Kudos to our brother in blogging Brooklyn Vegan for curating a kick-ass CMJ opening night show at Bowery Ballroom! Boos to CMJ for not making sure Miracle Fortress knew they needed more than just a letter from the festival (how about a work visa?), and to the border patrol for once again getting in the way of a highly anticipated show (Handsome Furs, M.I.A., Lily, etc.). Apparently the border patrol Google’d the show to find that Ticketmaster was selling tix! The good news? Rest easy folks, those are some seriously secure borders.
Anyway, the first set we saw at CMJ ’07 will probably be one of the very best: We learned Bon Iver is simply astounding. (We also learned it’s pronounced “bone ee-vare.”) A little too much reliance on that big crash cymbal build-up outro device everybody loves, but that man’s voice is magical. As massive Luna fans, it was a thrill to get to see Dean & Brita do their thing, too. Most Serene Republic made up for a shaky set from Shaky Hands, we didn’t see the Rosebuds (tried to see Jennifer O’Connor but the Living Room was waaay off sched), and “special secret surprise guests” Voxtrot (so billed to keep bookers from starting a turf war) took us into the wee morning hours with a superb and solid set.
But night one’s big winner? Bon Iver. Try and see him today at BV’s day show at Pianos (5PM). Take the jump for pretty pics.
BON IVER
SHAKY HANDS
MOST SERENE REPUBLIC
DEAN & BRITA
VOXTROT
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Jem … I’d hit it.
(Bon Iver are terrific too, musically at least.)
As much as it’s easy to fault CMJ for the Miracle Fortress mishap, but the fact that the band and manager and whoever else thought that a letter could get them through is not really excusable. You are a musician going on tour, get your shit together.
a shaky set by Shaky Hands, eh, Stereogum?
not bloody likely. you saw the future and blinked.
meanwhile: portland, oregon continues to dominate you.
Portland, too indie rock for its own good?
http://www.superdeluxe.com/sd/contentDetail.do?id=D81F2344BF5AC7BBB2731BC612F247E9884EEEB65B62F333
Forgot to mention Chris Walla’s recordings being held up at the border too! Gah, the indie rock terrorists are winning.
Timothee called it: The Shaky Hands, always stirring, never actually shaky. More proof? Check it: http://www.opb.org/programs/music/blog/?p=11
Most Serene Republic are just painfully, painfully bad. Twee-Prog is a genre hybrid too far…
Can I post the photos of Dean & Britta on our websites? If so, who took the photos?