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CMJ
- Call Me Jefe, Call Me Johnny, just don't call me after 7. This year's
CMJ (College Media Journal) Music Marathon in NYC was extra special
for yours truly, as both representative of CMJ (Indie Sales Samurai,
Johnny Chiba) and TEST PRESS mag, photo-journalizing, crisis-solving,
meeting and greeting, and catching as many shows, panels and parties
as possible. Next year, we look into cloning, so we can catch twice
as many. |
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This year's CMJ25NYC05 logo was designed by the cool guys at Little Jacket from Fort Collins, CO. I mention this because they're cool guys, who shared an exhibition booth with amazing artist Jermaine Rogers at Lincoln Center Key Link: Little Jacket |
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it |
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WEDNESDAY SEPT 14,
2005 - DAY 1 |
| Started off the day at Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, picking up badges and helping a plethora of labels get theirs as well. Checked out the booths, and looked forward to catching William Elliot Whitmore on the daystage located in the lobby opposite the big Avery Fisher Hall auditorium. Unfortunately WEW didn't make it to NYC, heard the gas prices were too high...? Hope he's ok... Went across the street to Alice Tully Hall, to manage my first panel entitled INDIES UNITE, a discussion of indies getting together to form A2IM - met Brad Lee from Loud and Clear Records, Michael Caplan from OR Music, and some other gents. Seemed like an interesting discussion, however, when they asked for a raise of hands of indie labels present, there was an embarrassing lack of presence. What was Johnny Chiba, Indie Label samurai doing there? What's the dilly yo? Where be the uniting indies at? damn mofo no-show foos! I tipped outta there |
| Well, I missed DE NOVO DAHL at the daystage, as I once again got caught up helping folks get badges, so I headed out to my first CMJ party, the Pirate! Promotion / Epitaph, Anti- Records shindig at Arlene's Grocery. Met the very cool peeps at Pirate! (Steve Theo and King Douglas Blake), the Epitaph PR gals (Krystal Pistol and Hilary), and way-tall Epitaph big-wig, the afro-totin Andy, who was way-friendly, introducing me to Tim Fite (whose performance I missed, dammit!). Checked out a very good set by Youth Group, and later got this pic below of striped-shirt wearing singer Toby with Tim. Oneof the best parties (free Red Stripe and Vitamin Water) and goodie bags ever, containing a Dangerdoom belt, Jolt Gum (I'm so buzzed on gum!), Potato Chips, Pita Chips, stickers, CD/DVD sampler and more. Awesome strokes from awesome folks! |
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Key links: |
| Dropped off my goodie bags, grabbed a slice, and had a choice of 3 shows. Since I was close to the Acme restaurant on Great Jones St, I headed downstairs to the former Under Acme club, now known as ACE OF CLUBS (get it?) to see a couple songs by nerd-rock darlings SNMNMNM. I don't really get their name, it's not really about S&M, or M&M's, or even Eminem, but maybe all 3? This band is going on tour with MC Chris, the lyrical star of Aqua Team Hunger Force, my 2nd favorite cartoon of all time (next to Homer!), so they are set! Nice guys. |
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we
are SNMNMNMNMNMNM and
on and on |
Unschooled
Records, who mainly put out electronic-like music, have a thing for
these guys. Check out their hip page for these nerd hipsters. key linkage:
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NEXT STOP: CAKE SHOP! |
| I felt obligated to check out the Ernest Jenning Record Co. showcase, set up by CMJ colleague Pete D'Angelo (Pete The Angel, he is), but the obligatory element was superceded by the opportunity to see The Black Hollies, featuring 3 members of RYE COALITION (bassist Justin, and guitarists Jon and Herb Joe). A bluesy stoner outfit, Justin took the lead vokes, Herb Joe seemed to take lead after lead, while Jon laid down the bright tight rhythm, as he does so damn well with Rye Cool. |
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Raw not Rye |
Coalescing the Coalition into sedition |
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wanted to check out Pete's band, Houston McCoy, and was contemplating
leaving for another showcase, but struck up a conversation with Rye
Cool Hollie Justin, talking about their long-lost Dave Grohl-produced
cd, that's gathering dust somewhere in Dreamworks legal bins... by the
time that convo ended, the next band was up, and boy, was I glad I hung
out... The next band was Disband, and they blew me away! What a treat,
Pete! |
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Disband,
Datband, Damn good band! |
An arty shot using my camera's dark, out-of-focus mode |
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Next
up, Pete's band Houston McCoy, not Doc McCoy, and not
a coy band, but an instrumental indie-friendly, shoe-gazin, guitar strummin,
pickin, cool-as-a-cuke bunch of guys having fun. Did I mention the free
Rheingold beer every 15 minutes at the beginning of each hour? What
a promotion!! Have a beer, see a band, have a beer, see a band, have
a beer... what time is it? |
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Go Pete Go, you're on Fie-Yuh! |
Key linkage: Ernest Jenning |
Next, I filtered over to Rothko, for the ACE FU Records showcase. Unfortunately, ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE and THE COSMIC INFERNO were not playing as scheduled, due to Visa problems. What's up with our government not letting bands into America to play? Is this part of the anti-terrorist act, The Patriot Act, or just a dumb-ass Republican ploy? Whatev! Just missed the Octopus Project, but did meet the gal from the band who made their very cool mersh, many home-made, sewn items, like dolls, CD's, posters, etc. Very arty and neat, and the gal was way friendly and nice! Next up was Man Man, whose album I won on WFMU via their annual fund-raising telethon. I can't trust Speck from ACE FU to send me their cd's, I gotta win em on the radio!! Speck!! The only thing I can say about Man Man, aside from their awesome cover art, is this: Tom Waits and The Mothers of Invention on Acid go to the Beach. A big band spread out across the stage, drummer up front stage left, the singer/piano player upfront stage right, and was that a guy or a girl in the wife-beater playing bass. I still don't know!! What's up Man? Man? |
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Man oh Man, I was too damn tired in that crowded Rothko to even attempt a walk around the block to Tonic, to see my beloved Rye Coalition. My body would not allow it! Why did I go to the Syndicate Party on Tuesday night! Someone musta put a spell on me! or was that a Jagermeister? Shit! key linkage: Rye Coalition TOMORROW IS THURSDAY, DAY TWO!! |
| ONWARD TO DAY TWO!! |
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