CMJ can be overwhelming, even from just looking at the schedule. Not to mention how disappointed we get when we realize we physically cannot make it to all the shows we want to. This year, The Morning After Pills blog took a bit of an alternative route and sought out unofficial showcases during the week. Isn’t it fun discovering great bands that don’t even make it on CMJ’s radar? How underground of us. From the unofficial bands we saw, we picked three winners, who all happened to play on the same night.

First is Automelodi, Wierd Records’ French-Canadian coldwave band. Led by front man Xavier Paradis, the band is one of our favorite current synth bands and amazing to see live. Check out their beautiful self-titled LP and you will hear hints of New Romanticism.

Dream Affair is another great band of a similar caliber. Listening to singer Hayden Payne’s voice, it’s hard to miss the similarities to post-punk’s early favorites like Joy Division. Look out for their 7" to be released late winter/early spring on Five Three Dial Tone Records.

Lastly, we had the pleasure of seeing YOU., a three-piece who plays electronic dance-invoking goodness in an other-worldly fashion. Find their music on Blind Prophet Records – it’s unlike anything you’ve heard before. – Kristen Yoonsoo Kim

Nyle made headlines a couple years back when Kanye put his “Let the beat build” video up on his blog. Since then, the kid has been everywhere from the Brooklyn Hip Hop Fest to MTV. His crowd is mostly 20-somethings thanks to his gratuitous nods to NYU (his alma mater), but his talent and energy are undeniable. Old school flavors and an amazing live band quickly morph his shows into sweaty dance pits. Nyle says: “I’m handling rappers like a lifestyles factory. Used to be Screech now I’m feeling like Zachary Banks like Carlton and Ashley’s. Nah, actually I’m Jazzy banging Hillary or Shaggy shagging Daphne. I’m the underdog that finally gets the girl: Cory from boy meets world, or Doug doing Patti. I’m nasty; 5 percenters call me blasphemy. I cause more catastrophe than a natural disaster scene.” – BrokeMC

Avant-and-or-compositional-rock band Kayo Dot is about to embark upon a Northeast U.S. and Canada tour in support of their new EP, "Stained Glass", which is a long, floating, vibraphone-centric distortion cloud representing a Luciferian musical journey across the colorful windows of a cathedral. They are also celebrating the vinyl release of their last album, "Coyote". You’ll be able to see them in NYC at Littlefield on 11.14.

This band was referred to me by a… I guess we can say "colleague" during CMJ week (I have a big list here of referred local artists, hopefully I’ll be able to cover them all one at a time). Computer Magic is the synth-pop brainchild of a young lady called Danz, who is accompanied live by two dudes on guitar and bass and, of course, a drum machine. This one-woman-band’s tunes, blessed by interesting dark melodies, are at once atmospheric and playful, and sound a little like an early 80s version of Air. Our favorite song – "Get a Job" – sounds like an electronic, sans-Robert Smith version of The Cure from the "Killing an Arab" period with droney, filtered female vocals. Equally satisfying, "Victory Gin" offers a full on 80s style synth arrangement that threw us back to the good old days when Simple Minds was an awesome emerging electro-rock band (if you feel nostalgic I recommend listening to "Life in a Day").

Here’s the video from punksters The So So Glos‘ single entitled "Fred Astaire". See the band live on 11.13 at Death by Audio.

Here’s some tasty candy for all you mp3 trick-or-treaters: a new Quilty tracks based on Charles Burns’ teenage sex-and-horror graphic novel Black Hole. The song featured here is "Lizard Queen." It’s a rollicking, libidinous chugger about "the bug," a sexually transmitted disease that causes its victims to develop bizarre physical mutations. Side B, "Chris on the Beach," (you can find it here) is a loose, fuzzy send-off to a murdered lover that ebbs softly over jammy, hazy guitars. It’s a little more sentimental than the first, but certainly no less grotesque, sleazy or gory (and we wouldn’t have it any other way). Happy Halloween, y’all! – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here).

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Kirsten Price is an inverted independent musician. Her music sounds like radio-friendly R&B: tight, clean and well produced, but she isn’t beholden to a record label. For her first record, “Guts and Garbage”, Price had a producer, but her recently released, “Brixton to Brooklyn” she decided to produce it herself, and she obviously knows what she’s doing. Both albums will make you move – the second with a little less country in your pop. Price’s song “Magic Tree” was included on the most recent LWord compilation album. Previously compared to artists like Amy Winehouse and Macy Grey, Price sounds like if Ani Difranco was raised by Jay-Z and Beyonce. – www.kirstenprice.com – JL

The HOTcakes are an alt-pop NYC based band whose sound falls somewhere between Patti Smith and Blondie with a touch of Iron Butterfuly for added fun. Since licensing a song to the Cincinnati Reds, The Hotcakes have become the most popular NYC band in Ohio. On their debut EP, Erin Marsz’s powerhouse pipes keep the band’s sound anchored to the seventies – keep your ears out for the new EP, the release party will be at Arlene’s Grocery on December 11. The band will also play Crash Mansion on November 6. – Jenny Luczak

Fang Island – creators of the a musical genre called High Five Rock – announced their first headlining North American tour in November, plus the release of a limited edition 7" and new free MP3. The Brooklyn quintet had previously toured supporting the likes of The Flaming Lips, Stone Temple Pilots, and Matt & Kim, and will have Delicate Steve (another CMJ 2010 NYC "winner") open their shows. To celebrate this event, the band is releasing a 7" single featuring a song, called "Patterns On The Wall" with special guest Andrew WK.Enjoy the single "Daisy" embedded here.

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NOTAR is a familiar face from the local open mike scene. His infrequent yet memorable performances have always lent to a suspicion that there was something more hiding behind his jocular yet humble exterior. His showcase performance at the Canal Room about a year ago confirmed an already resonant buzz. The crowd, densely packed and uber-chic, were drawn-in immediately to his dynamic stage show which culminated in Adam Duritz, Tyrannosaurus Records founder and Counting Crows frontman, joining him for a tune. Notar is a bright spirit and indefatigable performer. If you enjoy southern rock and rap, then you owe it to yourself to check him out. He’ll be tearing down R Bar this Wednesday, November 3rd. – BrokeMC

The Rassle could be the band that was needed to trigger some kind of "Madchester in NYC" revival. These guys write glorious pop gems that are in equal part reminiscent of Happy Mondays’ groovy hits and The Jesus and Mary Chain’s solid songwriting and edgy sonics. The boys also have the right attitude on stage, as they demostrated in front of a packed room at our CMJ show at The Delancey. Check them out on record and live, fun is guaranteed. Their next show will be at Santo’s Party House on November 3rd.

Music and food are the central elements of any great party and Backyard Brunch Sessions brings you both. BBS began as a music industry supper club hosted by SoundCtrl blog editor, David Chaitt, and evolved into the food and music showcase that takes place in his Williamburg backyard today. Teaming up with NYC Taper and West Egg Productions, Chaitt produces ten-minute video shorts, part cooking show part music video, in which he and the band cook brunch for their backyard audience before the performance. For this innovative series, Chaitt asks acts to play an acoustic set which, in many instances, challenges musicians to re-imagine their songs. Even if you’ve heard the bands before, BBS captures them in a new light. Chaitt is now bringing back some of his favorite Backyard acts with their usual instrumentation for a showcase at Brooklyn Bowl on November 8. The night, aptly named Brunch After Dark, will feature Oh Land, The Canon Logic, Fatty Acid, ARMS and The Courtesy Tier. Look up the previous BBS episodes on the Youtube Channel and catch them at Brooklyn Bowl on November 8th, doors open at 6:30. – Jenny Luczak