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

Brooklyn based, No Sleep Records signees Atlantic/Pacific formed in 2008 and feature Garrett Klahn of Texas is the Reason and John Herguth of House & Parish. The band played at the Bell House in Gowanus Brooklyn this past Friday celebrating the release of their first album, Meet Your New Love, and in true promotional indie work ethic played 10 songs entirely off the new record. The sound of their music loosely fits within the all encompassing genre of Indie but has inflections of acoustic folk as well. It is sentimental rock with unpolished instrumentals and crooning vocals. The band’s influences range from Fleet Foxes to The Smiths. Ian Love of Rival Schools contributes guest instrumentation as well as production to the project and recorded the album at his Brooklyn Love Studios. Atlantic/Pacific has performed in New York and Europe, and in the fall of 2009 they self-released an EP called Autumn Edition Volume 1, which led them to start work on their full-length debut. This fall band is going on their first American tour across the United States. – Alex Borsody

More Halloween madness, this Sunday at the Black Cat get a triple dose of Yeah Gates Records with America Hearts, Foul Swoops, and the Cheniers, with two of these label mates releasing 7"s that very night.  America Hearts spout cute and quirky pop on Be My Jones, featuring a tune with lyrics inspired by vocalist Jess Matthew’s 3 year old nephew.  Then on the gritty side of the rock spectrum, Foul Swoops churn out the rough and raw sounds of traditional DIY recording, bound to sound most excellent on vinyl.

After literally and figuratively creating an impressive amount of buzz with their debut album and two follow up EPs, Baltimore’s up and comers Weekends have recently released their first full length record, titled Strange Cultures. Like similar two-man guitar-drums bands No Age and Japandroids, Weekends’ Brendan Sullivan and Adam Lempel produce a chaos of sound, full of texture and depth that would make many other larger bands painfully jealous. In their newest collection of songs, Weekends splash a thin shimmery veil of tropical vibes over a mess of noise rock, transforming a seemingly schizophrenic cacophony of guitar wails into something melodic, foot stompingly powerful, and entirely enjoyable. Strange Cultures finds the band bringing all facets of their sound to the table, making for an eclectic combination of head-swirling fuzz that sees the vocals taking a back seat to the scorching guitar lines and rock solid drum licks. The mostly instrumental closer, "Raingirls" is emblematic of their sun-soaked, axe-thrashing sound, part surfer-brah, part punk rocker. -Brooks

Allie Alvarado (formerly of Blood Lines and Telepathe) , a DC transplant with Brooklyn blood, has teamed up with her dance music producer brother Alvin Risk, spawning Painted Face; an electro pop solo project that is easily, the next best thing in DC. The debut EP Undreamt recently released, is bound to get some serious spins on dance nights for sure; with a gorgeous track like "Undreamt" providing swirling beats and lushy vocals reminiscent of Kate Bush and Bat For Lashes.  So download it, and perfect your moves!
Alvarado recently gigged it up at Rock & Roll hotel with School of Seven Bells.  BYT was there to cover it, check out their review.

Lead singer Stephonik Youth and her band Living Days put on a fantastic show at The Deli’s CMJ show at The Delancey on Tuesday 10.19. As you probably won’t trust our words as we organized that show, we’ll use Michelle Geslani’s review from Baeble Music to convince you:

"Living Days kind of scared my pants off (you’ll know when you see the photos). The music is electro-pop-meets-insane-garage-rock-party. Smoke machine, flower arrangements strewn all over the stage, and a frontwoman to die for, this band knows how to sell the whole package. Honestly, the frontwoman put on one of the best, most entertaining shows I’ve seen in awhile. If only all musicians were even 20% as active as her (she jumped on and off the stage, sang face-to-face with audience members, played with balloons, threw flowers, etc.), every show ever would probably be about 10x more satisfying. -michelle geslani

Getting Pitchfork’s "Best New Music" tag a few weeks before the NYC CMJ Music Marathon must be one of the dreams of many emerging musician. This dream came true for Twin Shadow, a one man band from Brooklyn, whose debut record was produced and released by Grizzly Bear’s drummer Chris Bear and his label Terrible Records. Our marathon runner Alexandra Vann had the opportunity to ask George Lewis, Jr – the man behind this project – a few questions. Read her interview and review here.