CMJ Preview Post #4

I made my favorite discovery on this day, so I’m crazy stoked to share them with you. Friday is teeming with talent, and some of that talent is kick-ass female talent from Texas, y’all!

Cotton Jones

Cotton Jones is folk-rock with heart and soul, and a touch of twang. They’re from Cumberland, Maryland, and will be performing at the Knitting Factory at 5:00 p.m.

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway makes soundtrack-like, full, orchestra music a la the Morning Benders or (locally) Mother Falcon; the songs can sneak up on you and overwhelm you in a very good way. These kids from Washington will play the Rockwood Music Hall Stage 1 at 6:00 p.m.

Sarah Jaffe

Sarah Jaffe is my IDOL. This young Denton, Texas-native sings with a rare passion, and her voice will immediately fill a room. Her debut full-length record, Suburban Nature, is full of heart-wrenching soul baring and the kind of love songs that can simultaneously comfort and break you. She’s NOT to be missed. Jaffe will play at Fat Baby at 7:00 p.m.

The Black Atlantic

This is the group I was alluding to in the opening graph; the Black Atlantic come from the Netherlands, and are my favorite formerly-unknown-to-me find. They employ a choir of voices that act as a cushion to the lead singer’s voice, which gives you that snuggly, wintry feeling. Hit up their MySpace page and check out “Fragile Meadow” RIGHT NOW, and you’ll understand my fanaticism. The Black Atlantic play the Living Room at 7:45 p.m.

Blair

I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Blair (so, so awkwardly – on a moving van with mics falling all over the place) at South by Southwest this past year, and not only is she a total sweetheart, but she makes excellent music. Hers is minimalistic pop music that’s dancey at times, more subdued at others. She performs at the Mercury Lounge at 8:00 p.m.

lissie

lissie is a vocal beast. Though small in stature, she sings almost as if possessed, and her voice seems to burst from every pour. Musically, she makes country-tinged folk, and it’s wonderful. You can see her at the Hiro Ballroom at 8:00 p.m.

Royal Bangs

Royal Bangs are a three-piece from Knoxville who will make you dance to the kind of jaded lyrics you expect from a group like LCD Soundsystem. They are intensely energetic live performers, and I have seen fans mosh around a little at times. Jump around at the Cameo Gallery at 8:30 p.m.

JBM

JBM is a blog favorite, and for good reason. The man can play guitar like he was born to play guitar, and his voice is some kind of ethereal that makes him sound related to Jim James. Live, he is the kind of performer that will make a room go silent. Catch him at the Mercury Lounge at 9:00 p.m.