Running the Music Marathon

Leading up to the actual performances, buzz swirls in the industry about which band is the must-see during the weeklong sprint from club to club.

For the most passionate music fans, the real thrill is catching an artist close up in one of the city's unique venues. Rather than seeing an act from afar in a stadium setting, CMJ attendees are treated to smaller shows at the cozy Mercury Lounge or intimate Bowery Ballroom.

From this platform, some bands go on to tour clubs around the world. Others, however, are left to toil in smaller bars, still trying to hone their skills.

There are thousands of bands performing, notes Werde, but he also warns that "most of the bands that really break out have already established a good amount of buzz, through the Internet and music blogs primarily. That's usually what draws people to the club to see them. It's obviously really tough to stand out of the crowd if you're an undiscovered band."

However, all hope isn't lost for the smaller acts looking to get a foothold and make their presence known. "It's a good developing platform," Werde says. "It's not like these bands are going from zero to 60 in one step."

"The experience was great," says Bryan Bruchman, guitarist for the Brooklyn-based Man In Gray, who played a CMJ showcase Wednesday night at the Knitting Factory. "A huge group of people were going nuts and singing along to every song. I didn't think that could happen in New York. It was great to see people stick around, check out new bands and new music, and be genuinely excited about it all."

Want to catch a few shows?

You have a few options: purchasing a CMJ badge, which allows access to any show for the duration of the festival ($495, $295 for students); purchasing tickets online, through Ticketmaster or Ticketweb; or contacting the individual venues directly -- see the complete schedule here.

Keep in mind, tickets to the hottest shows are usually snatched up quickly; make sure to check before heading to the venue for ticket availability.

Notable upcoming performances include:

Thursday, Nov. 2:

	The Next Nirvana?

The Shins @ Bowery Ballroom
Nicole Atkins & The Sea @ The Mercury Lounge
Bling Kong @ Fontana's
Earlimart @ Northsix
Forward Russia! @ The Mercury Lounge
Silversun Pickups @ Pianos
Aloha @ Europa
Sam Champion @ Southpaw
Shade @ The Delancey
Hot Chip @ Webster Hall

Friday, Nov. 3:

The Big Sleep @ Pianos
George Clinton @ Crash Mansion
Pela @ Sin-E
The Decemberists @ Hammerstein Ballroom
Mary Timony @ Hiro Ballroom
The Secret Machines @ The Warsaw
O' Death @ The Delancey
Chin Up Chin Up @ The Knitting Factory (Tap Bar)
Jesse Malin @ The Living Room

Saturday, Nov. 4:

Cody Chesnutt @ Canal Room
Shooter Jennings @ Irving Plaza
The Fall @ Hiro Ballroom
Morning Theft @ Maxwell's
Margot & The Nuclear So & So's @ Rebel
Army Of Me @ The Annex
French Kicks @ The Mercury Lounge

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