Do like music and stuff? Well if you do, you're in luck cause this week CMJ Music Marathon returns to NYC. The marathon features over 1,000 bands almost all with peculiar names.

Columbians probably have a slightly distorted perspective on the difficulty of making it in today's music world due to the providential success of musicians like the guys from Vampire Weekend and Chromeo, AKA Associate Professor David Macklovitch.

But for roughly 1,100 lucky, relatively talented up-and-comers, this week offers a beacon of hope. Starting today, October 21st, the CMJ Music Marathon returns to New York City for its 28th Season and will host hundreds of concerts all over the city featuring names you definitely know (or should know) and names you definitely don't. The concert series will run through Saturday, but if you're interested in seeing the bigger names you'd better plan on going out sooner than the weekend.
The week's highlights and some of Bwog's faves include:

Columbia is more than just "Upper West Side Soweto." Chromeo's performance at Bowery Ballroom Monday night showed off the cheekier side of Ivy League music.

Despite the recent flurry of hype surrounding Vampire Weekend, they are not the only Columbia-related band selling out Bowery Ballroom. Chromeo anyone? A French grad student and T.A. by day, David Macklovitch has amassed a number of glowing CULPA reviews. However, he also doubles as Dave 1, and along with bandmate P-Thugg, the duo is known as the (somewhat ironic) electrofunk group Chromeo.

Making the night family affair, Dave 1's little brother, A-Trak DJed between sets. Spinning mash-ups from Dirty South Dance ensured the crowd never had to stop dancing. Opener Kid Sister bemoaned her current cold and lack of health insurance, perhaps as a reference to the upcoming elections. Though her bumping and grinding masked any symptoms of illness, and her sequined beret and flashy nails also helped. Vivacious and brash, but not overtly sexual, Kid Sister is a b-boy's wet dream.

Columbia is more than just "Upper West Side Soweto." Chromeo's performance at Bowery Ballroom Monday night showed off the cheekier side of Ivy League music.

Despite the recent flurry of hype surrounding Vampire Weekend, they are not the only Columbia-related band selling out Bowery Ballroom. Chromeo anyone? A French grad student and T.A. by day, David Macklovitch has amassed a number of glowing CULPA reviews. However, he also doubles as Dave 1, and along with bandmate P-Thugg, the duo is known as the (somewhat ironic) electrofunk group Chromeo.

Making the night family affair, Dave 1's little brother, A-Trak DJed between sets. Spinning mash-ups from Dirty South Dance ensured the crowd never had to stop dancing. Opener Kid Sister bemoaned her current cold and lack of health insurance, perhaps as a reference to the upcoming elections. Though her bumping and grinding masked any symptoms of illness, and her sequined beret and flashy nails also helped. Vivacious and brash, but not overtly sexual, Kid Sister is a b-boy's wet dream.