New Friendy Fires Tour Dates - NY/LA

Our favorite band coming out of CMJ this year was hands down the Friendly Fires. After catching them at the Annex and the Brooklyn Vegan party, we were instantly sold. So, of course, we were excited to read that they are coming back to NY to play another show at the Annex on Dec. 9. Tix are on sale now. Head to BV for more photos from their Piano's show during CMJ.

Friendly Fires - 2008 Tour Dates
Sun 12/07 - Spaceland, Los Angeles CA
Tue 12/09 - The Annex, New York NY

(Photo Credit: Leia Jospe for Brooklyn Vegan)

CMJ Hangover 2008: The Best

FRIENDLY FIRES
We caught the Friendly Fires twice during CMJ and they were clearly one of the best we saw all week. We have one Ms. Lucy Wood to thank for getting us out to the Annex on Wednesday to catch the UK quartet in action. They did not disappoint. Blending the best from bands such as Hot Chip and Radiohead (at their most rock and roll,) the Friendly Fires brought passion, great songs, great voices and excellent musicianship to the stage. With heavy use of cowbells, an alternate percussion set and various electronic keyboard elements, the Fires created pulsing-dance-rock; their sound was surprisingly much larger than one would expect from a quartet. We loved them so much we made sure to haul ass to get to Pianos by 3 pm to see them again at the Brooklyn Vegan day party. Although it took them a bit longer to get warmed up (I mean it was 3) they eventually brought the intensity to match the show the evening before. We ran into lead NY Times music writer Jon Parales during the show, and even Mr. Parales let on that the Friendly Fires, were one of, if not THE best thing he had seen at CMJ to date. Although it's hard to judge the buzz during the actual marathon, we received text messages and emails all telling us to make sure we caught them. Hopefully they can ride their CMJ successes to bigger things in the upcoming year. The Friendly Fires self titled record is out now on XL. LIVE VIDEO FROM LEVI'S/FADER FORT AFTER THE JUMP.

AUDRYE SESSIONS
The best thing about the week of shows during CMJ is accidentally stumbling upon a band on the brink of the big time, when no one else seems to be watching. We found ourselves at the Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday night to catch Shugo Tokumaru and Cory Chisel at the Sony showcase. After great sets from Chisel and Tokumaru, California new-comers Audrye Sessions took the stage. After a slow start, they brought on various guest musicians forming a small chamber ensemble (strings and wind) to complement their quartet. From there things took off. The results were a blend of sweeping U2- style arena-rock, mixed with an infusion of Oasis pop songwriting. While maybe not our personal favorites, Audrye Sessions is clearly a band with a skyward trajectory. Signed to the new Sony imprint Black Seal headed by trusted industry veteran Matt Shay, Audrye sessions are a market ready band with the image, money, and music to make a true push into the mainstream. They have an EP coming this fall and a full length planned for Januray 2009. It will be interesting to see what comes from a band with this much potential in a market-place still plagued with challenges.

Friendly Fires at The Levi's® FADER Fort NYC
by thefader

CMJ Watch IV: Shugo Tokumaru, Women, Cory Chisel, Ane Brun, Friendly Fires

Wednesday's fixin' to be a big night on the town for us. The beginning part of the evening finds us at the Bowery Ballroom to catch Cory Chisel and Shugo. We're pretty jazzed for Shugo as he has played several times in NYC, but we have yet to catch him. His new record Exit, is fantastic. Canadian band, Women are quickly becoming one of the "buzz bands" to catch at this year's festival, so we'll head up the Ludlow street way to catch them at Cake Shop round 11:15pm.

On the way, we're hitting up the lovely (and Swedish) Ane Brun who is playing the Living Room behind her new record Changing of the Seasons. She's on at 10:00pm. Also don't forget about Dent May and Beach House at Le Poisson Rouge tonight as well.

Gotta give a shout out for all of our British friends and trans-Atlantic readers - Friendly Fires are playing tonight, which is Brit night at the Annex. Their new self-titled record is fantastic -- we're going to catch 'em at tomorrow's Brooklyn Vegan day party at Pianos, which is also shaping up to be an amazing afternoon of tunes.
Whew.