2015 CMJ Music Marathon Now Underway in NYC! Ideas on Who to See

See below for recommendations on what to see at CMJ 2015.

The five-day live-music extravaganza known as CMJ is on again! The annual CMJ Music Marathon, now in its 35th year, started today and runs through this Saturday, Oct. 17th. Besides multiple official showcases each night in a range of venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn, there are day parties as well at some of the same venues, sometimes starting as early as 11 a.m. Plus there are numerous unofficial shows.

So what should you see? Begin by going to the CMJ Music Marathon website. Then download the official CMJ mobile app, available for iOS and Android. With the app, you can listen to bands, read their bios, connect with their social-media accounts, and, of course, discover where they're playing at CMJ. Wondering which bands you'll like? The app's "Recommender" feature connects with your Facebook account to suggest artists that might be right up your alley.

Speaking of recommendations, here are some suggestions from the music blogosphere on who to catch:

• CMJ staff picks
• The Oh My Rockness guide to official CMJ 2015 shows
• OMR's 15 bands to see at CMJ (with Spotify playlist)
• L.A. radio station KCRW's seven amazing bands to catch (with Spotify playlist)
• England's influential magazine NME tells you the 15 bands playing CMJ that everyone's going to be talking about

Some of the names that show up on a number of must-see acts: Protomartyr, Car Seat Headrest, Diet Cig, The Big Moon, Methyl Ethel, The Gotobeds, Dilly Dally, Perfect Pussy, and Hooton Tennis Club, to name a handful.



Among the events we're looking forward to seeing:

• The Outlaw Roadshow, put together by Ryan Spaulding (of RSLblog.com) and Adam Duritz (of Counting Crows), which runs Thursday through Saturday at Bowery Electric (doors at 6 p.m.) See what we wrote before last year's CMJ Outlaw Roadshow
• the Kiam Records showcase Wednesday at Brooklyn's Union Pool, featuring label-mates including Jennifer O'Connor, Amy Bezunartea, and Tim Foljahn, staring at 6:30 p.m. See a recent New York Times article on Amy Bezunartea
• The Unblinking Ear show with The Gotobeds, Spray Paint, and other acts, MC'd by WFMU DJ Pat Byrne, also at Union Pool, on Saturday starting at 2 p.m.

Cake Shop (on Ludlow St.) has plenty of CMJ gigs; see their full calendar. (Diet Cig plays there Wednesday; Car Seat Headrest and Hooton Tennis Club on Thursday.)

Rest up, bring your earplugs, and get ready for as much live music as you can possibly handle.

Benefit Shows to Aid Hurricane Sandy Victims

Will Sheff is one of many artists appearing at Thursday's Brooklyn benefit.

Aaaand we're back. Although Podcast Party HQ has power and heat, a lot of people in the tri-state area are still suffering. So instead of our usual early-week post detailing streaming albums for the week, we'd like to spotlight some upcoming shows and events to benefit those affected by Hurricane Sandy. (More will be added as we hear about them.)

[UPDATE, Nov. 6th: Oh My Rockness has put up a list of Hurricane Sandy benefit shows, which will no doubt be growing; you may want to bookmark it. Among the shows added: a Bad Brains tribute tonight, Tuesday, benefiting Amnesty International and the Red Cross featuring H.R. (of the Bad Brains), Jesse Malin, Vernon Reid, Steve Earle, and others at Bowery Electric.]

This Thursday the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn is hosting East Coast Relief, which features a diverse lineup of great performers: Will Sheff (Okkervil River), Jared Evan, Kevin Devine, Jennifer O'Conner, Jean Grae, Holly Miranda, Geoff Rickly (Thursday), Bird of Youth, Jaymay, Brian Bonz, Zumo Kollie, Sonya Kitchell, and DJ Rajni Jacques. Tickets are $40 here, with all proceeds said to be benefiting the Red Cross. [Update, Nov 7th: see set times here.]

Blues guitarist Gark Clark Jr. is playing Brooklyn Bowl Tuesday night (tomorrow), Spinner says, with admission being a minimum donation of $20. Attendees are also urged to bring items such as nonperishable food, bottled water, blanket, clothing, and other similar items.

Dean Ween of the recently broken-up The Weens is playing a benefit show at The Saint in Asbury Park on Nov. 11th, says Brooklyn Vegan. [Update, Nov. 7th: Brooklyn Vegan says the show has now been pushed back to Nov. 28th.] Ween says the gig is to benefit "my good friend Nick Honachefsky who lost his home and all of his worldly possessions in the storm."

The show, called "Dean Ween and Friends," will include Claude Coleman, Glenn McClelland, Chris Harford, Dickie Moist, and others, and Ween says, " The evening will feature new music and old music by Moistboyz, Chris Harford, Jimmy Wilson, members of Ween, etc." Check the website of The Saint later for details; the show doesn't yet appear on their calendar.

There will no doubt be more benefit concerts announced later; we'll post these as we hear about them.

Also: Jersey Shore native Nicole Atkins talks with the Village Voice about the devastation in her home territory. She's planning on re-recording "Neptune City," the title song from her debut album, and donating the proceeds to relief efforts. [UPDATE, Nov. 6th: You can download "Neptune City (for the shore)" here for a minimum donation of two dollars.]

CMJ 2012 Begins Tuesday: Listen to the Bands; Get Suggestions of What to See

The CMJ Music Marathon starts Tuesday, Oct. 16th, giving music fans a wealth of gigs (and impossible choices in trying to choose between them). And many of the showcases are free or cheap. If you have specific bands in mind you want to see or are just feeling adventurous, you can dive headlong into the CMJ schedule.

If you'd prefer some guidance and suggestions on what to see, here's a roundup of suggestions from a variety of music sources, including ways to listen to songs by the artists. (List will be updated as more recommendations are found.)

* MySocialist.com has a day-by-day list of CMJ shows, including its own showcases and day parties. Also see their list of free shows

* If you've got Spotify, check out their playlist of what they see as the 100 artists that are performing at CMJ, including DIIV, Mountain Goats, Dum Dum Girls, Metz, Doldrums, and many more

* Brooklyn Vegan doesn't have a CMJ section per se, but you'll find plenty of coverage in its several-time-daily posts. BV is also sponsoring two free day parties on Friday and Saturday (which are not part of CMJ), the 19th and 20th, at Public Assembly in Brooklyn

* NPR Music is running a continuous stream of music by CMJ artists, recommended by staff at 11 different radio stations. They're also sponsoring a CMJ showcase on Wednesday night with Flying Lotus, Death Grips, and Buke & Gase, which you can watch live online. WFUV will host a show with Savoir Adoir, Indians, Little Green Cars, and Wax Poetic on Tuesday at 7 p.m.; the station will broadcast it live on air at 90.7 FM

* The New York Times suggests "Six Hopefuls Worth Watching," including the all-female British band Savages, the punk trio Merchandise, and the 21-year-old rapper Angel Haze

* New York Magazine's CMJ guide includes recommendations such as Angel Haze, Little Green Cars, and Pissed Jeans

UPDATES, Oct. 16th:
* Pitchfork's day-by-day recommendations for CMJ 2012

* David Greenwald (Rawkblog) has an article in Billboard on 10 acts to watch at CMJ; among them: Ghostface Killah, Sky Ferreira, and Kimbra

Two showcases I'm planning on checking out: Slimstyle Records on Wednesday with Local H,  The Hounds Below, and The Life and Times (at Union Square Ballroom, 27 Union Square West), and Kiam Records/Comedy Minus One on Friday (Left Field, 87 Ludlow St.).

The latter includes Tim Foljahn, Ma'am, the Karl Hendricks Trio, and Rebecca Gates (formerly of The Spinanes), and headlined the excellent singer-songwriter Jennifer O'Connor, who also happens to be the head of Kiam. (I did a brief mention of O'Connor and Foljahn when I saw them earlier this year.)

What are you checking out at CMJ this year? Who are your must-see acts? Leave your comments below and let us know!

Free Album Streaming: Listen to New CDs from Bruce Springsteen, Kaiser Chiefs, & More

The big release this week is "Wrecking Ball"by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, but there are some other fine new albums streaming online this week. That includes the new album by Kaiser Chiefs, the first album by Tanlines, and new albums by Now, Now and Miniature Tigers.

As I wrote the other day, Springsteen and band appeared on Jimmy Fallon last week; you can see the videos here.

"Wrecking Ball" comes out March 6th, and it's streaming online at Soundcloud.

The Oscar-winning movie "Once" (starring Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) has been turned into a Broadway musical, and you can preview the original cast recording below. I'll be curious to see how that sounds. Speaking of curiosity, you can stream a new album featuring a collaboration between Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki.

And I have to mention another intriguing selection, the latest album by journeyman guitarist, singer, and songwriter Tim Foljahn. He's been in the band Two Dollar Guitar; played on albums by artists as diverse as Cat Power, Townes Van Zandt, and Thurston Moore; and has made albums of song cycles and experimental music. His new album "Songs for an Age of Extinction" is his first "song-based" album in several years, according to his website. (You can download a couple of tunes from the album at Foljahn's website.)

I saw Foljahn Friday night at Cake Shop, opening for Jennifer O'Connor (who I wrote about last week before the show). I enjoyed his set, which featured songs that had a kind of '70s-style feel: sometimes psychedelic; other times recalling English folks songs of that era. Foljahn is touring with O'Connor, (see dates here), which is no coincidence: his new album is released on the Brooklyn singer's own Kiam Records label (which released her latest album, "I Want What You Want," among others).

O'Connor and Foljahn will be doing a series of dates this spring, including at South by Southwest next week.

Tim Foljahn and band playing at New York's Cake Shop Friday night.

Check out the titles streaming below (and see the websites for additional albums), and leave your comments below on which of these new albums you're enjoying.

Soundcloud:
"Wrecking Ball" by Bruce Springsteen

Spinner.com's Listening Party:
"Start the Revolution Without Me" by Kaiser Chiefs
"In the Bright Rain" by Crushed Stars
"Threads" by Now, Now
"Songs for an Age of Extinction" by Tim Foljahn
"Milk Famous" by White Rabbits
"Mia Pharaoh" by Miniature Tigers
"The Clearing" by Bowerbirds
"Secret Music" by Secret Music
"Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968" by Big Brother and the Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin

Rolling Stone:
"We Will Raise Our Voices to the Air (Live Songs 04.11-08.11) by The Decemberists (disc one of two available for streaming)

NPR First Listen:"Mixed Emotions" by Tanlines
"Once" - Original Cast Recording
"Krzysztof Penderecki / Jonny Greenwood" by Krzysztof Penderecki and Jonny Greenwood

NYC Gigs to See This Weekend: Jennifer O'Connor

If you're looking for a good music show to see in NYC this weekend, we'd suggest checking out Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Jennifer O'Connor, who plays twice this weekend (tonight at Cake Shop, no advance tickets; Sunday at Brooklyn's Union Pool [see link for tickets]).

Time Out New York listed tonight's Cake Shop show as one of the weekend's must-see concerts.

O'Connor's "You Come Around" was featured on NPR's Song of the Day this week.

 It's no secret that these are not easy times for musicians (especially independent ones), and O'Connor has had her share of the music-business meat grinder: releasing a couple of albums on small labels; getting signed to a major (Matador) and making two albums, then getting dumped; doing a variety of odd jobs while reconsidering the whole business of making music, etc.

O'Connor deserves a lot of credit for continuing to make music and get it heard. Of course this wouldn't mean much if her music wasn't worth hearing, which it certainly is. Her long-and-winding musical story has recently taken a turn for the better, however, as her latest album "I Want What You Want"(released last Fall) has gotten good notices.

And two of her songs have been used in TV shows in recent weeks (more on that below). (You can listen to "I Want What You Want" below, buy it using the "Buy" links on the Soundcloud widget, and buy it at Amazon.com here.)


Jennifer O'Connor - I Want What You Want by Jennifer O'Connor

My favorite tune on "I Want What You Want" is the achingly beautiful "Swan Song (For Bella)," which O'Connor has said is perhaps her best song. As you might guess from the title, O'Connor wrote the song for one of the "Twilight" movies. While it was ultimately not used for the film, it was featured in a recent episode of the NBC TV show "Parenthood."

O'Connor's "Change Your Life" was used in the ABC show "Private Practice," and yet another song from "I Want What You Want,""You Come Around," was featured by NPR as its Song of the Day this past week.

I'll be at tonight's show at the Cake Shop. In addition to O'Connor, I'm be interested in seeing Ma'am, a band that features a number of '90s indie rock veterans including Lyle Hysen, formerly of Das Damen (See an old article on Ma'am here.)

Reviews of "I Want What You Want": Dusted, Pitchfork, Onion A.V. Club.

Jennifer O'Connor upcoming performances: 
Friday, March 2nd, Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St., Manhattan
$10, 8 p.m. doors, 21+.
On the bill: Ma'am (8 p.m.), Tim Foljahn (10 p.m.), Jennifer O'Connor (11 p.m.)

Sunday, March 4th, Union Pool, 484 Union Ave., Brooklyn
$10, 8 p.m.
On the bill: Amy Bezunartea, Kleenex Girl Wonder, Jennifer O'Connor