Cougar Microbes returned to CMJ this year for another mind blowing five days of musical extravaganza. We braved the cold but otherwise perfect weather through the streets of New York to catch the shows of some of music’s rising stars from around the world.
STARBENDERS
We began our night at Left Field on the Lower East Side. Female lead glamorous punk band Starbenders was admittedly underwhelming. We were ready to rock with them, but instead were left with what can only be described as loud talking into a microphone as music plays in the background. A few hits did stand out, such as “Touch“, but overall we hope to see improvement in their live performances in the future because the material is there if only they fine tune it.
SLEEPERS REIGN
We headed upstairs to check out the noise from Sleepers Reign. Their moody melody captured our attention and our hearts, along with their unconventional yet catchy beats. Singing about love, life, loss and everything in between we found ourselves tapping along to the rhythm of their soulful tunes. Elegant on stage both in sound and manner, they’re a fearsome four.
TETISH
Tetish‘ CMJ debut was nothing short of spectacular. Playing at Fat Baby in lower Manhattan, Tetish awed their audience with their powerful vocals and indisputably powerful stage presence. Despite the noise of many people packed into the smaller Manhattan venue Etan‘s voice carried strongly through everyone’s ears so much so that all eye’s were on her for the entire show. Listening with eyes and ears, layers of indie percussion and soulful groovy beats threw the listener back to reminiscent days of an earlier slightly edgier Cardigans. Tetish left the entire room hungering for more! Definitely an artist to keep an eye on.
LARA SNOW
The night was getting dark and we stuck around Fat Baby for some beast music from the Middle East. The first artist was a girl by the name of Lara Snow. A sweet and shy girl, she greeted everyone in the audience that walked in for the performance. That stood out to us possibly more than her music, which was the opposite of sweet and shy. Accompanied by her drummer, she sang powerful harsh electro jams into the mike with her hands raised above her head. Perhaps next time she will work the stage as much as she works her arms.
TESHA
Tesha was an unexpected sound. Deep, soulful, with a little rock and a lot of middle eastern influences Tesha killed the performance. The entire crowd stopped their loud drunken talking to give undivided attention to this girl singing unbelievable tunes and looking like an early Gaga before the wild costumes. A voice like silken gold it flowed perfectly with the harmonies created by her supporting band. A perfect late night go-to now forever embedded in the music catalog of our minds.
—–
Post by Valya
—–
TRACKS:
