The C in CMJ might as well stand for Clusterfuck, because this 5-day music festival cranks NYC to 11.

You thought the city was loud and crowded already? Well, from Oct 19 to Oct 23 you can experience the hipsters' equivalent to the Italians' Feast of San Gennaro. But instead of Sangria and Zeppolis, it's amps, PBRs and 1,000 bands playing from afternoon till night.

This is probably the most difficult festival to navigate.
 1) It's huge and disconnected by spanning across all of NYC
 2) Unless you have a pricey all access badge, costing $500 bones, prepare for long lines and crowds
3) This is a New Yorkers festival. Excuse the stereotype, but if you're not accustomed to the attitude, atmosphere, and general new york arrogance- consider this your warning.  (This is why I was shocked to discover actual southern hospitality at SXSW).

That said, the best way to handle this festival is to manage your expectations.  With other festivals, like my beloved SXSW, it's easy to pop in and out of venues. But because CMJ is so spread out, you're better off picking at most two showcases to see a night and be open to what they offer. Like New York, CMJ is unconquerable If you try to do too much, you'll spend more time in transit than enjoying music.

Here are some of my suggestions for shows, but comb through the full schedule for more:

10/19
Ava Luna @ Spike Hill (alt-pop)
Minature Tigers @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg (folk-pop)
                                 w/ River City Extension and Kevin Devine
Casxio @ Cameo (dance-pop)
Zowie @ Le Poisson Rouge (dance-pop)
                  w/ Ruby Frost (pop) and Lawrence Arabia (mellow indie rock)
10/20
TV/TV @ Le Poisson Rouge (power pop)
DOM    Santos Party House (indie-pop)
             w/ Marnie Stern and Lower Dens (alt rock)


10/21
The Font Bottoms @ Spike Hill (power pop)
Hank & Cupcakes @ Crash Mansion (dance power pop)
Ava Luna @ Pubic Assembly (alt-pop)

10/22
Reptar @ Mercury Lounge  (feel good indie pop)
               w/ Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Nada Surf
La Strada @ Bruar Falls (alt pop)
Dominique Young Unique @ Southpaw (hiphop)
                                         w/ Javelin (electropop)
MiniBoone @ Crash Mansion (power pop)
Ghostface Killah (hiphop) @ B.B. King's (good luck getting into this without a badge.)

10/23
Buke & Gass @ Cameo w/ Braids (alt)
DOM @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Neon Indian and Wild Nothing (indie pop)
MiniBoone @ Ace of Clubs w/ Reptar (power pop)