CMJ 2010 Highlights

posted by Leigh on October 21, 2010

Photo by Leigh Celent

CMJ has been pretty impressive thus far. As always, it’s overwhelming to decide where to be when, and I find myself wishing for my very own Time-Turner (Harry Potter fans, rejoice in the mere thought). In the absence of such a device, I made some tough, but I think rather good, decisions about where to be. On my Not to Be Missed list, since I have missed them countless times this past year by complete fault of my own, was Surfer Blood. Of course, by complete fault of my own, I missed their set again. Good thing The Drums were headlining the Webster Hall show, because their performance completely consoled me, distracting me with their fluid stage theatrics and distinct-from-recording live sound. However, the fate gods decided that they should intervene on my behalf, and give me one last impossible-to-F-up chance to see SB. As the crowd attempted to exit, “Free Surfer Blood show, Now, Go This Way” could be heard all around. Worth the wait and charmingly unassuming, these guys tore it up.

Earlier in the night, I was impressed at the PureVolume House. Bear Hands, previously reviewed here, played a supercharged set, balancing on the post-punk wave without faltering. Oh Land, an electropop duo hailing from Denmark, and featuring the beautiful Nanna Øland, equally as beautiful to hear, completely mesmerized the audience. Her drummer pounded away, as she careened gracefully about the stage, so that only with a closer look did one realize that she was wearing an illuminated small house atop her head. Her music bellowed out of a gorgeous sparkling speaker of sorts, the “contraption”, which was adorned with white balloons, for the projections, of course. “Sun of a Gun” is off of the Fauna EP, which was released in the US just this month. Image: song playing while chillin’ with the Jetsons, talking about whatever people in the future talk about. Time-Turners, perhaps.

If you haven’t done so already, be sure to check out our CMJ pre-coverage here. More highlights to come as the CMJ days continue . . .

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Oh Land – Sun of a Gun (Downloaded 6070 times)

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» Meaningless labels: Amazing Voice • Catchy • Female vocal • Male vocal • Post-Punk

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