Over the past week, college radio advocates, music industry buffs, and avid music fans alike all gathered in New York City for the 5 day CMJ Music Marathon. Scattering across many New York venues, Radio UTD made sure to check out some of the bands we’ve been hearing about and looking forward to. Here’s a recap of some of our favorites.

STAFF PICKS FOR BEST IN SHOW

Dent May

“We came all the way from Mississippi just to play here for you guys,” Dent May told the New York audience at Tuesday night’s Carpark and Paw Tracks’ CMJ Showcase. Making music that seem like they ought to be played off of a jukebox, the Beach Boys-reminiscent tunes of Dent May had the audience swaying every minute during his brief 45 minute set. Kicking off with “Eastover Wives” and continuing with some tracks from The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukelele, time was easily forgotten and new dance moves could only be made. Dent May’s recordings may sound polished but the funk in May and band’s live sounds contribute to a reminder of the good-feeling music era where Chubby Checker wasn’t the only dance move king. Shooby dooby.

John Maus

With a widely recognized reputation for being an insane performer, John Maus helped pack DIY space, 285 Kent, in Brooklyn, NYC on Wednesday. Sponsored by Domino Records, Ribbon Music, Stereogum and Todd P the showcase featured a slue of entertainers that could have easily packed the house singularly including Twin Sister, Oneohtrix Point Never, Deradoorian and DJs Deakin and Geologist of Animal Collective. After a long waiting period between sets, made only seemingly longer by the overcrowded venue space and lack of air flow, by the time Maus took the stage the audience was immediately energetic and responsive. It is a rare and fascinating occurrence when an artist can manage to entrance audiences by simply singing over instrumental tracks, but Maus has perfected this style. With such a riotous energy, Maus’ performance felt more akin to that of an emotionally intense and cathartic punk showcase rather than that of an emerging synth pop musician. Playing mostly from his latest release, We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves, Maus’ set ended seemingly quick. For those in the DFW area, his performance style is one not to be missed– catch him with HEALTH on New Years Eve at The Warehouse at the Panhandle House in Denton.

Yellow Ostrich

With the release of their new album, The Mistress just a few short months ago, Yellow Ostrich caught our attention as a band to be on the watch out for. Lucky for us, when we caught them at the Distiller Promo Showcase, they didn’t disappoint. Quite the opposite, actually.  Songs like “Whale” were a big hit as the crowd sang along to the “Oh oh’s” while swaying to the catchy pop tune without a care in the world. That is, until the band played “Mary”, a solemn, crooning tune about a friend who is abusing drugs.

Casiokids

There is something particularly foreign about Casiokids. Obviously part of the feeling comes from their Norwegian origin, but there is something so inherently strong about their stage presence that it can’t help but burn into memory. This powerful blow can only be attributed to one idea: Casiokids do not just love music, but they love their own music. It isn’t vanity, but wonder. When Casiokids perform, every dance move and finger-point emphasizes every beat to the point of exaltation. Even though their faces, the band reveal such an anticipation for what happens next in each song that every instrument addition or breakdown is a treasure. They are a band that is so unique and refreshing that it can reinvigorate a lost love of live music. Casiokids is a child smiling so big, and so infectiously, that it hurts.

BANDS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Quilt

Starting a rather early set around 9:30pm, Boston locals Quilt played to a small room of about 40 people at the Mexican Summer showcase in the back room at Public Assembly on Tuesday. For those lucky enough to arrive early, this simple three piece immediately captured the crowd with their first song. Having listened to their recorded tracks prior to seeing them, it’s somewhat of a shock to find out Quilt is only a humble 3 piece. Not relying on any excessive stage antics, their 60s pop jam inspired tunes mix the perfect amount of intricacies with accessible harmonies.  Highlights included catchier singles “Penobska Oakwalk” and “Cowboys in the Void”, both of which are set to release on their self-titled album via Mexican Summer on Nov. 7.

Quilt – Penobska Oakwalk by Mexican Summer

1,2,3

Though only playing a near 30-minute set at the Delancey, 1,2,3 was easily the stand-out of the line up of The AudioPerv and Some Kind of Awesome’s CMJ Showcase. Recently releasing New Heaven off Frenchkiss Records, the band’s labelmates include names like Passion Pit, Suckers, and Local Natives. Lead singer Nic Snyder’s voice isn’t the pretty vocals that one would expect, yet the non-perfect falsetto voice is what makes 1,2,3 perfect. The Petty and Heartbreakers-esque rock ‘n roll and vibrant energy of this band fully absorbed the venue on an early Friday afternoon. Alongside catchy lyrics, 1,2,3’s first album and live performances are filled with upbeat and fun tunes that will give them much attention these next few years. They also opened their set with a fantastic cover of Misfits’ “Hybrid Moments,” enough to get to our hearts.
1,2,3 – Work by Pretty Much Amazing

The Twees

Before the Death Set prescribed a healthy dose of hearing loss to the Webster Hall Studio crowd, fans were greated with a showcase of the local rock talent. One of which, The Twees, brought a refreshing does of subtle cuteness. A cuteness that allowed for some less rage-filled dancing. With jagged riffs and solo’s that could knit spider webs, The Twees offered something more than loud distortion to the garage-rock sound of the night. While their studio recordings may be quieter like their post-punk brethren (as their name would suggest), the band had the crowd dancing from start to finish, on and off stage. The Twees released an EP titled These Girls earlier this year, and is now available on iTunes.
These Girls by thetwees

De Staat

Combine industrial noises with the fierce need to dance, (and, in this case, some dapper vests) and you have the Dutch five-piece known as De Staat. Just a week after the release of the band’s album Machinery, we were able to catch them at CMJ. From the beginning of the show, the charismatic group hollered and grooved while the crowd stood, entranced, by the band’s sheer energy. The funky dance track “Sweatshop” was more than fitting for a group that mixes industrial sounds with deep, soulful bellows. Working all day in a sweatshop? Then you better dance!
De Staat – Sweatshop by Cannonball_PR