We decided it was high time CMJ bring the rock. No cooing, atmospheric bands tonight. Straight up face-melting shreddage is what we were after on day four of the CMJ Music Marathon. To accomplish this noble task, we proceeded directly to Brooklyn, starting at Trash Bar for Goes Cube. Arguably one of the heaviest bands playing the fest this year, the trio slayed through a handful of songs from their latest, Another Day Has Passed.
In keeping with the theme of the night, we bounced to a venue known for messy basement-style bands: The Charleston. Heavy Cream–three rowdy women and one token dude–wasted no time getting the party started. They’ve got the classic punk rock formula down: raspy vocals, mosh pit instigation and full intent on creating drunken sing along hits. Lines include “Gonna get wasted/gonna get high” and the inevitable, “I’m gonna drink til I puke.”
And here’s where we veer off our badass-bands-only course a little bit, but for good reason. One block over at Spike Hill, Norwegian band Sissy Wish was just finishing their bouncy, whimsy set. Siri Ålberg was also rocking a vest made entirely of cassette tapes, which doesn’t exactly slay, but is pretty damn cool.
After a little guitar malfunction that had The Bloodsugars in search of an E string (and G strings from willing volunteers…), the band ran through a tight set of bass-heavy indie that ventured into dance territory and at times bordered on jazzy, perhaps due in part to newer drummer Kenneth Salters. They also performed some brand new jams from their upcoming album, I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On, out November 3. Alright, so they don’t exactly slay, but you can tell these guys are accomplished musicians. They also genuinely enjoy playing together and the feeling is contagious, a seeming rarity these days. Bands, take note.
TOPICS: Plus One