CMJ 2009: Day 3

Brooklyn's Sean Bones closes out a lonnnnng night at Mercury Lounge

It was Hockey Night in Lower Manhattan as the Portland collective fed the hype machine with anticipated sets at the SPIN roof deck and Mercury Lounge. We’ve got even money on these guys being this year’s Passion Pit-like breakout. Joining Hockey was Patrick Watson, Local Natives, Ambulance LTD (new album please!) and two-tone rockers Sean Bones. At Music Hall of Williamsburg, Temper Trap and aw-shucks folkers Mumford and Sons played for cute girls and boys. Late night we hit Public Assembly for Cymbals Eat Guitars and Ume. At the Brooklyn Vegan day party at Pianos, Holly Miranda blew us away almost as much as Surfer Blood didn’t. Jack White apparently likes JEFF the Brotherhood, and so do we. Also featured: Freelance Whales, Peggy Sue, Moonbabies, Goldhawk, Golden Silver.

Interviews and reporting by Andy Hermann, Matt Rodbard and Jason Newman; Photos by Ryan Muir and Gabi Porter