The Rosebuds perform at the 2007 Brooklyn Vegan CMJ showcase
(Credit: Ryan Muir)
The hardy Metromix crew (music editor included) started CMJ off with a bang—and a whimper, but more on that later. After an overly long period of time spent staring at the pretty gig posters in the Puck Building's registration area and speaking sternly to disorganized CMJ interns, we finally got our badges and decided to celebrate at the bar across the street with a pint or three of Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale. Mmmm, fall. After a pleasant conversation with the devil, also known as Zach, an advertising guy who's scouting bands with which to help Phillip Morris reach the cool kids, we decided to crash the ASCAP party at Whiskey Ward. Open bar, folks. Hey artists, way to give back! Nice to see that somewhere, the music industry is still flush.
Eventually we made our way to the Bowery Ballroom, where big-time Brooklyn Vegan was throwing the first ever blog showcase—at the best club in town, no less. If blog chatter is any indication, we missed a "transcendant" opening act in Bon Iver. Ah well. We'll always have MySpace. There are plenty of discoveries yet to be made, anyway. We discovered some bloggers in the house, with Miss Whitney Matheson of the esteemed Pop Candy holding court in the balcony and Stereogummers lurking about as well, not to mention the most famous Vegan in blogland (duh). And kudos to him for curating a fine show, with the only glitch being that Miracle Fortress got held up at the Canadian border. Stupid work visas! Who needs 'em? After a mellow set by Dean & Britta, the Rosebuds blew us up, up, and away as usual with their sublimely catchy pop, even though their latest album is too dancey by half. At this point in the evening the brews and the brown were starting to catch up with us, and we had to hit the road. Literally, apparently. Somewhere between exiting the Bowery Ballroom and meeting up with another Metromix gang member on Houston, yours truly had sustained a bleeding injury to the leg. (Thus the aforementioned whimper.) Be it resolved: more rock, less whiskey! –Catherine Hopkinson
Lifetime, Bouncing Souls / Webster Hall
Admittedly, I heart the Bouncing Souls, and have for all 12 years of my New York existence. On rough estimate, I’ve seen the NJ-based punk band 36 times in 12 different local venues, brought seven different dates and maybe 20 different friends to their shows (not all at once…though that’d be fun!) and own all of their records…even the crappy early demos. But Webster Hall has an amazing ability to suck the energy out of even the best live bands…including the Souls. Oh, they sounded fine last night…even when sneaking in a few tracks from “Anchors Aweigh” and “The Gold Record” (their two most-recent, and, based on song selection and audience reaction, least-liked albums).
But this is a made-for-CBGBs style of group—their show at Cha-Chas in Coney Island this summer, for example, was transcendant. Last night? A good B+ effort, considering the airiness of the venue, the slightly arms-folded vibe of the crowd (blame the CMJ interlopers?) and the dearth of great new material. Honestly, as good as the Souls were and can be, openers Lifetime may have snuck by ‘em a bit last night. Their emo-hardcore mix may feel a little monotonous, but not in a bad way—they’ve found their niche, and they attack it with a fury that’d do any CBGB’s mid-80s matinee proud. –Kirk Miller
Garret Klahn, Weston / Mercury Lounge
The mid-90's are certainly over but their spirit lives on. Our old friends Weston were playing and we were in the mood to savor some nostalgia. But first up was an acoustic set from former Texas is the Reason poster boy Garret Klahn. Favoring a more mature sound than his previous group, Klahn embraced the singer-songwriter tradition with his weary, emotive vocals and sparse backup of chords on the guitar. The small crowd assembled seemed to be hanging on his every word.
Weston took the stage promptly and rumors of an acoustic set were true. The caffeine fueled teen road trips and self-booked basement shows of yore are long gone, but we could embrace this once smart and quirky punk band's songs, even in bare-bones acoustic form.
This being a latter-day Weston reunion (of sorts), it was to be bittersweet. Our man Jim Snyder, with the ubiquitous sweater vest, was front and center, but Chuck Saltern (the original bassist/vocalist) wasn't in attendance. Dave Weston was rocking a cowboy hat or Little House on the Prairie bonnet throughout the set, while using chimes and a rain stick for accompaniment/goofy props. The always sloppy (yet endearing) hit songs sounded just as smartly crafted as they did when they had distortion. The crowd was singing along to favorites "Just Like Kurt" and "Got Beat Up," while brief interludes of acoustic Minor Threat and calls for Project X covers reminded me that this once beloved scene still exists somewhere. –Carl Gambrell
Jesse Lacey and Vin Accardi (Brand New) / Mercury Lounge
Surprisingly, there were no screaming emo girls at Jesse Lacey and Vin Accardi’s special eight song acoustic set for Stunt Company’s annual Homespun CMJ showcase. Everyone was respectful and relatively restrained, except maybe for the front row die-hards who wouldn’t consider budging for any latecomers (or writers) trying to get closer to the stage.
After doing his own setup and tech, Lacey quietly sat down with Accardi, opening with “The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot.” The audience sang along in hushed indoor voices, and the air was thick with awe. Then, after a stripped down version of ‘Sowing Season (Yeah)” and a mellow rendition of “Luca,” a zealous superfan yelled, “Brand New’s the best! Fuck TBS!” to which Lacey responded, “That kid’s from 1999. He came here in his time machine.”
Lacey claimed he and Accardi were “stretching for songs to play,” but their flawless set was a total crowd pleaser. Lacey seemed to enter a Zen, trance-like state, delivering his vocals impeccably while Accardi retreated into shy guy mode and barely uttered a word. Despite the audience’s request for “Soco Amaretto Lime,” the Long Island natives closed the show with their UK B-side “Moshi Moshi” and the Neutral Milk Hotel cover, “Oh Comely.” –Nadine Cheung
