“You’re all incredibly polite, and it’s very much appreciated,” 19-year-old English folkie genius Laura Marling said to a rapt crowd assembled at the Music Hall of Williamsburg during a CMJ showcase presented by influential music blog Brooklyn Vegan on Tuesday night. In this case, polite implied far more than a restraint from jaded snark. Audience members waited in respectful silence as Marling—a diminutive figure who made the stage seem improbably huge—expressed her self-deprecating envy toward the American knack for clever banter while tuning her guitar. Accompanied by a cellist, Marling presented a mix of new tunes from a forthcoming album and older songs that much of the crowd clearly knew. Looking down from the mezzanine, you spotted fans in the audience mouthing the words as Marling sang “Ghosts.”
Marling’s set was just one highlight of an evening capped by tremendous performances from two of the festival’s most buzzworthy acts: England’s Fanfarlo and Brooklyn trio the Antlers. But perhaps the most satisfying thing about the showcase was its overall consistency: During a festival whose participants usually clubhop with mercenary tactical skills, here was one event you could happily linger over for hours.
Brooklyn Vegan Showcase with Fanfarlo, the Antlers and more at the Music Hall of Williamsburg
We told you in our CMJ Music Marathon preview feature that practically no band was coming into the festival with more significant buzz than sunny English indie-pop combo Fanfarlo (pictured). What more proof do you need than to see the group headlining an opening-night showcase bearing the imprimatur of one of New York’s savviest, most influential blogs? You’ll also catch the Antlers (who taped an intense exclusive live performance for the Volume back in May), Laura Marling, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel, former Quicksand frontman Walter Schreifels and quite likely even more.
Clare and the Reasons at the Mercury Lounge
Another top CMJ pick for us, which comes as no surprise, since we’ve been giddy about Clare Muldaur Manchon, Oliver Manchon and the swinging company they keep for quite some time now. They share tonight’s bill with Josh Mease, who specializes in delicate introspection.
Enescu Re-Imagined by Lucian Ban and John Hébert at Merkin Concert Hall
If you’d prefer to avoid CMJ, consider this brainy, brawny and compellingly tuneful take on the music of Romanian Romantic composer George Enescu, refracted through a modern-jazz prism and played by a scary-good group.
Phil Woods Quintet at Birdland
An elite disciple of bebop architect Charlie Parker, alto-sax great Phil Woods soars into Birdland with his rock-solid combo, featuring fiery trumpeter Brian Lynch.
As the days between now and Labor Day deplete, so do your chances of catching an outdoor show. There still are a few to be found—along with some stellar indoor stuff. Check ‘em out:
The Antlers play a show in the name of the rerelease of their record, Hospice,at Mercury Lounge. Read our show preview and watch the band play TONYhere.
Saturday
Trent Reznor begins his final stand as the leader of Nine Inch Nails in New York tonight at the Bowery Ballroom. The band also waves goodbye Sunday at Webster Hall, and Tuesday and Wednesday at Terminal 5. Read our preview here.
Another man bringing his band on a run through New York is Roberto Carlos Lange and his Helado Negro. His experimental music debuts in Queens at the Jackson tonight and winds its way through all five boroughs until Thursday. Read our preview on the shows here.
Thirty-plus bands pay tribute to filmmaker John Hughes and his musical selections at Cake Shop.
Today is a big day for The Antlers, as the tastemakers at Pitchforkbestowed their Best New Music honor upon the group’s new Frenchkiss disc, Hospice. As you may remember, the Volume featured the local indie-folk trio back in May. Below is a repost of that performance, in case you missed it. Note that the Music Hall of Williamsburg show plugged at the beginning of the video has long passed—you can catch the Antlers at their CD-release show August 21 at Mercury Lounge.
Pete Silberman began a prolific self-recording career a few years ago under the moniker of The Antlers. Now, he’s got two buddies along for the ride and an exciting new signing to Frenchkiss Records, which will release a remastered version of the trio’s Hospice in August.
The young Peter Silberman has recorded half a dozen records on his own under the moniker The Antlers; his new one is called Hospice. Live, Silberman plays with a full band, as he will be doing tonight at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.
This track, called “Kettering” (about the Sloan-Kettering cancer center), is a slow, wistful number and truly heart-wrenching. We look forward to another half a dozen recs.
Feeling literate? Head out to Goodbye Blue Monday for the latest meeting of the Bushwick Book Club, a monthly gathering in which local indie songwriters serve up new sounds based on a predetermined book. Tonight’s installment, based on Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach, will bring performances from Phoebe Kreutz, Amy Kohn, Andrea La Rose and many others. You can keep an eye out for future installments—based on The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Watchmen, the Bible and more—on the club’s MySpace page.
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As the summer winds down, more quality releases start stacking up. Here’s what you should go out and grab this week:
The young Peter Silberman has recorded half a dozen records on his own under the moniker 
Feeling literate? Head out to Goodbye Blue Monday for the latest meeting of the 