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10/18 at 8 p.m; Public Assembly; 70 N. 6th St., nr. Wythe Ave, Williamsburg; 718-384-4586
This New Jersey group has a sound that jumps from Pavement silliness to Anglophile power-pop, with an energy that feels like all their songs could debut at No. 1.
Cloud Nothings
10/19 at 3:15 p.m; Cake Shop; 152 Ludlow St., nr. Stanton St.; 212-253-0036
Cleveland rocks, especially with infectious ditties made for dancing by the bespectacled Dylan Baldi, whose newest album is being produced by Steve Albini.
Forest Fire
10/19 at 7:40 p.m; Mercury Lounge; 217 E. Houston St., nr. Ludlow St., 212-260-4700
The minimalist folk-punks return, having expanded their sound with electronic textures on their new album, Staring at the X.
Twin Sister
10/19 at 8 p.m; 285 Kent; 285 Kent Ave., at S. 1st St, Williamsburg; no phone
A victory lap after the success of debut album In Heaven. Keep a close eye on this Domino/Ribbon party: Two very special guests have yet to be announced.
Talk Normal
10/19 at 8 p.m; Death by Audio; 49 S. 2nd St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; no phone
No-wave drummer and guitarist duo dabbling in rhythm and dissonance, intertwining to make a visceral—and oh so loud—whole.
Zola Jesus
10/19 at 9 p.m; (Le) Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker St., nr. Thompson St.; 212-505-3474
The soulful, classically trained vocals (she’s a former opera singer) of Nika Roza Danilova, layered over gothic synths. She plays in support of the recently released Conatus.
Amen Dunes
10/20 at 7 p.m; Littlefield; 622 Degraw St., nr. Fourth Ave., Gowanus; 718-855-3388
Bedroom psychedelic weirdo Damon McMahon weaves slow, intense threads that build toward beautiful disorientation.
Bleeding Knees Club
10/20 at 8 p.m; The Delancey; 168 Delancey St., nr. Clinton St.; 212-254-9920
Australian delinquents that have been cannonballing into the Black Lips garage pool, with more brattiness than one hemisphere can handle.
TunaBunny
10/20 at 6 p.m; Bruar Falls; 245 Grand St., nr. Roebling St., Williamsburg; 347-529-6610
These Athens, Georgia, art-poppers once claimed they were out to “destroy rock music,” but no matter how much noise they throw around, they still can’t stop making little pop gems.
Jesuslesfilles
10/21 at 7:45 p.m; Arlene’s Grocery; 95 Stanton St., nr. Ludlow St.; 212-995-1652
This band of French Canadians mixes nineties indie fuzz with a sped-up treble clang, like New Day Rising–era Hüsker Dü. (Their lyrics are all in French, so you may want to make up your own words.)
Active Child
10/21 at 8 p.m; Glasslands Gallery; 289 Kent Ave., nr. S. 1st St., Williamsburg; 718-599-1450
Pat Gross’s choirboy roots and harp skills make for gauzy and ethereal laptop-assisted electronica. Later this month he’ll be opening, appropriately, for M83.
Weekend
10/20 at 8 p.m; Cameo Gallery; 93 N. 6th St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-302-1180
Melody and sheets of ear-blasting noise trade off in lo-fi anthemic gems from this San Francisco trio. Bring earplugs.
Diarrhea Planet
10/22 at 2:30 p.m; Cake Shop; 152 Ludlow St., nr. Stanton St.; 212-253-0036
This punk band with FOUR (!) guitars have the stupidest name you’re likely to hear all year, their songs barely careen over the 1:30 mark (with their debut album less than 20 minutes long), and the most popular tune is called “Ghost with a Boner”. But don’t let any of that fool you. They’re great.
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
10/22 at 8 p.m; Cameo Gallery; 93 N. 6th St., nr. Wythe Ave., Williamsburg; 718-302-1180
The stage persona of melodic U.K. dance master (with an awesome name) Orlando Higginbottom, whose live shows have been known to incorporate costumes and confetti.
Titus Andronicus
10/18 at 9; Glasslands Gallery; 289 Kent Ave., nr. S. 1st St., Williamsburg; 718-599-1450
Not so much Shakespearean as wildly ambitious and inventive New Jersey punks who combine the history of American rock and roll into an intensely emotional catharsis. Amazing live.
Dum Dum Girls
10/20 at 2:30; Ace Hotel; 20 W. 29th St., nr. Broadway; 212-679-1947
The best of the recent glut of girl group-inspired garage rockers, Dee Dee and company have cleaned up their sound, pushing the earworm melodies of their dark pop to the forefront.
J. Mascis
10/20 at midnight; Mercury Lounge; 217 E. Houston St., nr. Ludlow St.; 212-260-4700
The guitar hero lead of the earsplitting Dinosaur Jr. brings his years of expertise and legendary status to an event usually associated with young ‘uns.
Neon Indian
10/21 at 6 p.m; Webster Hall; 125 E. 11th St., nr. Third Ave.; 212-353-1600
The young and nostalgic Alan Palomo, whose peripheral influences include his dad, a onetime Mexican pop star.
Gang Gang Dance
10/22 at 7 p.m;Bowery Ballroom ; 6 Delancey St., nr. Bowery; 212-533-2111
Experimental rockers led by the artist Lizzi Bougatsos, playing in support of their latest, Eye Contact, which features guest vocals by Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor.
En Vogue
10/21 at 9 p.m; B.B. King Blues Club & Grill; 237 W. 42nd St., nr. Seventh Ave.; 212-997-4144
The harmonizing R&B OG songstresses are back and doing a CMJ show, hopefully taking us back with classics such as “Free Your Mind” and “Whatta Man.” Also, synchronized dance moves (we hope).
Caithlin De Marrais
10/21 at 8 p.m; Littlefield; 622 Degraw St., nr. Fourth Ave., Gowanus; 718-855-3388
The former Rainer Maria front woman releases her sophomore album, the sweet Red Coats, out this November. Look for the first video, “Birds,” which she shot and directed.
Note: Folks are fickle, and times and locations are all subject to change. Check the CMJ Marathon’s Official Website (and the weather–do you need an umbrella?) before heading out.
The C stands for ComedyCMJ’s not just for music, there’s a film festival and funny things too! Union Hall is the place to be on 10/18, when Gabe Delahaye hosts a special edition of his Mr. Coconuts stand-up show and Mike Birbiglia regales you with stories from his shows Sleepwalk with Me and My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend. On 10/22, Liam McEneaney puts a CMJ spin on his Tell Your Friends showcase, with guests Todd Hanson, Kurt Braunohler, and Glenn Wool. Later that night, Greg Barris hosts the musical comedy shindig Heart of Darkness, where folks like Greg Johnson, Dave Hill, and Richard Metzger perform stand-up backed by a live band.