W♥M

W♥M154: San Cisco

W♥M154: San Cisco (13 mins) Tour Dates 10/17 New York @ CMJ Bowery Ballroom 10/18 New York @ CMJ NYU Kimmel Center 10/19 New York @ CMJ Mercury Lounge 10/19 New York @ CMJ Piano’s 10/20 New York @ CMJ Piano’s 10/20 New York @ CMJ Delancey * 10/21 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 10/23 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo Read More San Cisco San Cisco is finally coming to America! This Australian band is already well-known in their home country, having appeared on Triple J's Hottest 100 Countdown…

San Cisco's Jordi Davieson came on We Heart Music Radio to chat.

The band is from Fremantle (which is actually in Perth). We reviewed their first EP Golden Revolver (April 2011) but it wasn't until their next single "Awkward" that really blew up this band.

Jordi tells us about the day of the countdown and they were all gathered around the radio in their studio, anticipating where their song would be place. They had no idea how amazingly high it got: #7 in Triple J's Hottest 100 Countdown.

When I asked about how it was being right up there with Gotye, Black Keys, and Lana Del Rey, Jordi said, "It's all about timing and luck and all those things coming together."

I asked about their "Politely Awkward Tour" with Jungle Giants, and Jordi said it was busy. And speaking of tour, San Cisco are getting ready to rock CMJ (College Music Journal) this week in America.

I am very excited about their Turf Club show with Chaos Chaos (Smoosh). Apparently, drummer Scarlett is friends with Chloe & Asya.

I didn't get a chance to properly thank Jordi for his time on We Heart Music… we got awkwardly disconnected. San Cisco is currently in America to play CMJ and two extra shows. Australians, look for their debut album, set for November 23rd, 2012.

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Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.com

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com/sanciscomusic

CMJ 2012 Events and Showcases (Update)

We are not covering CMJ (College Music Journal) this year, but I get about three billion CMJ show announcements that I'm just going to quickly pass on to you. If you're going this year: good luck sorting through the ten million bands. If you would like to snap some pictures and send in brief reviews, I'll be happy to publish it here.

For previous CMJ coverages: click here.

If your showcase is not listed here, it's because of one of a few reasons: your event is private/industry-only, you probably didn't send me an email, you did not put "CMJ" in the subject header, or you don't have a flyer. I will continue to update this page for additional shows - so please email me vu@weheartmusic.com if you don't see your showcase listed here.

All events are considered "Free with CMJ Badge."

The Young and the Restless

YOUNG DREAMS
youngdreams.no

Norway's Young Dreams are releasing their first single, "Fog Of War", off their forthcoming debut album, due in early 2013. You can grab the free download at Pitchfork. The "Fog of War" single will be available digitally this week; the USA market will get it tomorrow, October 16th.

Matias Tellez from Young Dreams, explained the song (even though he doesn't like telling people what a song is about): "If I have to say something about "Fog of War" it would be that it's about not seeing clearly what's happening on the other side. It creates a need for help in a desperate situation - hence "Fog of War" and the cry for help from Athena (Athene) who is the goddess of wisdom, courage and inspiration in Greek mythology."

The band is heading out to tour Europe with their label-mates Tame Impala.

10/19 Rockefeller - Oslo, Norway * 10/21 Pustervik - Gothenburg, Sweden * 10/22 Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark * 10/23 Postbahnhof - Berlin, Germany * 10/26 Magazzini Generali - Milan, Italy * 10/27 Les Docks - Lausanne, Switzerland * 10/29 Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands * 10/30 Brixton Academy - London, UK *

11/01 HMV Ritz - Manchester, UK * 11/02 Leadmill - Sheffield, UK * 11/03 02 ABC - Glasgow, UK * 11/08 Parkteateret - Oslo, Norway ** 11/10 Bergen Kjott - Bergen, Norway ** * with Tame Impala ** with Casiokids

YOUNGBLOOD HAWKE
youngbloodhawke.com

Youngblood Hawke is a 5 piece indie-pop band from Los Angeles. They bring a sound that is very energetic and wild. They are currently tour mates to Passion Pit which they are akin to in many aspects, sonically. The band is following Passion Pit on tour to promote their fabulous self titled EP. Their full length album should be ready early next year. If you want to check these very hip and happening dudes out, you can do so by going to Soundcloud and stream the EP and the very hot new single, “We Come Running.” Don’t miss out on their amazing live show with Passion Pit, it’s going to be a dance-tastic night!

Dates with (*) indicates with Passion Pit:

10/15 – Washington, DC – 930 Club * 10/16 – Washington, DC – 930 Club * 10/18 – Raleigh, NC – Disco Rodeo * 10/19 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm * 10/20 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade * 10/22 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues * 10/23 – Hollywood, FL – Arts Park Amphitheatre * 10/24 – Gainesville, FL – Stephen O’Connell Center * 10/26 – Oxford, MS – Lyric Oxford *

10/27 – Memphis, TN – Minglewood * 10/29 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave * 10/30 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave * 11/01 – Milwaukee, WI – Riverside * 11/02 – Detroit, MI – Royal Oak Music Theater * 11/03 – Columbus, OH – LC Pavilion * 11/04 – Covington, KY – The Madison House * 11/06 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE * 11/28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy (KROQ show)

YOUNG LOVE RECORDS
youngloverecords.com

I've already listed all the parties and events at CMJ 2012, but here is one more from Young Love Records.

Setting Sun, who I previously briefly mentioned, will once again be playing the CMJ Festival this Saturday.

Pete's Candy Store
Saturday, Oct 20th - 11pm - FREE!

It's free, but you can let them know you're attending at facebook.
Address and additional details on petescandystore.com.

In other Setting Sun news, apparently they are very close to finishing up a new record.

oscar + vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

San Cisco: Awkward

Read More San Cisco San Cisco, Scarlett, Nick, Jordi and Josh are a from Fremantle, Western Australia. On the weekends they go skateboarding, play Nintendo 64 and make a bit of indie pop on the side. Golden Revolver is their first EP… San Cisco is finally coming to America! This Australian band is already well-known in their home country, having appeared on Triple J's Hottest 100 Countdown (landed in the top 10 for "Awkward"!) and signed to the same label that produced AC/DC and Mrs Washington. As you know, we've been covering them since April 2011 so I'm excited to finally see them in person in Saint Paul this October 21st. Fat Possum Records is releasing San Cisco's album in the US, so far I got a preview with a US-only EP, Awkward. The EP consists tracks of their first two singles, "Golden Revolver" and "Awkward", plus two b-sides from the respective singles: "Girls Do Cry" and "Reckless." Cover artwork is taken from Golden Revolver, but with the words "Awkward" in place of "Golden Revolver." I've actually already heard all the songs before, which I've previously described as "feel-good Summer songs" (even though "Reckless" is a bit of a bummer song.) If you were expecting more or less dueling girl (Scarlett) vs boys (Jordi) vocals, then you may be in for a disappointment. However, all will be forgiven because the sugary sweet hit song "Awkward" is just so damn catchy. Once you get past "Awkward", you can hear the voice-crackling on their first single "Golden Revolver." The song features the classic line, "so why would I try when you're not even remotely, remotely kind." Awkward will be out October 22, 2012, via Fat Possum Records. I'm almost certain you can pick up the EP at one of their upcoming shows. In San Cisco news, their US live debut will be at New York's CMJ Music Marathon. They are scheduled for six, yes SIX, CMJ dates. Luckily they've also included two other US dates: Los Angeles and Saint Paul. You may ask why the latter city, well, as I've previously mentioned, the band has strong support from our local radio station The Current. Look for San Cisco self-titled debut album on November 23rd via Fat Possum Records. 10/17 New York @ Bowery Ballroom* 10/18 New York @ NYU Kimmel Center* 10/19 New York @ Mercury Lounge * 10/19 New York @ Piano’s * 10/20 New York @ Piano’s* 10/20 New York @ Delancey * 10/21 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 10/23 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo * CMJ show

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com/sanciscomusic

ACRNYMS: CMJ, YACHT, and JBM

Read More CMJ The College Music Journal’s (CMJ) annual showcase of rising talent in both music and film is a veritable wet dream for musicians and pop culture nerds alike.

CMJ
cmj.com

We love CMJ (College Music Journal). Lara's been covering CMJ for us since 2007, and in late August, they announced their initial artist line-up for CMJ 2012. The annual music festival is taking place October 16-20.

Hundreds of bands are playing, but one you should check out are Australian youngsters San Cisco, Mountain Goats, and YACHT.

Some of the bands scheduled to play:

The Presets, The Walkmen, The Mountain Goats, Kimbra, GZA, OFF!, King Tuff, Killer Mike, Com Truise, DIIV, Pig Destroyer, The Jezabels, Electric Guest, Poolside, Daughn Gibson, Robert DeLong, Icona Pop, Emma Louise, Mac DeMarco, Prince Rama, Young Magic, MS MR, Sundress, The Soul Rebels, Twerps, 7 Estrelo, Aan, Amy Bezunartea, Anberlin, Andy Suzuki & The Method, Apollo Run, Arthur Beatrice, At Sea, Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew, Beacon, Bear Hands, Beast Patrol, Bend Sinister, Bertrand Burgalat, Black Milk, The Blakes, Blaudzun, Bonde De Role, Brainstorm, Busy Living, The Catch Fire, Cemeteries, Communist Daughter, Country Mice, Cruiser, Daniel Dexter, Deap Vally, Debo Band, Dent May, Die!Die!Die!, Dinowalrus, Dirty Fences, Disorder, Dog Bite, Dog Is Dead, Dope D.O.D., Duologue, Dusted, The English Beat, Exitmusic, Fenster, Filligar, Find Vienna, The Flying Eyes, The Foot., Foreign Fields, Fort Frances, Foxygen, The Front Bottoms, Generationals, Geographer, Get People, Ghost Wave, Gold Fields, The Good Natured, Gospels, GummiHz, Half Moon Run, Happy People, Hey Marseilles, High Highs, Hilotrons, The Hounds Below, Housse de Racket, The Intelligence, Into It. Over It., Io Echo, Isaac Delusion, J*Davey, Jacob Jeffries Band, Jennifer O'Connor, Jensen Sportag, Jim White, JJAMZ, Karl Hendricks Trio, Kyla La Grange, Labyrinth Ear, The Laurels, Le Blorr, Leaf Bird, Leagues, Leopold and his Fiction, Lescop, Levek, Lily and the Parlour Tricks, The Love Language, The Luyas, Ma'am, Magmana, Main Attrakionz, Mansions, ME, Mean Creek, Men and Whales, Mercies, Metalleg, METZ, Michna, The Midnight Beast, Mike Simonetti, Millionyoung, MNDR, Moon Hooch, Moon King, Mount Moriah, My Dear Mycroft, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult, Nneka, NO, Oddisee, Opossom, Paul Collins, Physical Therapy, Pissed Jeans, Poor Moon, The Postelles, Psychic Twin, Pujol, RackNRuin, Rebecca Gates, Reigning Sound, Reptile Youth, Res, Robert Glasper, Roomrunner, Rudimental, Rumors, Rush Midnight, Salt to Bitters, Schoepp & The Shades, Sea Wolf, Sean Nicholas Savage, Sean Price, Selebrities, Septicflesh, Shark?, Sinkane, Skaters, Skinny Lister, Skipping Girl Vinegar, Slam Donahue, Slowdance, Solid Gold, The Spits, The Stepkids, Strange Talk, Such Hounds, T.H. White, Talib Kweli, Tauk, Tempers, Tim Foljahn, Tiny Victories, Tom Lark, Tomorrow's World, TOPS, Trapper, Turf War, Twin Tigers, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown, U.S. Royalty, The Ugly Club, Unicorn Kid, The Virginmarys, Vockah Redu, Von Haze, Way Yes, We Can't Enjoy Ourselves, Wild Child, William Tyler, Woodsman, World's End Press, Woz, Yan Wagner, You Won't, Young Buffalo, Young Evils, Zulu Pearls

Also, check out the free September Mixtape, featuring songs from Stars, Amanda Palmer, Thee Oh Sees, Calexico, and more.

YACHT
teamyacht.com

It's no secret that I like YACHT (Young Americans Challenging High Technology). What's more interesting is that modern YACHT is different from early YACHT. Personally, I think YACHT is much, much better with Claire L. Evans.

YACHT is doing well, they recently announced a West Coast tour with Hot Chip, a band that inspired dancing, even at their slowest songs.

09/13 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
09/14 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater *
09/15 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom *
09/16 Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom *
10/19 New York, NY - Terminal 5 #
10/20 Boston, MA - House of Blues #
10/21 Montreal, QC - Corona Theater #
10/23 Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall #
10/25 Chicago, IL - Metro #
10/27 San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine
10/28 Pomona, CA - The Fox Theater #

* = with Hot Chip, # = with The Presets

JBM
jbm-music.com

You might have read Lara's review of Alt-J, so are you coming out to his show? If you are, check out JBM, who I can only imagine Jesse Marchant's middle name starts with B.

His is touring in support of his new album, Stray Ashes, his last stop will be in Minneapolis at the Triple Rock on September 22nd.

Sep 14 Philadelphia, PA • Johnny Brenda's *
Spe 15 Washington, DC • Rock and Roll Hotel *
Sep 17 Allston, MA • Great Scott *
Sep 18 Montreal, QC • Petit Campus *
Sep 19 Toronton, ON • Wrong Bar *
Sept 20 Ann Arbor, MI • Blind Pig *
Sep 21 Chicago, IL • Empty Bottle *
Sep 22 Minneapolis, MN • Triple Rock Social Club *

* with Alt-J ∆

BRIEFLY:

TKTTSM tkttsm.com Brooklyn band TKTTSM's first single from their upcoming album is "Plastic Fantastic," which you can download at WXRT.CBS. I know what the initials for TKTTSM stands for, but the band doesn't want to talk about it… and I'll respect that. But I'm pretty sure you can find out by searching around. The self-titled album will be out October 16th, 2012, via Sumxuni. Download direct: TKTTSM: Plastic Fantastic

AC/DC acdc.com AC/DC Live At River Plate is this band's first live album in 20 years!! It's coming out November 20th, just in time for Black Friday. Typical of AC/DC's awesome packaging, the release comes in a 3 disc red vinyl as well as a double CD package with a 24-page booklet. I know you're probably thinking, "But I already have the DVD that was released last year, why should I buy it again?" I'll keep it simple: you're going to buy it again.

RTFKT rtfkt.net Guess what RTFKT stands for ? Yeah, you're not going to get it either. It's short for artifact, but with a K. They are celebrating their two years anniversary with a new website. I did look it over, it's all very audio and visual… but to be honest, I didn't know what to make of it.

FUTURE MUSIC futureentertainment.com.au Future Entertainment and EMI Music Australia have teamed up to produce a new record label called Future Music. Yes, the future starts now. I'm not surprise at the dance thing, seeing as we like some of Australia's hottest dance groups like Empire of the Sun and Gold Fields.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

W♥M120: CMJ 2011 Recap

W♥M120 (52 mins) Download: W♥M120

Lara makes her annual W♥M Radio appearance. In part one, she tells us about CMJ Music Festival that took place in October 2011. Read her full CMJ report here.

Things covered on the show:

Advice: Don't be so strict on planning

Thursday: saw Silver Swan

Friday: Failed show at Pete's Candy Store, some of Riot Media's bands were playing that night. We used Sea of Bees' music.

Saturday: "Lonely/Lovely Hearts Club" and "Paper Garden/Hearts Records" relationship. Lara's undying love/stalker/obsession for Team Genius.

Sunday: Day of rest, but there was that big Slate Magazine party that was tempting.

Disappointed that En Vogue didn't play CMJ

Dum Dum Girls - too cute and popular for this earth ... and CMJ (yet they played some shows).

CMJ pricing is way too ridiculous

Lara's advice: couch surf and pick free shows and loads of coffee! Don't forget to have fun!

Snowmine is one of Lara's top pick from CMJ.

Song of the show is Snowmine's "Curfews", which is available as a free download via wvmusic.bandcamp.com.

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Archive of this show at archive.org. More information on podomatic.com

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

CMJ Music Marathon Wrap-Up Day 2: Part II

Read More CMJ The College Music Journal’s (CMJ) annual showcase of rising talent in both music and film is a veritable wet dream for musicians and pop culture nerds alike.

CMJ Music Marathon Wrap-Up Day 2: Part II

Saturday, October 22, 2011  

The Lovely Hearts Club showcase continued…

Let’s get right to it. Swear and Shake is a newly-formed band based out of New York. When I say ‘new’ I mean really new; like, still covered in afterbirth ‘new.’ The band debuted in 2010 and released their first full album, Maple Ridge, a year later. Within that period, they earned mega praise from notable sources including Newsday and The Deli, not to mention countless gigs at prime NY real estate like Arlene’s Grocery and the Knitting Factory. Not bad for a band trying to make good in a city of 8 million.

I’m glad I didn’t have this information on hand when I saw Swear and Shake perform, because often prior knowledge taints the experience. I was impressed by the band’s easy rapport, even more so after learning of their late bloom. While I wouldn’t call the music innovative—they don’t do weird things with electronics or whip out a didgeridoo on stage—I’d be hard-pressed to label them as ‘sweet,’ which is generally my sentiment when it comes to boy-girl folk pop. At its roots, the music fits comfortably within the boundaries of folk pop, yet perhaps it’s Kari Spieler’s smoky, wise-beyond-her-years voice that keeps her band this-side of twee. “Johnnie” sounded great live—at once heartbreaking and familiar; I especially love the lyrics “You could be the stronger man, to sleep between these sheets. But never with your lips sewn shut, I can only do so much.” Preach it, sister. Listen to a live recording of “The Promise” here.

Only in New York is a folk band followed by a super-hipindie pop outfit. Fellow NYers Snowmine were certainly the wild cards of the night. Looking like they were fresh off the plane from 1980s Berlin (post-Wall of course), these guys oozed cool. I felt cooler in their presence, which is a sad sort of reality. And okay, they’re not just a band of pretty faces; judging by the complexity of the live show, I’d say they are also major tech geeks. Frontman Grayson Sanders calls himself a “new-classical composer.” It’s difficult to type that out and not loathe his being, but actually, the title fits. The songs on Laminate Pet Animal contain intricacies that were probably not discovered by strumming a guitar in the coffee shop. Snowmine are very much 21^st century musicians in that they mix multi-genre beats with stylized niches like electronica, funk/dance, tribal, classical; the result is highly schizophrenic, but they pull it off (listen to the fabulous “Beast in Air, Beast in Water” for example). Live, this was quite a spectacle to behold. Armed with a giant keyboard/mixer thing, Sanders, resembling something of a soundman gone rogue, dazzled the audience with his deft hands and psychedelic white-boy soul. Listen to a live recording of “Hologram” here.

Read More Team Genius “Take Me Home” is absolutely tits: snappy electro-funk-meets-downtown dance dive, as realized by a hip suburban jazz choir.

Finally, closing the show, were our friends in Team Genius. I’ve been following this band since their inception more than three years ago, but since they rarely tour and never respond to invitations for chili night at my house, this was the first time I saw them play live. What I love about these guys and gals is that they are truly skilled at the art of writing pop music, even if they pretend to be a clown-car full of buffoonery. Their latest EP, Pop Songs, contains a Ronald Reagan shout-out but is otherwise a mature effort. I think. Let’s just say, if they were only concerned with producing bouncy, synth-heavy dance tracks without attention to lyrics or meaning, they would be the J. Geils Band and have a downloadable ringtone. Of course, the music they make is always fun, and the Lovely Hearts showcase was a fitting venue to flaunt the positive group aura. “Ronald Reagan’s Cousin” was a proper party on stage; Drew Hermiller‘s falsetto on “Take Me Home” (from their self-titled 2008 release) was a proper balls outoccasion. Listen to a live cover of Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” here (Chad on vocals!).

As my time at CMJ came to an end, I realized I knew exactly what Joey Tempest felt when he boldly declared to the world of Swedish glam rock: “We’re leaving together, but still it’s farewell. And maybe we’ll come back to earth, who can tell?” I think he was saying “don’t be sad, college music fans. There’s always next year.”

(Editor's note: Read about Warren Zevon's song here: Songs About Werewolves.)

lara () ♥ www.cmj.com

CMJ Music Marathon Wrap-Up Day 2: Part I

Read More CMJ The College Music Journal’s (CMJ) annual showcase of rising talent in both music and film is a veritable wet dream for musicians and pop culture nerds alike.

CMJ Music Marathon Wrap-Up Day 2: Part I
Saturday, October 22, 2011

Friday’s CMJ adventure was a bit of a bust. Riot Act Media presented a happy hour showcase at Pete’s Candy Store—a hip bar in Williamsburg, roughly the same size and shape as your average Williamsburg apartment. Unfortunately, due to popularity (which is not a bad thing), it was impossible to squeeze into the tiny backroom where music was happening. Instead, we bemoaned our defeat by sampling the “happy hour” portion of the evening. If you’re at all curious what was missed, check out the following musicians that were in attendance, or visit Riot Act’s website (linked above): Brooklyn crooner Patrick Bower; the moody, orchestral Gabriel & the Hounds; Julie Ann Bee’s whimsy project Sea of Bees; and the waltz-lovin’ Robin Bacior.

Saturday was far more lucrative. As chance would have it, I caught the entire Lovely Hearts Club showcase at the Living Room. The lineup included a sampling of the Paper Garden Records label (in order of appearance): Belgrave, Gun Lake, Swear and Shake, Snowmine, and perennial W♥M faves Team Genius.

I missed Belgrave's first song. I’m hoping it was good but not too good, you know? I wouldn’t want to journey through life feeling as though I missed that one time when the clouds parted and God emerged to reveal some heavenly secrets (like why the Virgin Mary appears in pancakes but not breakfast burritos. Surface area?). However, if anyone could coax Him to play an encore, it would be Montreal natives Belgrave, as they specialize in the kind of soaring chamber pop that shoots for the stars, so to speak. “Tokyo” is a perfect example of a song with big dreams—rich, melodic layers, Trevor Boucher’s agile vocal chords, lovey lyrics; it all culminates with a head-thrown-back-arms-spread-wide chorus thatdelivers a romantic punch right to your cynical, beer-filled belly. How’s that for an out of body experience?

If Belgrave succeeded in transporting their audience to a Canadian dreamworld, Ann Arbor’s Gun Lake brought us back to earth in true Midwestern fashion. The beauty of Midwest music is that it always captures a certain mood that must be unique to the region; a strange brew of nostalgia, melancholy, reserve, and a pinch of self-deprecation thrown in for good measure. Not to be confused with the Pacific Northwest mood, which often contains more melancholy, less self-deprecation. However, they have mountains to dwell on; we have large areas of grass; let’s call it ‘topography psychology.’

I’m happy to report that Gun Lake met—then surpassed—all region-specificexpectations. Besides a knack for crafting interesting prose, every singing member has a voice like a rugged, Liberal Arts-educated angel. You know you’re in the presence of skilled musicians when they can jump from verse to flawlessly harmonized chorus without breaking a sweat (or breaking in pitch). Gun Lake provedfaithfulto this technique on their debut album Balfour; notably on the dusky ballad “Cliffhanger.” Live, the band didn’t really deviate from their pitch-perfect formula, and why would they? Highlights included “Cliffhanger,” which opened their set if I’m remembering correctly, and my favorite of the evening, “Trees,” a subtle waltz that almost reads as modern folklore. Listen to a live recording of “Trees” here.

Up next: Day 2, Part 2

lara () ♥ www.cmj.com

CMJ - Day 1: Thursday, October 20, 2011

Read More Secret Swans This band, Silver Swans, took their name from Wonder Woman's villain. The original Silver Swan (Helen Alexandros) got her sonic powers from the Greek Gods...

CMJ Music Marathon Wrap-Up

Day 1: Thursday, October 20, 2011

Having arrived in New York Thursday afternoon, I’d missed most of the pre-festival fun, which included plenty of open bars and free shows for poor music nerds that just want to get their drink on. In fact, CMJ is quite affordable if you’re not married to the prospect of rubbing elbows with industry bigwigs and/or finding yourself crotch-to-ass with crazed Neon Indian fans. Most of the free stuff required email RSVP, but with the invention of portable internet-equipped communication devices (or “smart phones”), planning your CMJ itinerary on the go is virtually hassle-free. CMJ’s website even offered an app that allowed festival goers to create a virtual calendar of events, which was helpful in theory but lacked practical application as it did not come with a magical transportation machine. Let’s just say, for those of us commuting from the northernmost tundra of Manhattan (Washington Heights, for example), we could’ve used a goddamn bag of Floo Powder*. Note to CMJ organizers: I expect better next year.

My first and only stop of the night was The Delancey for San Francisco’s Silver Swans, as part of Modern Vintage Recordings’ free showcase. Prior to the Swans taking stage, I caught what was supposed to be the tail-end of Thomas Simon’s set, which amounted to a half hour-long encore of sorts. I’m not sure what flavor of electric Kool-Aid Simon was sipping on, but dude was clearly in “the zone.” Unfortunately, very few seemed to share his desire to be in that particular zone. At one point someone in the audience—no doubt unhappy with Simon’s bizarre one-man Rock Band tribute—unplugged his electric doo-dads, thereby forcing the artist to stop playing and, perhaps, to meditate on his current state of figurative and literal isolation. Feel sorry for the guy? Well, you weren’t there.

Despite delays, the Swans closed the show in true West Coast style: gracious and calm. Ann Yu’s voice is just as stirring live as it is in the studio. Her pretty-sad vocals, coupled with an impressive display of controlled electro beats, effectively created a mood-scape that I can best describe as “a Secret Garden in Tokyo, year 2025.”  Judging by the surge in crowd activity, this proved a far more lucrative “zone” to inhabit. The band played a few selections off their Secrets EP, including the title track and “Let Me Know Now.” They also treated fans to a couple of new songs from their forthcoming album Forever: “Triangles of Gold” and the slightly off-kilter “Karen.”  Watch Silver Swans perform the latter at Public Assembly in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Vegan’s CMJ Showcase, video courtesy of Clyde Erwin Barretto):



Joining Yu and Jon Waters were Dave Farrell (percussion) and Jennifer Duardo (keys). Both musicians are new to the lineup, although Farrell and Yu have shared the stage for years with dreamy pop outfit LoveLikeFire. For more information on Silver Swans, visit their Facebook page. Stream/purchase Secrets at: silverswans.bandcamp.com. Forever is scheduled for digital release in December.

Up next: Day 2 or “Finding Home on the Lower East Side.”

*I’m sorry if you had to click on the link in order to understand ‘Floo Powder.’ However, you probably had sex before the age of 25, so don’t feel bad about yourself.

lara () ♥ facebook.com/silverswans

Free CMJ mixtape from Spin Magazine

CMJ The College Music Journal’s annual showcase of rising talent in both music and film is a veritable wet dream for musicians and pop culture nerds alike.

CMJ (College Music Journal) is happening in New York, right now. For those that can't actually make it out there, you can still benefit from all the fun - Spin Magazine is offering a free CMJ compilation via their Facebook page. The only down-side is that you have to "like" them. It's okay, you can always dislike them at a later date after you've downloaded the compilation.

FREE DOWNLOAD - Grab SPIN's 2011 CMJ Mix
Download 21 songs from acts that are poised for breakout success at this week's NYC music

1. Dazed - Bleached
2. Obsesionao - Davila 666
3. Hazel - Weekend
4. Automatic Jail - Jacuzzi Boys
5. Resolution Of One - Guards
6. Explode 6 - Trash Talk
7. Dustbuster Olympics - Mike Birbiglia
8. Loud Mouths - Wise Blood
9. Old Friend - Caveman
10. Sweetness - Slowdance
11. Heather - Zambri
12. Belispeak - Purity Ring
13. Wild Boy - Machine Gun Kelly ft. Waka Flocka
14. Como un Perro - Gun Selectah
15. That's Life - Main Attrakionz
16. A.3 [The Limping Axeman] - Ben von Wildenhaus
17. Grey Ship - EMA
18. Legend In My Own Mind - The Stepkids
19. I Found You - Alabama Shakes
20. What's In It For Me? - Robert Ellis
21. Lovely Sleepy Dead - Bosco Delrey

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic