CMJ 2009 - Bill's Thursday picks & stuff (Moonbabies, BV day party, FOUND, JEFF The Brotherhood, more)

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies – We’re Layabouts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies – Sun A.M. (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies – War on Sound (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Moonbabies – Take Me to the Ballroom (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: JEFF the Brotherhood – Bone Jam (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: JEFF the Brotherhood – Heavy Damage (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lovvers – Human Hair (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales – Ghosting (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Freelance Whales – Generator 2nd Floor (MP3)

JEFF The Brotherhood in Nashville (more by Paul Birman)

DAYTIME

Today’s the free Brooklyn Vegan party at Pianos (158 Ludlow Street, NY, NY). Downstairs I’ve dubbed the “TWII Stage” as every band playing has been written about on This Week in Indie at some point over the last year, even the just-announced Sky Larkin. I’m super excited that the day starts with Moonbabies‘ first U.S. show in eight years. We’ve also got Italy’s A Classic Education, who are a more orchestral take on ’90s indie rock and are pretty great live. Then there’s the wild, in-your-face triple threat of the UK’s Lovvers, Montreal’s Duchess Says and Nashville’s JEFF the Brotherhood which might leave Pianos in shambles. And then of course Surfer Blood who are playing a total of 12 shows this week. Insane. Buy some throat coat tea, guys. Upstairs is a little more civilized but no less awesome, including Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s Alec Ounsworth, Freelance Whales, Peggy Sue, former Jealous Girlfriends singer Holly Miranda who is now on XL, her Saddle Creek-signed friend Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson and more. Full lineup with set times below.

Not that you’d really have any reason to leave our party at all, but Aquariam Drunkard is throwing a very good party too over at Fontana’s. Playing are The Love Language (who play the BV loft party tomorrow night), neo trip hoppers Phantogram, Local Natives (who also play the loft party and the BV/Bowery Presents day party on Saturday), The Happy Hollows, The Roadside Graves, Joshua James, and Blair.

NIGHTTIME

If you can’t make it in time for Moonbabies noon set time at Pianos, they’re playing tonight as part of an all-Swedish event at the Norwood Club in the Meatpacking District featuring bands and DJs. Along with Moonbabies, performers include the smoky jazz pop of Francis, singer-songwriters Sofia Talvik and Jaw Lesson. Also, for those curious types, Norwood is a chi chi private club, so here’s your chance to see how the other half parties.

Found

There’s a good lineup at The Rose in Williamsburg which is usually a jazz club but tonight plays host to four electronic-leaning bands. The one I really want to see is FOUND who are an artist collective/band from Edinburgh, Scotland whose sound ranges from celtic to glitchy funk. They are a little odd, in a good way, and I hear are worth seeing live. You candownload their Fidelities EP here. Also on the bill: Gainsville, FL’s Oh Fortunamake infectious synth-pop; Detroit’s Computer Perfection who are an offshoot of Pas/Cal and make highly orchestrated ’60s psych pop; and Brooklyn’s interestingly-named Binary Marketing Show.

And at Music Hall of Williamsburg is an almost entirely UK line-up, the kind that would probably have editors at Q and Uncut salivating. And the one band that’s not British, Australia’s The Temper Trap, pretty much sound like they’re from the UK (I’m thinking the U2s, Travises and Keenes of the Brit scene). More interesting to me are openers The Golden Silvers, who seem to pull influence from equal parts ELO and ABC. It is at times so sugary your teeth hurt, but they know their way around a good hook. Also playing are Mumford & Sons who are the most celtic-leaning of the London folk scene that gave us Laura Marling and Noah & the Whale. They are impressive live, really nailing those lush harmonies. I don’t know a lot about Goldhawks but their reach-for-the-stars brand of Brit Indie will probably sound even bigger with MHoW’s kick-ass soundsystem. The Music Hall show is now sold out, but you can still get in with a badge.

Our hip hop recommendations (including the BV-sponsored show at Southpaw tonight) HERE. The xx (who played to an overpacked Mercury Lounge last night) is at the Apple Store at 7, and then they play the NME party at the Delancey tonight with The Antlers who played an in-store at Sound Fix yesterday where Cymbals Eat Guitars DON’T (CANCELLED) play today before heading to Public Assembly for the late night Vice party with Ume who play our day show at Fontana’s on Friday with Crystal Antlers who played the Vice late night party last night with Grooms who replaced Cold Cave who cancelled.. Deer Tick headline Bowery Ballroom tonight. Chris Denny, who also plays the BV day party today, is one of the openers on that show. Fliers, a Golden Silvers video and day party set times after the jump…

Golden Silvers – “Arrows of Eros”

DOWNSTAIRS
12:00 Moonbabies
12:45 A Classic Education
01:30 Sky Larkin
02:15 Surfer Blood
03:00 Lovvers
03:45 Duchess Says
04:30 JEFF the Brotherhood

UPSTAIRS
01:00 Freelance Whales
01:45 Rebecca Schiffman
02:30 Peggy Sue
03:15 Chris Denny
04:00 Holly Miranda
04:45 Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
05:30 Alec Ounsworth (CYHSY)

Aquarium Drunkard/Intelligent Noise Showcase
12:00pm Blair
12:45pm The Love Language
1:30pm The Roadside Graves
2:15pm Phantogram
3:00pm Joshua James
3:45pm The Happy Hollows
4:30pm Local Natives

JEFF the Brotherhood – U Got The Look from Brooklyn Vegan on Vimeo.