Gig review: New Zealand @ CMJ Showcase

Popstrangers perform at the New Zealand @ CMJ 2011 Showcase. Photo / Melanie Kamsler & Tom Neal

Opinion

Now in its 31st year, New York's annual CMJ festival is an opportunity for industry types and musicians from all over the globe to perform, peruse and participate in a week of musical frivolity.

This year's New Zealand showcase (generally regarded as one of the week's highlights) was kicked off by Lil' Chief Records' Princess Chelsea, and her well-crafted pop songs had the room swaying along.

Rapturous applause followed, and then Andrew Keoghan took the stage with Lawrence Arabia drummer Dan Ward for their first show of the CMJ conference.

At times reminiscent of Scott Walker's unique vocal styling, Keoghan's voice is stunning. Armed with a violin, a guitar and an array of pedals used to great effect, his songs build and swell, demanding the listener's attention.

Pikachunes received the best reception of the evening with one audience member noting, "I want to dance and hug him all at once!" His upbeat synth-driven dance music had hands in the air as he proclaimed, "Let's bring the house down!"

Wellington band The Golden Awesome was here to support the release of their debut album Autumn. The band gave a definite nod to JPSE and stepped everything up a notch sonically. Wall of sound guitars and a rhythm section reminiscent of HDU, this four-piece gave it their all, flowing through their 20 minutes virtually uninterrupted.

Flying Nun's Popstrangers sounded like they were well versed in the label's history. With a Bailterspace-meets-Skeptics tension channelled through their own unique swagger, the band put on an abrasive and accomplished performance.

Street Chant were genuine crowd-pleasers, bringing their '90s slacker aesthetic to the stage. Why this band isn't huge in the States is beyond me. Their undeniable hooks are as strong as anything by the current '90s revivalist set, and it's surely only a matter of time before the band is everywhere.

The New Zealand @ CMJ showcase was closed out by Cairo Knife Fight, and these guys can really play. They managed to get three songs out of their 20 minutes and every single second was accounted for. It was brutal and hypnotic, and provided a blinding finish to a brilliant and varied representation of New Zealand music in New York.

What: New Zealand @ CMJ 2011 Showcase with Popstrangers, Street Chant, Princess Chelsea, Pikachunes, The Golden Awesome, Andrew Keoghan and Cairo Knife Fight.
Where: (Le) Poisson Rouge, New York City
When: Tuesday, October 18

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