.

I have to recommend Old Time Relijun and The Blow, both of whom are playing at the K records showcase.

Old Time Relijun's Phil is fine individual but a certain cockfarmer in that band pulled a stunt a Wavelength reserved only for assholes of the gapingest degree.

ooh! ooh! tell the story!

and I'm not going to CMJ this year. For those that are, go see the Beatings at Club Rare on Saturday.

Output Recordings/DFA party
Date: Thursday, October 23

Venue: The Tribeca Grand
Time: 10 p.m.

Featuring: Colder, Dead Combo, Juan Maclean, Black Strobe, Trevor Jackson, James Murphy

Rives, the new drummer, is a very sweet guy. He actually played his first show with OTR in my friend's living room in April, as 20 fratboys sang all the words to "Archaeoptryx Claw" (long story). All those guys are very sweet people. Do tell about the alleged asshole stunt, though!

There is a new drummer? Did Phil leave?

It involves one of them thinking he is god's gift to the musical world while playing solo. There were 4 bands scheduled and he was probably the least of them all.

Phil had to be replaced because he was devoting so much of his time and energy to The Microphones that it was difficult for OTR to tour.

Ah, Arrington is quite a character on stage. You sort of have to understand that some of his between-song banter is very tongue-in-cheek. It's true he can be kind of a diva in performance situations (he gets in a certain "zone"), but he is truly a sweet, gentle man, and a huge talent.

Who needs to learn when to leave the stage.

Phil likes to tell a story about when he was 18 and not in the band yet, OTR came and played a show in Anacortes, and they heard about a birthday the next night, so they invited themselves to play at it. And they were totally oblivious to the fact that they were freaking out all these small-town people who were trying to just soak in the hot tub and have a birthday party. Oh and arrington took strings off the household guitar to put on his own. Hahahaha! You see, it's all part of the charm!

Its not charm when you have three other bands waiting to get on stage.
Personally, I don't find assholes charming.