CMJ Music Marathon: Day 2

Videos by American Songwriter

Eleanor Friedberger

Previously known as the sister half of sibling experimental pop duo the Fiery Furnaces, Eleanor Friedberger struck out on her own earlier this year with the release of her album Last Summer. At Brooklyn’s Public Assembly, she performed tracks such as “My Mistakes” and “Inn of the Seventh Ray” with a backing band that included Matt Asti of MGMT. Her bright, punchy solo sound also came through in new songs entitled “I’ll Never Be Happy Again” and “When I Knew,” which was described as being about “when someone else fell in love.”

Still Corners

After Eleanor Friedberger, Still Corners reset the mood at Public Assembly with their moody psych-rock.  The British quartet matched their haunting synths with eerie visuals projected behind them.

Emmy The Great

The London singer-songwriter took the stage at Fat Baby to perform her bold, evocative folk-pop.  Armed with a clear voice and a detail-oriented sensibility, her powerful performance of “First Love” was particularly memorable.

The Wombats

The Wombats, another English import, drew a packed, enthusiastic crowd to Webster Hall with their singalong-friendly sound.  The storming set was energetic to the end, capped with a raucous rendition of “Let’s Dance to Joy Division.”

Bobby

Despite technical difficulties, the Massachusetts band delivered a set packed with textured melodies.  Their layered instrumentals created soundscapes that could be simple or complex, depending on the listener.

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