CMJ: Fader Showcases MNDR, VEGA, The Temper Trap, Midnight Juggernauts. Debuts Chauffeur, Florence and Jenny Wilson!

The main draw for me at Fader Fort at the ACE Hotel in NYC was Florence + The Machine’s 7:15 set but along the way, open bar and wonderful sets by MNDR, Jenny Wilson, The Temper Trap, Chauffeur were an awesome bonus! Full pictures from each set can be seen HERE.

<< MNDR >>

has been building steam over the past couple months through her blog, MySpace, and her frequent party gigs.

Bushwick’s MNDR was a breath of fresh air in the sweaty basement of the ACE Hotel, jumping from keyboards, knob-turning, and moving the crowd with her incredibly fun and tech-no-logic set.

Keep an eye out for MNDR!

MP3: MNDR – C.L.U.B. or zShare

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<< The Temper Trap >>

were essentially CMJ’s headliner, playing some of the biggest showcases of the week and gracing the cover of the CMJ industry newsletter.We saw The Temper Trap Wednesday night at The Music Hall of Williamsburg for the Blue Flowers showcase in the headlining slot once populated by Speech Debelle.

I’m going to be honest in saying that I was not impressed by their set that night, and was quite frankly bored. However, the band I saw onstage at MHOW was not at all the same one smashing the stage at the ACE Hotel.

I think The Temper Trap are more comfortable in a smaller and more intimate setting where they connect with the fans, stepping up their stage presence 150% and feeding off of the energy of the crowd. The crowning moment for me was when lead singer Dougy Mandagi poured bottles of water on the drums to create a geyser effect while Jonathan Aherne swung his bass around like a chainsaw. Now that’s what I call a show!

MP3: The Temper Trap – Science Of Fear (Herve Remix) or zShare

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<< Jenny Wilson >>

was first on my radar as the guest vocalist on The Knife’s infectious You Take My Breath Away from the band’s 2005 album Deep Cuts.

Fellow Swedes Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson (aka The Knife) signed Jenny Wilson to Rabid Records where she released two records: Love and Youth (2005) and this year’s Hardships!

Like Chauffeur and Florence + The Machine, Wilson made her debut performance in New York at Fader Fort’s CMJ party. It was a beautiful debut performance and a great introduction to her electro-orchestra sound complete an ensemble of horns, flutes, keys and percussion.

MP3: Jenny Wilson – Like a Fading Rainbow or zShare

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<< VEGA >>

is Alan Palomo’s third musical identity, the previous being Ghosthustler and the blog staple Neon Indian.

I first caught Vega live at Studio B last spring, and again at Hype Machine/Babelgum’s CMJ showcase before Fader’s party, and the set gets more and more polished each time.

MP3: VEGA – No Reasons or zShare

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<< Chauffeur >>

is the super-power collective of New York’s Thelophilus London, Australia’s Sam Sparro and the Transatlantic Mark Ronson.

I wasn’t quite sure what Chauffeur was upon seeing it listed on the bill, but I was pleasantly surprised to see these three artists from different places (musically and geographically) come together to make something fresh.

The trio played an extremely short set of about 3 songs, but wowed everyone with their cover of Sheila E.’s Glamorous Life. I’m interested to see what’s next!

MP3: Chauffeur – Soles of Fire or zShare

MP3: Sheila E. – The Glamorous Life or zShare

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<< Midnight Juggernauts >>

also played Hype Machine/Babelgum’s CMJ showcase with Vega. The Australian trio played a 6-song set that floated between punk and electronic, sucessfully rousing the sweat-soaked and spritied crowd into a hardcore dancefest.

We chatted with the band earlier that week (check back for the on-camera interview with ‘Sup Magazine) and they were excited to play CMJ, an energy that was pleasantly projected through their live set.

MP3: Midnight Juggernauts – Jump The Gun or zShare

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<< Florence + the Machine

My review of Florence’s acoustic set at Fader Fort can be read here: Florence + The Machine’s NYC Debut: Sweeter Than Heaven + Hotter Than Hell

MP3: Florence + The Machine – Howl or zShare

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