CMJing Around

CMJ night one is usually reserved in some way for the locals. Its rare that I see a band I really like that I haven't heard yet. That changed tonight.

Brooklyn three-piece Chairlift (pictured above)played at 5PM at Pianos and channeled bits of a band like Celebration while also had some New Order and Kate Bush tendencies.
Sort of sounded like the 80's prom I never went to.
Not totally surprised that they are on the label that released some Grizzly bear stuff also not too surprised that they are going to be on tour with Yeasayer soon.


Listen: Evident Utensil



Bumped into the boys in Princeton in Chinatown, then caught their set at Hiro Ballroom at midnight. I sort of think that for all the hype that a band like Vampire Weekend get, Princeton deserve ten times more. They are in my opinion writing the finest songs out there and I actually had to ask the twins if they had any new music with them because the four song EP (Bloomsbury) is wonderful, but I need more.
Can't forget what keyboard player Ben told me the name of their last song was, but it had a real Yacht-vibe to it.
Quote of the night
"the bartenders have to come party with us, they poured us such weak ten dollar drinks."

Listen: "The Waves"

Read more On "CMJing Around"!

Vol. 1 This Thursday

On Thursday, October 23rd Hexedjournal.com and WORD presents, the hopefully first of many, Vol. 1, a unique event that pairs live music with original stories on a new topic each month. Vol. 1 strives to present both contemporary authors and musicians in evenings that weave the two, too often disparate, groups together.

For the first ever Vol. 1, the following authors will each present their own take on "Homecoming":

Our special host Bob Powers is a New York comedian and author, whose newest book, Happy Cruelty Day, teaches you how to "devote yourself to a life of passion, vengeance, and heartbreak."

Brooklyn's Minju Pak who spends time in local psychedelic Americana band The Joints and also writing. Her work has appeared recently in the literature journal Sleepingfish.

Charlie Buckholtz spends his time as the Rabbi of a synagogue in the East Viilage and is the co-writer of In Heaven Everything is Fine, a book focusing on the extraordinary life of Peter Ivers, the host of early 80's punk rock television show "New Wave Theatre."

Raymond Raposa is the leader of the group know as Castanets. Their newest album, City of Refuge, was recorded in a motel in Las Vegas and is out on the highly regarded Asthmatic Kitty label.


Along with the readers, we are proud to present the month's group of musical guests:

Pepi Ginsberg. Her style is a meeting of Zombies chamber pop meeting with Joni Mitchell interpretations of Nashville Skyline. Anybody who has witnessed Ginsberg live knows the girl is one of the finest storytellers in underground music today.

Princeton. Hailing from Eagle Rock, California the sometimes trio has delivered one of the most literary-focused records of the year, the four song Bloomsbury EP. Four songs focusing on the English collective of the same name who counted Virginia Woolf and John Maynard Keynes among their ranks.

Adron. A dual resident of Atlanta and Brooklyn, the 21-year-old performer Adron plays a dazzling sound that calls to mind the psychedelic explorations of 60's Brazilian, acts like OS Mutantes and Gilberto Gil, mixed with touches of The Beatles finest pop moments.

Plus special guests!!!!

The event begins at 8PM. There is an 8 dollar suggested donation, which is reduced to 5 dollars if a copy of a dictionary is donated to Books Through Bars. An organization Founded in 1989 in an effort to address the paucity of educational resources and programming made available to prisoners hoping to use the time of their imprisonment to effect positive change in their lives.
Please visit
www.Booksthroughbars.org for details

Also special guest DJ's Jay Diamond (Heeb Magazine) and Matt Lombardi (WORD) will be spinning through the night.

Vol. 1 will be held at Bar Matchless in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Read more On "Vol. 1 This Thursday"!