abcsofcmj

The ABCs of CMJ
(December 13, 2002 Issue)

     Ah, autumn in New York! The crisp air, the persistent smell of dog urine on the streets, and the annual CMJ Music Marathon. What is CMJ, you ask? Well, CMJ - or the College Music Journal - is to the college radio world what Billboard is to mainstream music. Based on college radio station playlists, CMJ publishes a weekly "Top 30 albums" chart on their webpage and trade magazine. In essence, CMJ acts as both a coordinator and promoter of music in the college radio community.
     For several years now, CMJ has hosted a music marathon in New York featuring daily panels on college radio topics, music-related films, and hundreds of bands. this year's festival spanned October 30-November 2. Over the course of those four days, New York's streets, music venues, and the Hilton Hotel convention center remained littered with young college radio DJs from across the country clutching their dorky "CMJ 2002 Music Marathon" tote bags. As one of the many people armed with a CMJ badge - a pass that allows the holder access to any marathon event or concert - I and several other WUSB DJs had the distinct pleasure of taking part in this year's marathon. Some students attended countless informational sessions, others opted to sleep the day away and descend upon the clubs of New York at night like packs of music-starved vampires. Veering more towards the second category (minus the fangs and thirst for human blood), I saw nearly twenty bands. That's a lot to remember, so fortunately I took notes.
     Day 1 - Two things in life I know for sure: Brooklyn is now The Place to go for indie music, and emo (aka melodic hardcore) is still quite alive and well. Both of these points were communicated to me loud and clear my first night of CMJ, which I spent at teh Jade Tree record label showcase at the Greenpoint venue Warsaw, the Polish National Home. Jade Tree is perhaps the best-known emo label label around, with bands like Jets to Brazil and Promise Ring on its roster. Warsaw is a large Brooklyn venue run by Polish-Americans (two words: "yummy pierogies"). What's the connection between Poland and indie rock? I don't know. I even asked the bartender. What I do know is that I almost ended up with a case of psychic whiplash from the evening's alternation between sensitive folky emo acts like Pedro the Lion and more aggressive bands such as the Explosion. At 9:30 the audience stood quiet and still as Denali soothed the crowd with slow hushed songs. At 10 these same people were violently moshing as Strike Anywhere jumped about the stage criticizing American politics. After six hours of this yin-yanging between sensitivity and angst I felt quite dizzy and ready to take a break from extremes of emotion for a while.
     Day 2 - Note to CMJ staff: Please refrain from planning only one big event and many smaller concerts on the most popular night of the marathon. Why? Because you end up with an over-crowded mess that was Thursday night's Touch & Go label showcase at Irving Plaza. Arriving an hour early for the show, I discovered a line already stretching a block. I did get in, see my favorite bands, and have an absolute blast, but leaving a little early I noticed there was still a long line shivering in the cold. As my friend and I left, the doorman let in two people. Two people out of over a hundred.
     Day 3 - Friday's Kill Rock Stars record label showcase at the Knitting Factory was a raucous celebration of post-riot grrrl splendor. The singer from the Gossip performed in her underwear (proving hefty girls are sexy too), while the members of Quix*o*tic played a tight energy-packed set. But let me stop here and use two unnamed bands as examples of what a group should not do at CMJ. First, do not diss the marathon's corporate sponsors to prove how subversive you are. If one singer hadn't proclaimed "F*ck AOL and Philips!" I swear those names wouldn't have stuck in my head. Second, if you insult the sound and light operator, expect retaliation. One band spent 10 minutes packing up in the dark. Third, lose your bad attitude at the stage entrance. Another band looked genuinely bored and even rolled their eyes at one another. Maybe they were tired or having a bad day, but now I just think they're jerks.
     Day 4 - After three late nights of traipsing around Manhattan and Brooklyn inhaling enough smoky bar air to have black lung for life, one can get a little tired. Maybe I'm just a wimp, but rather than painting the town red for one more night, I spent the evening at home comatose in front of the TV. There is only so much fun a person can take before passing out from exhaustion.