KWUR at CMJ: We don't need no stinkin' awards

While Hermano Rabbit, Craig, and Dan Kandy are getting cozy in the Holiday Inn, I figured I'd give you guys an update of what's going on here at CMJ. On Thursday, we went to a couple panels, and learned how to make KWUR the best station in the world (don't change a damn thing) before having a totally surreal hour or so. Over at the World's Fair showcase, we saw Stardeath and the White Dwarfs, Tiny Masters of Today, and 1990's - and John Norris. Tiny Masters of Today, the band consisting of 13-year-old Ivan, his 11-year-old sister Ada, and Russell Simins, put on a decent set, but ended it with a cover of House of Pain's classic "Jump Around." Ivan, finally without guitar, went all out and wound up sprawled out on the stage, covered in sweat. If I could have done something like that when I was 13, I would have been the happiest kid alive, so congratulations Ivan. After they were done, Craig, the eagle-eye, spotted John Norris of MTV News, so we went over and shot the shit with him for a few minutes. Then, right before the 1990's came on, we talked to Kim and Seana, two actresses filming a webshow about two girls who go to all sorts of music festivals. They brought their own camera crew and made sure there was a clear path for them to be filmed, right at the front of the crowd. So as they "rocked out," the 1990's put on a great show. It was high-energy and lots of fun, but the real question is why they went on so early. After a few more drinks (for us), they would have been even better.

The beneficiary of more drinks (but not that many) was the Toronto band Golden Dogs. In a crowded Mo Pitkin's, they put on an amazing show that forced us to ask someone from Yep Roc to send us their CD.

Yesterday, we saw a bunch of bands at the Fanatic party, including Afuche and Old Time Relijun before momentarily splitting up. As the Holiday Inners saw some hip-hop over in Williamsburgh, I (along with the KSLU girls) ran from the Lower East Side to Park Slope to see Turbofruits. Of course, they were great, and if you didn't know them before, you should go check them out because I can not do them justice. Back in the Lower East Side, and reunited with KWUR, we saw Pattern Is Movement, who were great, but ended up being right before the showstealers in Yeasayer. Watch out for Yeasayer. They consider themselves "Middle Eastern-Psych-Pop-Snap-Gospel," but if you're like me and don't really know what that means, just take my word for it: they were awesome.

Some bands that I wish I had seen are O'Death, Black Kids (who also were showstealers, according to allmusic, Pitchfuck, and a text message I got), Japanther, Health, and Vampire Weekend. On the docket for today, maybe, is more Yeasayer, Clockcleaner, Professor Murder, Matt and Kim, and of course, the St. Louis showcase from 8-10. Come check it out if you're in New York, and if you're not, stay tuned for more updates.