CMJ has finally come to a close. The end of CMJ feels like the last day of camp; the final hurrah, coated with a bit of sadness, before next year’s festivities. I have met some great people, made amazing memories and have been looking forward to an abundance of sleep. Now, it’s time to get back to what is deemed a “normal life.” I spent my last day attending The Deli’s showcases at The Delancey and The Studio at Webster Hall with a brief stop at Fontana’s. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the best five days I’ve had this year.

Less than 12 hours later, I was back at The Delancey for The Deli’s afternoon showcase for Traveling Circle. The trio was one of three bands that won the contest to perform at The Deli’s showcase. The heavy psych rock band projected an impressive sound in the basement. With clear influences from the psychedelic bands of yesteryear, Traveling Circle added calculated touches that appeal to a more modern audience.



At The Delancey’s covered rooftop, Sara Kermanshahi of Natureboy was setting up for her performance. With the abundance of flora planted around the venue, her music resonated well with the soothing atmosphere. Kermanshahi’s compelling vocals shone through the lulling tones of her acoustic guitar. Through her wonderfully crafted songs, she wove a pleasant poignant mood that was difficult to extricate myself from.



Back downstairs, Le Rug, who has a penchant for naming its songs after U.S. presidents, stormed through aggressive, short post-punk songs. Recently signed to Chief Records, the trio is not short of material for a full-length, as they squeezed in the most songs into their set out of all of the bands that played the showcase. The band leapt through a variety of styles and tempos, sparing only a few seconds between songs to announce titles.



Following Emanuel and the Fear, Annie and the Beekeepers performed their charming, heartfelt folk on the rooftop. Vocalist and guitarist Annie Lynch was joined by Ken Woodward on bass and Alexandra Spalding on cello in this intimate setting. Audience members leaned in closer to get swept up in the emotional thrust of the songs laden with passion.



An acquaintance raved about North Highlands earlier in the week, so I listened to the quintet’s MySpace prior to the show, and I was floored. I had to go see the band’s performance at Fontana’s. North Highlands’ music sounds like a cross between Most Serene Republic and Sufjan Stevens, but that comparison doesn’t even do the group justice. The sweet, moving folk chamber pop songs are the musical equivalent to comfort food, something that is desired excessively for its consoling nature. The band’s gorgeous swell of instrumentation seemed to clear the dark overcast and rain that raged outside for the 30-minute set. North Highlands recently finished recording its debut EP, “Sugar Lips,” which will be released in the near future. But for now, several tracks are on its MySpace for your listening pleasure.



Bookended by other great Deli finds, The Protomen, epic rock opera straight out of Nashville, and Rumspringa, a soulful duo from Los Angeles, Mon Khmer brought its entrancing rock to the stage at The Studio. The band has recently won our band of the month poll with its intellectual compositions; the subtle details really make Mon Khmer explosive. For example, the band cleverly utilizes pedal steel, an instrument usually reserved for the country realm, to support its melancholy tone without a hint of a country inflection.



Savoir Adore roughly translates “to know love” in French. This band has been receiving a lot of love since the L Magazine listed this Savoir Adore as one of “8 NYC Bands You Need to Hear” for its catchy pop tunes. Although Deli showcase was actually the group’s third show of the day, the musicians didn’t hold back an ounce of energy. Audience members responded back to this commitment by singing back the lyrics with fervor and moving with such enthusiasm.



Ever since a friend in the chiptune scene called Anamanaguchi “innovators,” I’ve wanted to see them live. Faced with the limitations of 8-bit hardware, the band has produced expansive pop gems full of blips and beeps. They layer bass, guitars and drums over the synthesized sounds of the Nintendo and Game Boy to create their unique, modern songs. The high-energy show was fueled by the audience members dancing to the glitchy, bubbly tunes.

Lindsey called me the next afternoon to check if I was still alive. We both survived – to some extent. We chatted about our respective days and wished that CMJ could extend into next week, even though most of Sunday was spent in our beds to recover from the chaos. Thanks to Lindsey, The Deli, all the bands that played, fans and New York City venues for making this CMJ so much fun!