20 bands to not miss at CMJ 2008

Sam Champion

Sam Champion has spent much of their career fighting off comparisons to both Pavement and the slightly creepy Good Morning America weatherman of the same name. (The general consensus is that they're not as good as the former, but more fun to listen to than the latter). But after honing their sound through years of constant touring, the band has slowly come into its own, and even become a sort of local institution. While they've yet to shed their obvious Pavement influence, the band has also added classic rock, Americana and new wave to the mix on its new album "Heavenly Bender." Couple those new flourishes with a reputation for energetic live shows and you have a strong candidate for one of CMJ's breakout bands. Playing with The Jealous Girlfriends, Mancino, The Silent League. TICKET INFO.