February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Ah, the CMJ Marathon. If you don’t know what that is, go home and ask your younger brother — if he can be bothered to pull those little white earplugs out for a few moments.
College Music Journal is one of a plethora of magazines that caters to young indie rock fans, faithfully reporting to a loyal following about what’s new in music.
The marathon, which is celebrating 25 years in existence, has an illustrious history. It is no easy task to book bands just as they are peaking, enough to pull a crowd, but still credible enough to make fans feel like they are in on something early. It heralds a time in fall when the city, recently overrun by college kids new in town, plays host to industry types, influential college DJs, and fans alike.
A look back at the list of panelists and performers is a who’s who of rock and the occasional hip-hop act over the past quarter-century. Drawing acts from all over the world, Ireland has been represented, for those who do the footwork to find out when and where. Big names include U2’s Adam Clayton, who made an appearance in 1985, and cult favorites My Bloody Valentine, who made a showing in 1991.
CMJ knows, for the most part, how to pick ’em. Dungen, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Laura Viers are just some of the acts, while not Irish, pulled throngs this year. Just last weekend, the New York Times wrote: “CMJ still matters: as long as industry professionals still come to town for the marathon, bands still have a chance to impress them. During last year’s marathon, the Arcade Fire played a handful of small, thrilling shows that were by far the week’s most talked about; the festival seemingly helped turn a cult band into one of the biggest names in alternative rock.”
In what could be a “thank you” for the warm reception, the French-Canadian seven-piece returned this year to headline a show that tickets had to be raffled for, they were so scarce. Alas, they are now a household name, even if it that household is likely to be a crowded apartment in Williamsburg.
CMJ’s Marathon is a feat of engineering that organizers joke takes the entire year just to recover from. Indeed, holding over 1,000 concerts at 65 venues – this year they spanned from Brooklyn to Manhattan – in New York City is no small feat.
There are always intrepid young things that have the coveted $400-plus badges, a cost usually covered by an employer or school, that gets one into every show – well, almost every show. To try and carefully map out the offerings to get maximum value and music for the buck is, logistically, a nightmare. Schedules change, mass transit is iffy, and thousands of other attendees are all trying to see the same things at the same time. That relatively unknown band you love? Forget it. You may as well resign yourself to wait a year or two for their show at Madison Square Garden.
This year’s marathon was no different, marred by overcrowding, badge restrictions, and schedule changes. Still, if you are up for a challenge, early registration for next year’s event starts in winter.
While recent Irish “next big things” like Damien Rice and the Thrills usually have been getting their start by accident, on college radio or by word-of-mouth, mining this year’s marathon for that talent was taking a chance. Still, the offerings, while sparse, were there for the picking.
THE CHALETS:
Thursday evening was rife with blockbuster acts, so the fear was that a band like the Chalets would get lost in the shuffle. They may have started playing to a thin crowd, but by the middle of their energetic set, the Dublin five-piece had won over a room full of new fans.
They displayed nothing but top showmanship for their entire 30-something minute set.
Visually, the band has you at “hello?” Singers Paula Cullen and Caoimhe Derwin, both dressed in coordinated picnic-table garb while sporting a smart Bettie Page look, traded vocals and keyboards much to the delight of the audience.
While their lilting voices lent a cheery vibe to their set, the lyrics were just a bit darker and downright nastier than their look belies. All the more reason for further inspection!
Only drummer Dylan Roche stayed behind his kit the entire set. Singer/guitarist/bassists Enda Loughman, and Chris Judge also shared responsibility and helped with the band’s solidly consistent set.
Highlights from the band’s set, off their debut CD, which is not out in Ireland and the UK (they are hoping for a U.S. release) included “Sexy Mistake,” “No Style” and “Theme From The Chalets.”
Respect should be given simply on the fact that they were personally chosen by KCRW’s Nic Harcourt, widely regarded as the seer for a generation of music (he was the first DJ to play Coldplay in the U.S.). He has been playing the Chalets on his “Morning Becomes Eclectic” show, which should give them the exposure they deserve, at least in California and on the internet.
Playing host was venerable venue Sin-