CMJ: The Cute, the Meh & the Rest of It
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<strong>The Cute: Kidrockers Had the Best CMJ Ever</strong><p>Yesterday the underaged set got treated to two of the more talked about bands during CMJ: <a href="http://www.myspace.com/neonindian">Neon Indian</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/letsrockthebeach">Real Estate</a>. With their parents or other adults in tow (our 2 1/2 year old niece chaperoned us), the youngsters got to rock out, shake their noisemakers and dance on Twister mats at the afternoon <a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/01/09/beth_marx_lorge_kidrockers.php">Kidrockers</a> show, held at the Living Room. The bands were probably exhausted from 5 consecutive days of performing, and more than likely a few members were still nursing hangovers, but you would never know it. They showed up on time, joked around with the kids, and even invited them all on stage to be a part of the show.</p>
<strong>The Meh: Cruel Black Dove/Bridges and Powerlines Were... Enjoyable</strong><p>Brooklyn-based <a href="http://www.thecruelblackdove.com/">Cruel Black Dove</a> brought an oh-so-dark edge to CMJ on Friday night. Decked out in red lights and looking as if the Donnas went goth for a night, CBD rocked their way through a surprisingly catchy set of altogether gloomy music. Though their set got more energetic towards the end, and included some MSI-influenced electronics, they stuck to a slow, swaying formula with lots of booming drums and operatic melodies. Lead singer Anastasia Dimou moaned and growled through the songs with a little too much reverb, but the fuzz bass from Shirley Ho added a much needed garage sound, taking them out of the "goth" category and moving them somewhere with a little more breathing room. </p><p><a href="http://bridgesandpowerlines.com/">Bridges and Powerlines</a> followed with a set almost the exact opposite of CBD's. Powerlines was all clangy guitars and hot synth. All plaid shirts and indie and trumpets. Theirs was a set of solid, sharp pop music with some electronica thrown in now and then for kicks. Though it was nothing to write home about, they put together an entirely satisfying set filled with catchy riffs and beautiful melodies. And really, that's all you can ask of music. â <em>Jaya Harrover Saxena</em></p>
<strong>Gothamist Did CMJ</strong><p>Of course, we also had our own show last week at the Bell House, which featured sets from <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thefreelancewhales">Freelance Whales</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/henrywolfemusic">Henry Wolfe</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/robbersonhighstreet">Robbers On High Street</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/hawkanddoveband">Hawk And Dove</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/smallblacksounds">Small Black</a>, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/uninhabitablemansions">Uninhabitable Mansions</a> and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/pomegranatesart">Pomegranates</a>. Thanks so much to the lovely people at the Bell House, all of the bands, as well as <a href="http://www.ciscobrewers.com/distillery/index.htm">Triple 8 Vodka</a>, <a href="http://asiadognyc.com/">Asia Dogs</a>, DJ Jen! (<a href="http://themusicslut.com">theMusicSlut.com</a>) and DJ Doppler (Brett Tieman of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/themugsnyc">The Mugs</a>). And if you see our banner anywhere, please let us know!</p>