From the Jul 20 – Jul 26, 2000 issue

Music

CMJ Wuz Here 'OO

The Industry Gathering of Choice Makes a Pit Stop in Seattle

by Kathleen Wilson

EVER SINCE PORTLAND won out over Seattle to host North by Northwest, the annual South by Southwest music festival's shirttail cousin, Seattleites snivel about the event. Only the desperate bands hoping for major-label recognition vainly make the trek down I-5, while the less-enthusiastic, hipsterish ones stay behind, playing shows here at home like there ain't nothing goin' on anywhere else. Truth be told, the definitive reason why the Rose City was chosen over the distinctly more glamorous Emerald is simply because Portland boasts a downtown that features 25+ music venues within a reasonable walking distance, ensuring that festival-goers can see multiple shows each night.

And there's just no way of getting around it: Seattle has its blasted hills.

Playing sophisticated city slicker to SxSW's rib-eating, unfashionable-denim-wearing hayseed, CMJ Music Festival and Conference, held annually in Manhattan, is the industry gathering of choice--the most obvious reason being, DUH... it's in New York City. Generally, the lesser-known bands are still much-publicized up-and-comers (or "buzz bands," to fall back on 1985 MTV parlance). And the rest, for the most part, are acts either wildly popular among the underground/indie rock fashionistas or recently out of retirement. Wrap that up with the fact that the last two installments of CMJ coincided with New York's Fashion Week (and the sight of heavily made-up supermodels rushing from building to building was a moment-to-moment affair), and you've got for a pretty great vacation/music appreciation extravaganza.

This week--finally--CMJ will produce a four-day mini-festival in our fair city, focusing on "the new media technology that has played a vital role in the achievements of Northwest artists and labels." Yeah. The event takes place July 20-23 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (where all the yammering about Napster, bootlegging, and pirate radio--all "modern" topics that basically amount to modern-day hippie talk--will take place during the day), and music showcases will happen at such clubs as the Crocodile, Sit & Spin, Graceland, I-Spy, the Pier, and Sunset Tavern during the evenings.

Booking goddess extraordinaire Diane Perini currently works for CMJ, and was in charge of booking the Seattle event (as well as similar ones in Atlanta, Georgia, San Francisco, and London)--and she's pulled together some great talent. Thursday July 20 kicks off with a blowout at I-Spy with Supersuckers, Zeke, DJ K.O., and HIM. Friday July 21 features showcases from labels Sub Pop (Makers, Love as Laughter, Black Halos; Crocodile), Mans' Ruin (High on Fire, Acid King, Men of Porn, the Sensualists; OK Hotel) and Up (764-HERO, Enemymine, Octant, Sick Bees; Sit & Spin), as well as performances by Caustic Resin, Hovercraft, Del the Funky Homosapien, Blackalicious, Black Eyed Peas, Carissa's Wierd, and several more at other venues. Saturday July 22 features more label showcases including Pacifico (Juno, Joel R. L. Phelps and the Downer Trio, FCS North, Automaton Adventure Series, Welcome; Crocodile), Kill Rock Stars (Mecca Normal, Bangs, C Average, Two Ton Boa; Graceland), and Junk (Dragons, Weaklings, Spitfires, Hellside Stranglers, Vaccines; Breakroom), with performances by Sean Smith, Ken Stringfellow, and Joseph Arthur (not to be missed) at the Baltic Room, and Botch, Gruntruck, and Healer at Sit & Spin. Of course, bands including Arling & Cameron, Death Cab for Cutie, Voyager One, and others play the festival Saturday night as well. Sunday July 23 closes out with a K Records showcase at Sit & Spin boasting Black Anger, Shinin', Tilson, C.O.C.O., and Nomad, and Weezer is playing at the Showbox.

"Premium" passes--for those who want to geek out at all the panels, forums, and discussions as well as see all the performances--go for a cool $250 (but that includes breakfast, lunch, and daily happy hours). Bands just wanting to know how to get ahead in this new technological world can pay $95 and attend Saturday's daytime events and all performances. Folks who just want to go to the clubs can purchase full-access wristbands for $25 at Fallout Records and Singles Going Steady. More information can be found at www.cmj.com/events/seaperf.html.

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