CMJ 2007: A Reader’s Guide

By CHRISTINE MORANO

Published: October 11, 2007

MANHATTAN—From Oct. 16  through Oct. 20, Manhattan will become a playground for music and movie lovers alike. The College Music Journal (CMJ) Music Marathon and Film Festival, one of the largest events of its kind, is a lovefest for audiophiles and film freaks. From concerts in Midtown West to special film screenings in the Village, there will be hundreds of events for even the most discriminating college student. Due to the sheer volume and length of a festival this large, it can be difficult to decide what bands, movies and panels are worth your time. These previews will hopefully steer you towards some of the more engaging activities taking place across the city and provide a taste of what’s coming in the next week.

The Bouncing Souls

Tue, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.

At Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St.

$17 adv./$19 day of

Hailing from New Brunswick, N.J., The Bouncing Souls are one of punk’s most well-known and long-lived bands. For this energetic live show, the band will be accompanied by Lifetime, a melodic hardcore punk band that shares the same Jersey scene and longevity of career. Both bands are supported by openers The Low Budgets and Modern Life is War.

M.I.A.

Fri, Oct. 19, 8 p.m.

At Terminal 5, 610 W. 56th St.

$25 adv./$30 day of

Perhaps one of the most unique faces in the hip-hop industry today, British/Sri-Lankan female rapper M.I.A. combines electro funk beats with smooth rhythms and rhymes. Her off-kilter lyrics and personality, coupled with a dynamic stage show should make for a dynamic and intriguing live performance.

CMJ Clash Film Marathon

Sat, Oct. 20, all day

At TriBeCa Cinemas, 54 Varick St.

Do you love The Clash? This day-long mini-festival is set to include three very different films about the band, as well as their rise to and fall from fame. “The Clash: Westway to the World” is perhaps the most straightforward of the three movies, discussing the band in a similar way to a VH1 “Behind the Music” special. “Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten” extracts lead singer Joe Strummer from the Clash equation, examining him as not only a musician, but also as an iconic figure for his entire era. “Rude Boy,” the last of the three, is also the most difficult to classify. This unusual documentary combines elements of narrative storytelling, fan fanaticism, and the cheeky “rockumentary” format, and features exclusive life performances of the band

Sue-Tube: The Impact of User Generated Content Industry

Fri, Oct. 19, 10:30 a.m.

At Kimmel Center: Eisner and Lubin Auditorium, 60 Washingto Square S.

What FCLC student hasn’t spent time browsing YouTube in the third floor Mac Lab? In an exclusive panel, media insiders will explore the the Viacom vs. Google/YouTube lawsuit, and the roles of censorship in the cyberworld. Where is line between creative content and copyright infringement? And furthermore, what does this internet battle hold in store for the future of streaming digital entertainment? All of these questions and more will be addressed by the panelists in this hour-long discussion.

College Day 2007

Thu, Oct. 18, events running all day, beginning at 9 a.m.

At New York University’s Helen And Martin Kimmel Center For University Life, 60 Washington Square S.

The largest and most diverse of the events, College Day compacts the entire CMJ Festival into a single day. Combining music performances, panel discussions and free food, College Day has it all. It all kicks off with complementary breakfast and a live performance by the band Eldar, followed by a discussion, entitled “Who’s the Boss?”, which deals with college radio and campus life. Absurdly enough, a bonafide Spelling Bee is the main attraction at 11:45 a.m., followed by another panel titled “Music Director’s Summit.” Lunch is also provided, and La Laque, an intriguing Brooklyn New Wave band will be providing musical accompaniment. A panel on college radio and the internet will be presented, titled “College Radio 2.0,” and the College Radio Awards will be awarded. Finally, this long day will be capped off by a special screening of the indie movie “Wristcutters,” a sardonic look at the afterlife, suicide, and love (and life) after death.