Nashville – When someone says, “Hey, you have to check out this band! They’re from California,” one of several incarnations of California music may come to mind. There’s the iconic Beach Boys, LA’s The Doors, San Francisco’s The Grateful Dead. . . the list goes on. When someone asks you to associate music with California,
Brooklyn – In an age when many young popular bands are a series of nice haircuts and boyish good looks, Twin Peaks is a welcome change. Drummer Connor Brodner, bassist Jack Dolan, guitarist Clay Frankel and guitarist Cadien Lake James all look straight of out high school, but sound like seasoned musicians. Well, maybe not
New York – Friday was a tireless day of concert hopping for CMJ Music Marathon goers. With hundreds of bands playing in countless corners of the city, there was no shortage of amazing, emotive shows to choose from. And as many grappled with the decision headache attached to such a lineup, folk duo First Aid
San Francisco – Nuptial Denver indie pop duo Tennis delighted a sold-out crowd at Great American Music Hall with a solid set consisting of old favorites and new classics. The band—whose principal members consist of married couple Alaina Moore (vocals, keys) and guitarist Patrick Riley—took to the stage at one of San Francisco’s most beloved
New York – English-American indie rockers CYMBALS brought a high-energy set to Cake Shop this week as part of this year’s CMJ Music Marathon. The band played the concert hall hidden under a coffee shop, battling minor technical difficulties and ultimately coming out on top. It was a rough start, with the band desperately trying
New York – CMJ Music Marathon marches sleeplessly on in Gotham, and on Wednesday hit what was possibly the extravaganza’s pinnacle performance. Event organizers had preempted the Webster Hall concert with caution, a sort of this-night-will-be-packed-so-don’t-expect-entrance-is-a-given kind of mentality. And though they said it couldn’t be done, CMJ badge holders turned out in droves to
Chicago – Grizfolk brought their sweet folktronica to the Windy City. The LA band was excited to be playing the Aragon for the first time in their careers and it showed! The stage and the audience buzzed with electricity throughout the set, making it clear why Grizfolk was handpicked by Bastille to open on select dates for
Los Angeles – On Tuesday night at an overly occupied El Rey, local indie pop electronic trio Wildcat! Wildcat! performed an incredible live set. In August, Best New Bands met with the band right around the release for their dazzling debut LP, No Moon At All. The performance included an amalgamation of R&B-inspired beats, dreamy compositions, and a sonic palette
New York – Being the opening act can be a difficult role. Whether you’re a singer songwriter taking the stage alone with an acoustic guitar or an indie band the size of a pit orchestra, playing the first slot can mean playing to either an empty house or, if there is an audience, playing before
Brooklyn – We’re in the heart of CMJ Music Marathon here in the city that never sleeps, and as up-and-coming musicians flock to the metropolis in droves, the volume of shows on deck is preposterous. So, to apply an imagined filter of intimacy to this massive and sprawling extravaganza, Best New Bands caught a quieter