CMJ 2012 – Who’ll Get Your Vote?

 

It’s a line-up to rival some of the best indie fests out there – The Walkmen, The Mountain Goats, Kimbra, GZA, Ghostface Killah, Asher Roth, Dum Dum Girls, AraabMUZIK, Savages, OFF!, Sky Ferreira, Killer Mike, King Tuff, Eleanor Friedberger, Q-Tip, Theophilus London and my personal best-named-band, Com Truise. Over five non-stop days and nights, the CMJ Music Marathon, infiltrates New York City with over 1 300 artist performances, filling more than 80 of the city’s venues. Add on to that a host of panels, seminars, mixers and meet ‘n greets…and well, you know, it gets all-consuming.

As the country hurtles towards electing, or re-electing, a president, a whole host of bands will be vying for the politics-wary souls of music fans. Last year was my first time at CMJ. Thanks to CMJ 2011, I’m a firm fan of the likes of Penguin Prison and We Are Augustines – oh, and a little band called Alabama Shakes.

 

So this year, although I’m pretty focused on bands with names like Democrat and Republican and that big gig called the US election, as well as a marathon of a whole different kind, I’m hoping to still see a few new bands to fall in love with this time around.

For more info, check out the CMJ site, and have a listen to NPR’s 2012 Mix, chosen by college-radio music directors from across the country. It’s been keeping me sane this election season.

Kimba Pic: CMJ.com