The 2009 CMJ Music Marathon starts today, treating NYC to an endless stream of eager bands looking to get some blog/label/fan love through Saturday night. The full schedule is a bit daunting, so we've compiled an abridged version highlighting panels and showcases that we recommend-- or are at least curious about.

Keep in mind that there are many unofficial happenings going on all over town during CMJ, but we're sticking to the totally legit CMJ shows for this round-up. Stay tuned to this space throughout the week for daily CMJ write-ups and photos starting tomorrow.

P4k CMJ 2009 guide is below:

Tuesday, October 20:

Showcases

** Subbacultcha/Pukekos/Viva Radio: Blondes, Hospital Bombers, Best Coast, Surf City, Male Bonding - Cake Shop
** Social Registry/No Quarter: Zs, Highlife, Psychic Paramount, Sian Alice Group - Knitting Factory
** Selmanaires, Atlas Sound, Broadcast - Le Poisson Rouge
** Brooklyn Vegan: the Antlers, Fanfarlo
** Panache/NY Night Train: Surfer Blood, Harlem, Lovvers, Golden Triangle - Santos Party House
** Panache/NY Night Train: Julianna Barwick - Santos Party House Basement
** Stereogum: Glasser, Free Energy, The Golden Filter, Cold Cave - The Studio @ Webster Hall
** FMLY: Fool's Gold - The Suffolk Back Room

Wednesday, October 21:

Panels

** Andrew W.K. - NYU Kimmel Center, 4th Floor, Eisner & Lubin, Room 401
** Timeless Miles: 1959 - A Pivotal Year in Music (featuring panelists Q-Tip and Rakim) - NYU...

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Two new talent showcase nights - including an extremely special guest - to take place in New York

Stage invasions galore as bands play celebratory KOKO show

The Bronze Club returns this Friday the 16th October. Live shows from

Is Tropical

Samuel and the Dragon

Ice Black Birds

Dj turns from Bullion, Golden Silvers and Bronze Club DJ’s.

Portsmouth

The illness I mentioned previously seems like it is catching up with everyone. When we arrive in a rainy Portsmouth, Marina is hardly with us and members of all four bands are coughing and whining. It's all Lemsip and Berocca backstage today. We've got some fond memories from the Wedgewood rooms from past tours, we celebrated Henry's (mystery jets) birthday here on one of our early tours and just recently played here with Jack Penate. Unfortunately, Marina is forced to run off stage mid set with sickness leaving a slightly strange atmosphere in the room.  We tried our best to lift the spirits and the show goes down well. We left Portsmouth hoping Marina is okay and wondering if we've all got swine flu…

Bronze Box

Panda Bear    Person Pitch
Richard Hawley    True Loves Gutter
Washed Out     Life of Leasure

Bristol

The tour rolls into Bristol one band down….Rumours of swine flu are flying around but it seems like everyone else is in a better way than the absent Marina. We are eagerly anticipating what is looking to be one of the busiest shows of the tour so far. The venue in Bristol is actually an old moored boat which is strangely warm at the top and cold towards the bottom where it's in the water. It's the first time I've played on a boat since playing at the river rat pack tour last summer where we played on barges up...

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Newcastle
The day after Glasgow was our second day off on the tour. It was a strange, hazy morning with certain members astray. We eventually rounded everyone up and headed off to the country for the day. A step up from the Travelodge we ate and drank well, even unwinding under the stars in a hot tub. The next day we headed down the road to Newcastle, The venue in Newcastle seemed a bit of a cavernous room and there was a slightly subdued feeling amongst the bands. It didn't stop us from striking a pose in the corridor!

Before the show we headed to the local Oxfam to play a few acoustic songs as part of the "Oxjam sessions"  We found some gems in the Oxfam including Mick Jagger and David Bowie's 80's folly; dancing in the street on 12" and Phil Collins "A groovy kind of love"  Marina and friend joined us on stage for an impromptu dance on  "true romance" in  an attempt to get a slightly morose crowd going- to no avail. After the show we vowed to make Stoke the one!
Bronzebox
The Invisible   Come Together
The XX remix of  you've got the love
Lil Wayne   A Milli
Stoke
We arrived at the Sugarmill in Stoke with whiskey and wine and the hope of lifting spirits. A walk around a very deserted Sunday afternoon Stoke didn't help with our hopes but everyone...

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A video diary from the tour so far!

Some more words from the road