Your Guide to CMJ 2004

See cmj.com/marathon for details and scheduling changes.

WEDNESDAYOCTOBER 13

COACHWHIPS+MR. AIRPLANE MAN+THE MAKERS
Maxwell's, 1039 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey, 201.653.1703

Coachwhips, Frisco's answer to Pussy Galore, are what Fort Thunder transplant John Dwyer does when he's not being half of Frisco's answer to Lightning Bolt in Pink and Brown. Mr. Airplane Man, Boston's answer to the White Stripes and Black Keys, are unique partly due to both members being female. Veteran Spokane garage shticksters the Makers, despite being not at all distinctive, are sometimes referred to as "legendary." At 9. EDDY

DEATH COMET CREW+LES GEORGE LENINGRAD+KING COBRA
Northsix, 66 North 6th Street, Brooklyn, 718.599.5103

Persona first, and all else follows. Les George Leningrad are a nutty performance-art crew that have developed Residential self-contortion anthems, DCC are recently re-formed early-hip-hop mixologists with beats like firmly crossed arms, and the King Cobra are a math-metal band with an indie-pop pedigree. With Rogers Sisters, Ex-Models, Die Monitr Batss, and Battletorn. At 7. WOLK

THE DECEMBERISTS
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, 212.533.2111

Much like the bands in Athens, Georgia's psychedelically literate Elephant Six collective, the Decemberists make quirky, often caustic chamber pop. Leader Colin Meloy sings about how Los Angeles is "an ocean's garbled vomit on the shore" with a pitch-perfect Belle and Sebastian–influenced faux-British accent. With French Kicks, Hidden Cameras, Miho, and SoundTeam. At 7. RABER

JEAN GRAE+LARGE PROFESSOR+ PHOENIX & SHADOW
Crash Mansion, 199 Bowery, 212.982.7767

I'm a little optimistic about this meeting of two grumps. Large Professor's dance with major labels in the mid '90s ended with his debut album in a vault somewhere, followed by a decade or so of pseudo-obscurity. Jean Grae's been battling for industry respect for years, and in LP maybe she'll find a mentor who's made all the mistakes already. At 9. CARAMANICA

MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO.+DAMIEN JURADO+BR. DANIELSON+ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS
Coral Room, 512 West 29th Street, 212.244.1965

Sad-core stalwarts Jason Molina (a/k/a Songs: Ohia, a/k/a Magnolia Electric Co.) and Damien Jurado are joined by Christian freak-folker Daniel Smith (Br. Danielson) and downtown cabaret experimentalist Antony. The latter pair have more in common than one might think: androgynous voices, crazy costumes, appreciation for outmoded musical styles. With Windsor for the Derby. At 8:30. PHILLIPS

SONIC YOUTH+GANG GANG DANCE
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Place, 212.777.6800
See the Short List. At 7:45.

VORDUL MEGILAH+R.A. THE RUGGED MAN+IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE
S.O.B.'s, 204 Varick Street, 212.243.4940
See the Short List. At 8.

WRENS+ROB CROW+COURT AND SPARK
Knitting Factory Main Space, 74 Leonard Street, 212.219.3006

Headlining an Absolutely Kosher showcase that also features the Court and Spark and Pinback's Rob Crow, Secaucus's finest will walk the line between divine madness and rock-hero self-involvement. They're even more intense than their densely worked records. Trust the songs, guys—trust the songs. At 8:30. CHRISTGAU

THURSDAYOCTOBER 14

AN ALBATROSS+AQUI
Sin-é, 148–150 Attorney Street, 212.388.0077

The next wave of screamo: An Albatross play five-meter-changes-a-second hardcore with maximum instrumental density, and Aqui decompress their tempo and strap the cacophony onto dub, Bush Tetras–ish punk-funk, and any other suitable vehicle within range. With the Dears, Runner and the Thermodynamics, Officer May, Man Man, Grey Does Matter, and Rag City Dolls. At 7. WOLK

JOHN CALE
Avalon, 47 West 20th Street, 212.807.7780

Cale plays the pop sweepstakes in a wonderfully bizarre way—even his deep-end excursions have a nice feel to them that you admire in a cult artist. On his latest album, he wants to be Björk, which might not be a bad thing—she doesn't always want the job herself. With Mosquitos. At 9. GROSS

CLINIC+JUANA MOLINA
Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Place, 212.777.6800

Clinic's Winchester Cathedral doesn't have quite the lost-volumes-of-Nuggets effect of their earlier records, but their deadpan live oomph may help. Juana Molina's murmuring electronic-acoustic Spanish-language digi-folk songs, though, get lacier and more subtly profound with every album. With Sons & Daughters and Adem. At 8:30. WOLK

THE CONCRETES+VHS OR BETA
Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, 212.533.2111

The men and women in Stockholm's highly recommended Concretes play lush, sugary pop that tends toward the majestic. VHS or Beta, meanwhile, craft bold disco dance-punk that's as relevant as the question in their name. But relevance is for assholes—they're fun! Along with Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche and up-and-comers Inouk. At 7. ROSEN

TALIB KWELI+RES
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42nd Street, 212.997.4144

I want to reiterate: Talib Kweli has a Neptunes track on his new album, The Beautiful Struggle, that is hot to death. This is not a Twilight Zone episode. Consider it a vision of a better America. (Also, put out the Killer Mike collabo, son! ) Res is on Talib's album too, but she shines far brighter when not on backup detail. At 11. CARAMANICA

TED LEO/PHARMACISTS+THE REPUTATION
Knitting Factory Main Space, 74 Leonard Street, 212.219.3006

Ted Leo and the boys are always great live: Their Thin Lizzy–meets–Elvis Costello powerpop-rock gems will blow your hair back. Tonight, expect to hear plenty of songs from their brand-new full-length Shake the Sheets. Although they have their moments, the Reputation (which feature Elizabeth Elmore, formerly of Sarge) are the clouds rolling in on Leo's sunny day—pretty generic, kind of dreary indie pop. At 7:30. SWITZER