Scott Kempner, who played CBGB’s back in the day, will represent the old-timers at this year’s CMJ Music Marathon
The Living Room, 154 Ludlow St.
Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery
Wednesday, October 20, 7:45
www.cmj2010.com
The annual CMJ Music Marathon might be all about the latest in indie rock, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for some of the old-timers. On Wednesday, October 20, three early purveyors of punk, pop, and new wave will be playing on the Lower East Side, each of whom could have participated in the first CMJ festival, held in 1980. An original member of the Dictators, Scott Kempner was the leader of the awesome ’80s band the Del Lords (who are back together and recording a new album) and has released such fine solo discs as TENEMENT ANGELS and SAVING GRACE. Kempner, who admits to being “born in the year of Rock’n’Roll,” will be at the Living Room on Ludlow St. at 7:45. After his set, rush over to Bowery Electric to catch Richard Barone at 8:30. Writer, producer, collaborator, and onetime seven-year-old radio deejay Barone was one of the leaders of the Hoboken new wave group the Bongos and has made such cutting-edge solo records as COOL BLUE HALO, CLOUDS OVER EDEN, and the brand-new GLOW. When Barone’s done, hustle back to the Living Room to see Buffalo native and longtime Greenwich Village troubadour Willie Nile at 9:15. Nile might be best known for songs such as “Golden Down” that go back to the early 1980s, but he’s still making excellent music, as evidenced by the 2006 album STREETS OF NEW YORK and last year’s HOUSE OF A THOUSAND GUITARS. Sure, there are a lot of hot young bands at CMJ, but why not give it up for a few of the old guys who helped pave the way?