LG goes to NYC for CMJ! New music from Sebastian Schuller.

Yeah I know that's a lot of abbreviations, but that's how people talk in the Big City.  They just have too much to do and so many places to get to in such a hurry, that they don't really have time for full words.  For example all the neighborhoods are called something like DUMBO, LSE, SOHO, NOHO and so on.  It really is pretty cool, because after all everyone knows that abbreviations are totally hipster. 

CMJ is a music festival that is put together by a publication of the same name whose official title is College Music Journal.  The festival is pretty much an excuse for all the music people across the land to converge on NYC and have meetings, make deals and watch tons of Rock.  While I felt there was a lot offered at CMJ, I was a bit disappointed in the overall quality of bands and the access that was available to see them.  A lot of the shows were super sold out and even a Badge Pass (essentially an all access super expensive ticket) couldn't get you into the more popular venues.  That being said, there was still plenty to be seen and heard.

The festival started on Tuesday afternoon/night and went until early Sunday morning.  I am not going to go show by show and give you a mini review on each one, as that would be boring for all of us.  Instead I am going to post throughout the next couple of days on the more memorable moments of the festival and provide you with access to music from some of the artists that left a lasting impression...like Sebastian Schuller for example.  Now that is a seg-way!

The first artist I saw in NYC was Sebastien Schuller at a venue called Cake Shop, a place that I would find myself at way too frequently at way too late of an hour throughout the entire week!  It's one of those NY places that looks like a regular little pastry shop/cafe, but when you go in you find a record store in the back and a live room/bar in the basement.  It really was a pretty cool space.  ANYWAY, SS is from France and splits his time between Paris and Sweden.  He creates haunting, cinematic music that kinda makes you feel nostalgic for a time and place you've never been.  That make sense?  He performed solo with a harpsichord, computer, snare drum, guitar and melodica.  The performance was extenuated by an old French silent film that SS had cut so the music went along with the film like a soundtrack.  Overall it was a great way to start the festival and turned out to be one of the best shows of the entire week!

Sebastien Schuller has a new record out on Minty Fresh called Happiness.  I would recommend you pick it up today.  Check him out on MySpace and here are a couple of MP3s:

Sebastian Schuller - Tears Coming Home

Sebastian Schuller - 1978

And finally...

Sebastien Schuller - Weeping Willow: