The first half of the last day of CMJ was something of a random draw, with there only being one band I was determined to see that day (Pattern Is Movement, seen on the left).

I ended up at Cake Shop for a repeat performance of Drink Up, Buttercup, the only band I saw more than once during the five days (though plenty of bands played plenty of times, surely this year broke a record for the number of bands doing a multi-set grind). While the double-dose was pure coincidence, the second set was perhaps even more entertaining than the first. If the first performance was energetic, then the second was manic. The band members seemed peeved at an only somewhat attentive audience, and Cake Shop’s rather meager sound and stage setup – or were maybe just enjoying too many of those cheap PBRs – and channeled all of that into song, flailing around more grandly, banging those trash cans harder, and shouting even louder, including at the audience to demand that they both pay attention and sing along. If being pissed off is what they need to put on this kind of show, then someone should harass these guys before every outing.

Speaking of attitude, the next stop was Little Jackie, the current project of Imani Coppola, known for the ‘97 hit, “Legend of a Cowgirl” (which was, incidentally, one of the first songs I downloaded from Napster). Coppola is back and she’s still sassy, a woman after my own heart. She’s doing the soul/girl-group thing, a la Amy Winehouse, and is also unafraid of flaunting her vices. Unlike the diva across the pond, however, Coppola has more than an ounce of pride and self-respect. (more…)