Best of CMJ: Non-Boston Bands You Need to Know

By Nina Corcoran, Jamie Loftus, and Christine Varriale

CMJ 2014

Put simply, there’s a lot of bands at CMJ. We are just three people. So, naturally, scurrying around New York City to discover new music courtesy of 1,400 live performances can get exhausting. Allston Pudding put on thinking caps, though, and did some investigating to see rising non-Boston acts that delivered just as much live as they do on their records.

Exploding in Sound topped off the week with a birthday bash at Silent Barn to celebrate them turning three. Instead of telling you how (obviously) excellent our favorite Boston bands were that night (like last year), we’ve handpicked the best non-Boston acts from the week. To make it a bit easier, we kick off the Recommended If You Like (RIYL) sections with local acts to help steer you in the right direction. Now say hello to your new favorite band(s).

Adult Jazz (Leeds)
Rough Trade NYC 10/23

If you’re looking for weird folk music, Adult Jazz is for you. The brand new Leeds, England band was started by a teacher named Harry Burgess who had too much stirring inside him to sit still. The result is mesmerizing. Styling off the tribal rhythms of Akron/Family and the older quirks of Dirty Projectors, Adult Jazz mix electronic samples with organic drumming for their own distinct sound. We would never have figured out that the Rough Trade show was their very first in the US. They’re that good. – NC

RIYL: Skinny Bones, Akron/Family, Dirty Projectors

Bo Ningen (London)
Glasslands Gallery 10/22

A Japenese four-piece acid rock noise band: it’s as awesome as it sounds. The four members carried Japan’s formative style over to their current home in London, shredding their guitars and going absolutely berserk onstage. In the first five seconds, guitarist Yuki Tsujii rammed against the side speakers and hurled himself into the crowd, much to their surprise. It goes without saying they win the Loudest Set award. — not to mention the Longest Hair award, too.  – NC

RIYL: Guerilla Toss, Melt-Banana, Savages

GNARWHAL (Nashville)
Silent Barn 10/25

The conversations surrounding GNARWHAL leading up to the band’s set were unanimously in agreement: “You gotta see this drummer play. You won’t believe it.” And hey, they are right. This experimental noise rock duo is as gnarly as their name. Drummer Tyler Coburn hits along to a chaotic beat but looks extremely meticulous in his movements. The kick drum pounded so quickly that a few members of the audience ducked back behind the kit to see what the hell was happening. The conclusion is still unknown. -CV

RIYL: Lady Bones, Calculator, Adebisi Shank

Line & Circle (California)
Pianos 10/23

Let’s be straight for a second – not everyone at CMJ is going to hit a home run, especially when the fest thinks they’re perfect for a Wednesday afternoon monsoon slot. In the afternoon I spent at Pianos, sweet Cali boyz Line & Circle were the ones who changed my mind, bringing a smooth West coast sound to an otherwise miserable day. Their single, “Mine and Mine,” stands out head and shoulders above most of their new material, but I’ve got to hand it to them – they lifted the crowd out of their rain-induced stupor and back to reality. – JL

RIYL: Kid Mountain, The Smiths, R.E.M.

Lydia Ainsworth (Toronto)
Union Pool 10/21

Lydia Ainsworth, like most Canadian artists, seems to appear through magic. The film composer and NYU grad whisks up pop experiments that swirl orchestral strings, dark harmonies, and gentle keys together to make 2014’s most cinematic music not made for a movie. It was certainly true this week. Backed by a cellist, drummer, and bassist, Ainsworth sounded more bare bones than she does on her debut, Right From Real, but it worked just as well. Her electronic creations had us holding our breath as to not miss a single note. – NC

RIYL: Gem Club, Bat For Lashes, Kate Bush

Meat Wave (Chicago)
Baby’s All Right 10/25

If we’re going to be completely honest, the whole reason I went to CMJ was to see this band. Meat Wave’s 2012 self-titled debut uses traditional punk structure and harsh delivery from all three members to make an incredibly urgent, intense, melodic record, making it one of my most played albums this year. Live, “Panopticon” exploded with the type of force that should leave their fingers bleeding and “Brother” nearly toppled over itself. When a band’s drummer stays half a second ahead of the gang (think Cloud Nothings’ Jason Gerycz or The Walkmen’s Matt Barrick), you know they’re not messing around, especially when they have a little bit of Les Savy Fav at their core. The only bad thing is that it had to end. – NC

RIYL: Nice Guys, Cloud Nothings, Shellac

My Dad (Chicago)
Silent Barn 10/25

Midwestern punk is the best punk, and any punk band outside of the midwest is just ripping it off and taking credit for it. My Dad is raw, mathy and loud enough to pierce your ears early in the afternoon at Silent Barn, but they have enough of a pop mentality to be accessible to even the most casual CMJ attendees. Guitarist/vocalist Dave Collis broke his guitar input the night before, but you couldn’t even tell throughout the performance. -CV

RIYL: Bad History Month, Marnie Stern, Minus The Bear

Ryley Walker (Chicago)
Someone’s Living Room 10/24

Plucking his way through the stylings of John Martyn and Davey Graham, Ryley Walker is the type of young musical prodigy people don’t catch onto until word of mouth spreads. Few acts have his type of scratchy, comforting voice, and even less can sing that well while playing classically. A stranger’s living room was the perfect setting in which to watch him. That close, you can see how long his fingernails are–his own built in picks–and how seamlessly his mouth can tell a roar-inducing joke right after quieting the room with unabashed earnesty. – NC

RIYL: Dan Blakeslee, Nick Drake, Chadwick Stokes

Shark? (Brooklyn)
Pianos Upstairs 10/22

The spelling may look unsure of itself, but Shark? have a consistent sound that lingers between noisy post-punk and loose ’90s slacker-pop. Live, they sped things up. Each member was so focused on his part that it’s hard to decide who you should watch, if you can look away from the other at all. Their slightly surf tone is what you want to sountrack your Bushwick escapades and Allston basement nights — if you’re not already listening to them in the Grand Theft Auto V soundtrack. – NC

RIYL: CreaturoS, Radical Dads, Pixies

Weyes Blood (San Francsico)
Union Pool 10/21

Weyes Blood may be a vampire. When she stood on Union Pool’s stage in a long black dress framed by Broadway dressing room lights, the experimental pop singer played a 12-string guitar and let an old tape deck spin behind her, audio bits of life she sucked from others long ago. Even as she wrapped both hands around the microphone on “Romneydale”, Weyes Blood found a dark, brooding voice spilling over her lips. She was a girl at karaoke who took the room by surprise. A meek crowd of 22 people stood still, a notable fact given they were swaying from the warmth of alcohol earlier, while she, in true karaoke fashion, ended with a cover of “Everybody’s Talkin'” by Harry Nilsson. Then again, her intentions seem too good to be on the prowl for blood. She just paints with it instead. Download “Some Winters” for free right now to hear for yourself. – NC

RIYL: Marissa Nadler, Julia Holter, Perfume Genius