Suggested itineraries

Jay Reatard playing Maxwell's October 23

Photograph: Jeff Allen

Tue 21 | Wed 22 | Thur 23 | Fri 24 | Sat 25

Tuesday 21
Jason Molina, drummer, Longwave

6pm
Fresh Daily (Drom)
I’m picking this Brooklyn MC not only because he can rhyme, but for this bizarre bit of bio bravado on his MySpace: “an emcee who has a natural penchant for stunting and swagger that almost brinks on the precipice of asshole.” Precipice of asshole?!?

7pm
The King Left (Knitting Factory)
Nice guitars, nice vocals. Guys are apparently from Elmira, NY. I once went to a church there, as a kid.

8:10pm
Paramount Styles (Knitting Factory)
Scott McCloud’s new band. He was/is in Girls Against Boys. I used to love GVSB.

9pm
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (Bowery Ballroom)
I was torn between him and Mark Ronson deejaying at S.O.B.’s. You may be, too. Choose Miles.

10pm
The Picture (Mercury Lounge)
Yes, we’re friends. Yes, they’re great.

10:20pm
Passion Pit (Music Hall of Williamsburg)
A friend of mine loves ’em but won’t let me borrow the CD.

11pm
Lykke Li (Bowery Ballroom)
More good Ikea pop—she’s from Stockholm.

11:45
HR from Bad Brains (Crash Mansion)
I saw Bad Brains when I was 19 or something (opening for Living Colour!). Instead of HR, they had some wanna-be singing. They sucked.

Midnight
The Phenomenal Handclap Band (Music Hall of Williamsburg)
I think Aurelio from Calla sings. Fun, sexy B-movie soundtracks.

Longwave plays Bowery Ballroom Oct 24.

Wednesday 22»

CMJ for dummies | If at first you don’t succeed…

Tue 21 | Wed 22 | Thur 23 | Fri 24 | Sat 25

Wednesday 22
Matt McDonald, VP, Artists & Events, CMJ Network

7pm
The Pragmatic (Pianos)
Sounds a bit familiar, but the parts seem to be there.

7:45pm
Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! (Lit Lounge)
Best name of the night.

8pm
Tobacco(Mercury Lounge)
Warmly skewed electronic pop.

9pm
The Blooms (Fat Baby)
Curious how it translates live; hoping there’s a sense of humor to match the convincing Queen/Sweet grandiosity.

10:20pm
Mickey Factz (S.O.B.’s)
Good time to put some hip-hop into my night.

11pm
Scouting for Girls (The Annex)
Blowing up in the U.K.; I’ll pop in to see why.

11:15pm
Women (Cake Shop)
I’ve been enjoying their record of drony pop.

Midnight
The Naked & Famous (Fontanas)
A band that I knew nothing about when evaluating their submission, but have kept returning to. Prickly and expressive.

October 23»

CMJ for dummies | If at first you don’t succeed…

Tue 21 | Wed 22 | Thur 23 | Fri 24 | Sat 25

October 23
Danny Goldberg, president, Gold Village Entertainment

7:30pm
Juliana Hatfield (Housing Works Used Book Café)
I’ve been a fan since I signed her to Atlantic, and she continues to release really solid records.

8:30pm
The Dears(Hiro Ballroom)
I really like Murray Lightburn’s vocals, and this is a great venue to see this Montreal band perform.

9:20pm
Justin TownesEarle (92YTribeca)
I have been a fan of Justin’s for a while now, as I represent his father; he is a great fingerpicker and a fantastic songwriter in his own right.

10pm
Oakley Hall (92Y Tribeca)
I really enjoyed their record I’ll Follow You and haven’t had a chance to see them live.

11pm
Jay Reatard (Maxwell’s)
Here’s hoping his show is as intense and full of energy as I expect.

Midnight
Pela(Mercury Lounge)
A great Brooklyn band to end an evening of live music in New York.

Danny Goldberg presents a CMJ address Oct 24.

October 24»

CMJ for dummies | If at first you don’t succeed…

Tue 21 | Wed 22 | Thur 23 | Fri 24 | Sat 25

Death Vessel at Pianos

Photograph: Lisa Corson

October 24
Jonathan Meiburg, singer, Shearwater

9:15pm
Death Vessel (Pianos)
Underrated. Beautiful voice, songs and album.

11pm
Pattern Is Movement (Union Pool)
Honest-to-shit prog, served up with gusto.

12:15am
RubySuns (Pianos)
Tour-van favorite lately, lovely acoustic psychedelia. Many voices.

1am
Monotonix (Knitting Factory)
Expect this band to be anywhere but the stage by the end of the show. Hair-raising and awesome.

Shearwater plays (Le) Poisson Rouge Mon 20.

October 25»

CMJ for dummies | If at first you don’t succeed…

Tue 21 | Wed 22 | Thur 23 | Fri 24 | Sat 25

October 25
Kelly Reid, Music Director, WKNC, Raleigh, NC

7pm
The Physics of Meaning (Rehab)
This is the solo project of Daniel Hart, who shares his time and incredible multi-instrumental talent with the bands of St. Vincent and John Vanderslice. Hart’s music, self-described as chamber rock, is complex in part from his classical training, but remains relative to indie rock with strong melodies, gorgeous layering and simple honesty.

8pm
Pit er Pat (The Annex)
Pit er Pat is similar in sound to its labelmates Fiery Furnaces but provides for a more instrumental, mind-boggling, and spiritual journey—not to mention one hell of a percussion contribution from Butchy Fuego, a must-see for those in love with drummers.

9:30pm
Motel Motel (Union Hall)
The buzz I have heard about this band’s live performance is more like thunder. Motel Motel delivers electric folk-rock songs, complete with a string quartet.

11pm
Suckers (Pianos)
Working off recent tour dates with Yeasayer, this group expands on the sound of Animal Collective but brings the pop melodies of the Beach Boys even closer to 2008.

11:45pm
Restavrant (Santos Party House)
These Texans know how to throw a tight dance party and rock show—somehow, all at once.

Midnight
The Rosebuds (Mercury Lounge)
The dynamics of the songs on their latest release, Life Like, are unforgettable—this is pop at its very best.

1am
People Under the Stairs (Knitting Factory)
This hip-hop group brings the sunny days of its L.A. hometown to New York.

CMJ for dummies | If at first you don’t succeed…