The CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival, New York City’s largest and longest running music event, is known for its diverse artists, lively audiences, and in keeping with the Big Apple’s own culture, international flavor. This year’s 2011 CMJ Showcase will be no exception as three Taiwanese bands make their first appearance, bringing the sounds of Taiwan and their own individual styles to the people of NYC.

Dubbed “The Taiwan Phenomenon,” the bands – Bearbabes, Echo, and 1976 – will make their first CMJ appearance from 8-10pm on Wednesday, October 19th at Dominion NY. The showcase is being organized by the Taiwan Government Information Office (GIO) and a-Peer Music Co., Ltd. So what should we expect from our friends from the East? I’m willing to put my money on an absolutely incredible and memorable experience.

Bearbabes is an alternative rock band whose music includes elements of everything from hard rock to Brit rock to jazz, which in itself is interesting enough, but if you consider the fact that their roots actually began in folk music, you can begin to see the scope of this band’s talent and range. The band was founded in 2000 by guitarist Chun Wei and vocalist/bassist Jia-Heng Chang. Meng-Chih Lu is the band’s drummer, but the group’s secret weapon just might be female vocalist Fei-Tsuei Luo, who plays keyboards and also adds a touch of something unique to the band’s sound with her cello. And while Bearbabes only has two albums to their credit thus far – “03:53” released in 2006 and “Year After Year” which was released in 2010, they are widely recognized as the leading alternative rock band in underground music circles, and have performed in Hong Kong, mainland China, and Japan. Their music is described as “heart-warming with deeply impactful vocals, powerful drum loops, and soothing and poetic lyrics,” which are a staple of Western music.

Echo, also known as the Psychadelic Voice of Taiwan, combines modern poetic lyrics with Neo-Psychedelia rock music to create their unique sound. Band members Pochang Wu (lead vocalist), Yin-Chun Lo (guitars), Wenyen Chiou (bassist), and Chunyu Mu (drums) saw their first big break in 2002 after releasing their debut album, “Sensual Drive,” which garnered critical acclaim from media outlets and hugely popular musicians such as Wubai, who is proclaimed to be Taiwan’s “King of Rock” Echo’s second album, “Bastille Day,” boasted twenty four songs conveying the band’s thoughts on the pursuit of freedom and the search for the inner soul. “Bastille Day” was released in 2007. In 2008, Echo hosted and performed in more than 100 concerts and tours in Taiwan, including a “movie concert” at the renowned Chin Mei Movie Theatre, effectively securing their spot as one of the top bands in Taiwan. Echo’s latest album, “Virgin Air” was released in 2010.

Rounding out the mix of the “Taiwan Phenomenon” is the post-punk, new wave, Brit pop, dance, and rock band 1976, who were students of the ’80s UK post-punk and new wave music. Band members Raykai (lead vocalist), Zac (guitar), Warren (drums), and Chouc (bassist) self-released their debut album in 1999, and shortly thereafter joined Crystal Records, which was a top indie label in Taiwan in the 1990s, releasing their sophomore album, “Sense of Direction” in 2000. The self-titled single from that album gained a near cult status. After releasing their third and fourth albums, “Encourage With Love” and “Still The New Wave Flow,” 1976 did their first tour in Japan. Not stopping to catch their breath, the band built their own studio in 2007 and released a limited edition EP “In Clubbing We Trust.” 2008 and 2009 were pivotal years were 1976 as they partnered with the indie label Rif Music Corp to release their first studio album, “Asteroid 1976” and were the opening band for OASIS’ tour in Taiwan. Their second studio album, “Manic Pixie Dream Girl,” led to their being crowned the Best Band of 21st Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan.

Bearbabes

Echo

1976