Posted on 8:59 AM
On our first full day at the CMJ Marathon, six wayward Radio Kers saw a nude Australian on the 10th floor of New York University, drumming to a cover of the classic punk-stomper “99 Reasons Why.” The disrobed drummer was part of a band called Philadelphia Grand Jury—The Philly Js for short—and in 10 spirited, pants-less minutes, they gave new meaning to the phrase “naked lunch.” After their set, the conference’s emcee, in an Aussie deadpan-tone, said “You just saw a three-piece turn into a four-piece.”
During a gratis lunch—foccacia sandwiches and ginger ale—The Philly Js performed as part of the Sound Australia showcase, a special-from-the-land-down-under-treat for CMJ guests, panelists, and volunteers. The showcase also featured Crayon Fields, an overeager dream-pop group, and The Jezabels, a pseudo-lounge act not unlike Sharon Van Etten or a greener Yeah Yeah Yeahs (plus others). Although seeing and hearing four Australian band right in a row was cool, what was really impressive was that for the first time ever, non-commercial and college radio stations from Australia and New Zealand were allowed to participate in CMJ charting (ultra-nerdy radio stuff, don’t ask). The important takeaway is that the indestructible web of awesome independent radio stations is growing—and is on the cusp of global domination.
Personally, I was very excited about the Australian showcase—I’ve been following the experimental music scene in New South Wales for a couple of years now, and generally the avant-pop, wonky electronica, and noise born in Australia beats that of the other six continents with an arm tied behind its back. One of the best resources for this sort of music is New Weird Australia, a long-running non-profit radio program based out of Sydney that turned me on to Underlapper, The Townhouses, and (wait for the Minneapolis connection . . . wait for it . . .) red plum & snow, whose version of Prince’s “I would die 4 u” is everything a cover song is supposed to be—respectful of the original, but innovative and compelling. Bouncing from one Australian to another, I eventually met Guy Blackman, the owner of independent Aussie record label Chapter Music and got an artist sampler CD out of the chat. Most of the bands were new to me (save Jonny Telafone) so I’m excited to hear the latest bands throwing the definition of pop music to the South Pacific winds.
But, after that lengthy digression, back to the topic of global domination: Today we intrepid Radio Kers are set to see a number of other international artists—including prog-popsters PVT, another bunch of Aussies, as well as an English-exclusive bill with Four Tet, Jon Hopkins, and current hype-magnet Gold Panda. That doesn’t even take into account the great American bands playing Friday that our music director Jon is going to scamper around and try to see: Sun Airway, Violens, Woven Bones and Lower Dens. OMG.
-Will, Radio K DJ and Training Director