Notes From Underground

John: CMJ 2007 - The Subjects / The End of the World

I didn't do too much CMJing this year. The throngs of drunken college music directors and super, super late showtimes- (yes Blender, I'm talking to you) are wearing thin. I love Spoon and Band of Horses, but it's hard to keep me out for a 2:30 a.m. start during the week.

I did however, make it down to The Tank on Thursday evening for some free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and the Pretty Activity showcase. PA is a local label with some talented young folks on their roster.

The Subjects hail from Brooklyn and the band is comprised of two former teachers, and two of their former students. The guys have a new record out called with the ease grace precision and cleverness of human beings and they've just scored an opening slot with the Walkmen on the west coast next month. Check out The Subjects in a recent Daytrotter Session right here.

Also on the bill was a band called The End of the World. The name's a little dramatic, but I was intrigued...there was pedal steel and a cute bass player. This is one of those bands where the singer is also the drummer. Typically, if you're not Phil Collins, this is not my bag. But, they pulled it off. So check them out. They've got a record out called You're Making It Come Alive and they got a some local NYC dates coming up as well.

The Dirtbombs @ Southpaw

Like the White Stripes, The Dirtbombs started out as a Detroit garage rock band, and followed a musical path away from the typical garage rock sound. But while the White Stripes took the smarty-pants route, making artsy videos and dressing like Bob Dylan, The Dirtbombs have kept things a lot more rough around the edges. They're intelligent and even virtuosic, but they rock with a raw power and unfettered soulfulness that makes you want to jump up and dance all night.

That's how the crowd responded at The Dirtbombs' show at Brooklyn's Southpaw a couple weeks ago. This band is just fun to rock out to. Their energy and precision is amazing. They're one of those double-drummer bands, so you know they gotta be tight! You don't mess around with 2 drummers if you're about to get sloppy.

The audience, however - that's a different story. Many beers were drunk and spilled. Drinking and dancing can get messy. New friendships were forged then lost in the crowd. The couple standing behind me concluded the show with a major makeout session. So I think it's fair to say - a good time was had by all.

http://www.thedirtbombs.net/

M.I.A. @ Terminal 5 (CMJ)

Hi,

It's my first time posting on the "Notes From The Underground" blog... so I hope you will all make me feel welcome.  I caught M.I.A.'s show at Terminal 5 last night (Thursday October 18th) and all I can say is that it was one big, sweaty, dance party!  The venue was packed when I arrived and I got to hang out in the VIP area stage left so most of my view was of her and the backup singer/dancer woman from profile.   You should be prepared for the following at an M.I.A. show:  a big screen full of visual stimulation (she went to college as a film major), she has a DJ with a turntable and it's full of dancing and singing fans. 

My favorite moments at the show last night in no particular order:

1. When she and her backup singer/dancer ran in tandem in what ended up being choreographed dance moves for an entire song,

2.  Watching her fiddle around with her video projector machine after every single song!

3. Seeing her crowd surf.

4.  When she allowed the crowd to come on-stage and it wasn't even near the end of the set!  Can you say DANCE PARTY?!? 

So... get yourself out to Terminal 5 tonight if you're in NYC and get ready to dance, dance, dance!  Or catch her at a local venue near you if you have the chance. 

Yeasayer at The Bowery Ballroom

Last week I saw a band featuring a longtime friend's younger brother, which reminded me how old I am. But I'm cool with it.

Yeasayer are based in Brooklyn, with roots in Baltimore. (Like me!) They're very different from most of the music you hear today, more complex and ambitious, which is a good thing. They have a world music side to them (they've opened for M.I.A., I believe) but I also hear an early 80's INXS thing in some of their songs (also a good thing, no matter what my boyfriend says!), some Fleetwood Mac-ish vocals, and some other prog rock stuff I can't exactly put my finger on.

Also, many of their songs have a good beat and you can dance to them.

After Yeasayer I watched a little of Oakley Hall, which was boring in comparison.

Check Yeasayer out here:

http://www.myspace.com/yeasayer

http://www.nowwearefree.com/headquarters.html