This is the one we’ve been waiting for. Many of the shows at the CMJ Music Marathon, which features more than 1,200 bands playing some one hundred venues, are sponsored by music magazines and websites, public relations firms, beverage companies, and other music-related businesses. On Thursday night, Fleck PR, which specializes in garage rock and punk, will be presenting seven of their artists, including three that help make this one of the best lineups of the festival. The evening begins with L.A.’s Nightmare and the Cat, followed by NYC’s Two Tears, Atlanta’s Gringo Star, Brooklyn’s hunters, Atlanta’s Howlies, Brooklyn’s Stalkers, and the Lower East Side’s Doppelganger. We’re particularly looking forward to seeing Two Tears, Gringo Star, and Howlies. We first fell for Gringo Star and their punk-injected southern garage rock with a twist at the 2008 CMJ, where they played songs from their debut disc, ALL Y’ALL; they’re headed back to the studio to record a new album, and it’s about time. (They’ll also be playing the Cameo Gallery on Friday night and Ace of Clubs on Saturday.) Last month we raved about former “one lady band” Kerry Davis, now known as Two Tears, who blasts short bursts of experimental bluesy garage punk with such titles as “Eat People,” “Die Tonight,” and “Shit Fucking Job.” Howlies have just followed up their February 2009 debut, TRIPPIN’ WITH HOWLIES, with the stunningly awesome five-track EP STUNNED, the illegitimate child of mid-’60s Stones and late-’70s Ramones, with bold dashes of southern rock and surf punk thrown in for very good measure. (Howlies will also be at the Living Room and Union Hall on Thursday night before the Fontana’s gig, followed by shows Friday afternoon at the Heartland Brewery and Friday night at Piano’s.)

Also
Savoir Adore, Public Assembly, 3:30; Bowery Electric, 7:15
New Collisions, R Bar, 8:00
Franz Nicolay, Coco 66, 8:15
French Horn Rebellion, the Studio at Webster Hall, 9:15
Hsu-nami, Fat Baby, 10:15
Reggie Watts, Comix, 11:00
Hypernova, R Bar, 11:00
Das Racist, Santos Party House, 11:30
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Music Hall of Williamsburg, 11:30
Drink Up Buttercup, Bowery Electric, 11:45