Adelaide band, The Shiny Brights are currently showcasing at the CMJ festival in New York.

In part 4 of a 5 part blog, the band report in on their latest adventures.

For a second there, we thought we were beginning to get this thing they call the music industry and one hour later we stupidly realise how could we know so little. The major record label advice session is packed as tight as Ricky Martin’s newest pair of leather pants, as six vital members of the industry explain why to sign your soul away to them and peruse through the countless demos chucked into the bargain bin upon entry. 30 minutes into the panel and the numerous clearly independent focused musicians are listening as every word slips off these important people’s tongues. After all, with A&R reps from Virgin, Atlantic and Universal records in the room someone must get pen to paper. The panel closes with snippet listening to whichever demo RXP Radio Promoter Matt Pinfield gets his greasy mits onto first. Strangely enough this includes two Australian artists (No Shiny Brights unfortunately, thankyou very much Mr. Pinfield), Bird of Prey and Satellite Nation. These two acts hold the Australian flag high, but the advice of the experts for all bands, in particular Rob Stevenson from Virgin Records, is to have a “FUCKING CATCHY CHORUS”. The juggernaut that is the major record label want choruses as they want their consumers singing them over and over, so Richard Branson can continue to pour giant bags of cash into his numerous Swiss Bank accounts.

Le poisson Rouge is the best venue we witnessed in NYC. It is a culmination of everything Australian music venues would love to be, arty, expressive and down right spectacular. Playing our showcase are three of New York City’s Finest, cigarette-burn-inflciting The Giraffes, alt-rock masterminds Figo and 4 guitars-no drums-powerhouse Apollo Heights, all of who have serious accolades yet are down to earth and extremely interesting people. Being in the room with a band that has supported The Pixies, Oasis and TV on the Radio can be quiet daunting to five recently pubescent 21 years olds.

In all fairness to The Rapture that touted “people don’t dance no more, they just stand there like this, they cross their arms and stare you down and drink and moan and hiss”, they really do in New York City. To make a New Yorker dance, you either need to buy 400 hot dogs from your local hot dog stall proprietor or claim to be some distant relation of David Letterman.

However, as the night progressed, the sighting of Kevin Bacon at the show added to the madness that makes NYC the best city in the world. That is the trick to New York, if you put yourself out there in a city that moves so fast, you are bound to have something great happen.

Check out Part 1 HERE.

Check out Part 2 HERE

Check out Part 3 HERE