Does it get cooler for any band than to hang out with NBC’s Brian Williams? Huh, Deer Tick???
At this year’s marathon, pedal-steel is the new Korg. Yes, the plaid shirts and cowboy jeans popping up around CMJ’s 75-plus participating venues may very well outnumber the neon retro Nikes and Kanye shades. As has been the case for the past few years, “bearded folk” is officially on everyone’s radar – and in 2009, there’s plenty of twang to match.
Sadly, it’s ever-apparent that many of these artists, though scruffy, charming, and “organic,” lack sufficient knowledge the genre they’re making cool again. This year, CMJ is showcasing countless bands whose primary influences are probably, well, Wilco. And because Jeff Tweedy listened to the forefathers of country-rock (Neil Young, Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brothers) before forever changing it, I guess the rest of us need not.
Thursday night’s Partisan Records showcase at the was buzzed beyond belief and packed to the brim. Sadly, it did not deliver. Little Rock’s played an uninspired set of indie-alt-country with southern rock breakdowns and instrumentals in the vain of the Allman Brothers. It was an intriguing, ballsy concept without the proper instrumentation to follow through.
And then there’s who headlined the night and was arguably one of the most recognizable names of the festival. Sound issues plagued the 2 1/2 hour set, and lead singer John McCauley’s vocal rasp carried neither charm nor authenticity.
Location can mean a lot for a band, and the Providence, R.I., collective is not steeped in the traditions of the music it’s hell-bent on updating. But hey, likes them, so it can’t be all bad.
To watch the vdeo of Brian Williams’ super-awkward interview with Deer Tick, .
Stay tuned for more of John Hendrickson’s updates from CMJ ’09.
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John Hendrickson is a former Features and Entertainment intern at The Denver Post, an editor and featured writer at and a regular contributor to . In 2009 he was named one of the by .
