Here’s our preview of the CMJ Festival, which begins today! We’re so excited to see that so many of the bands we love and have interviewed, are appearing. Now’s your chance to see what we’ve been ranting about. To view a calendar of our recommended bands performances, click the link below:
2009 CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival: The Dumbing of America’s schedule.

2009 CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival: The Dumbing of America’s schedule.

Warpaint- Interviewed here. Is this the band most likely to blow up after CMJ? An original sound with great vocal and bass melodies make them primed to climb into your veins and make you bleed Warpaint.

Ambulance LTD- At some point, these guys are going to have to release a new record. Supposedly they’ve recorded a new one, with John Cale acting as a producer. Sounds interesting. Check out them out live, because if they’re able to pick up where they left off, they’ll be something special.

The DeBretts- Originally interviewed by us when we were just little kids, they return to America with their combination of Banshee-esque punk and Strokes-like cool (they recorded their demo with Strokes producer Gordon Raphael). They’ve pulled their songs from MySpace which leads us to believe they’re either about to hatch a brilliant plan or they need a new manager. Either way, we’ve heard their songs and you’ll thank yourself for seeing them at CMJ.

Diehard- At the point we interviewed New York’s finest, we expected big things from them. At the time we compared them to Superchunk, which we meant as a compliment. Many months later, the songs stand up on their own and the obvious nod to late 80′s britpop makes them less a Merge knock-off and more a walking encyclopedia of great musical tendencies.

Lovvers- Interviewed this month and ready for global domination. This is one of those bands that you just know if going to be an amazing live band. I remember seeing early shows by The Replacements and Guided By Voices. These shows at CMJ have that same kind of “who knows what’s going to happen” sense of chaos. Chaos=good.

Ringo Deathstarr- Interviewed here. If we had a complaint about CMJ, it would be their refusal to acknowledge the resurgence of the My Bloody Valentine/Jesus and Mary Chain genre. Ringo Deathstarr embrace the genre while cranking up the volume. Making your ears bleed has never felt so good.

Robbers On High Street- Going to festivals like CMJ is about taking risks. However, we always like to throw it a known entity every once in a while. Going to see Robbers On High Street is money in the bank. Great melodies, great musicians, great live shows. A well-respected band, who’s still underrated in our opinion.

Heavy Trash- If you’ve never seen Jon Spencer, do yourself a favor and check out his current band. Jon Spencer is a modern Elvis Presley and we are just spinning hyperbole here. The ultimate showman, he has been dazzling audiences for years. Guarantee to sweat and shout by showing up for this show.

The XX- Ok, we’re not breaking new here. The XX are the most hyped band coming in to CMJ. Based on the album and the live appearances on TV, it’s justified. Might be a battle to get into their shows at CMJ, but would certainly by worth the payoff. An album of the year candidate, in our estimation.

The deBretts are a highly touted London based band who are currently in the U.S. playing South By Southwest.  Their meteoric career has landed them an opening slot with The Noisettes after having played only four shows.  Without an album, they’ve been invited to SXSW, will tour Japan and have continued to be invited to tour with the likes of The Futureheads and more.  Why?  Because they have a passion, a knack for melody and a “punk” ferosity reminiscent of early Siouxsie or Yeah Yeah Yeah’s (whom they easily surpass).  Vonnie from the band was kind of enough to take a break from the SXSW festivities to answer a few questions.

TDOA: You’ve generated a lot of buzz without putting out a full-length album? What’s your secret?

Vonnie: Pure graft, we have worked really hard, practiced a lot and played a lot of gigs, hopefully we produce a live show that captivates and enthralls people!

TDOA: You’re music really stands out from your peers because you’re able to mix great melodies with a rawness and passion that few others currently exhibit. Can you talk about the songwriting process for the band?

Vonnie: I write a basic melody and play it to aidan the guitar player, he either tells me it sucks or we work on it together, if we like it enough and it passes the writing phase, we take it to the band to see if it works with them. We have never really had the luxury of spending hours on writing as we are always so busy, but I think it’s importnat for the debretts that we sound recorded the way we sound live. I like imperfection and rawness and I think its important that our music has that in it. We try to write a lot of tracks and keep the ones we hate the least!  Most of the time the melody and basic lyrics (come first), then Aidan turns my ramblings into a proper song.

TDOA: Melody Maker and other British music magazines are horribly guilty of pumping a band up quickly, putting them on a giant pedestal and then knocking them down in what seems like a one year cycle. Do you think about this potential career trajectory and what are you going to do to fight the inevitable backlash?

Vonnie: I don’t really think about it, we have always been lucky and have done well, but when we get to that point, I would probably not read the reviews, we are who we are and I wouldn’t change our sound for the sake of trends.

TDOA: Is this your first trip to the U.S. and if so, what are your expectations of what the country will be like?

Vonnie: No, we have all been here before. Infact like Bruce Springsteen, Aidan was born in the USA! I am terrified, but excited about the trip, we have been very lucky and have both great support and a brilliant showcase spot, so we plan to enjoy it first and foremost, if more comes of it then great. Also looking forward to maple syrup and tacos!

TDOA: Any sense of how the attitude towards Americans has changed with the election of Barack Obama? Are we forgiven, yet?

Vonnie: I think that change brings a sense of hope and future, I think our concern would be the level of expectation that has been placed on him, change in action and attitude takes time and it is important that he is given that, London  and us were celebrating at his victory with little flags! 

TDOA:  Any bands you’re anxious to see at SXSW?

Answer: Primal Scream from the car, Little fish.