The Shiny Brights do New York- Part 1

Sat 1st Nov, 2008 in Local News

Welcome to The Big Apple. Well you’re not here, we are, and to be
honest there isn’t an apple in sight. There is only pizza slices,
shitty coffee and delicious ribs.

What are The Shiny Brights here for..? CMJ. What is CMJ..? A five
day music marathon and conference that spans the length and breadth of New York City, includes some 600 artists and sees us, The Shiny
Brights, five Adelaidians, playing the CMJ Onitsuka Tiger Showcase.

CMJ is only one day old, but already we have a countless list of
do’s and don’t’s for this city and festival.

First things first; the travel. Things to know: Only under 12’s are allowed colour-in crayon packs, and always choose the aeroplane
chicken over the beef. Unlike Adelaide Airport, NYC has more than a
driveway and shanty hut as an airport, make sure your pick-up knows
which one of the 10 terminals you arrive at.

With the travel sorted, its onto the city: One must always check the
climate at the destination. NYC is freezing at the moment. 40 F is
along way from 40 C! This was truly a rookie error. Accommodation here is a tight squeeze. A “two bedroom apartment that sleeps eight”,
only sleeps those four that are willing to sleep together and the
others on couches, floors and coffee tables. Added to this, never
invite old friends, and distant relatives to stay. This will result in
unwillingly passing up the couch in replace of a sleepless and luke
warm night in the bath tub.

Now to the real event, the festival. With CMJ being spread across 50
venues, it is essential to get here a few days earlier and orientate
oneself. With the subway under control you will be able to get to gigs
on time and also lose the bumbag or “fannypack” that has been the
item of choice as the first days as a tourist. CMJ (unlike the subway)
is no underground event. In the lead up the youth, hip, alternative,
music loving city is champing at the bit for proceedings to get
underway. Opening night did not disappoint. The New Zealand show case (hosted by Murray The Flight of The Concords Manager) was packed to the rafters with ugg boots and extreme sport junkies ready for the pop-rocking likes of Cut Off your Hands and The Ruby Suns. Unlike hometown festivals such as Big Day Out, Falls, and Splendour where you can walk from stage to stage, here you need to walk from venue to venue. This however poses no problems as they are all a five minute walk or subway away. Essentially CMJ provides the perfect scene to exit a venue, run from the cold, and stumble upon an act to get you moving.

One day down, four to go. Stay tuned, bask in the southern hemisphere sunshine while we do our best put our frozen fingers to keyboard and tell you what CMJ is all about.