Tuesday: Brand New is Just Good People
Brand New didn't have to be at CMJ this year. The band doesn't have a new album coming out, they headline shows at Hammerstein Ballroom and have sold millions of records. So why did Jesse and Vin stay behind to play an acoustic set at Mercury Lounge? They wanted to support their good friends in local indie band Aeroplane Pageant, who were playing a showcase after them Tuesday night. A noble gesture, no doubt. The duo played a handful of stripped down gems off their three albums to a CMJ crowd that may not have normally given these guys a listen. A bold move, capped with a risky but impressive Neutral Milk Hotel cover, these guy likely made a few new fans that night. (pic via The Syndicate's flickr)

Wednesday: The Boss > CMJ
Sacrificing a night of the whirlwind buffoonery that CMJ brings to town is not something easily decided upon, but when given the choice to see a (non-CMJ) rock legend with a firm grip still on relevancy and integrity 30 years past his prime, we'll take that over a dozen bands whose names we may not remember 6 months from now. Easy pick. Bruce Springsteen, at 58 years old, still puts on the type of show that few can or will ever match. What it may now lack in unpredictability is made up for it in the sheer energy and excitement that the Boss still brings to every song. A spectacle in every way, his presence in town should act as an inspiration for the hundreds of up and coming bands trying to break out.

Thursday: weLOVErains
After witnessing a somewhat lackluster Black Kids set at the Annex, our support is firmly behind iLiKETRAiNS to be THE band to watch for the rest of CMJ. While the tracks available on MySpace did not overly impress us and the name is sorta silly, these guys absolutely dominated live as the show closer at our Gothamist House yesterday. Powerful, post-rock bombast with a deep baritone vocal holding it all together. Catch them if you can this weekend while they're still in the states. They're mighty good. (pic via Food of the Future's flickr)