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The Great Big CMJ Post

Hi all! A week later and the dust has finally settled on a crazy/productive CMJ experience. Some band discoveries for me worth mentioning this year were Multimagic, Wild Sun, and Brother Valiant. Def go check them out. Here’s one of my favorite shots from seeing Multimagic at Arlene’s Grocery.

I also went to a couple networking events, including one on the roof of The Delancey that gave us free beer (and one of my favorite shots I think I’ve ever taken).

There were a lot of great new acts I was introduced to over the week, but my favorite show (that I wasn’t working) was getting to see The So So Glos at Baby’s All Right for the BrooklynVegan party on Saturday.

With all the running around I did last week, the highlight was documenting a showcase by my friend from TJO Presents at Our Wicked Lady in Brooklyn.

Besides having a sick lineup of bands (which I’ll get to in a moment) there were also drink specials for Coney Island beer!

*check out those great options ^

Everyone seemed to enjoy the delicious brews, both audience and bands alike flocked to get a taste.

*thanks to Jon Good of Out of System Transfer for the photo opportunity

Beverages in hand, it’s time to start the show. Like I said, I really enjoyed this lineup and had a lot of fun photographing everyone. First up was Dreams of June.

Next up, my buddies from Out of System Transfer, one of which has already been featured with tasty beer in hand.

Moving right along to Bree and the Whatevers, which I also took video that can be viewed on my YouTube page.

Brook Pridemore:

Slim Wray (who you can see again on Wednesday as part of Grundle Thunder‘s EP release)

Jamie Register & the Damn Thang:

And finally, we closed out the night with Bushwick Hotel:

Overall the night was a lot of fun with a solid lineup and equally awesome crowd. Congrats to TJO Presents for putting on such a great show. Thanks to Coney Island for the beer specials and everyone who showed up and rocked out with us. Thus ends my CMJ coverage for this year. Until next time, folks!

Pandemics + Pete Porker @ Characters

The Pandemics backed Pete Porker on a bunch of tunes back in January and in the final stages of me playing catch up, I finally uploaded all the videos to YouTube. Here they all are for easy consumption:

And here are photos from the show:

Your next chance to see The Pandemics will be playing with The Fad and a bunch of other cool bands at Hollis Woods Community Church this Saturday, March 28th. Details of that can be found on Facebook (of course).

Murphy’s Law play last Trash Bar show TONIGHT!

Happy St Patrick’s Day, everyone!

I might not agree with the statement “Everyone is Irish on St Patrick’s Day,” but I can agree with the fact everyone can have fun at Trash Bar tonight. Well, everyone who can squeeze through the door will have fun, anyway. It’s Murphy’s Law at Trash Bar day! Since Trash Bar will be closing soon, this is the last one of these you’ll be able to go to, so get your butt out for a fun night of music. The lineup for tonight is pretty solid:

Murphy’s Law
CJ Ramone
World War IX
Inspecter 7
Wombat in Combat
Gangway

There’s also the usual open bar from 8-9pm. So show up early and party all night. And remember that while you’re having fun DON’T BE A DICK. Nobody likes a drunken asshole killing their buzz.

Murder by O’Death @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

Some background before I begin this one: I work at a music venue and have a musician boyfriend. This means that my entire life is spent getting paid to go to shows (oh no, my life is so hard!). Seriously though, it’s a blessing and a curse because since the above fact is true it means I rarely go to shows that I’m not working or my boyfriend is playing. Which is why this past Sunday was such a treat for me.

This was the first big show I went to in forever where I got to go back to being just a person going to a show. I remember walking into the room with the feeling of excitement at seeing two big acts and having no responsibilities other than to have a good time. The band started playing almost immediately after I arrived. I slowly weaved through the crowd towards the front of the room, where I found a friend of mine who was also attending that evening’s performance. I stayed firmly planted in that same spot up front for the entire night, only moving when Murder by Death’s crowd started to get slightly rambunctious up front and to my right. I was so engrossed in the performance that I barely noticed it happen. All of a sudden I was getting pushed to the left. I didn’t care; it was all in fun. It was all part of the experience.

And what an experience it was! O’Death I have seen before several times and they have never disappointed me. The first time was opening for one of my favorite bands of all time, The World/Inferno Friendship Society. I remember not knowing what to expect that night, and being absolutely in awe of them by the time their set was over. This time I was there mostly to see them, and barely knew any of Murder by Death’s music. Obviously I’ve listened to them before, but I’ve never been to see them live and had no idea what to expect. Despite not knowing all the words to the songs like what seemed true for the rest of the kids in the front, I still had a fantastic time. The band held a captivating performance, to the point where I had forgotten how long I had been standing and had fun trying to get my legs to move again at the end of the night. It was a great show, and I highly encourage you to catch them either during this tour or in the future. Bonus points if you can get both bands to play on the same bill again. Individually they are both great, but the pairing makes it even better.

Both bands are at Union Transfer tonight, which is a fun coincidence since I will be in Philly seeing World/Inferno. (I love it when life comes full circle like that). The rest of the dates are as follows:

March 7 – Black Cat – Washington DC
March 8 – Kings Barcade – Raleigh, NC
March 10 – The Orpheum – Tampa, FL
March 11 – The Social – Orlando, FL
March 12 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
March 13 – Mercy Lounge – Nashville, TN
March 14 – The Bluebird – Bloomington, IN

All dates are with O’Death

CMJ 2014 – The Final Post

Alright, time to buckle in folks, because I helped TJO Presents run not one but two monster shows as my CMJ finale. There are lots of pictures to share and a final message at the end to wrap everything up in a nice little bow. Also as a side note, I might not have loved everyone who played, but I at least enjoyed everyone I saw to some extent and don’t have anything bad to say about them, so unless there’s a story to share I’ll probably just post names and photos instead of repeating myself a lot. Without further ado, however, let’s go on with the show…

Our story starts at Rock Shop for a day show with 8 (!!!) different bands. First up was Brian Bonz, who I remember seeing several times before paired up with one of my favorite local artist, Kevin Devine. You know it’s going to be a good day when you can boast something like that.

I got to speak with Brian after the show and found him to be quite enjoyable to talk to. I look forward to seeing him again in the future.

Next up was Charles Ellsworth:

Next Bree and the Whatevers. One critique I have here is that Bree has always struck me more as a performer than just a singer. There’s always a lot of energy on stage and a feeling that she loves every minute of her time there. I love that about her and think it’s what makes this band more enjoyable than average.

Daniel Sage:

Hot Jam Factory:

These guys were a fun mix of a lot of different things, but the hint of Arcade Fire was what I think really sold it for me.

Next up, End of Love, which included members of a little band called “Wilco”…

Next act was Andre Obin, who offered an odd transition from the previous band but I enjoyed nonetheless.

Last band for the night was The Netherlands, but unfortunately we had to run to get two evening shows up and running. One of them was at Bar Matchless, but I was only really there for a few minutes to make sure things were running smoothly. The show I mainly was interested in was at Muchmores. Before I delve into all the bands who played that evening, I have to say at the end of the night I got a chance to chat with the owner and he is incredibly nice and bright and overall a great dude. I would love a chance to work with him in the future. Honestly the concept he has going for him now is one I’ve had for awhile and the fact he makes it work so well gives me hope that there’s still a chance I can too one day. In the meantime I wish Andy Muchmore great success. You will definitely see me hanging out in those parts again.

With that little bit of sidetracking done I will now continue to give you lots of pictures and stories from Saturday night.

First up were some very good friends, Out of System Transfer. This band always brings the fun in, so if you ever get the chance I definitely suggest checking them out.

These guys were followed by another good friend, Brook Pridemore. You might know him from the band Brook Pridemore. You might also know him as the guy who does that song about building a death ray. However you know him, be glad that you do, because your musical library probably thanks you.

Moving right along, we have Manic Pixi. This female fronted band had a ton of energy. I really dug their lead singer, and had a fun chat with her later in the night. I have to say I usually hate the color pink, but this girl had matching dress and boots that somehow was awesome and not infuriating to me. Props to you on that one.

Up next we have Fancy Balloons. For a bit of trivia I’ll tell you that this band shares a member with one of the bands from the day show, Bree and the Whatevers. While I might be partial to Bree, I still found Fancy Balloons enjoyable.

At this point I was dealing with a dying camera and a room that was starting to get packed, both signs we were having too much fun and total first world problems, but it did make it harder to keep getting good shots throughout the night. In quick succession let’s break down the next few bands.

The Shackletons:

Grundle Thunder (made up of a bunch of friends from my local bar AND voted one of the best band names this CMJ):

Cosmonaut:

And finally, Great Caesar:

I didn’t know anything about this last band going in, but it was a nice surprise hearing some horns to close out my night. Also was glad I got a final burst of energy both from myself and my camera to enjoy their set.

Thus concludes a very successful CMJ Music Marathon. Shout out to the man in charge of TJO Presents, TJ Olsen. He’s a very good friend, and I was beyond proud of how well his marathon Saturday turned out. Much success to you in the future, good sir. Anyone wishing to follow all the great shows this guy is doing can check out Facebook and Twitter. And if you come out to a show perhaps I will see you there.

CMJ 2014 – Day 3

Hey folks, just a quick post about some of my CMJ adventures yesterday. I only got pictures of two of the bands I saw yesterday and honestly bounced around so much it’s hard to remember everyone we caught. I made a comment to a friend while standing in the upstairs part of Pianos that CMJ is terrible for people with ADD because there’s simply too much to take in all around you that it’s easy to get distracted and want to keep moving from one show to the next. Having said that, a couple bands/artists did stand out to me, as well as a fun event we attended before I called it a night and my comrades moved on to Williamsburg (but not The Gutter because that show had been called due to Ebola).

First up (and the thing that convinced me to get out of the house) was Wakey Wakey at Rockwood Music Hall. Of course it turned out to be a bit deceiving, as it wasn’t the band but one member who was doing a solo set. It was still good but way more chill than I was expecting.

The other band I was able to snap some pictures of was Fictionist at Arlene’s Grocery. I have to say that was my first time visiting that particular venue and I was pretty impressed. Sure it was loud, but you could still understand everything being said. I also really dug the band, whom I had never heard of before but went on the recommendation of a friend.

The one other thing I feel worth reporting was the unofficial pre-party for Slothrust and The Kills at Bowery Ballroom. The event took place next door at One Mile House and featured Savoir Adore as DJs as well as free food and drink specials. I met some cool people and of course enjoyed the free food, which was mostly passed appetizers including these real tasty chicken sliders and some flatbread pizzas. It was a great way to end my night. Today I’m taking it easy but I’ll be back on the scene tomorrow all day and night.

CMJ 2014 – Day 2

The little blog that could went back out into the field to enjoy some more of what CMJ has to offer this year before going back to our “real job”. I didn’t get as many pictures this time but can report about three bands that wowed me yesterday.

First up it’s Frances Cone, who I saw at The Delancey during the day. Unfortunately I caught the last couple songs of their set, but what I heard I really enjoyed. I also managed to snag a picture just as they finished their set.

This was in the upstairs part of the venue, which was originally supposed to be on the roof but got moved due to the rain. Next up I wandered downstairs to catch what turned out to be the end of Peach Kings set. I still managed to grab a couple quick shots before they finished though, and again, I loved what I heard.

I wandered over to Cake Shop after this for what turned out to be the last band I caught for the day: Field Mouse. The room was packed and we got there a few minutes late, so it was near impossible to sneak up for some pics, but I loved their sound enough to give them a mention here anyway. After that I wandered over to the DL for a networking event on their rooftop, which was quite nice. Tomorrow I’ll have at least a few more bands to throw at you, including hopefully Wakey Wakey at Rockwood Music Hall (which starts at 3pm). Until then, keep rocking!

CMJ 2014 – Day 1

It’s that time of year again, when all us music nerds run around NYC trying to catch as much good and/or new music as possible. This year I’m working a night job every night of the week, so most of the shows I will be attending are during the day. I did manage to catch one good act last night though, in addition to being introduced to two new bands during the day.

First up I went to Pianos to catch this band from Berlin called Mighty Oaks, who absolutely blew me away. After their set I asked about buying their CD and they said I could do so online.

Next up I moved over to Cake Shop to catch a noise pop band from Dublin by the name of September Girls. They didn’t exactly wow me like the first band did, but they definitely had their moments. I think a large part of my problem was they like a lot of reverb and it made it hard to understand all of the vocals. Still enjoyed their set and of course grabbed some pictures.

Unfortunately after this I had to take a break to go to my real job, but I did manage to make it over to Bowery Electric to catch one of the bands I was most excited about seeing this year: Butcher Knives. They have one of the best live shows of any band I’ve seen. The amount of energy they put into each performance is incredible, as were the photos I managed to snap during their set. (hashtag: humble brag)

It was definitely a wild and crazy night, and a great start to this year’s CMJ. Hopefully you had as much fun as the crowd did at Bowery Electric, and you keep on rocking all week.

St Patrick’s Day Shenanigans

You know what they say, “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day”…

Well, that’s bull-cookies, but that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to have fun. Just don’t tell me that drinking Guinness and whiskey one day a year makes you Irish. I drink whiskey every day, so hush.

*ahem*

Sorry, back to the entertainment… With St. Pat’s just around the corner, there are plenty of fun things to do around the city. Here are a few on my list of potentials:

1) Tonight a friend of mine is DJing at what used to be my local bar – Project Parlor. If you don’t want to wait until the weekend to get your drunk on, this is the place to be. I’m sure there will be plenty of Irish punk songs to make your little Irish heart happy.

2) For all you Long Island kids, The Slackers are playing at 89 North in Patchogue. I know, they’re not Irish, but they’re fun. And since it’s the day before St. Pat’s they might do some covers fitting the occasion.

3) There are plenty of things happening on the actual day of celebration, even though it’s a Monday. There’s a cool show at Gramercy with the Shipwrecks, NonStop to Cairo, Beat Brigade, and Narkatta for one thing. If that’s not your scene and you just want a place to drink, Project Parlor will have specials all night for ya. Or try whatever your local bar is; I’m sure anywhere you go will be doing something for one of the biggest drinking days of the year.

4) For those of you who don’t want to be around a bunch of drunk strangers all night, try staying home with a bottle of whiskey, some friends, and The Boondock Saints. It’s one of my favorite movies ever, and definitely Irish enough for the day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d46hgS4CVi4

So there you have it, a handful of real fun ideas to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day with, Just remember to be respectful to those around you. Don’t be a drunk asshole; Don’t be a dick; and especially DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. Get your ass on the drunk train with the rest of us and stay safe, kids.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Things To Do This Weekend

Quick post to let you know about two really cool shows happening this weekend in the NYC area.

1) Lyzfest, otherwise known as my good friend over at Candy Apple Red’s birthday show. She always puts together a great night of music, but she goes all out for her big day. This year the night doubles as the kickoff to Tail Light Rebellion’s tour. They go on 1st at 8pm, right after the open bar that takes place 7-8. All this is happening at, (where else?), Trash Bar in Brooklyn. It’s a great way to start a great night for a great lady. Come on out and celebrate with us, folks.

2) The 2nd show I want to throw at you is for the often ignored Long Island kids. The Pandemics are opening for The Toasters over at 89 North. They’re calling it “The Ultimate Ska Party” and I have to agree that it looks like it might be. I’ve never been to the venue myself, but my boyfriend tells great stories of hanging out backstage with The Slackers last time he was there. I’m looking forward to seeing the place. Also looking forward to seeing The Toasters again since last time I saw them I started feeling sick halfway through their set. It would be nice to actually get to dance this time…

There you have it, two great shows to get you through the weekend. I know LI feels super far away and not worth it for most people, but there are some great shows you’re missing out on with that attitude. Take a chance and come dance with us, won’t you?