192810

your guide to CMJ, Wednesday October 22, 2008

by Bill Pearis

1928

Even if you don’t have a badge, CMJ (Oct 21-25 in NYC) can be overwhelming… especially these days with the proliferation of day parties, unofficial showcases and afterparties. Running around like a crazy person trying to catch everyone you want to see can be fun, but sometimes it’s not such a bad idea just to pick one place and stay there. With that in mind, I’ve picked one day party and one evening showcase for each of the five days, as well as late night parties where applicable. The guide to Wednesday (10/22) is below…

DAYTIME: Earfarm’s fest at Pianos is no doubt great (Takka Takka, Project Jenny, Project Jan, Sam Champion, and more), but I’ve gotta go with the Terrorbird Media party at Cake Shop that also features Takka Takka, but also Canada’s amazing Faunts, NYC’s shoegaze-trance-dancers School of Seven Bells, overachievers Women, Marnie Stern and many more.

EVENING: Blog collective After the Jump have commandeered the entirety of the Knitting Factory on Wednesday: the Old Office is dedicated to “the Best of New York” (incl. The Beets, The Lisps, Motel Motel); the Tap Bar is “fuzz pop” (incl. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, My Teenage Stride, Ringo Deathstarr); with the main space hosting Crystal Antlers, Bad Veins, Heloise & the Savior Faire and more. The only downside is that each of the spaces have a separate entrance fee for those of you without badges — but the Tap Bar would be enough for me.

AFter the Jump

LATE NIGHT: Head to Cake Shop for a trio of bands on the 1928 label, including San Diego’s Muslims, one of ten (!) shows they’ll be playing during the week. You really should see them at least once. Tonight is also the first Vice party at The Studio and it is Black Bubblegum approved.

See also
* the CMJ week in Dance w/ Showtrotta
* the 2008 guide to Hip Hop shows & panels @ CMJ
* the 2008 guide to Heavy Music shows & panels @ CMJ
* more (popular, previously posted) CMJ show reminders
* 10 bands/artists to see @ the CMJ Music Marathon
* BV CMJ day party #1 – Pianos main stage lineup & set times
* RSVP for Vice’s 2008 CMJ late night parties
* listen to KEXP live CMJ sessions all this week