Stereogum Does CMJ: Islands/Professor Murder/Muscles/Flosstradamus/Datarock @ Various Venues, Various Times, NYC
Afterpartying on the last night of CMJ was sort of a doomed enterprise; after catching the Forms, we made our way out to Williamsburg, arriving well in advance of the Black Kids/Peter & Bjorn (no John) Almost Gold party at Galapagos. With time to kill, we caught Flosstradamus (that's them above) and tried to stick out 'til Matt & Kim but felt it wise to get into P&B as early as possible. After watching a few songs of Black Kids, the not-great crowd began to wear us down, and being in no fit state to handle much of anything, we hopped a cab to see Professor Murder for a sec at BV's thing, and then went home. So here you'll find a couple of pics from afterpartying, along with other assorted odds 'n' ends we've accumulated over the week, both via our big cams and that of Abbey Braden. Plus, video of the mighty Islands, of Datarock doing the worm, and of Muscles performing "Ice Cream."
We'll get it started with some vid of Islands...
DATAROCK DO THE WORM
Muscles - "Ice Cream"
DATAROCK @ BLENDER AT GRAMERCY
PROFESSOR MURDER @ 205
MUSCLES @ 205 ORCHARD
FLOSSTRADAMUS @ MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
ISLANDS @ MUSIC HALL OF WILLIAMSBURG
Posted at 5:03 AM in Concert, Video
Tags: CMJ | Datarock | Flosstradamus | Islands | Muscles | Professor Murder
Islands are still together? Sweet.
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oh shit when did they switch from white to black?!?!
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CMJ 2007 Highlight:
Who the fuck is Biffy Clyro – Apparently three Scots you best not fuck with!!!!
Yet another CMJ has come and gone, full of parties and showcases to remind you that on the low-fi end of the sonic spectrum there are some gems in the rough. There were the obvious buzz bands and college radio favorites, but the real surprise this year was Biffy Clyro. They played the Gramercy Theater Thursday Oct 18th and were cut off halfway through their set. The epochs played a 45-minute set and apparently Biffy Clyro was to keep it down to a 20 minute set, but it appeared no one told the band.
After blasting through 4 songs of their set including “Bodies In Flight,” “Who’s Got A Match,” “Saturday Superhouse,” & the epic “Living Is A Problem Because Everything Dies” the lights went up and the house music started playing. Simon Neil (vocals/guitar) with one stroke of a chord intro’d the band back into their set taking the situation as a technical issue and launched into “A Whole Child Ago.” You could tell from the audience that something was amiss as their guitar tech was visibly arguing with the stage hands, but the band just punched right on through and the lights went off and they where allowed to play the additional song.
With a few songs left in their set the band was cut off once again. Biffy Clyro was obviously disappointed as brothers James Johnston (Bass) and Ben Johnston (drums) exited the stage in disbelief, but Simon Neil was not satisfied. Again he hit a chord that rang out through the theater and handed his guitar off to the tech. He then proceeded to grab mic stands and throw them across the stage. He reached for the mic and unhooked it from the cord and like a fastball beamed it to the back of the venue at the sound guy and proceeded to do this again with the backup mic.
The action was not lost on the crowd as it met with blank stares of amazement and applause. Regardless of the action it was refreshing to see a band so passionate about their music and to get that frustrated and lash out. Luckily no one was hurt in the crowd, but this image will be burned in my subconscious for life. The moment was truly a spontaneous rock n’ roll moment that never happens anymore. Everyone was at the bar asking who the band was and where they came from. It’s good to know a band with that kind of passion and energy can deliver with the songs. I’m a fan for life now. Thanks guys!!!!
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