Tuesday, Oct. 19 | Wednesday, Oct. 20 | Thursday, Oct. 21 | Friday, Oct. 22 | Saturday, Oct. 23
WED 10.20 [Click for full line-up]
Dirty Projectors @ Madison Square Garden, 8-8:30 p.m.
During last year’s festival, Dirty Projectors announced via Twitter a surprise acoustic performance on the Williamsburg Bridge. That’s a tough act to follow, but it looks like the experimental Brooklyn sextet have managed to outdo themselves this year by landing the opening slot for resplendent French rockers Phoenix at MSG.
Wise Blood @ The Delancey, 10-10:30 p.m.
Listen to Wise Blood’s reverb-dense and sample-laden EP ‘+’ through a pair of headphones and it sounds like you’re in the bottom of the Mariana Trench with a spazzing juke box. Not sure how that’ll translate to a CMJ set, but considering Wise Blood himself Chris Laufman’s ability to craft songs from other people’s music and his adoration of sampling wunderkind Girl Talk, it should be pretty spectacular.
DOM @ Santos Party House, 10-10:40 p.m.
“Burn bridges / Make yourself an island,” is one of the best lyrics in recent memory, and it comes from Worchester, Mass.’s DOM. Their seven-track debut EP, Sun Bronzed Greek Gods, is surf-y, chill-y and pop-y, full of guitars and great hooks (like the one above). The album’s sound, a recorded-in-a-basement fuzz, only adds to the enjoyment. (Also appearing Saturday @ Bowery Ballroom, 8-8:30 p.m.)
Wild Nothing @ Santos House Party, midnight-12:40 a.m.
“Modern-day guitar pop” is the worst description a band’s music can get, so let’s thank Jack Tatum and Wild Nothing for not abandoning the idea of using the stringed instrument and a verse-chorus-verse structure to create something that could get radio play. His nod to the ’80s only makes the music better. (Also appearing Friday @ Pianos, midnight-12:30 a.m. and Saturday @ Bowery Ballroom, 8-8:30 p.m.)