Having heard of less than 10% of the CMJ line-up, Day 1 was an evening of new discoveries and a lesson in efficiency. The HiFi Cartel convened at the brand-new Limewire space in SoHo for the CMJ Media Meet & Greet before going our seperate ways to cover as many artists as possible. Check out some highlights after the jump.
DAY 1 PHOTOS COMING SOON…
We started our excursion with Rioux, who kicked off the ReMu Showcase at NYU’s Eisner & Lubin Auditorium. Using a floor tom, guitar, trumpet, electronic drum pad and a MacBook, Rioux demonstrated how technology has drastically changed the concept of a one-man band. Also at the ReMu Showcase, John Record performed for the first time with his backing band, the 45’s. The 45’s music is reminiscent of The Roots’ jazzy live set, and was well suited for John Record’s soulful songs.
Meanwhile, at S.O.B’ s Chiddy Bang dropped some tracks from their mixtape. The Philly based hip-hop group has a knack for chopping and breaking up familiar tunes into a style of their own. From their remix of MGMT’s Kids to incorporating samples from Mary Poppins, this group exercises a strength in lyrics with a refreshing play on familiarity.
Next up, we headed to the Stereogum showcase at The Studio at Webster Hall in time to catch a few songs from Free Energy, a Philadelphia-based band with a country rock feel. The Golden Filter’s electronic set followed. Notoriously shy, lead singer Penelope seemed to be hiding behind her hair, but her movement and performance more than made up for it. Though she barely interacted with the audience, she did take a moment to say “this is so much fun… I’m having a fucking ball!”. The group closed with their best-known song, “Solid Gold”.
Our advice for the week? Plan wisely – a lot of the events are at small venues and can fill up quickly, so if you really want to see a particular artist, make sure you arrive early. The events are all over Manhattan and Brooklyn, so if you’re going to multiple shows, a good route is essential.
Tonight we’ll be checking out The xx at Mercury Lounge, followed by The Green Owl showcase at Le Poisson Rouge. We’ll be capping off the night with the Fool’s Gold Showcase at 88 Palace.
Additional reporting by Richie Adomako
