Whither Festivus: CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival

It’s at times like these that I really long for a life of leisure, because it’s once again time for that giant of a festival known as CMJ, this year taking place in NYC from October 21st-25th. You know, that days-long festival of all things music, whirlwind blurs of days crammed full of bands, bands, and more bands. I’ve wanted to go for years, and still haven’t made it, but for those of you who are attending this year, you’re in for many a treat.

I’m seriously drooling over the schedule this year. Take a deep breath before reading the list below, because it’s exhausting. Scheduled to appear in some form at CMJ this year:

(k)nights On Earth * 1090 Club * 13ghosts * 2AM Club * 2manydjs * 30H3! * 77 Klash * 88-Keys * A BIG YES and a small no * A Brief Smile * A Faulty Chromosome * A Place to Bury Strangers * A. Pinks * Aa * Aaron LaCrate * Aaron Lee Tasjan * Aaron Thomas * The Abdomen * Abigail Warchild * Aceyalone * Adam Heldring * Adept * Aderbat * Adventure * Afghan Raiders * Agallah * Aggrolites * AIDS Wolf * AK-1200 * Akimbo * Akudama * Al James The Unfazed * Al James the Unfazed and Tenlons Fort * The Albertans * Alex Diaz y Son de la Calle * Alex English * Alex English * ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE * Ali Eskandarian * Ali Vegas * Alina Simone * All The Saints * The Alright Ma's * Amanda Diva (host) * Amazing Baby * Ambulance LTD * America's Sweetheart * The Amity Front * Amy Miles * An Albatross * An American Chinese * An Horse * Andrea Gibson * Andrew Collberg * Andrew Gerardi Band * Andrew Gibson * Andrew Hoover * Ane Brun * Animal Farm featuring Mic Crenshaw * Animal Hands * Animate Objects * Annie Lynch and the Beekeepers * Annuals * Another Black Day * The Answer * Anthony Green * Apache Beat * Ape School * The Apes * Apollo Heights * Apollo Run * Arabian Prince * Arbouretum * Ari Gold * Ari Up and the True Warriors * Arkadelphia * Arms * Army Navy * Arsonists Get All The Girls * The Art of Shooting * Article A * Arum Rae * As Tall As Lions * As Tall As Lions * Asa Ransom * Au * Au * Audrye Sessions * Auntkeke * Autodrone * Autovaughn * Averkiou * Aviette * Awesome New Republic * The Awkward Stage * Ayurveda * B.O.B. * Backseat Goodbye * Bad Veins * Bailiff * Bamboo Shoots * Bang Bang Eche * Barton Carroll * Battle Circus * Bazaar Royale * Beach House * Bear Hands * Bear In Heaven * Bear Number 141 * Bearsuit * Bedtyme357 * Bel Air * Bell * The Belleville Outfit * Ben Arnold * Ben Burgess Band * Ben Carroll * Ben Weaver * Benji Cossa * Best Friends Forever * Best Fwends * Beyondo * Big Ears & Courage * Big Gunz * Bill Mike Band * Biodesel M02 DJ Tucci * Bird To Prey * Bird To Prey * Birds of Maya * Bisc 1 * BISON b.c. * The Black & White Years * Black Clouds * The Black Hollies * Black Ice * Black Joe Lewis * Black Milk * Black Taxi * Blackmarket * Blackstrap * Blind Pilot * Blind Pilot * Blitz The Ambassador * The Blizzards * Blonde Acid Clut * Bloodgroup * The Blooms * Blu & Mainframe (as Johnson & Johnson) * Blue Album Group * The Blue Van * BM Linx * Boat People * The Boat People * Bodega Girls * Bomb The Bass * Bonne Aparte * Bottle Up & Go * The Bowmans * The Box Social * Boy Eats Drum Machine * Boy Eats Drum Machine * Boy Genius * Brak * Breaking Laces * Brent Amaker and the Rodeo * Bret Mosley * Bridges and Powerlines * Brighton MA * The Broadfield Marchers * Broken Social Scene * The Broken West * The Bronx * The Bronzed Chorus * Brooke Waggoner * The Brother Kite * The Brought Low * Brown Dog Jonez * Brown Dog Jonez * Brown Shoe * Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears * Buddahead * Buddy * Build * Bumblebeez * Bury Your Dead * Cactus's * Cadence * Caitlin Moe * Caitlin Rose * Cale Parks * California King * Cameron Matthews * Canada * Canasta * The Canon Logic * Capitol K * The Capstan Shafts * Captain Coconut * Carcrashlander * Carlon * Carlotta * Carolyn Alroy * The Carps * The Carribean * Cars Can Be Blue * Casiokids * The Cassidy Project * Castanets * Catalepsy * Catcall * Cause Co-motion! * Cereal Killa * Chachi & Trenton Street Rockers * Chairlift * Chairlift * Chana Rothman * Change The Station * The Chapin Sisters * Chappo * Charles Burst * Charles Hamilton * Charlie Louvin * Charlie Mars * Charlie Pickett * Charm City Devils * Che Grand * Check Out the Tits on Tituba * Cheeseburger * Cherry S/T * Chester French * Chester French * Chewing Pics * Child Bite * Children * Chris Abad * Chris Bathgate * Chris Bergson * Chris Brokaw * Chris Leo's Vague Angels * Chris Mills * Chris Nathan * Chris Pureka * Christopher Barnes * Chuck E Costa * Cinema Cinema * City Center * Classixx * Clearview * Cloud 9 * Cloud Cult (Acoustic) * The Coast * The Coathangers * Coheed & Cambria * Cola Freaks * Colin Smith * Collin Monroe * Comic Book Heroes * Company of Thieves * Continental Divide * The Contrast * The Cool and Deadly * Cool Kids * Cordero * Cory Chisel * Cory Chisel & the Wandering Souls * Cotton Jones * The Crash Motive * The Cringe * Crocodiles * Crystal Antlers * Crystal Castles * Crystal Stilts * Cuchillo * Cut Off Your Hands * CYNE (DJ set) * Dallas Austin * Dam Funk * Dan Craig * Dan Evans * Dan Torres * Dances With White Girls * Daniel Merriweather * Dara * Darkest Hour * Dashah * Dave Doobinin * Dave Smallen * David Banner * DD/MM/YY * Dead Heart Bloom * Dead Leaf Echo * Dead Men Dreaming * Dead Prez * Deadbeat Darling * Deanna Devore * Dear Everything * Dear Thief * The Dears * Deastro * Death Vessel * Deerhoof * Del McCoury Band * Delays * Dellacane * Delta Fiasco * The Delta Spirit * Delta Spirit * Dent May * Depedro * The Depreciation Guild * Designer Drugs * Device * Devlin and Darko * Dexter Romweber Duo * Die! Die! Die! * Dieselboy * Dimitry!!! * Dirty Fuzz * Distraction * Diz Gibran * Dj Aaron Axelsen * DJ Amylulita * Dj Andre Allen Anjos * DJ Babu * DJ Beverly Bond * DJ Boo * DJ Boo * DJ Dub Defender * DJ Hanukkah Miracle * DJ Justin Carter * DJ Marcelo Cunning * Dj Mike Dextro * DJ Parler * DJ Pumpkin Patch * DJ Rekha * DJ Rekha * DJ Ruckus * DJ Skeletons * DJ Soulscape * DJ Spinna * DJ Sucio Smash * DJ Sugarfree * DJ Wonder * Djs invisible Kid * DJs Jake D and Boyhollow * DJs Mick Boogie & Benzi * DJs Nickodemus & OBaH * DMBQ * DMZ * Don Juan Dracula * Donavon Frankenreiter * Donny Goines * Donovan Quinn & the 13th Month * Doug Gillard * Doug Paisley * Drag On * Dragons of Zynth * The Dreadful Yawns * Dred Scott Trio * Dri * Duchess Says * Dujeous * The Duke Spirit * Dungen * Duquette Johnston * Dust Jacket * The Dutchess & The Duke * Dynah * Eagle Seagull * Earth Eater * Ebony Bones * Eclectic Method * Ecstatic Sunshine * Edan The DJ/Egon * The Egg * El Jezel * The Element * Elephone * Eli Escobar * Elizabeth ! * Elizabeth Willis * Elk City * Ellen Cherry * The Emeralds * Emillio Rojas * Emily Simone * Emmy the Great * Empire ISIS * The End Of The World * Endless Boogie * The Envy Corps * Envy On the Coast * Eren Cannata * Erin Sax Seymour * Esso * Etan * The Ettes * The Ettes * Eugene Franicis Jr. and The Juniors * Eulogies * Eulogies * Eve to Adam * everybody out * Everybodyfields * Evidence * Evidence * Ex Norwegian * Ex Reverie * Excepter * Experimental Dental School * Ezekiel Honigc * Ezra Furman and the Harpoons * Fake Problems * Fanfarlo * Fastest Rapper Alive Contest * Faunts * Favourite Sons * Fear Nuttin Band * Festival * Fiasco * Fight Bite * Fighting With Wire * Figo * Finn Riggins * The Fire and Reason * Fires of Rome * First Cousin * Five Finger Death Punch * Flying * Folk and Stress * Forever * The Forms * Four Trips Ahead * Frances * Francis & The Lights * Franki Chan * Freakwent Flyahs * Free Sol * Free Sol * French Horn Rebellion (FHR) * Fresh Daily w/ special guest P.Casso * Fresh Kills * The Friday Night Boys * Friendly Fires * Friendly Fires (DJ set) * Front Page * Frontier Ruckus * Fujiya & Miyagi * G-spot * Game Rebellion * Gang Gang Dance * Gangi * The Gay Blades * George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars * Gerd Baier and Phillip Gutbrod * Ghost Front * Gigantic * Gillen & Turk * Gilles Vonsattel * The Giraffes * The Giraffes * Girls Like Cigarettes * giveamanakick * The Glad Version * Glasser * Gliss * Global Hip-Hop Throwdown hosted by Pharoahe Monch * Go Motion * God Forbid * Goes Cube * Gold Streets * Good Times Crisis Band * Goodbye Picasso * The GoStation * Graeme K. * Grafh & Prinz * Graham MacRae * Grammar Debate * Grammer Debate * Grand Avenue * The Grand March * Great Lakes * Greg Camp * Gregory Miles Harris * Greycoats * Gringo Star * Gringo Star * The Grip Weeds * Growing * Ha Ha Tonka * Haale * Hackman * Haircut * Hakim * The Handcuffs * Happy Anarchy * The Happy Hollows * The Hard Lessons * Havok * HeartsRevolution * Heathers * Heavy Hands * Hecuba * Heidi Happy * Heist at Hand * The Helio Sequence * Heloise and the Savoir Faire * Henny C * Hermit Thrushes * Hexes & Ohs * Hey Rosetta! * Higgins * High Places * The High Wire * HO-AG * Holidays of Seventeen * Holler Wild Rose * Hollywood Holt * Home and Garden * Home Video * Homeboy Sandman * The Homosexuals * Honey LaRochelle * The Hong Kong Blood Opera * The Hood Internet * Hooray For Humans * Hopewell * Hospital Bombers * The Hosts * Hot Cha Cha * Hot Lava * Hot Panda * Hotel Lights * Hottub * Housing Authority * Howlies * The Howlies * HR (Bad Brains) * HR record Release * The Hundred Days * Hype Of The States * Hypernova * I Wrestled A Bear Once * I'm Not Jim * Ian Axel * Ifwhen * Ill Bill * Iller Than Theirs * Imaginary Johnny * Immortal Technique * In This Moment * Ingrid Olava * Inlets * Invizzibl Men * Iran * Irata * Ironweed * Israel Ripka * Its Not You Its Me * IY * Izza Kizza * J-Messinian * J-Ronin * J.Rocc * Jack Savoretti * Jack Savoretti * The Jacks * jacksonknife * Jah Dan & Noble Society * Jake Morris Group * James Fucking Friedman * James Jackson Toth * James LaVelle * James Maddock * James Pants * Janelle Monae * Japandroids * Japanese Motors * Jared Mees and The Grown Children * Javelina * Jay Nash * Jay Reatard * Jay Retard * Jealous Girlfriends * The Jealous Girlfriends * Jeans Team * Jeff London * Jeff Stephens * Jeff Taylor * Jen Lasher * Jeremy Dawson (Shiny Toy Guns) * Jesse Dee * Jesse Ruben * Jessica Lea Mayfield * Jihae * Joan Osbourne * Joanne Erdos and the Midnight Party * Joe Pug * Joel Plaskett Emergency * Joell Ortiz * Joemca & Poets * JOESKI * John Biz * Johnny Foreigner * The Johns * Jon Meyers * Jonah Smith * The Jones Street Boys * Jonezetta * Jonny Meyers and The Band From Queens * Jose Conde Y Ola Fresca * Josh Charles * Josh Martinez * Judgement Day * Juiceboxxx * Jukebox the Ghost * Juliana Hatfield * Julianna Barwick * Julie Ocean * Julius C * June Star * Jungle Brothers * Junk Science * Jupiter One * Just Live * Justin Townes Earle * Kae Sharp * Kaiku * KaiserCartel * Kakkmaddafakka * Karkwa * Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden * Katie Buchanan * Katy Pfaffl * Kazua Band * Keegan DeWitt * Kelly Blair Bauman * Kevin Devin and Goddamed Band * Ki: Theory * Kid Dakota * Kid Theodore * Kid:Nap:Kin * Kidz in the Hall * Kim Taylor * King Darves * The King Left * King Reign * King Tuff * Kirsten Ketser * Klimek * Konqistador * Koufax * Krallice * Kria Brekkan * Kuroma * Kurt Vile * La La Brooks * La Strada * Labeling Deloris * Lacona * Lady Dottie and the Diamonds * The Ladybug Transistor * Laika and the Cosmonauts * Lail Arad * Land Of Talk * Late Of The Pier * Laura Barrett * Laura Gibson * Laura Gibson * Laura Warshauer * Lauren Flax * Le Caution * Le Concorde * Leah Siegel * Lee "Scratch" Perry * Lee Boys * Left to Vanish * Lemonade * Lemonade * Len Xiang * Leopold and his Fiction * Leslie Mendelson * Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez * Levi Weaver * Lewis and Clarke * Lick Lick * Lieutenant Marscapone * Life and Times * Lights * Lights Resolve * Lindsay Katt Rachel Platten & Madi Diaz * Linfinity * Lionel Neykov * Lisa Bianco * The Lisps * Lissy Trullie * Little Boots * Little Brother * The Little Death NYC * Little Jackie * Little Teeth * Lizzy Grant * Local Sound Style * Loer Velocity * Loki the Grump * The Lolligags * The London Souls * Longwave * Looker * The Loom * Loquat * Lord T and Eloise * Los Fancy Free * Los Straightjackets * Louis XIV * Love As Laughter * Love Automatic * LoveLikeFire * The Lovely Feathers * The Lovely Sparrows * The Low Anthem * Lozen * Luciano * Lucinda Black Bear * Lucius * Lucky Soul * Luke Temple * Lukestar * Luxa * Lykke Li * Lymbic System * M16 * Mad Staring Eyes * Made Out Of Babies * Madison South * Madlib * The Mae Shi * Magic Magic * Magnetic Morning * Mahogany * Mancino * Mandred * Mangu * Maniqui Lazer * Marching Band * Marco Benevento * Margot and the Nuclear So-and-Sos * Marisa Mini * Marissa Hanson * Marissa Nadler * MARK FARINA * The Mark Inside * Mark Ronson (DJ Set) * Marnie Stern * MARQUES WYATT * Mason Proper * Matt Bauer * Matt Bauer * Matt Duke * Matt Keating * Matt Morris * Matt York * Maurice Davis Band * Max Gabriel * Max ZT * Maya Azucena * Me Talk Pretty * Meika Pauley * Menya * The Mercury Seed * Meta and The Cornerstones * Metal Marathon * Metermaids * Metis * Mia Riddle * Micachu * Micachu & the Shapes * Micah Dalton * Michael And Marisa * Michael Daves * Michael Zapruder * Michael Zapruder * Mickey Factz * Middle Distance Runner * Midfall Drive * The Midway State * Mike Bones * Mike Castro * Mike Falzone * Mike G. and Sammie B (Jungle Brothers) * Mike Simonetti * Mikey Wax * Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson * Miniature Tigers * Minus the Bear * Miracles of Modern Science * Mirah * Miss Li * Mobius Collective * Modern Skirts * Mohawk Lodge * The Moi Non Plus * Monareta * Moneen * Monocle * Monotonix * The Mood * More Amor * The Morning Pages * Mostly Bears * Motel Motel * Motel Motel * Mother Mother * mr. Gnome * Mr. Reo * Mudville * Muggabears * The Mugs * Mugwump * Mumpsy * Murder Mystery * The Music Tapes * The Muslims * MuthaWit * Mutiny * My Imaginary Friends * My Mortality * My Teenage Stride * Myles Turney * Mystery of Two * Mythical Beast * The Nadas * NADAstrom * Nakatomi Plaza * The Naked And Famous * Natalie Portman's Shaved Head * Natalie Walker * Nathan Angelo * Nathaniel Hoho and the Click Clack Boom * Nation Beat * Needers & Givers * Neil Cavanagh * Nelo * Nels Andrews * Netherfriends * The New Surreal * New Villager * Nickel Eye * Night Horse * Nina B * Ninjasonik * No Kids * Noa Babayof * Noisettes * Norris * The Northern * Novillero * Nucomme * Nudge * Nuriya * Nuuro * NY Oil * NYCSmoke * Nyle * Oakley Hall * The Octagon * Octopus Project * Oddysey & I-Cue * One Block Radius * One For The Team * One Lone Car * One Trick Pony * Other Lives * Other Lives * Otis Grove * Outasight * Outernational * Ovum * Oxford Collapse * P. Casso * Pacific Division * The Pack A.D. * Padre Pio * The Pains of Being Pure at Heart * Pale Young Gentlemen * Palomar * Papertrigger * Paramount Styles (feat Scott McCloud and Paul Cantelon) * Park Avenue Music * The Parties * Party Animals * Pase Rock * Passenger * Passion Pit * Pat McGee * Patent Pending * Patrick Droney * Pattern is Movement * Paul Wallfisch * Paula Newwoman * Peachcake * Peephole * Pegasuses-XL * Pela * People Noise * People Under The Stairs * Pepi Ginsberg * Perfuma * Pete and J * Pete Tong * The Phenomenal Handclap Band * Phil and the Osophers * Phillip Eno * Phosphorescent * The Photo Atlas * The Physics of Meaning * The Picture * Picture Picture * Pictures and Sound * Pie Boys Flat * The Pimps of Joytime * pit-er-pat * Pity Party * Plants * Plants * Po' Girl * Poingly * The Poison Control Center * Ponderosa * Pontiak * Ponytail * Poor Bailey * Pop Static and PGDM DJ set * Portastatic * Portastic * PPP * The Pragmatic * Pre * Preacher and the Knife * Pretty and Nice * Pretty Good Dance Moves * Prince Terrence * Princeton * Professor Pez * Project Jenny Project Jan * Proton * Psychic llls * The psychic paramount * Psyopus * PWRFL Power * Q Tha Prophet * QQQ * Rachael Sage & The Sequins * Rachelle van Zanten * Radio 4 * Radio Luxembourg * Radio Luxembourg * Radioclit * Rahim * Rahsaan * Rain * Rainbow Arabia * Randall Bramblett * Ravens & Chimes * Raye 6 * Readymade Breakup * Real Ones * Rebekah Higgs * Recover * Red Lotus * Red Wanting Blue * Reed Waddle * Reggie Watts * Reminbi * Remo Da Superstar * Restavrant * RewBee * Rhymefest * Ribs * Rich Girls * Riddenpaa * The Right Ons * Ringo Deathstarr * Rings * Rio en Medio * Rit Mo Collective * Roadsaw * Rob Da Bank * Rob Walmart * Robin Horlock * Rocketship Park * Rockin Squatt * Roisin Murphy * Rok 1 * Roll The Tanks * The Roman Empire * Rong Music & DFA * The Rosebuds * Roxbury * Royal Bangs * The Royal Chains * Royal Vagabonds * The Royalties * Ruby Rivers * The Ruby Suns * Ruby Suns * Rumspringa * Rustlanders * The Rustles * Ryan Auffenberg * The Sad Little Stars * Said The Whale * Salt & Samovar * Sam Bisbee * Sam Champion * Sam Keenan * Sam Scarfo * The Sammies * Sara Watkins * Sarah Fullen & the Stanleys * Sarah Solovay * Sasha Dobson * The Satellite Nation * Sav Killz * Saves the Day * Savoir Adore * sBACH * Scars On Broadway * Scissors for Lefty * Scouting for Girls * Screen Vinyl Image * Screens * The Sea * The Seabellies * Sean Price * Sebastian Grainger & The Mountains * Second Dan * Secret Guest * The Secret Life of Sofia * See You Next Tuesday * The Selfsame * Semi Precious Weapons * Serena * Seth Kallen & The Reaction * Settle * Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned * Sha Stimuli * The Shackeltons * Shad * The Shalants * Shame Club * Shannon McArdie * Shawn Jackson * Shelley Green * Shellshag * SHINING * The Shiny Brights * Shiny Toy Guns * Shiragirl * The Shivers * Shout Out Out Out Out * Show Me Action * Shugo Tokumaru * Sian Alice Group * Sic Osyrus * The Silent League * The Silent Years * The Silos * Simon Boyar * Simon Says No! * Singing DJ Jens Lekman * Sister Suvi * Sisters 3 * Skeletonbreath * Skidmore Fountain * Skillz * Skriptkeeper * Sky Cries Mary * Skyzoo * Slang Chickens * Sleeperstar * Sleepy & Boo * The Smittens * The Snake Trap * Snowman * Snowman * So Many Dynamos * So Percussion * The So So Glos * SO4 DJ set * SO4 DJ set * Sohodolls * Soko * Sole and Skyrider Band * Soma * Sons of Bill * Soulwax * Soundpool * Sounds Under Radio * Southside Johnny w/ the LaBamba Big Band: Songs of Tom Waits * Spanish Prisoners * Spelling and Grammar * Spirit Of The Falcon-XL * Springhouse * Squaaks * St. Laz * Stalkers * Standard of Living * Starcode * Starfucker * Starling Electric * Stars Like Fleas * Stars Of Track And Field * Stationary Set * Stepanian * Stetsasonic (w/Prince Paul) * Steve Burns and The Struggle * Stook! * The Subjects * Suckers * Sundelles * Sunny Day Glasgow * The Sunstreak * Supa Nova Slom * Super XX Man * Super XX Man * Super XX Man * Surprise Guests * Susan Enan * Suzanna Choffel * Swati * Sweet Water * Sydney Wayser * Sylvie * T!Katz * The Takeover UK * Takka Takka * Talib Kweli * Talk To Angels * The Tall Pines * Tanya Morgan * Tara Jane O'Neil * Team Evil * Team Facelift * Team Genius * Team Robespierre * Teedo * The Teenage Prayers * Teenagers * The Telepathic Butterflies * Teletextile * Tender Loving Empire * Tenderhead * Tenlons Fort * Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt * Thank You * Thank You For The Drum Machine * That Ghost * Theresa Andersson * These Modern Socks * Thing One * This is Radio Freedom * This or the Apocalypse * This Reporter * Throttlerod * Through the Sparks' Jody Nelson * Thy Will Be Done * Tickley Feather * Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! * Tigercity * Tigercity * Tigers and Monkeys * Tim Blane * Tim Williams * Tina G * Tiny Animals * Titan * TK Webb & The Visions * Tobacco * Tobias Froberg * Toby Lightman * Todosantos * Tom Schraeder & His Ego * Tombs * Tommy D * Too Many Fish * Totally Michael * The Toxic Avenger * Tractor Operator * Tracy Shedd * Trash Talk * Traz Messiah * Trevor Giuliani * Trevor Menear * Tunnels to Holland * Turkuaz * Twi the Humble Feather * Two Hours Traffic * The Two Man Gentlemen Band * Two Spot Gobi * Tyler James * U G-D * U-N-I * U-N-I * U.S. Christmas * The Uglysuit * Uncensored Interview * Under Your Bead * Underwater Tea Party * Unholy * Unicycle Loves You * Unkle Bob * The Unsacred Hearts * The Valient Arms * VAN SCOTT * Vancougar * VAZ * The Vettes * Via Audio * Viking Moses * Villa Vina * Violens * Violent Sex * Virgin Forest * Virgin Passages * The Virgins * Vitamin-D * Vivian Darkbloom * Vivian Girls * Voodoo Funk * The Voom Blooms * Voyager One * Vreid * Vulture Whale * The WAAW Band * Wale * Wallpaper * Walter Meego * Warship * Watt White * Wax Tailor * We Are Standard * We Are The World * We Versus the Shark * We're All Just Passing Through * The Weepies * Weird Owl * Wes Jackson (host) * The Wet Secrets * Wetnurse * The Wheel * The Whip * White Lies * White Rainbow * White Shoes & The Couples Company * The Whitsundays * Whomadewho * Wild Light * Wild Sweet Orange * Will Knox * Willard Grant Conspiracy * the Winter Sounds * Women * Wooden Nickle * Woods * Woodwose * Wow & Flutter * Wye Oak * Wzt Hearts * Xtortya * XXXChange * The XYZ Affair * Yas * Yip Yip * Yo Majesty * Yoko * Young Lords * Young Love * Yz * Zack Hagan & 1050 * Zack Weber * Zambri * Zigmat * Zigmat * Zim * Zim * Zimbabwe Legit * Zimbabwe Legit *

It’s insane, it’s nuts, it’s crazy, and I’ve no doubt it’s gonna be fantastic. If all that music wasn’t enough, there are panels and film fun to keep you entertained as well. Talk about a humdinger.

Live Review: Lykke Li @ Black Cat, October 19

My love for Lykke Li, the Swedish chanteuse, really had grown into a bit of an inside joke between some fellow writer friends and me lately. Sure, her video for "Little Bit" is downright addictive, and I have no doubt that if I could do whatever drugs she apparently is taking, my life would be that much better. Her debut album, Youth Novels, has some of the best pop I've heard this year, but, really, is she worth all the blogosphere love she's been receiving? I am here to tell you that yes, she is. Her performance at the Black Cat was one of the best shows period I've seen there this year (granted, I've only seen about a half dozen there this year, but still).

I went with my kid brother and told him beforehand I had no idea what to expect. Sure, we bloggers really seem to dig her, but I was unaware of her blowing up on the radio or anything like that. Armed with that virtually worthless knowledge, I was pretty blown away when I got to the Cat around 9 pm, and the line was snaking to damn near the end of the block. Good Lord and Butter, thought I, this girl is doing a pretty good job getting the word out about herself these days.

I caught the last couple of songs by the opener, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, who strangely enough was traveling under the moniker The Family Robinson. Now, Miles' debut single, "Buriedfed," is one of the best damn singles I've heard this year, bar none. Sadly, his live performance leaves a bit more to be desired. While the band had a pretty good groove going, MBAR gave perhaps the most garbled vocal performance I've ever heard. Thinking it was perhaps a mic problem, I was even more surprised when the headliner took the stage and was as clear as a bell. Keep in mind, Ms. Li is from Sweden. Still, his eponymous CD is too good to just throw him by the wayside, so I'm going to assume I just saw him on an off night.

Ms. Li took the stage just around 10:15 and put on a relatively short show, clocking in at just under an hour. That being said, what an hour it was. She took to the stage with the instrumental portion of "Melodies & Desires" playing before launching into "Dance Dance Dance." Halfway through the latter song, she broke into a full fledged drum freak out that made me question whether or not my marriage was worth it or if I should just start a Lykke Li cult then and there. Having only one album to her name ("I am a debut artist," she informed the crowd at one point), she pretty much played all of Youth Novels with a couple of cover tunes. For those of you in the know, Lykke rocked out the old skool Fly Girl look, complete with the phat dookie gold chains. Amongst those gold chains was one gold plated (OK, probably painted) toy trumpet that made it out to the delight of the crowd.

So what made the show so downright fiery? While LL probably needs to work on a few portions of her act (every song does not have to end with a slowed down chanting of the chorus), she's got personality to spare. She's a spitfire under the stage lights, master of that clunky white girl dancing that made junior high proms such a wonderful thing. And let's be honest, an accent like hers is bound to delight even the most tone deaf of admirers.

The highlight of the evening quite probably was the final song of the encore, an impassioned version of A Tribe Called Quest's "Can I Kick It?" Hell, that one alone probably was worth the price of admission. It was during this song that she implored the audience to vote for Obama, which really seemed to piss off some guy next me. Yes, he had a point that as a Swede, she didn't have anything to do with our electoral process, but whatever.

I took a bunch of pictures, but not a damn one came out well. I probably should have tested the camera before using it for the first time, but what can you do? To the guy in front of me who probably wondered why I took that completely unnecessary picture of your ass, yeah, sorry about that dude. I promise you, I was trying to turn it off, not snap a shot of your dumpster. If you had been the guy in the "Little Bit" video, maybe, but you weren't, so there you go.

mp3: Can I Kick It? (live)

The Untitled Interview #13: Starring Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene)

We here at Les Enfants Terribles don't agree on everything, it'd be a little boring if we did after all, but one thing we can both get behind is that there sure is a lot of good music being made by our good neighbors to the north (in other words, we heart Canadians). Bearing that in mind, it made perfect sense to us to get some answers from one of Canada's best and biggest exports, Broken Social Scene.

The stars are all good and perfectly aligned for two local BSS shows, tomorrow night in Richmond and Wednesday in DC (ok, actually in Northern VA, but close enough), and we Terribles will both be representing in our respective cities. To celebrate, and encourage you heartily to venture out into the delicious fall evening and join us, we excitedly present the Untitled Interview starring Mr. Brendan Canning, who is himself celebrating a delightful (albeit prematurely released) solo album. As a little bonus, you'll find an audio treat below. And because he's such a BSS nut, Terrible Chris has thrown in a couple questions of his own. Enjoy.

Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
Brendan Canning: Today, good.

LET: What was the last song you listened to?
BC: The record shop I was just in was playing Canned Heat.

LET: Playing music is ___
BC: Going to delay my groin injury from healing.

LET: What album most made you realize that you wanted to make
music?
BC: KISS - Destroyer

LET: Beatles or Stones?
BC: Zeppelin.

LET: What're your top 5 albums?
BC: Today-
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Slayer - Reign in Blood
Neil Young - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
BC: 8 Mile.

LET: What city or venue would you like to play, but haven't
yet been to?
BC: Rio de Janeiro.

LET: Half-full or half-empty?
BC: What day is it?

LET: Apart from your band, which of your peers do you think is
making the best music these days?
BC: Are Wilco my peers?

LET: Favorite thing about Toronto?
BC: Kensington Market.

LET: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in
the morning?
BC: Do I really need to get out of bed today?

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
BC: Rotate this.

LET: What's the longest flight you've ever been on, and
where were you going?
BC: Toronto to Auckland-21 hours or so.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
BC: Tequila, lime and soda.

LET: What do you think is the secret to longevity as it relates
to bands?
BC: Have something else that makes you money. Or write a massive hit and then take a five year hiatus. If you've ever seen the movie Supertroopers, remember: desperation is a stinky cologne. (it's on in the bus right now.)

LET: If you weren't in a band, you'd be:
BC: Off of this bus.

LET: Best song ever written?
BC: “Pink moon” - Nick Drake.

Terrible Chris: Greatest Canadian band of all time? Greatest American?
BC: Rush. Talking Heads.

TC: Who's going to win the Stanley Cup this season?
BC: Who cares. Unless the Leafs start winning I could give a shit.

TC: Crosby or Ovechkin?
BC: ??

mp3: Brendan Canning - Hit the Wall

At the Cinema: Across the Universe

Since my good partner, Ms. Terrible, opted to write about a Beatles-inspired-though-not-actually-featuring-any-Beatles movie, I thought, hell, I can name that tune, too. So let's talk about Julie Taymor's Across the Universe. The movie itself has nothing to do with the Beatles themselves, but the entire soundtrack is composed of Beatles songs, so there's your link right there.

ATU aspires to be a musical of the old fashioned sort, with characters breaking into song for no particular reason at any and all moments, in seemingly unlikely locations. If you've seen any of Taymor's other works, either on-stage or on-screen, you probably know that you're going to get elaborate sets, big numbers and a whole lot of oddity that never quite resolves itself. Don't expect many deviations from that track record here.

The story focuses primarily on three characters, conveniently named after various characters in assorted songs from the Fab Four's catalogue, namely Jude, Max, and Lucy. And then there are the secondary characters, Sadie, Prudence, and a variety of others. The plotline follows this motley crew throughout the turbulent 60s, blah, blah, blah. The main storyline follows Max getting drafted, Jude escaping to the US to become an artist and avoid actually growing up, and Lucy becoming a war protester. The subplotlines deal with Prudence dealing with being a lesbian, Sadie and Jo-Jo dealing with stardom and their interracial romance, and a bunch of stuff involving various drugs throughout. Essentially, Taymor hits on all the stereotypical figures of the 60s. As a fully realized story, this flick is a bit of a miss. It's really more of a series of character sketches, but we're not here to talk about the movie itself, are we? Hells no, here at LET, we're all about the tunes. Or some such thing.

A couple of the actors have truly phenomenal voices, particularly Jim Sturgess (Jude), Martin Luther (Jo-Jo) and T. V. Carpio (Prudence). Of course, Luther and Carpio are only given a song or two each, but what can you do? They arguably are the best songs on the soundtrack. Sturgess does the amazing and actually sounds British when he sings. I've often wondered why nobody in England sings in an English accent. And now I know they can. I'm torn over the vocal stylings of Dana Fuchs (Sadie). She has a strong, coarse voice, and it's no surprise she once played Janis Joplin off-Broadway. If anything, she may have a bit too much grit for the songs she's given, but there's no doubting that she has one helluva set of pipes on her.

Did you want cameos by famous people? Well, ATU has those, too. Selma Hayek has a "so quick you'll miss it if you blink" role as a nurse in an apparent acid-induced fever dream. Bono plays a Timothy Leary knock off, Dr. Robert (natch), and is given the closing credits number, too. Most surprising, though, is a miscast Eddie Izzard as Mr. Kite, apparently the Ken Kesey counterpart. My god, the man is funny as all get out, but cannot carry a tune in a bucket. Interestingly enough (or not), he's also the only character allowed to add some improvised lines to his titular song. Hands down, though, the cameo highlight is Joe Cocker alternately playing a pimp and a bum while cranking out "Come Together." Sadly, Joe nailed the bum look. Still it's nice to see the genius still can belt 'em out, and that he's getting occasional work.

Is this a movie you need to rush out and see? Meh. Your call. If you do, while LET does not encourage drug use, I certainly couldn't argue that it wouldn't increase your enjoyment of this one. The soundtrack, however, does deserve a listen or two, particularly the tracks/singers highlighted above.

At the Cinema: The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour Memories

Hello, my name is Megan, and I’m a sucker for rock docs.

The latest installment in this mild infatuation of mine is the nostalgia-laden look at one of rock history’s most unusual roadtrips, “The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour Memories”. And while it’s well known that I prefer the Stones in musical realms, there’s no denying the overwhelming power of the Beatles when it comes to myths and legends and lore.

Sure, this documentary isn’t a big-budget affair. You’re not going to see the surviving Beatles sitting down for candid interviews about their “Magical Mystery Tour” experiences. But instead, it’s full of what you might never have thought of - the memories of others: press officers, family, journalists, and locals who found themselves in the fantastical path of that wacky yellow bus and those four legendary Liverpudlian boys. You’ll hear from Paul’s brother about the beginnings of the movie, and the local eggman of Newquay who had his van photographed by the Beatles.

It’s also an informative flick: I for one never knew where and why the name Death Cab for Cutie came from, but now I (and you) can rest easy. It’s a song by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, chosen to be in the “Magical Mystery Tour” movie by John Lennon. Either that, or the DCFC boys saw the same vintage true crime mag that inspired the Bonzo boys. Either way, it all appeals to the music history nerd in me.

Through rarely seen images and video clips, and radio interview segments, the film draws a clear picture of the experience not only for the band, but more so for those along for the ride. The one thing that could have been bettered would be the music, as the original versions of the songs were not used (I’m guessing because the price was too high). It’s a small point, though, and all in all, the doc is yet another thing for all you Beatles fans to sink your teeth into.

The Untitled Interview #12: Starring Paul Draper (ex-Mansun)

When I was 17 and firmly entrenched in the belief that any band from Britain was far better than any band from anywhere else, there was one band that really wowed me, really knocked my socks off, more than any other. That band was Mansun. Here was a band, I reckoned, that had “it,” something very special. They concocted songs about a fantastically twisted sort of British life, slightly sinister modern folk tales gone awry about stripping vicars and the like. Everything they did was done with panache, and even when the ferociously fickle music press was abouting face and doling out low blows, Mansun kept churning out great music, to the delight of their fanatical fanbase.

Six, the album which from what I remember did not fare well critically, still sounds remarkably ahead of its time even today, ten years after its release. I loved it then, and I love it possibly even more now. If you’ve never given a listen, there’s no time like the present to make amends. Paul Draper, Mansun’s former frontman and songwriter, has kept on making music of his own. You can and should give him a listen, too, and check his blog for updates and musings. In the spirit of Six’s tenth anniversary, I asked Paul some questions. After reading what he’s got to say, check out a clip of his favorite song to perform, taken from the V2000 festival.

Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
Paul Draper: Very good thanks. A bit tired from recording, but apart from that, relatively healthy.

LET: What was the last song you listened to?
PD: I listened to the Elbow album this afternoon, Seldom Seen Kid. Can’t remember what the last track was I listened to on it.

LET: The 10th Anniversary of Six is upon us. How do you think the album has aged, and are as happy with it now as you were then?
PD: I listened to it for the first time to jog my memory for the blog. It doesn’t sound ten years old. I don’t remember being too happy with it at the time but it sounded good when I listened back to it.

LET: Playing music is _________.
PD: A vocation I think. I don’t know why I’m compelled to do it, it’s something about getting something from the inside to the outside I think. Also it’s cathartic for me, lyrically that is.

LET: What album most made you realize that you wanted to make music?
PD: I think some of the Prince albums from Dirty Mind to Parade, I was amazed how he put his records together.

LET: Beatles or Stones?
PD: Beatles. I loved the Beatles when I was a kid and owned every track on vinyl, they were my first obsession as I was a song lover, not a band lover. I’ve grown much fonder of the Stones over the years though.

LET: What're your top 5 albums (of this minute, this year, or ever)?
PD: Kate Bush - Lionheart
Beatles - Abbey Road
Prince - Purple Rain
QOTSA - Songs for the Deaf
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
PD: "Purple Rain" or "Spinal Tap".

LET: What’s your favorite song to perform in concert?
PD: “Wide Open Space”.

LET: How many instruments do you play (proficiently and/or recreationally)?
PD: I’m crap at all of ‘em!! but have turned my hand to everything on record.

LET: Please explain your typical (if there is such a thing) songwriting process, and how you know when a song is ready:
PD: I mess around with chords and hum over them and collect all the ideas on a dictaphone. Then I glue ‘em all together in a structure then get my notebook out, by this time I have an idea for the lyrical direction and I make it work with the music.

LET: Half-full or half-empty?
PD: I used to be a half-empty person, but now I’m a half-full person, or trying to be.

LET: Apart from you, of course, who among your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
PD: Hmm, I like the Elbow and Radiohead albums and I like the last Joana Newsom album.

LET: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
PD: I always go over events from the past, square them up and get on with things.

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
PD: Cob Records in North Wales.

LET: What do you think of the beast we know as the music industry these days? And how does it differ from the days when Mansun was first releasing music?
PD: Well it’s more difficult to become massive because it’s all so fractured nowadays, but it’s easier to do your own thing because you can get your music out via the net very easily these days.

LET: What's the longest flight you've ever been on?
PD: One time going to Tokyo the airplane had to make an emergency landing at a military base, we couldn’t get off because there was no immigration, then the flight crew had to be changed as we'd been on the plane too long. Finally, when they got a new crew flown to the base and we did the last half hour of the flight to the airport we'd been on the plane a day and a half without getting off.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
PD: Shaken, only coz that’s how Bond has it.

LET: Best song ever written?
PD: “Man with the Child in his Eyes”, Kate Bush, that’s just for today.

Meet Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule (Valentine Duets)

Sometimes, fortuity simply blows in the wind, and I'll stumble across a gem that more people need to be digging. Such was the luck I encountered whilst I was doing my daily blog perusing, and I happened across a track by Paul Curreri and Devon Sproule. Cover Me posted their wonderful latest piece on Randy Newman's “Sail Away”, and they posted the couple's version of “You Can Leave Your Hat On”. Damnation, thought I, this is some mighty fine music here. Let's go see what more I can find. Just a few minutes of googling later, and I was led to Paul's site. I quickly found the Valentine Duets section and knew I was in the right place.

I'd like to give you a bit more background on the duo, but the site isn't the most informative (the bio seems more like an exercise in creativity than anything else), but it appears the two started putting out an annual series of covers every Valentine's Day starting in 2003 and going through this year. It must have worked out well for the two of them, based on the fact that according to the press materials, they've since married. Beyond that, we're on our own to discover what makes this native Virginian tick. I'd like to think there are stories aplenty of run ins with UFOs, drunken bets made with high ranking clergymen and lost sex tapes, but that's really just conjecture on my part.

For your part, all you have to do is listen to some of the Valentine tracks I found most enjoyable. "Cigarettes and Whiskey" is a family favorite, my grandfather having sung it often. The rest are just enjoyable takes on classics. You can check out Paul's site above for even more acoustic, kinda bluesy, kinda folksy goodness above.

mp3: Honky Tonkin'

mp3: Blue Skies (I. Berlin)

mp3: Cigarettes & Whiskey

The Untitled Interview #11: Starring Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate)

This might be the first time Dead Confederate is making an appearance on LET, but I can guarantee you it won't be the last. Ever since first hearing the stunning, swirling nouveau psychrock drenched with backwoods moonshine of the Athens droners on WOXY many weeks ago, I've been pretty severely into them. The band is currently working hard and spreading their good word across the land, and will hold court (somewhat) locally in Baltimore on the 13th, with a Richmond date soon to follow. I strongly suggest if you're anywhere near one of their shows you go see what all the hullabaloo is about, because Dead Confederate is thisclose to blowing up something huge.

For your reading pleasure, I present to you the results of the when Megan sent mouthpiece Hardy Morris some questions. True, he cheated on the Beatles/Stones question, but our shared love of Radiohead means I can overlook it. You can also take a peek at Dead Confederate tearing it up something fierce live, with "The Rat," as a means to further whet your appetite.

Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
Hardy Morris: I am just fine.

LET: What was the last song you listened to?
HM: “Coast to Coast” by Elliott Smith.

LET: Playing music is ___
HM: The only thing I'm decent at.

LET: What album most made you realize that you wanted to make music?
HM: Harvest by Neil Young.

LET: Beatles or Stones?
HM: Neil Young.

LET: What're your top 5 albums?
HM: These were the most influential....
Harvest (Neil Young)
Dirty (Sonic Youth)
On the Beach (Neil Young)
OK Computer (Radiohead)
Bleach (Nirvana)

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
HM: "Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii".

LET: What city or venue would you like to play, but haven't yet been to?
HM: Amsterdam dude.

LET: Half-full or half-empty?
HM: Whichever.

LET: Apart from your band, which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
HM: I couldn't call them my peers, but Radiohead is obviously heads, shoulders, and miles ahead of the curve (that they already created!). It's very inspiring and humbling at the same time. Perfect.

LET: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
HM: "Need water!"

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
HM: Wuxtry in Athens, GA man!!

LET: What's the longest flight you've ever been on, and where were you going?
HM: Flight to Seattle I guess.

LET: Favorite Dead Confederate?
HM: Never thought about it.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
HM: Whatever's quicker.

LET: If Dead Confederate was a drink, what would be in it?
HM: Bourbon and blood.

LET: If you weren't in a band, you'd be:
HM: Helping good bands and throwing shows.

LET: A tire blows on your van. Who's changing it, and how do you come to this decision?
HM: Whoever is awake and sober. Because they are awake and sober.

LET: Which feels better: leaving to go on tour, or coming home from a tour?
HM: Leaving for sure.

LET: Best song ever written?
HM: “Flesh Colored Canvas” (Dead Confederate).




[Photo by Skylar Reeves, via DC's Myspace]

Album Review: A Shoreline Dream – Avoiding the Consequences

When's the last time you really spent some time staring at your zapatos? Has it been a while specifically because you couldn't find a soundtrack with which to undertake this journey of potential self-discovery?

Well, shoegazers rejoice, as A Shoreline Dream has arrived (assumedly at a somewhat lackadaisical pace) with their latest, Avoiding the Consequences. Creating sonically textured soundscapes, the band concocts moody music that occasionally jumps the boundaries of the genre. At times, the tone is more desperate and yearning than one might expect from such a group. There's some pathos tinged grooving here that lends the air a more nuanced feel, and that's alright, mama.

Largely devoid of vocals, there is sporadic singing here and there, such as is evidenced in “Projections”, that lend a bit more depth here and there.

So give that footwear some love by taking a good, long look at your relationship with said shoes and, while you're doing that, pop A Shoreline Dream into your mp3 player to find further inspiration. i probably could take this further, and make some really bad "sole" puns, but I'm not going to do that. I respect you too much as a reader to do so.

mp3: Peel You Open

Whither Festivus: All Tomorrow’s Parties 2008 Review

Somewhere, deep within New York’s Catskill Mountains, time has stopped. There, as the sun beats down golden and tranquil, among the idyll of leafy trees and quiet, clear air, it is not 2008, but more akin to 1975. The glory of nature is matched only by the sheer surreality of the once-yearly spectacle known as All Tomorrow’s Parties, a Rock’n’Roll summer camp unlike anything I’ve ever encountered, or are likely to encounter again (until next year, that is!). I’m here to tell you that ATP08 was by far the best show of 2008, and might just be the best show I’ve ever been to.

All Tomorrow’s Parties is not a new concert concept. While most of us probably first think of the Velvet Underground song, ATP has been putting on festivals for years and years now. ATP08 was the initial foray into New York, and what a first time it was. Between the lineup, the setting, and the time warp of venue/hotel, it was as close to perfect as a festival could ever hope to be.

We started the day (night, more accurately, as it was pretty late by the time we got to the site at Kutsher’s) in a giant ballroom with spectacular houndstooth wallpaper, celestial themed walls, and oh yes, Thurston Moore. The most incredible thing (if I had to choose one) about the festival is that in such a small space, such great acts were gathered, and you could wander to and fro and see amazing act after amazing act. So after a few Thurston numbers, we ventured to the smaller Stage Two and took in some of Patton Oswalt’s hilarity. After some drinking and some strolling around the site, we hopped on our chariot (the big yellow bus, oh yes) and went back to the Raleigh, our home sweet home for the weekend. Several hours of drinking followed.

Days Two and Three were equally as ridiculous. I’m still, a couple weeks out, rendered into stunned speechlessness about the quality of the bands, so instead, here’s who I saw…Day Two: Growing, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra, Wooden Shjips, Harmonia, Alexander Tucker, Les Savy Fav; Day Three: My Bloody Valentine, Dinosaur Jr., Lilys, Mercury Rev, Mogwai, Spectrum, The Wounded Knees. All were beyond fantastic. I’d say that the two winners of the weekend, for me, were My Bloody Valentine (as if there was any doubt), and Mercury Rev. It had been about ten years since I had seen the Rev, and they rocked my world something fierce. And what can you say about MBV? I lost count of how many times my jaw dropped, and despite wearing earplugs, my hearing was off for days after returning to Richmond.

It was a mad, mad, mad, mad weekend. The music was non-stop and top-notch. The festival-goers were the cream of the crop, the best patrons I’ve ever seen at a rock show. Hell, we even ran into some fellow Richmonders. The site defies explanation, the madcap wallpaper and the Deep End bar and the playground…it was the most fun you will possibly have at a festival. No rushing to stages seemingly on opposite ends of the Earth, instead you need merely glide from one end of the hotel to another. No excessive heat causing copious amounts of sweat as you sunburn the day away outdoors, instead the fresh mountain air is there when you choose to venture outside. And the bands, o, the bands. It would take a miracle to come up with a more impressive roster of bands, especially given the size of the festival.

In short, my hat is off the to wonderful people who put together such a killer festival. I can’t wait to see what ATPNY09 will bring. If you're interested, and you really ought to be, tickets are already on sale for next year. Sure, there's been no bands announced yet, but trust me, it'll be the best concert of next year no matter who's on the bill.

[photos of Kutsher's, Wooden Shjips, and Mercury Rev. All by Megan Petty]

Live Review: Brothers and Sisters @ DC9, September 14

We’ve all been at these shows, the ones where a band we know is great is playing but the crowd is what you might refer to as sparse, the shows where you know you’re seeing something people in a few months will be kicking themselves for not going to, the kind of show where you scratch your head and wonder where everyone is. So it was with the Brothers and Sisters show at DC9. Not that it was empty, mind, but the attendance was rather thin. And frankly, that’s a shame, because those of you who weren’t there missed a great, great set from one of my favorite Austin bands.

Brothers and Sisters is rapidly becoming one of my pet bands, and I was intrigued as to how they would turn out live. I am pleased to report that the Courtney sibling-led band is even better in the flesh than in recorded form, which endeared them to me even more than before the show (after all, I do so love a band that’s better live). Whether it was a sweet version of the ever-so-charming “One Night,” newer songs from album Fortunately like “Mason City,” “The Wind,” or “You’re Gone,” or a fantastic, twanged out folktastic cover of America’s classic “Sister Golden Hair,” Brothers and Sisters’ earthy, earnest country was a glorious aural experience. The tandem of Will and Lily Courtney’s boy-girl vocals was warm and rich, the steel guitar more poignant, and the overall set was better than I had hoped. Between songs, Will’s somewhat bashful banter was adorably endearing, and the whole of the band exuded a down home affability that made the songs somehow even more likeable. Song after song was a treasure, and it was obvious that this is a band that loves and believes in what they’re doing.

And at the risk of sounding overly trite, I believe in them too, and I sure do hope that the next time Brothers and Sisters roll into your town you’ll go. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

From the Library: 21 Nights/Indigo Nights

I'm an unabashed Prince fan and have been since I saw my first concert featuring the pint-sized genius. My parents, not having a clue who the guy was at the time, got me tickets to the Purple Rain tour for my ninth birthday and I haven't looked back since. Somewhere along the way, I made a promise to myself that whatever His Royal Badness put out for consumption, I'd buy, especially if it was music. With this in mind, I went out and bought 21 Nights, a coffee table book of pictures taken during his recent stint in London over, you guessed it, 21 nights. I happened to read an interview with the Artist Formerly Known As The Artist Formerly Known As Prince in USA Today last week, and my interest was piqued. Paraphrasing greatly, he said this book was going to give the first true documentation of his career, albeit a very slim portion of it. To be honest, I wouldn't have really cared, as the real reason to buy it for me was the accompanying CD, Indigo Nights, made up of various tracks from the shows. Regardless, I was pumped, and using a variety of coupons and my discount card, I picked it up for 60 percent off the cover price, so I figured I was stylin' on this one.

Sadly, this book doesn't quite live up to the expectations I had (and being the major fan I am, my expectations were pretty wide open in the first place). First off, there is no "story" here at all. I was thinking there would be some biographical angle, but the only written words are lyrics from various songs. (As a side note, there was a time when I could name any Prince song if you read me just one line of lyrics. Damn, I didn't recognize a quarter of these songs. And for a guy that's seen every U.S. Prince tour since Purple Rain except one and owns every album, that's saying something, and it ain't something good.) While the pictures are gorgeous and lush, it seems like a whole lot of filler to me. Here's the band. There's Prince looking better-dressed trying to pick out his outfit for the day than I did on my wedding day. Quite frankly, it feels like a way overextended tour program. But hey, I didn't buy this for the book, right? I bought if for the music, so everything else should just be gravy.

Here's the thing I simply do not understand. I go to roughly 25-50 concerts a year and have for the past decade or so. I've seen everyone from Kenny Loggins to Big Daddy Kane, from to Broken Social Scene to Dolly Parton, and damn near every genre in-between. The case of the matter is NO ONE puts on a show quite like Prince. He's got the tightest band, plays like a man possessed every time and, quite frankly, is just too damn funky for his own good. So why in Winnie-the-Pooh's name can't the man put out a decent live album? Sure, he's done a few incredible live tracks on studio albums ("Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" ranks as one of the best live tracks I've ever heard by any artist), but full live albums don't come close to capturing the man's performance capabilities. One Nite Alone...Live was a letdown and I'm afraid Indigo Nights isn't a whole hell of a lot better. Sure, the selection is far more interesting and quite a bit funkier, and there are a few new tracks here, but this one probably is for the die hards like myself. And this makes me sad.

Things kick off with "3121," which intros with "Alexander's Ragtime Band" and segues in and out of "DMSR". For those of you keeping score, Prince has dropped all profanity from his shows since going Jehovah's Witness, so the lyrics are altered slightly for "DMSR". Things then pump into "Girls & Boys," one of my all-time favorite deep purple concord jams, but this is not a great version. While having the audience sing parts of a song might be great for an actual live performance, hearing the crowd instead of the singer on CD seems kind of wasteful. Of all things, a nearly unrecognizable from the original "Song of the Heart" pops up next, followed by a decent "Delirious" and then a monologue bemoaning paparazzi and claiming Prince is just an average Joe Six Pack (c'mon, guy, who are we kidding here?) Next, The Purple One does start to hit his stride with a blues suite consisting of "Satisfied" and the new "Beggin' Woman Blues". Inconceivably, he seems to be about a half beat ahead of the band on the latter track. And then the true high points arrive in the likes of some of the funkiest jams you're likely to hear this year. Interestingly enough, he turns over the vocal duties for a lot of the rest of the show, proving that his taste in throaty Sistah singers is uncannily amazing. "Rock Steady" could be the highpoint of the album, which turns into an instrumental version of Zep's "Whole Lotta Love". "Alphabet Street" makes an appearance before the titular track provides a damn spicy salsa beat. From there, it's a bit of filler to my ears, though the "The One/The Question of U/Fallin'" suite is pretty damn impressive.

I'm not quite sure how to rectify that the best stuff here is not Prince material and often not even Prince singing, but what can you do? It's undeniably funky in places, soulfully perfect in others, but still not something I think will energize the masses.

Do you still need to see this genius the next time he comes to town? Yes, even if you have to sell your comic book collection to do so. Should you be ashamed of yourself if you don't have a copy of Sign O' The Times? Not only should you be ashamed, you probably should start doing penance right now. Do you need to rush out and buy the book? Regretfully, probably not.

Singles Club: Raveonettes

If there are two things we love here at LET, it's the Raveonettes and free music. Combine the two and, hell, that's better than marshmallow fluff and sex, as far as I'm concerned (though Megan says the jury's still out). The Danish duo is releasing a series of four digital EPs over at Vice Records and they were kind (or inebriated) enough to offer the first one for free. I understand you have to pay for the others, but how much of a good thing can you expect?

For this outing, the band employed the aid of producer 80KIDZ, Alec Empire-conspirator Nic Endo and Danish DJ Trentemøller. Now, if you felt the one thing missing from Lust Lust Lust was a complete re-interpretation of some of the tracks into heavily techno jams, well, today is your lucky day, indeed. I've always felt that the best covers of a song dramatically change the structure while retaining the original feel. If that's the goal, mission accomplished here.

The Untitled Interview #10: Starring Ripley Johnson (Wooden Shjips)

I love Wooden Shjips for a multitude of reasons, not least of which because listening to them evokes a certain reaction unreachable by most bands. That unholy mess of tangled fuzz, dizzying drone, and intensity will most likely cause all sorts of confusion, disorientation, and loss of motor skills. The first time I heard the Shjips, I didn't know which way was up, my right from my left, or where I was. But hot damn, I don't know about you but I loved, and love, every second of it.

In mere hours I'll be seeing the Shjips at All Tomorrow's Parties here in the lovely Catskills, where the man, the myth, the legend Ripley Johnson will be kicking some sonic ass. Johnson was kind enough to answer my invasive questions, see below. And another reason I love the Shjips? Finally, someone answered the Beatles or Stones question correctly. If you're at ATP, make sure to see Wooden Shjips. If not, pretend you are by purchasing their music and turning it up nice and loud.

Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
Ripley Johnson: I'm great. Thanks.

LET: What was the last song you listened to?
RJ: "In the Kingdom #19", Sonic Youth. I'm listening to EVOL right now.

LET: Playing music is _
RJ: sweaty fun_.

LET: What album most made you realize that you wanted to make music?
RJ: Exile on Main Street by the Rolling Stones. I wanted to live in a chateau in the south of France and party and make records in the basement.

LET: Beatles or Stones?
RJ: Stones, natch. I really don't care for the Beatles. Believe it, haters.

LET: What're your top 5 albums (of this minute, this year, or ever)?
RJ: I'll give you the 5 top records of this morning:
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band - Strictly Personal
Vermonster - Holy Sound of American Pipe
Sic Alps - U.S. EZ
Suicide - Ghost Riders
Les Rallizes Denudes - some 80's boot with no name

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
RJ: "Psych Out" with Jack Nicholson as the leader of a band called Mumblin' Jim and the world's most ridiculous fake ponytail. It also has a cameo by the Seeds in a cemetary. Plus it has my second favorite actor, Bruce Dern.

LET: What city or venue would you like to play, but haven't yet been to?
RJ: Tokyo or somewhere on Ibiza.

LET: What's your favorite song to perform in concert?
RJ: We've been doing a cover of Neil Young's "Vampire Blues". That's my new favorite.

LET: Half-full or half-empty?
RJ: Half-full. Always.

LET: At how many festivals have you performed? And which festival has been your favorite, either in terms of performing or spectating?
RJ: We've done 6 or so I think. They've all been fun, but the first time we went to SXSW was probably my favorite just because it was so overwhelming and overwhelmingly fun.

LET: What are your initial impressions of the lineup for All Tomorrow's Parties?
RJ: Yes! That was my first impression. A lot of the bands I've never heard before. That's what I like about festivals, hearing bands for the first time. Though I've heard of them. I've never heard Shellac, Mogwai, Mercury Rev, Built To Spill, Tortoise, or about 80% of the other bands. It will be fun.

LET: Apart from your band, of course, who among your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
RJ: Los Llamarada, Sic Alps, Earthless, the Bad Trips, Expo 70, XYX, Fabulous Diamonds, Times New Viking, Der TPK, etc...

LET: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
RJ: Cup o' joe, morning paper, cat get off me.

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
RJ: Amoeba.

LET: What's the longest flight you've ever been on, and where were you going?
RJ: SF to Casablanca. I have a thing for Morocco.

LET: If you could share the stage with any musician, living or dead, who would it be, and how come?
RJ: Neil Young, because I respect him and he lives just down the peninsula. Maybe we could be friends and he would invite me over for BBQs.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
RJ: Whatever's quickest.

LET: If you were a wooden ship, you would be: a) a dinghy, b) a canoe, or c) a galleon.
RJ: Canoe.

LET: Best song ever written?
RJ: Really? "Song To Abe Lincoln" - Roky Erickson

The Untitled Interview #9: Starring David Klein (Birdmonster)

It’s funny, I quite can’t remember when I first became a Birdmonster afficianado. But one day, several years ago, I found myself rocking out (resistance was futile) at a Birdmonster show in Hoboken, New Jersey, and the rest was history. Fast forward a couple years and the band is celebrating the release of album numero dos (that’s number two for all you gringos) From the Mountain to the Sea, and are soon to be touring their pants off across this fair land of ours (and happily, there are several October dates across the Richmond/DC area, thanks guys).

Which brings me to the victim of this installment's interview. Birdmonster Guitarist David Klein (he of the shredding riffs and killer coif) always has pearls of wisdom to impart, the latest of which you can read below. Just remember, friends, that when you see Birdmonster on tour, there will not be any Don Henley covers in the set. And as a special treat, please enjoy the video for new song “The Iditarod.” It's rather fantastic, and I do believe you’ll love it.







Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
David Klein: I am doing quite well.

LET: What was the last song you listened to?
DK: That Ludacris song at the end of Tropic Thunder.

LET: Playing music is ___
DK: So tribal bro. Soooooo tribal.

LET: What album most made you realize that you wanted to make music?
DK: It was probably the first Iron Maiden record.

LET: Beatles or Stones?
DK: BEATLES.

LET: What're your top 5 albums?
DK: This changes all the time. Right now it is:
The Clash - London Calling
Crooked Fingers - Dignity and Shame
Paul Simon - Graceland
Radiohead - The Bends
Ryan Adams - Cold Roses
The Beatles - Let It Be
The Arcade Fire - Funeral

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
DK: Beethoven's 2nd.

LET: What city or venue would you like to play, but haven't yet been to?
DK: Berlin.

LET: Apart from your band, which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
DK: The new Ra Ra Riot record is great. Also, there are some amazing tracks on the new Dr. Dog album.

LET: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
DK: If McCain gets elected I am going to shit my pants.

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
DK: Fingerprints Records in Long Beach, California. Amoeba in SF is a close second.

LET: What's the longest flight you've ever been on, and where were you going?
DK: I'm like John Madden--I generally bus to Europe and Asia. Boom! I just drove across the Ocean.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
DK: I would not be able to tell the difference.

LET: If you weren't in a band, you'd be:
DK: Bereft of Taco Bell.

LET: Favorite song on the new album? And/or your favorite overall Birdmonster song?
DK: Again, this is something that changes everyday. “My Love For You” has been in my head recently.

LET: Which feels better: leaving to go on tour, or coming home from a tour?
DK: There is always a lot of excitement on the way out, but the surreal drive across the bridge gets me every time on the return.

LET: You once told me that you were planning to learn “Heart of the Matter.” Can we DC gig attendees expect to see that on the set list?
DK: I must have been drunk. Absolutely not.

LET: Best song ever written?
DK: “Heart of the Matter”.

[Photo by Megan Petty]

For The Record (Label): Audio Eagle

Inspired by the always excellent HearYa music blog and their spectacular Dan Auerbach Week, I've decided to spread the Black Keys love and give the drummer some. Dan has done some killer production work with various artists on the Alive Records label, but Patrick Carney upped the ante and started his own label, Audio Eagle. While most of Auerbach's work seems to focus on his wheelhouse of dirty, sludgey garage rock blues sound, Carney seems to be a bit more all over the board, courting much more of an indie rocker sound with such bands as Houseguest, Beaten Awake and Royal Bangs. (I'm afraid I haven't heard anything from the fourth label mate, Gil Mantera's Party Dream.) While the genres are different, the quality of artists is not. Both these cats know their music and are surrounding themselves with some damn fine talent in the production studio. So sit back and enjoy these tunes produced by the Black Keys' drummer. If you dig them as much as I do, make sure to check out these bands when they hit your burg.

mp3: Royal Bangs - Broke Calculator

mp3: Beaten Awake - Browns Town

mp3: Houseguest - Muted Mesa

Live Review: Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ DC9, September 5

For those of you that have not yet had the pleasure of attending a show at DC9, I need to impress upon you one very, very important detail about this particular venue: it is small. Very small. Not the smallest venue ever, surely, but small enough to make you feel a wee bit claustrophobic on nights when a hugely, hotly, hyperly hyped band from foreign shores lands, selling out the venue in advance and ultimately pushing the fire code numbers to the limit.

Needless to say, when I ventured up 95 for the Does It Offend You, Yeah? show, the place was quite possibly more jammed than I've ever seen it. Great for the band, great for the venue, bad for any possible notions of personal space. It was a night of ceaseless sweat, endless dancing, and unstoppable awesomeness. Those little scamps came, saw, conquered, and left us wanting more all in the span of just about an hour.

It wasn't the best show I've been to all year, but it just might be the most entertaining. The super full club was enraptured, and jumped up and down so much and with such lustful abandon that on numerous occasions I was pretty sure the floor was about to collapse, killing us all. But hey, there certainly are worse ways to go. While I lost count of the number of times I was elbowed, poked, and kicked, I was just pleased to see people enjoying themselves as much as I was. And the gleeful performance given by Does It Offend You, Yeah? was most definitely worthy of our adulation. They rolled through bits and bobs from the album You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into, such as the synthily anthemic "Dawn of the Dead" and my pair of favorites (perfectly played back-to-back), "Being Bad Feels Pretty Good" and "Let's Make Out." It was as if we were witnessing modern day Pied Pipers, because the kids couldn't stop dancing. Each song was given a welcome you'd expect from a large venue, never mind a tiny one. It was the perfect Friday night show, the best way to kick off the weekend.

When it's all said and done, their song "We Are Rockstars" might be tongue-in-cheek, but on this night, the members of Does It Offend You, Yeah? were every bit the rock star.

Live Review: Mike Doughty @ Birchmere, September 9

Less than 24 hours after returning from my honeymoon, I felt obligated to jump back into the thick of things for you, our adoring public, and attended Mike Doughty's "Question Jar" concert stop over at the Birchmere. For I believe the second time around, Mr. Doughty peppers his show essentially with a Q&A audience participation period between all the songs, wherein attendees are encouraged to submit questions into a, you guessed it, question jar, which he then answers throughout the duration. Accompanied by the phenomenal Andrew "Scrap" Livingston on various string instruments, the two played songs from all of Doughty's solo albums and more than a couple of tracks from his earlier days with the esteemed Soul Coughing. Shorn of locks, Doughty played everything from "Circles" to "Tremendous Brunettes", "Put It Down" to "Sunken Eyed Girl".

Now, I'm an unabashed fan and probably post way too much on his fan site (those of you who frequent said site, you can find me there under the oddbodkins moniker), but I'll have to admit, I've been a little less than blown away the past few times I've seen him live. For me, at least, the allure of a Mike Doughty show rests squarely on his intimacy with the crowd and unparalleled audience banter. The larger his ensemble has grown of late (such as opening for the Barenaked Ladies a couple of years back), the less compelling the performances have become. Thankfully, last night was a throwback to his earlier solo days (remember the stunning brilliance of Smofe + Smag?).

Mike joked easily and often with the crowd, as did Scrap, and it felt more like a performance by a good buddy in his kitchen than it did an "actual" concert. This is where the man's strengths lie, so it was quite the return to the glory days, as far as I was concerned. Mike and Scrap made it through the entire question jar, which ran the gamut from two requests for sex to what should people do if the Large Hadron Collider does inadvertently create a black hole that will destroy the earth. The duo answered all questions with the sense of humor that makes a Doughty show worth seeing. You see, catching MD is a lot like wearing your favorite flannel: while it may or may not be the most stylish apparel, it's comfy as hell and you love wearing it, plain and simple. To put it another way, when the mood is right, it's simply a perfect fit.

Sadly, I may be in the minority in this opinion, as I don't believe I've ever seen the Birchmere so empty. Management went so far as to quadrant off half the parking lot, and it didn't seem to imposition anyone at all. Still, their loss was the audience's gain, as M. Doughty reminded me why I got into his sound in the first place. Forget the "medium rock" sound of the past few albums, last night at the Birchmere was vintage Mike of the "small rock" genius.