CMJ 2009 is in NEW YORK CITY!!!

WOW!

Its only been 4 years since I worked daily in college radio, but I totally forgot that CMJ was happening right now right here in Manhattan! Am I going to attend? NO! But I did pick up a free pamphlet that told me all about the festival and let me tell you all something: I don’t recognize anybody! Even the headliner of the fest (Atlas Sound) means nothing to me! What has happened? Have I lost touched with my indie roots? Have I gotten too caught up on the endless cycle of the shuffle button on my iPod that I have forgotten about the necessary need to reload the machine with new bands and songs? Yes! And more stuff like that too!

But the festival does look pretty nice. Judging from the L Magazine, Brooklyn’s own “The Grooms” are going to be a major attraction at this years fest. Also “the XX” (which the Romans dubbed simply as “twenty”) are expected to make a substantial apperance. Also the old trustworthy’s Ted Leo, Cold Cave, and Surf City.

But my favorite part of the fesitval is going through the directory and picking out my favorite unknown band names. Criteria for picking out bands as “favs” comes from a few sources: most originality, best obscure pop culture references and most importantly, how foolish a hipster would look if he attempted to brag about seeing them while keeping a straight face.

Below are my favorites from CMJ 2009:

-Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger!
-Philip Seymour Hoffman
-Paper or Plastic?
-Rumspringa
-Steve Shiffman and the Land of No
-Silly Kissers
-Die! Die! Die!
-Freelance Whales
-Surprise guest (might not actually be the name of a band as much as an announcement, but if that ISN’T a real name, I would totally use it)
-You, You’re Awesome
-Das Racist
-Moondoggies
-Casino vs. Japan
-Unicycle Loves You

Hope everyone had a good time at the festival! Feel free to tell my editors you saw me there, feverishly scribbling notes in chunky black framed glasses while wearing New Balance sneakers and drinking fair-trade decaf espresso!