cmj report!

Right, yes, CMJ!

Tuesday: I went to see LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy spin at the Hiro Ballroom, along with DJ Annie Mac. Annie was really good, switching easily from a remix of Kanye’s “Stronger” to the rather massive sounding Smith ‘n Hack rejiggering of Herbert’s “Moving Like a Train.” Murphy was on form for the hour or so that I stayed to dance playing ’70s disco stuff that wouldn’t sound out of place on his recent FabricLive Mix. My favorite moment came near the very beginning when Murphy put on a promo record that had apparently been sent to DJs as a thank you for playing a forgotten disco/R&B singer’s record. There was a long clip of her sending a personal message out to all the people that had played her record out.

Wednesday: I spent much of the day at panels, actually. The Music Website Guru one elicited the following question from one audience member: “So, you guys were talking about Wikipedia earlier. I was running around that site the other day for about fifteen minutes. I was wondering, how do you post an article on Wikipedia?” I’m pretty much convinced he was paid to ask that question, looking back. Bands seen: Born in the Flood and Charlotte Sometimes at Don Hill’s. The less said, the better.

Thursday: I went to see Invisible Conga People play at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and they were pretty stunning. If you’re into Neu! or krautrock at all, they’re definitely a band to keep an eye on. They should have something out on the Italians Do It Better label sometime in the next few months, I’d imagine. Also appearing? None other than Simian Mobile Disco. They’re light show was a sight to behold. The music was too – for a while. And then it became clear, to me at least, that we weren’t going to get much more than build-up, release, build-up, release, so on, so forth, for about 50 minutes straight. Fatboy Slim 2.0 is my take, but plenty of other audience members loved it. (My scratchy throat and rapidly closing eyes might’ve had something to do with my displeasure, I’ll readily admit.)

Anyone got any hot tips for the weekend?