CMJ Day 5

CMJ may be all about the music, but tonight, comedy's where it's at.

Union Hall hosts "Heart of Darkness: A Night of Forgiveness and Salvation," featuring a few of our favorite comedians, including Greg Barris, Reggie Watts, Kurt Braunohler, Dave Hill, and Kristen Schaal. 

Half of those on the bill played the festival in Manhattan earlier that week for twice as much, just another perk of living in Brooklyn. To that same effect though, be sure to get there early.

"Heart of Darkness" at Union Hall [702 Union St. at Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400], Oct. 23 at 8 pm. Tickets $10 in advance, $12 at the door.

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CMJ Day 4

We're all over the place tonight. Here are our picks for how to spend day four of CMJ:

Catch the haunting tunes of Angus and Julia Stone at The Bell House, Sean Lennon's band The Ghost of a Saber Toothed Tiger at Union Hall, or a 16-act marathon (of course) at Spike Hill Tavern in Williamsburg.

Spike Hill Tavern [184 Bedford Ave. at N. Seventh Street in Williamsburg, (718) 218-9737)], all day; The Bell House [149 Seventh St. between Second and Third avenues in Gowanus, (718) 643-6510], 7:30 pm; Union Hall [702 Union St. at Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, (718) 638-4400], 8 pm.

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CMJ Day 3

It's the back-to-back edition.

At the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Vegan throws a showcase, headlined by fuzzed-out cuties The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who just wrapped their second album, so expect some tunes from that. Also on the bill are The Blow, Screaming Females, Suuns and Young Man.

Right next door, Public Assembly is hosting New Shapes, a showcase thrown by Neon Gold and Chess Club. And there's a lot of music going on - 20 bands, to be exact.

In the front room, brought to you by Neon Gold, check out The Good Natured, Savoir Adore, Body Language, Samuel, Spark, Emil and Friends, Brahms, Fenech Soler, Sound of Arrows, Penguin Prison, and The Knocks.

In the back, the Chess Club Roomm,, Santah, Alex Winston, Keepaway, Ava Luna, Oberhofer, Devin Therriault, 1,2,3, Grouplove, and The Postelles.

So even while bands set up at one stage, you won't be without a live act somewhere on these three stages.


Music Hall of Williamsburg [66 N. Sixth St. between Kent and Wythe avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 486-5400]; Public Assembly [70 N. Sixth St. between Kent and Wythe avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 384-4586].

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CMJ Day 2

Call it the Park Slope edition.

Here's a sampling of the CMJ showcases happening at Union Hall, Rock Shop, and Bell House (OK, that one's Gowanus),  to make your hopping around a little bit easier.

Union Hall
702 Union St. near Fifth Avenue, (718) 638-4400

Start the night off at Union Hall, where buzzed-about Ontario band brings their fuzzed out '90s throwback to the small stage, playing the venue's early show with Soft Reeds and Dear Comrade. Doors at 7 pm.

Rock Shop
249 Fourth Ave. between President and Carroll streets, (718) 230-5740

Then, head on over to the Rock Shop, where the lo-fi, Brooklyn-based act Beach Fossils headline the Forcefield showcase. Also on the bill are Cloud Nothings, Braids, Blair, Lesands, and Tape Deck Mountain.

The Bell House
149 Seventh St. between Second and Third avenues, (718) 643-6510

End your night at the Bell House, where UK tastemakers Popjustice have pulled together a lineup of pop, including Fenech Soler and their infectious synth-pop tunes. Special guests and DJs will also help you boogie late into the night.

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CMJ - Day 5

After four days of non-stop music, don’t quit now!

Chill out a bit with Mia Riddle & Her Band and Pete & J (don't they sound so friendly?) at Park Slope’s Union Hall (702 Union St., acts starting at 6 p.m., $10), or with Au Revoir Simone at Bell House (acts starting at 7:30 p.m, $12).

Or, if you’re looking to end the marathon with sore limbs and maybe a bruise or two, catch New Jersey punk rockers Screaming Females at Above the Auto Parts Store (600 Bushwick Ave., bands starting at 9 p.m., $10). Then, you can get some sleep.

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CMJ - Day 4

This is a tough night, with top acts at several Brooklyn venues. It might just depend on what you’re in the mood for.

Music Hall brings dream pop and much hyped bands (is that a good or a bad thing? Both?), with Brooklyn’s School of Seven Bells, London’s young upstarts The XX, and Brooklyn three-piece The Depreciation Guild on the bill. At 9 p.m. Tickets $20.

Rising indie acts converge on Glasslands Gallery (289 Kent Ave.) in Williamsburg tonight, with a Pop Gun Booking unofficial showcase featuring Francis & The Lights, Takka Takka, Pattern is Movement, Let’s Wrestle (UK), Naked Hearts, Drink Up Buttercup, and Bottle Up & Go, with DJ sets by Anamanaguchi. At 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 with rsvp/$14 without.

Top indie acts are also over at the Bell House, with Japandroids, Headlights, James Husband, Cale Parks, Motel Motel, Common Loon, and special guests on the On the Polyvinyl Records showcase. At 7 p.m. Tickets $12.

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CMJ - Day 3

Two down, three to go. Offering you a light one this Thursday as we gear up for the weekend (including a daytime offering for you early birds):

One of Brooklyn's newest venues, Williamsburg’s Bruar Falls (245 Grand St.), joins in the marathon this year, with a NYC Taper showcase featuring Bushwick-based Kittens Ablaze, who made noise during SXSW for their rousing live shows and eyebrow-raising name, as well as Motel Motel, Emanual and The Fear, Blood Warrior, Peasant, the Ditmas Park-based The Loom, Thunder Power, and Unicycle Loves You. From noon to 6 p.m. Cost TBA.

Over in Gowanus at The Bell House (149 7th St.), Gothamist and Brooklyn Based present a showcase featuring local acts Robbers on High Street, Uninhabitable Mansions, Hawk and Dove, Small Black, Freelance Whales, Henry Wolfe, and Pomegranates. At 4 p.m. Free until 10 p.m., $10 after.

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CMJ - Day 2

You made it through the first night. Congrats. Now, start planning your second. Here's a look at some of the highlights in Brooklyn tonight:

Expect crowds at Music Hall, when Deerhunter lead singer Bradford Cox performs as his solo project Atlas Sound. Also on the bill are Broadcast and The Selmanaires. At 9 p.m. Tickets $16.

Rock and bowl during CMJ when Julian Marley and The Uprising, featuring Stephen Marley, come to Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, fresh off the release of “Awake.” Also on the bill are Javaughn and Gully Bank Sound System. At 8 p.m. Tickets $16.

Back at the Knitting Factory, the Ernest Jenning Record Co. showcase features another diverse lineup, with Still Flyin, Wild Yaks, The Black Hollies, Title Tracks, La Strada, Takka Takka, Blood Warrior, and Nouvellas. Get your fill of indie, rock and pop. At 7 p.m. Tickets $10.

One of the newer Brooklyn venues, Williamsburg’s Cameo (93rd N. 6th St.) gets in on the marathon this year. Instead of music though, tonight, the biggest draw will be comedy. Anthony Jeselnik, Kumail Nanjiani and Matt McCarthy will perform, with Brooklyn comedy trio Big Terric – Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman, and SNL newbie Jenny Slate (the one currently know for dropping the F-bomb on air) – hosting. At 7 p.m. Free.

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CMJ - Day 1

And so it begins.

Dozens of venues across the city (well, Manhattan and Brooklyn) will be opening their stages to CMJ starting tonight.

The organizers have a handy schedule that you can peruse by venue and date. Here are also our picks again for what's going on tonight in Brooklyn:

You can’t go with wrong with a Brooklyn Vegan showcase, and this one aims to please. Fanfarlo, The Antlers, Laura Marling, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel are scheduled to play Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 North 6th St.), with comedian Dave Hill hosting. At 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15.

Nearby at Knitting Factory’s new Brooklyn location (361 Metropolitan Ave.), labels The Social Registry and No Quarter present a sonic showcase featuring Sian Alice Group, The Psychic Paramount, Highlife, Coconuts, and local experimental instrumentalists Zs. Also that day at the Williamsburg venue are Brooklyn twee rockers Tiny Masters of Today. At 7 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance $12 DOS.

Over at the Charleston (174 Bedford Ave.) in Williamsburg, New Jersey quartet Carlon, fresh off their debut album "Johari Window," executive produced by Dispatch's Pete Francis, will play a CMJ showcase with NYCSmoke, Gold Streets and Hammer No More The Fingers. Starting at 8 p.m.

Farther south at Southpaw (125 Fifth Ave.), the Park Slope venue hosts a CMJ showcase from label Frank Radio, featuring rapper and Wu Tang Clan member U-God, as well as Puba, Wiz Kalifa, Trouble Andrew, Mr. Move, Stalley, Jasmine Solano, and DJ Souljah. At 9 p.m. Tickets $10.

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Your CMJ guide

By Meredith Deliso

With over 1,300 artists and over 75 venues participating in this year’s CMJ, from October 20-24, chances are, any show you go to those five days will be part of the marathon music showcase.

Not that that’s a bad thing.

For over 20 years, the annual festival has brought together emerging talents from the New York scene and beyond, and this year doesn’t look to be any different.With too many acts to list, here are some highlights of the Brooklyn gigs to come to add to your Google calendar.

Tuesday, October 20

You can’t go with wrong with a Brooklyn Vegan showcase, and this one aims to please. Fanfarlo, The Antlers, Laura Marling, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel are scheduled to play Music Hall of Williamsburg (66 North 6th St.), with comedian Dave Hill hosting. At 7:30 p.m. Tickets $15.

Nearby at Knitting Factory’s new Brooklyn location (361 Metropolitan Ave.), labels The Social Registry and No Quarter present a sonic showcase featuring Sian Alice Group, The Psychic Paramount, Highlife, Coconuts, and local experimental instrumentalists Zs. Also that day at the Williamsburg venue are Brooklyn twee rockers Tiny Masters of Today. At 7 p.m. Tickets $10 in advance $12 DOS.

Over at the Charleston (174 Bedford Ave.) in Williamsburg, New Jersey quartet Carlon, fresh off their debut album "Johari Window," executive produced by Dispatch's Pete Francis, will play a CMJ showcase with NYCSmoke, Gold Streets and Hammer No More The Fingers. Starting at 8 p.m. Tickets TBA.

Farther south at Southpaw (125 Fifth Ave.), the Park Slope venue hosts a CMJ showcase from label Frank Radio, featuring rapper and Wu Tang Clan member U-God, as well as Puba, Wiz Kalifa, Trouble Andrew, Mr. Move, Stalley, Jasmine Solano, and DJ Souljah. At 9 p.m. Tickets $10.

Wednesday, October 21

Expect crowds at Music Hall, when Deerhunter lead singer Bradford Cox performs as his solo project Atlas Sound. Also on the bill are Broadcast and The Selmanaires. At 9 p.m. Tickets $16.

Rock and bowl during CMJ when Julian Marley and The Uprising, featuring Stephen Marley, come to Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, fresh off the release of “Awake.” Also on the bill are Javaughn and Gully Bank Sound System. At 8 p.m. Tickets $16.

Back at the Knitting Factory, the Ernest Jenning Record Co. showcase features another diverse lineup, with Still Flyin, Wild Yaks, The Black Hollies, Title Tracks, La Strada, Takka Takka, Blood Warrior, Nouvellas. Get your fill of indie, rock and pop. At 7 p.m. Tickets $10.

One of the newer Brooklyn venues, Williamsburg’s Cameo (93rd N. 6th St.) gets in on the marathon this year. Tonight’s showcase features Les Handclaps and Baby Monster and Kid Color. The night will also include comedy from Anthony Jeselnik, Kumail Nanjiani and Matt McCarthy, with Brooklyn comedy trio Big Terric – Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman, and SNL newbie Jenny Slate – hosting. At 7 p.m. Cost TBA.

Thursday, October 22

Another new venue, Williamsburg’s Bruar Falls (245 Grand St.), joins in the marathon this year, with a NYC Taper showcase featuring Bushwick-based Kittens Ablaze, who made noise during SXSW for their rousing live shows and eyebrow-raising name, as well as Motel Motel, Emanual and The Fear, Blood Warrior, Peasant, the Ditmas Park-based The Loom, Thunder Power, and Unicycle Loves You. From noon to 6 p.m. Cost TBA.

Over in Gowanus at The Bell House (149 7th St.), Gothamist and Brooklyn Based present a showcase featuring local acts Robbers on High Street, Uninhabitable Mansions, Hawk and Dove, Small Black, Freelance Whales, Henry Wolfe, and Pomegranates. At 4 p.m. Free until 10 p.m., $10 after.

Friday, October 23

This is a tough night, with top acts at several Brooklyn venues. It might just depend on what you’re in the mood for.

Over at Knitting Factory, soul and funk are on tap, with Orenda Fink, The Budos Band, Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, Menahan Street Band, and Binky Griptite and The Dap Kings on the bill. At 6 p.m. Tickets TBA.

Rising indie acts converge on Glasslands Gallery (289 Kent Ave.) in Williamsburg tonight, with a Pop Gun Booking showcase featuring Francis & The Lights, Takka Takka, Pattern is Movement, Let’s Wrestle (UK), Naked Hearts, Drink Up Buttercup, and Bottle Up & Go, with DJ sets by Anamanaguchi. At 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 with rsvp/$14 without.

Top indie acts are also over at the Bell House, with Japandroids, Headlights, James Husband, Cale Parks, Motel Motel, Common Loon, and special guests on the On the Polyvinyl Records showcase. Hosted by Dave Hill. At 7 p.m. Tickets $12.

Music Hall brings dream pop, with Brooklyn’s School of Seven Bells London’s The XX, as well as First Aid Kit and Warpaint on the bill. At 9 p.m. Tickets $20.

Saturday, October 24

After four days of non-stop music, don’t quit now! Chill out a bit with Mia Riddle & Her Band at Park Slope’s Union Hall (702 Union St., 6 p.m., $10), or with Au Revoir Simone at Bell House (7:30 p.m, $12).

Or, if you’re looking to end the marathon with sore limbs and maybe a bruise or two, catch punk rockers Screaming Females at Above the Auto Parts Store (600 Bushwick Ave., 9 p.m., $10).

Read more...