In case you’re living under a rock/in your Boston bubble, stomach CMJ is this week in the Big Apple. To be honest, help I truly loathe New York City, cheap but CMJ is the only time of the year that I enjoy it. I get my delicious vegan brunch at Champs and make my way to a few showcases.
If you have NO freaking idea how to keep track of when your favorite bands are playing official and unofficial shows, you’re not alone. Some nice people have created handy guides on who to check out, so I thought I’d join in on it.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 15th
I love The Box Tiger, but mostly because they’re from Toronto, and I have an obsession with Canada, which is a story for another time. She will be performing at the What Blog? CMJ Party at Pianos with Owel, Traumahelikopter, Conjjjecture, Beach Day, Ghost Wave, and Milagres. The Showcase starts at 1:00pm, and it’s free. What’s to lose?
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16th
The History of Apple Pie has probably one of the most ridiculous band names since Diarrhea Planet, but damn are they fun. They’re playing the free Kanine Records and SESAC CMJ Day Party at 1:00pm at Pianos with Mood Rings, Valleys, Joanna Gruesome, Beach Day, Bleeding Rainbows, Eagulls and Eternal Summers.
Another freebie of the day is the SubPop + Broadist + Dr. Martens Present Get Ups & Get Down CMJ Mixer at 6pm. Though not a show per se, this event features DJ sets from Dee Dee of the Dum Dum Girls and Stas & Cat from THEESatisfaction.
Boston’s Emily Reo will be playing an unaffiliated showcase at Silent Barn in Brooklyn at 7pm, and it’s all ages and free. Holy jeezus go to this!
THURSDAY OCTOBER 17th
Head to Muchmore’s at approximately 12pm in Williamsburg to see many an awesome band for fucking free dollars yo. Who’s playing you say? Oh just you know Jamaican Queens, Ava Luna, Krill, Ratking, Calvin Love, and DJ sets from Crispy Hexx and Young Open Winfrey.
NYCTaper is having a CMJ Day Party fo free at Cake Shop that starts at 12:45pm, and Bent Shapes is playing. You have not lived until you’ve seen Bent Shapes. They’re just so great.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 18th
Another highly anticipated show of the festival is the Pitchfork showcase at 285 Kent in Brooklyn featuring Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Priests, Joanna Gruesome, Perfect Pussy, Eleanor Friedberger, Courtney Barnett, and Allston Pudding faves Speedy Ortiz. It starts at 8:00pm. Get there early rats, because it’s a good one!
SATURDAY OCTOBER 19th
If you’re into Exploding in Sound Records and all their fabulous bands (you should be), they put together a handy guide on their site listing when their bands and friends are playing the festival. All of this culminates in their own showcase on Saturday at Silent Barn in Brooklyn at 3:00pm, which will probably be the best show you will ever attend in your life (trademark Christine Varriale and Allston Pudding 2013.)
Since Ex-Hex’s quiet unveil, shows have slowly been announced on their Facebook page, and Mary Timony’s latest will be playing at show on the 19th at Baby’s All Right on 146 Broadway in Brooklyn. Not many details have been released, but if you’re dying to see the band in its infancy, you must go to this show.
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There are also rumors floating around Brooklyn of two Arcade Fire performances on the 18th and 19th. Arcade Fire is trying to go back to their pre-Grammys roots and pretend that they’re small enough to sneak into a CMJ lineup without it starting a riot. I’m almost curious, but like I’m not in the mood to waste my time, you know?
What shows are you hitting up at CMJ? Let’s hang out.