The entire CMJ Festival, from October 15th – Octoebr 19th, is gonna be fun as always and the line up is dishy with even rumors of a secret Arcade Fire gig in Brooklyn. But for me, the afternoon KEXP radio shows are the keepers. Tell me a better way to spend your afternoon than with Au Revoir, Simone or Eleanor Friedberger?
Monday – Those Darlins – Mercury Lounge – This years Dixie Chicks
Monday – Nine Inch Nails – The new album is their most accessible to date and Trent is better for it
Tuesday – Placebo – Terminal 5 – Bowie for bumpkins, but no worse for that.
Tuesday – Brian Wilson And Jeff Beck – The mix seems a little off but still, it is Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck (and Al Jardine)
Tuesday – The Bongos – Living Room – Highly buzzed old band coming up strong according to Robert Ross -whose opinion is worth heeding.
Wednesday – Savages – Highly heeded as well… English female Joy Division wannabes.
Wednesday – Glenn Tilbrook – Stage 48 – Crawford damned him with faint praise… but praise nevertheless
Thursday – Real Estate – Bowery Ballroom – Sold out… wait a second, SOLD OUT???
Thursday – David Cassidy – BB Kings – I though I loved him when I saw him here two years ago.
Friday – Yuck – Mercury Lounge – Sold out… which actually makes sense.
Friday – Pearl Jam – Barclay Center – The new album is terrific and the buzz on this show is deafening. Sold out of course.
Friday – Janelle Monae – Apollo – Although I remain skeptical about this diva, and her performance at the Stevie Wonder gig did nothing to allay my fears, there are some true believers about this r&b diva. Sold out.
Sunday – Selena Gomez – Prudential – All grown up