CMJ festival gives indie bands their shot

NEW YORK, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The CMJ Music Marathon, where 1,000 bands showcased their tunes and hopes for five big days in New York, has become a significant venue for new talent.

The New York Times reported Monday the industry festival that ran from last Tuesday through Saturday has taken on a new significance for bands hoping to showcase their talents in live performances.

The CMJ Music Marathon has been showcasing new artists in clubs all over the city for the past 25 years, but in the digital age of iPod and the Internet, chances are slim that the masses will ever see the newer bands in person.

The Times termed many of the bands as "quirky, heartfelt and a little messy," but, "it was indie rock with boundless ambitions, few of them commercial."

The marathon was also a sterling opportunity to see established stars perform on intimate stages throughout the New York area, the Times said. For example, the festival featured funk icon George Clinton performing at Crash Mansion, an intimate little venue on New York's Lower East Side.