On the Road Again
Live Review

CMJ Music Marathon, Part II
New York City, New York
Sept. 3rd-6th, 1997

Well last Friday's hangover has finally gone away and I've had my first decent evening of sleep so I am now able to reflect upon last week's CMJ Music Marathon with a clear head.

So why don't we get right to it and hand out the first annual Chart Golden Laminate Awards for artistic excellence in a conference-regimented 40-minute set. Super Rock Action Award: The Delta 72, Tramps, September 4.

It wasn't enough that Philly's number one soul brothers (and sister) were the best dressed band at the conference. No, they had to go and blow the extremely low ceiling off of Tramps with an incendiary set that began with, of all things, an abso-fucking-lutely smoking medley of Pink Floyd's "Interstellar Overdrive" and "Lucifer Sam" (!). From there the 72 shot through tracks off of their super new record, The Soul Of A New Machine, with frontman Gregg Foreman taking the time to climb out into the crowd from the light rack and preaching his gospel while dangling upside-down from the ceiling. Put your fists together, raise your pinkies and repeat after me: "Too much rock for one hand."

All of you readers in Toronto should get yo' ass to the Rivoli on September 26, when the Delta 72 come crashing into town with Phono-Comb.

Best Performance In An Old Synagogue Award: Belle and Sebastian, Angel Orensanz Center For The Arts, September 6. The most anticipated performance of the conference did not disappoint, as the notoriously stage-shy Scottish collective delighted the crowd with a rare public display of their clever orch-pop tales.

The eight-piece band's on-stage inexperience was evident at times (those blasts of feedback were not a tribute to Sonic Youth), and they could have played a few more off of their excellent If You're Feeling Sinister record, but all was forgiven when they closed the show with a surprisingly rocking cover of the Velvets' "What Goes On." The hanging disco ball was also a nice touch.

Best Worst Performance Award: Royal Trux, Tramps, September 5. Playing only a three song, 20 minute set as part of the Drag City Review, Royal Trux showed why they were Virgin Records' worst nightmare. Neil Hagerty left his guitar at home (which is a shame because he's very good at it) and played fellow MC to mate Jennifer Herrema. The two jumped around the stage (often crashing into each other) as if they were Chuck D and Flavor Flav, while the Drag City house band laid down nasty versions of Trux classics "Sometimes," "Teeth" and the new "Sweet Sixteen."

Yet there was something oddly charming to this spectacle, and Herrema's trademark super model-on-junk posing was sexy, as always. Said one nearby witness: "there's every indie rock fan's wet dream."

High-Fallutin' Schmooze Party Award: Nickel Bag Records Showcase, Windows On The World (World Trade Center), September 6. Already on top of the music world, the Dust Brothers threw a bash for their indie label on the 117th floor of the World Trade Center that brought out such big shots as Beck (who is very short), Marilyn Manson guitarist Twiggy Ramirez (who in a weird way, looks a lot like Courtney Love), Janeane Garafalo, and of course, yours truly.

Those who weren't busy forking out $8 for drinks or pointing at Mr. Hansen took in a fantastic early-morning performance by Nickel Bag's flagship band Sukia, who hit the stage sporting jumpsuits and sweatbands and proceeded to spit out a freaked-out mix of hip hop beats, space-age Moog bleeps, and blaring trumpets. It was the kind of show you didn't want to end, especially since shortly after the show, World Trade Center security forced all patrons to leave the premises. The next time you're in New York, try taking an elevator down 117 floors at warp speed after 5 rye and Cokes and see how you feel.

Things That Make Over-Hyped Music Industry Sleazefests Like These Worthwhile Award: The Flaming Lips Experiment, Charles Dana Lounge in Avery Fisher Hall, September 5. Rock is dead, they say. Don't tell that to Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips, who last Friday provided undeniable proof that there was still a little gas left in the tank.

Bored with rock convention (not to mention rock conventions), Coyne, along fellow Lips Michael Ivins, Steve Drozd and manager Scott Booker, led a hundred of us into the Charles Dana Lounge and gave us each our own portable tape players. They then handed out a cassette to each of us, and on Coyne's megaphone-shouted command, we all pushed "play" at the same time. The result of this little experiment was a new Lips song called "The Big Ol' Big Is The New Baby Now," a mind-blowing (and surprisingly coherent) epic lullaby constructed from the 100 different cassette players going all at once, at full blast.

Coyne told the crowd beforehand that he wasn't sure if his idea was going to work, but judging by the ecstatic look on everyone's faces, he should now be able to sleep at night. Those 10 minutes were worth the price of airfare alone.

- Stuart Berman