Justin Timberlake

Bill from the Black Taxi band shows off his new hairstyle. His explanation? The artists' lounge at CMJ is giving hair cuts.

College Music Journal Music Festival, otherwise known as CMJ, is a fall season ritual. Just as leaves fall and bird migrate South, come late October, every indie band in the country (and a spattering of those internationally-based bands) flocks to New York City to show-off its sound. Meanwhile, the beer-soaked concert floors fill with music lovers, editors, label heads, lawyers, A & R scouts and managers all awaiting to hear the next new thing.

What bands or musicians have made it big since CMJ?

Rockers Kings of Leon and pop queen Lady Gaga played at CMJ just last year before they blew up into international icons this year. MGMT, a band Justin's been liking for a while now and whose video we covered a while ago, played at CMJ two years ago. Honestly, name an artist - particularly in rock - and they've most likely performed on the sweaty stages of CMJ at one point of their career.

This year, we are taking you this week behind the scenes, in front of stage, and everything in between- to show you the real CMJ and give you a taste of the new music that's coming out these days.

First up, here's a couple band highlights from last night at Bowery Ballroom:

TIGER CITY

From: Brooklyn, NY

Description: Devilishly seductive disco pop harnessed by 80's syth, bass guitar, and lead singer Bill Gillim's high, lilting voice. Inspired by Chic, dancing till the wee hours, Prince, fake gold and Hall and Oats.

Tiger City's Other Girls Live:

THE POSTELLES

From: NY, NY

Description: Peppy, frisky, hook-heavy pop rock - told with a cocky grin and wink; the type of rock that make girls squeal. Think The Kooks, The Strokes, The Beatles.

FANFARLO

From: London, UK

Description: Probing, progressive orchestral folk - Think Arcade Fire except a bit lighter and more calm. The band is London-based band but anchored by the Swedish musician Simon Balthazar (vocals, guitar, clarinet). Hugely musically talented (with banjo, violin, trumpets, guitars, you name it, they play it). Did we mention they are David Bowie's new favorite band.

Here's a video of one of our favorite tracks:

MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS

From: Australia.

Description: Dark electro dance rock that always sound appropriate for being in the inside of a spaceship. Heavy on petals and synth - the type that tickles your senses, raises your heartbeat and urges you to dance.

PSST Missing CMJ but curious of the talent? RVibe is offering free LIVE streaming of the concerts from 10/21 to 10/24 this year. It's worth checking out HERE.

Stay Tuned for more this week!

Top 10 Quick Facts about Taylor Swift:

1) Taylor was born in Pennsylvania – but at 14 to moved to the suburbs of the country music hub, Nashville.

2) She started writing songs at 11 and started playing the guitar at 12 (To put that in perspective, she’s 19 now.)

3) She was a straight "A" student in school – before being home-schooled to focus on her music career.

4) Her favorite color? White.

5) Her favorite guitar: Taylor Guitars (can you guess why? :) )

6) Her Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius  - known to have qualities such as a positive outlook on life and have energy, enterprise and versatility.

7) In 2008, she was the most searched musical artists on Myspace in 2008 and THE top selling U.S. artist. As for 2009, Forbes listed her as #69 in their Celebrity Top 100 for 2009 and since "Fearless" went Triple Platinum, she's re-releasing a Platinum edition of "Fearless" on October 27th (in one wk folks!)

8) She has used some really cool technology promotions during her summer tour - hosting text competitions with fans to win tickets - and enabling winning fans to "perform" onstage with her using green-screen video technology.

9) She's a JT fan - having played JT covers on her summer tour (See a fan's video footage of her piano cover of "What goes around comes around" HERE.)

10) Like Justin, she's gonna be hosting Saturday Night Live on Nov 7^th. In response to questions about whether she'll make a Kayne-related joke (since he infamously interrupted her acceptance speech at the VMAs), she hinted "There are definitely some hilarious things that have happened to me over the past couple of months that I think will be pretty substantial skits." according to AP.

Got any other fact suggestions? Let us know!

(Facts from Billboard, Universal Music, Astrology.com, GAC, Wikipedia.)

TAYLOR SWIFT AND JUSTIN BACKSTAGE AT CONCERT

Taylor chats and poses with Justin backstage:

(Photos by Frank Micelotta)

Justin was happy to have Taylor Swift perform on-stage at the Justin Timberlake And Friends Concert. Meanwhile, Taylor has been getting manifold support these days from both fans and artists. Case in point? Prior to the show, when asked who he was excited to see perform amongst the acts (including TLC, Snoop Dogg, and Alicia Keys), performer/producer Timbaland responded: "Taylor Swift. She's my girl!."

PHOTOS OF TAYLOR SWIFT LIVE AT JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE AND FRIENDS CONCERT BENEFITING SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN:

When Taylor Swift came on-stage, Justin joked: "Don't worry, guys, I got security on the sides, so no one can come up and ruin her set." With a big smile on her face, and a shimmering dress under the spotlight, Swift performed "You Belong With Me," "Forever and Always," and "Love Story" - complete with a sparkling diamond studded guitar.

(Photos by Faith-Ann Young)

More Concert Coverage HERE.

More Backstage Photos HERE.

More on JT Shriners Open HERE.

10 Quick Facts about Jay Sean:

1) Roots: He's from Southall, West London, England. Origin? Indian.

2) When he was 11, he formed a hip-hop duo called 'Compulsive Disorder' with his cousin.

3) Jay Sean was studying medicine at the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry before being signed. As for his dedication? "I was very studious," he has admitted. "If I didn't get an A, I wanted an A star, not an A, you know what I mean? And that's how I've always been."

4) He was in a brief Bollywood stint in a movie called Kyaa Kool Hai Hum (that translates to: "How Cool Are We." It's a comedy, folks.)

5) While as an artist he defies stereotypes and categorization - but yes, he's been compared to Ne-Yo and Usher.

6) He was signed on to hip-hop label Cash Money Records in 2008 (as the first British Asian singer to sign with an American label mind you.)

7) Since then, he has sung on tracks with labelmates Lil' Wayne, Birdman, Skepta, Craig David, Keisha from the SugaBabes and Sean Paul.

8) His first American single, "Down" feat. Lil Wayne, has been fast rising the charts in the US.

9) As for the talented beat-boxer who performed with him on Sunday? It was MC Zani who has also worked with Ludacris, Taio Cruz, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and GZA. Damn.

10) Based on how "Down" is doing in the US, you are going to be seeing a lot more of Jay Sean in the near future. (Yup, especially after his Saturday show, we consider that a fact :) )

BEHIND SCENES AND LIVE SHOTS OF JAY SEAN

We caught a few snaps of Jay Sean at Rehearsal on Friday with the Band:

Jay Sean in black shirt, under the lights.

The band was directed by talented music director, Kevin Antunes, who has worked with Justin for years, as well as The New Kids On THe Block, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch, and Britney Spears. (You may have heard of them? :))

Jay Sean and MC Zani (in blue t-shirt) thanking the band post-rehearsal.

Back-stage, Jay Sean autographing guitars in the Production Room.

Artist signatures on guitars.

JAY SEAN LIVE ON SATURDAY:

A highlight from the concert? Below.

(Thanks to nealb182 for the video)

Some snaps of the live set:

Photos by Faith-Ann Young

MORE ON JAY SEAN: http://www.myspace.com/jaysean

NEXT POST: CONCERT AND AFTER-PARTY CROWD SHOTS

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