CMJ Final Thoughts

posted by Leigh on November 4, 2010

The Crayon Fields at Public Assembly, photo by Leigh Celent

I thought I’d extend the CMJ madness by a week or so by holding off on my final post about the festival until just now. Yes, I was feeling a bit unresolved too. For whatever reason, most festivals in my world start off really strong, with a bit of freaking out about how to be in endless places in so little time, and then, as are with most things, the freaking tapers off, and I find myself searching for places that I actually want to be for the remaining time that I have. I do not attribute these feelings to a lack of solidly good options toward the end, but rather, to the sheer exhaustion that any kind of initial frenzy can cause.

Anyway. As noted in Indieball’s CMJ pre-coverage, Pepper Rabbit and Wild Nothing were two bands that I was eager to listen to in the confines of a crowd. My eagerness was well selected, as these two shows were the highlight of the last hours of my CMJ world. Pepper Rabbit’s intimate and cozy show at Cameo had the crowd starry-eyed by their deep command of their live sound – the vocals soared ribbon-like throughout the space, with the band overall just having a certain unavoidable harmony, both within their songs and within their performance. They are now touring with The Rural Alberta Advantage, so double coupon day if you can check out that bill. Wild Nothing’s free show at Public Assembly was sardine-packed, their polished sound instantaneously addictive and captivating in a way I can’t really describe. Of course I’ll try – Not even getting pushed, pummeled or stepped on by people working their way through the crowd could take me out of my listening coma.

Not yet discussed on Indieball, The Crayon Fields are pictured above at their show at Brooklyn’s Public Assembly. This Melbourne band’s sound is sweet and dreamy and just damn pretty – check out “Mirror Ball” and “Take Me Where the Light Isn’t Cruel” included here, from their second album All the Pleasures of the World released last year – and you will be guided through a melange of melodic peaks and valleys, with softly swirling lyrical poetry interwoven throughout, with some unassuming Latin flourishes on the latter track. Perhaps what the Beach Boys would sound like if taken down a few notches by The Clientele. I am happily anticipating what these guys will do next.

Be sure to check out all of our CMJ coverage (pre, part 1 and part 2), if you haven’t done so already. Until next year.

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The Crayon Fields – Mirror Ball (Downloaded 383 times)

The Crayon Fields – Take Me Where the Light Isnt Cruel (Downloaded 405 times)

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» Meaningless labels: Catchy • Clever Lyrics • Male vocal • Poppy • Shoegaze

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