Tomorrow, the Phoenix and WFNX are presenting a free, unofficial, daytime CMJ showcase at Brooklyn's 285 Kent. No badges are necessary and all ages are welcome. The line-up is stacked with some of our favorite bands from New York, Massachusetts, and beyond. Read on for a guide to the line-up, and if you're in New York, come by and say hey.
SO COW // Ireland // playing @ 12:15pm
Indie pop enthusasts in Boston should be familiar with So Cow -- they've played our town a bunch over the past three years, all sorts of shows ranging from 2010's Homegrown Fest to opening slots on tours with The Thermals and Ted Leo. "It's hard not to like So Cow," wrote Garrett Martin in the Phoenix in 2010. "They make catchy, frantic pop that's tight but ragged, and noisy when necessary without obscuring the two or three hooks embedded in every song . . . Map out a Venn diagramof various musical subcultures and So Cow would comfortably hug the punks, the twee kids, the surgly garage dudes, and the indie-rock nerds." This year, they're here supporting a new split release with fellow Irish garage pop trio Squarehead.
>> READ: "Ireland's tireless So Cow embrace Boston" by Garrett Martin, October 4, 2010
BUTTER THE CHILDREN // Brooklyn // playing @ 1:00pm
Earlier this year, the Phoenix newsroom was pretty psyched on Brooklyn noisepop band Night Manager, so understandably we were bummed when we learned they broke up. But now former members of Night Manager are playing in Butter the Children, whose shoegazy post-punk debut EP is one of our favorite recent NYC-based records. Stream it below:
AVA LUNA // Brooklyn // playing @ 1:40pm
Ava Luna's 2012 LP Ice Level is one of the year's best and most overlooked releases. "The Brooklyn septet is fronted by soul-singer Carlos Hernandez plus three doo-wop-inspired female singers, a bassist, synth player, and drummer," we wrote in February. "On the record . . . they all seem coolly disconnected yet they serendipitously create a breed of tight, artful avant-funk so rare that it requires multiple listens to understand." Stream it below.
>> READ: "Ava Luna | Ice Level" by Liz Pelly, February 28, 2012
HEAVEN'S GATE // Brooklyn // playing @ 2:20pm
Heaven's Gate only have a few tracks posted on their Bandcamp, but those familiar with each member's previous projects knows their debut full-length (whenever that happens) is likely to be excellent. The band is made of former members of Brooklyn noise-pop bands Sweet Bulbs and Weed Hounds -- read our review of Sweet Bulbs' self-titled 2011 record here.
SQUAREHEAD // Ireland // 3:00pm
Back in March, during their trip to the US for SXSW, Squarehead flew to Boston for a weekend of shows -- one at Lorem Ipsum Books, one at Great Scott, one at Dreamhaus (full disclosure -- that is my living room). Squarehead quickly won over a whole bunch of new super fans while they were here. "With Roy Duffy's Brian Wilson falsetto and sticky one-liners, plus bassist Ian McFarlane's harmonies, and Ruan van Vliet on drums, Squarehead are a Wipers-inspired take on Phil Spector sensibilities," we wrote in our review of their debut album last year.
>> READ: "Squarehead | Yeah Nothing" by Liz Pelly, September 13, 2011
POTTY MOUTH // Northampton // playing @ 3:40
Potty Mouth's 2012 LP is one of our favorite Massachusetts releases of the year. "A meld of minimal garage pop and surfy post-punk," we wrote in Cellars last month, "marked by super hooky harmonizing, girl gang vox and simple yet resonant Beat Happening-inspired lead guitar." Stream the whole record below.
>> READ: "Potty Mouth spring out of Northampton" by Liz Pelly, August 22, 2012
BLANCHE BLANCHE BLANCHE // Brattleboro // playing @ 4:20
Members of Blanche Blanche Blanche split their time between Brooklyn and Brattleboro, and have played very few live shows. Their most recent release with Night People is entirely essential listening for fans of off-kilter experimental synth-pop. The title track, "Wink With Both Eyes", is a good place to start:
HILLY EYE // Brooklyn // playing @ 5:00pm
Hilly Eye is one of former Titus Andronicus guitarist Amy Klein's current music projects -- and one of the tightest noise-pop duo's I've seen this year. THeir set at Ladyfest Boston in January was a highlight of the weekend. I've been waiting for their debut LP ever since. Stream "Jacob's Ladder", a single they release with Don Giovanni records, below.
Between sets, there will be DJ sets by Grand Resort, Emily Reo + Noah Klein, Jenn Pelly + myself. RSVP on Facebook.
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