This list is tough to read. What should I check out gang?

http://www.cmj.com/marathon/music-artists.php

…soihadto… - 12th Planet - 28 North - 2am Club - 69 Eyes - A Band Named Ashes - A Classic Education - A Clear Blurr - A Million Years - Absentstar - Acrylics - Action Painters - Activator - Adam Heldring - adventure - Aeroplane - Aeroplane Pageant - Afrobeta - Air Waves - Alan Cohen Experience - Alec Ounsworth - Alessi's Ark - Alfaress - Alina Simone - All The Day Holiday - Allen Stone - ALOUD - Alyse Black - The Amazing - Amber Rubarth - Ambulance LTD - The Americans - Amy Kuney - An Albatross - Anamanaguchi - And The Moneynotes - and the relatives - Andrew Belle - Andy J Gallagher - Angelo Lomelo - Angry Vs. The Bear - Annie And the Beekeepers - The Answering Machine - Antarctic - Anthony Jeselnik - The Antlers - Anwar Robinson - Apache Beat - Apollo Heights - Apollo Run - Appomattox - April Smith and the Great Picture Show - Arabrot - Arborea - Arizona - The Armchairs - Arms - Army Navy - Arpline - At Sea - At Versaris - Atlas Sound - Atomic Tom - A-Trak - Au Revoir Simone - Autodrone - Awesome New Republic - awkward i - Azeem - Baby Monster - Backwords - Bajah + the Dry Eye Crew - Bamboo Shoots - Bang Bang Eche - The Bangz - Batrider - Beach Fossils - Bear Hands - Bear In Heaven - BEAST - Beat Radio - The Beatards - Beautiful Small Machines - The Beautiful Taste - The Beauvilles - Bebe Buell - The Becoming - Beehive - Beep Beep - Bel Air - BELL - Bellflur - Benji Cossa - Bennett Jackson & The Ranch Hands - Benyaro - Best Coast - Best Man - Big Sean - The Big Takeover - Big Tree - Bin Laden Blowing Up - Binary Marketing Show - Binary Sunrise - Binky Griptite and The Dap Kings - Bird Peterson - Black & White Years - Black Cherry - Black Diamond Bay - Black Holes - Black Hollies - Black Swan Green - BLACK TAXI - Black Tie Party - black watch - Black Whales - The Blakes - Blip Blip Bleep - Blitz the Ambassador - Blondes - Blood Orange - Blood Warrior - Bloodgroup - The Bloodsugars - Blue Scholars - Blueheels - BM LINX - Bobby Brown - Bobby Long - Bodega Girls - Body Language - Bone Gunn - Bonerama - The Bongos - DJ Boo - Boogie Boarder - Boot Camp Clik - Bosque Brown - Bottle Up And Go - The Bowery Riots - The Boy Bathing - Brandon Hines - Brass Bed - Brazil Show - Break Science feat. Adam Deitch - Brighton MA - Brit and the Cavalry - Broadcast - Broadfield Marchers - B-Roc of The Knocks - Bronzed Chorus - DJ Brooklyn Dawn - Brother Joscephus & the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra - Brown Dog Jonez - The Budos Band - Buke and Gass - Busta Rhymes - Bustle In Your Hedge Row - Cale Parks - Call Me Kat - Calypso - Camp Lo - The Candles - The Canon Logic - Capital City - The Capstan Shafts - Care Bears on Fire - Carlitta Durand - Carlon - Casey McPherson of Alpha Rev - Casino versus Japan - Casxio - Champagne Champagne - Chen Lo - Chief - Chip Robinson - Choir of Young Believers - Choo Choo La Rouge - chopshop - Chris Barron & Friends - Chris Bathgate - Chris Batten & The Woods - Chris Denny and The Natives - Chris Kasper - Chris Maxwell - Chris Young The Rapper - Christopher Chu - Chuck Mosley - Cinemechanica - City Center - Ciudad - Clare and the Reasons - Class Actress - Classified - Claymation Velociraptor - Click Clack Boom - Clinton Curtis - Clothes Make The Man - Cobra Skulls - CoConuts - Codebreaker - Cold Cave - Cold Flamez - Colin Moore - The Collective - Come On Caboose - Comedy Central Records Showcase - Common Loon - Complete Failure - Computer Perfection - The Constellations - The Contrast - Coolooloosh - CoQ10 - Corridor - Corto Maltese - Cotton Jones - Coyote Eyes - Crash & Burn - Crash Kings - DJ Craze - The Cringe - Cruel Black Dove - Crush Club - Crystal Antlers - CX KiDTRONiK w/ Tchaka Diallo - Cymbals Eat Guitars - D.I.T.C. - Da Beatminerz (DJ Evil Dee & Mister Walt) - Dan Black - Dan Mills - DJ Dan Selzer - Danger - Dangerous (All Metal Tribute to Michael Jackson) - Dang-It Bobby's - Daniel Pujol - D'Arcy James Argue's Secret Society - Darien Brockington, - Dark Meat - Dark Room Notes - Darlings - Darshan - Darwin Deez - Das Racist - Dave Godowsky - David Dallas - David J w/ members of Botanica - David Lang - Dawn Landes - Dead Heart Bloom - Dead Leaf Echo - Dead Sexy Inc. - Dead Stars - Deadbeat Darling - Deastro - The DeBretts - Decapitado - Deer Tick - Deleted Scenes - Demander - Denney and the Jets - Dent May - The Depreciation Guild - Derek Mckeith - Des Roar - Descender - DeScribe - Diamond District - Diane Birch - Dick Prall - Die! Die! Die! - The Dig - Dinosaur Feathers - Dinowalrus - Dirty Sexy Soca - The Disciplines - Diwon - Dizzy Balloon - Dizzy Gillespie™ Alumni All-Stars - Dmo Macklin - Dog Day - Dolorean - Dommin - Don Brownrigg - Dot Allison - Dragon Turtle - Drawlings - Drew H - Drink Up Buttercup - Drug Rug - drugdealer - Drunken Barn Dance - Duchess Says - Dujeous - Duke Amayo - Dum Dum Girls - Dutchess and the Duke - EAR PWR - Earatik Statik - EASYBOY - ECHOecho - DJ Edgar - Edie Carey - El May - Eldar - Electric Tickle Machine - Electro Morocco & Dreams in Static - Elliott Brood - Elodie O - Elon James White - Elsinore - The Elusive Parallelograms - Emanuel and the Fear - The Emergency Room (feat. Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio) - Emil and Friends - Emilyn Brodsky - Empires - Enemy Lovers - EOTO - Eprhyme - Eprhyme - Eric Roberson - Erin and Her Cello - Eternal Summers - Ethan Lipton - Evan Dando - Evan Voytas - Every Avenue - everyboy - Excepter - Exit Music - Expo 70 - Eyehategod - Faces on Film - Family Of The Year - The Fancy - Fanfarlo - Far East Movement - Farmer Dave Scher - The Fast Romantics - Fat Tony - Fatkid Dodgeball - Fearsome Sparrow - Felix Cartal - The Fervor - Field Theory - The Fieros - Filligar - Film Noir - Filthy Dukes - Finale - Findlay Brown - Fionn O Lochlainn - The Fire & Reason - Fire Ex - FIRS - First Aid Kit - The Fleshtones - Flexions - Floating Action - Flying Machines - Fool's Gold - The Foreign Exchange - The Forms - FOUND - Fox Jaws - Fra Fra Sound - Franklin Bruno - Franko - Frat Dad - Freddie Gibbs - Free Energy - Freelance Whales - French Horn Rebellion - French Miami - freshkills - The Frontier Brothers - Frontier Brothers - Frontier Ruckus - FUCT - The Fumes - Gabe Liedman - General Fiasco - Generationals - The Gentleman Auction House - GIF - Gigantic Hand - Gigi Fouquet - Glasser - Gloominous Doom - Goat Whore - Goes Cube - Gold Streets - The Golden Filter - Golden Silvers - Golden Triangle - Goldhawks - Good Night, States - Goon Squad - Gordon Voidwell - Graham McRae - Grammar - Grammar Debate - Grand Analog - Grandchildren - Graydon - The Great Nostalgic - Great Republic of Rough and Ready - Greg Holden - Greycoats - The Grip Weeds - The Gulf Of Michigan - Gully Bank Sound System - Gunfight! - Hammer No More The Fingers - Hank & Cupcakes - The Happy Hollows - Harlem - Hawk and Dove - Headlights - HEARTSREVOLUTION - Heath Brandon - Heavy Birds - Heavy Cream - Heavy Trash - Height With Friends - Helado Negro - Henry Wolfe - Herbert Holler - Hercules and Love Affair (Live) - Hermit Thrushes - Hesta Prynn - Hey Champ - Hey Rosetta! - Hi Red Center - Higgins - The High Dials - The High Strung - Higher Giant - Highlife - The Hi-Risers - HO-AG - Hockey - Holiday Shores - Hollerado - Hollis Brown - Holly Miranda - Holopaw - Holy Sons - Home and Garden - Hooray For Earth - Hopewell - Hospital Bombers - Hospitality - Hot Lava - Hot Panda - HotChaCha - Hotep - Housing Authority - Howl - Hungry Hands - Hungry Hungry Ghost - Hunter Valentine - Hunters - The Hush Now - Hyperpotamus - I Was A King - Ian Axel - The Idle Hands - Ihsan Muhammad - Illa J & Frank Nitt - Imaad Wasif - Immaculate Machine - In Cadeo - In-Flight Safety - Inlets - International Espionage! - Intricate Machines - Invade Rome - Israel Gripka - Ivan "Funkboy" Bodley - Ivana XL - IyaDeDe - J. Dash - The Jaguar Club - Jahdan Blakkamoore and Matt Shadetek - James Husband - James Jameson - James Murphy - James Pants - James Zebiela - Jamie Drastik - Janel and Anthony - Janka Nabay - Japandroids - Japanther - Jasmine Solano - DJ Jason Smith - Jason Trachtenburg - Javaughn - Javelin - JBM - J-Cole - JD Souther - Jeff Taylor - JEFF The Brotherhood - Jenn Grant - Jenny Slate - Jer Coons - Jern Eye - Jess King - Jesse Boykins III - DJ Jesse Marco - Jessica 6 - Jessie Rose Trip - Jets Overhead - Jill Hennessey - Jim Campilongo - Jim McTurnan and The Kids that Killed The Band - Joan As Police Woman - Joey Cape (Lagwagon) and Jon Snodgrass (Drag The River) - John Biz - John Record - Jones Street Station - Jonny Hirsch - Jonny Lives! - Jordan - Josh Charles - Josh Mease - Joshua James - Jukebox The Ghost - Julia Nunes - Julia Wolfe - Julian Marley + The Uprising (feat Stephen Marley) - Julianna Barwick - Julius C - Jupiter One - KaiserCartel - Kam Moye aka Supastition - Kasey Anderson - Kate Bradley & Goodbye Horses - Kate Tucker - Katie Costello - DJ Keelay - Kevin Blechdom ft. BARNWAVE - K-Holes - Kid Color - Kid Theodore - Kidz In Space - Kidz In The Hall - Kieran Leonard - Kill Kill Kill - Kill Krinkle Club - Kim Taylor - The Kindness Kind - King Chango - The King Left - Kingston - Kittens Ablaze - Kleenex Girl Wonder - The Knew - Kokayi - Kosha Dillz - Kreisor - Kreyola - Kria Brekkan - Kumail Nanjiani - La Melodia - LA Riots - La Strada - Lachi - Lana Del Rey - Las Rubias Del Norte - Laura Ault - Laura Marling - Laura Warshauer - Lavalier - Lemonade - Les Handclaps - Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez - Let's Wrestle - Lewis & Clarke - Lia Ices - The Library - Lightning Love - The Lights Out - Lights Resolve - Like Bells - Linc with Old Soul - Lisa Bianco - Lisa Hannigan - Little Fish - Little Girls - Little Teeth - The Lives of Famous Men - Local Natives - Locket - Logan Lynn - Look Mexico - The Loom - Lost In The Trees - Love Heist - Love In October - The Love Language - LoveLikeFire - The Lovely Feathers - Lovemakers - Lovvers - Low Frequency In Stereo - Lowell Thompson & Crown Pilot - Lowry - Loxsly - Lucky Fonz III - Lynch (ft. Jim Loughlin of moe.) - Mad Soul Child - Madison Ave Boys - Magic Wands - Maika Makovski - The Main Drag - Malajube - The Maldives - Male Bonding - Mama Bear - Mammoth Life - Man Like Me - Man on Earth - Marcellus Hall - Marco Polo & Torae - Marcus Johnson - Margaret Cho - Maria Due - Marianna Falusi - Maricopa - Marie Stella - Mark Knight and Dirty South Live - Math the Band - Matt Bauer - Matt Duke - Matt Mayes - Matt McCarthy - The Matt Truman Ego Trip - Maudlin - Max Silvestri - Max Vernon - Me And My Arrow - Meeting of Important People - The Megaphonic Thrift - Menahan Street Band - Menya - Mere - Metermaids - Mia Riddle & Her Band - Mic Crenshaw - Michael Daves - Michael Olatuja - Michael Sackler-Berner - Michal Towber - Mickey Factz - Middle Distance Runner - Middle Eights - Midnight Juggernauts - The Mieka Canon (Mieka Pauley) - Mighty Five - Mike Del Rio - Mike Posner - Mike Rocket and the Stars - Mike Servito (DJ set) - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - MiniBoone - The Minutes - Miracles of Modern Science - Misery Index - Misstallica (All Female Tribute to Classic Metallica) - Miz Metro - Modern Science - Modern Skirts - The Moi Non Plus - Mon Khmer - MONEY/PAPER/HEARTS - Monogold - Montag - Moonbabies - Moondoggies - The Moore Brothers - Morgan Grace - Morning Papers - Motel Motel - Mother Of Three - Motocade - The Motorcycle Industry - DJ Mr. Jonathan Toubin - Mr. Move - Mr. SOS - Múm - Mumford & Sons - Mussels - Mutlu - MV & EE - My Jerusalem - My Teenage Stride - mynameisjohnmichael - Mystery of Two - Naam - Naia Kete - The Naked Hearts - Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens - The Narrative - Nate Schweber - Nathan Halpern - Nathan Reich - Nathaniel Rateliff & The Wheel - The National Reserve - Natural Child - Natureboy - The Neanderthals - Nebula - The Neutron Drivers - The New Collisions - The New Loud - New Villager - Nick Catchdubs - Nick Kerilo & The Coral - Nightmare Of You - DJ Nikodemus - Nini&Ben - Ninjasonik - Nive Nielsen - NLX - No Eye Contact - Nobody Can Dance - Nomadic Massive - Norris - Nouvellas - The NOW Ensemble - NYCSmoke - NYLE - NYU Battle of the Bands Winner - Obits - The Octagon - octoberman - DJ Odd Nosdam - Oddisee - Oh Fortuna - Oh My God - Old Canes - Once - Only Thieves - Orangegrass - Orba Squara - Orenda Fink - OrganicArma - Otter Petter - Overnight - Owen - Pac Div - The Pack A.D. - PackFM - The Paint Movement - Paleo - Papa - The Paparazzi - Paper Airplane - Paper or Plastic - Paper Route - papercranes - Parallels - DJ Parler - Parlovr - The Past Times - Pat Mahoney - Pat McGee Band - Patrick Cleandenim - Patrick Watson - Paul & the Patients - Paul Wallfisch - Paula Valstein - Pecker - Peephole - Peggy Sue - Pepi Ginsberg - Pet Ghost Project - Pete & J - Pete & The Pirates - Pete Drungle feat. Pamelia Kurstin - Peter Peter Hughes - Phat Phillie - Phil & The Osophers - Philip Seymour Hoffman - The Photo Atlas - The Picture - Pig Destroyer - Pill - Pill Wonder - Pink Noise - Pinky Swear - Pissed Jeans - Pitbull - Pocketknife - Poingly - Poirier - The Polyamorous Affair - Pomegranates - Porfirio - Portugal. The Man - Postelles - The Postmarks - pow wow! - The Press - Priestess - The Prigs - Primeridian - The Protomen - DJ PS1 - The Psychic Paramount - Puba - Public Radio - DJ Pumpkin Patch - The Purrs - The Queen Killing Kings - Quest For Fire - Quiet Loudly - Quintus - Rachael Sage & The Sequins - Rachel Platten - Rahzel & DJ JS1 - Rain Machine - Rainbird - Ravens & Chimes - Ray Rodriguez y Swing Sabroso - Real Estate - Rebecca Jordan - The Receiver - Red Collar - Red Wire Black Wire - Red/X - Regia - REGO - Reid Paley - Relief - Rene Risque and The Leo Silver Jazz Stasis - Reni Lane - Renminbi - Restless People - Revocation - The Rhodes - Ribbons - Richard Davies - Right On Dynamite - Ringo Deathstarr - Rioux - River Phoenix - The River Raid - Rob Roy - Robbers on High Street - Roberto Poveda - Robotanists - Roger Sanchez - Rosalia Roio - Rough Francis - The Roulettes - The Royalties - Rubblebucket - RUBIK - Rumspringa - Runner Runner - Ruth Minnikin - SAADI - Sadat X - Saint Motel - Santino Santino - Sara Benincasa - Sara Haze - Satchel Adams - Saul Williams - Savoir Adore - School of Seven Bells - Screaming Females - Screens - The Sea - Sean Bones - Secret Broadcast - The Seedy Seeds - The Selmanaires - Semaj - Senator - Setting Sun - SEX! - Sgt Dunbar and the Hobo Banned - The Shackeltons - Shaka Ponk - Shaky Hands - Sharon Van Etten - Shawn Chrystopher - Shayna Zaid and The Catch - Sherlock's Daughter - Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - Shinichi Osawa - Shinobi Ninja - The Shoestrung - Shotgun Honeymoon - Shout Out Out Out Out - Shunda K - Sian Alice Group - Sigmund Droid - Silent Way - Silly Kissers - Silver Starling - Sin Fang Bous - Sissy Wish - Sister Hazel - Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds - Skibunny - Skidmore Fountain - Skyzoo - Slang Chickens - Sleeping in the Aviary - Slow Country - Small Black - Smashproof - Smith Westerns - So Many Dynamos - So Many Wizards - Social Hero - Socialybrium - Soft Black - Soltero - Sonia Montez - Sore Eros - DJ Souljah - Souls Of Mischief - Soundhouse - Space Capone - Spaceships are Cool - Spanish Prisoners - Sparky Quano - The Specs - Speech Debelle - DJ Spike TI - The Spinto Band - Spiral Beach - Spit Hot Fire - Spleen United - Spottiswoode - Spring Tigers - Squaaks - St. Helena Band - The Stalkers - Stalley - Stand - The Star Department - Starcode - The States - The Stationary Set - Stereo Skyline - Steve Abel - Steve Shiffman and the Land of No - Still Flyin - Still Life Still - The Story Of - Strand of Oaks - Strega - Stricken City - Strong Intention - Strung Out String Band - Stuyvesant - Styles P & DJ Green Lantern - Subplots - Substantial - The Suckers - Sugar & Gold - Sugar Plum Ferry - Super Extra Bonus Party - Superdrag - Superhuman Happiness - Sure Fire - Surf City - Surfer Blood - The Surrender - Suzannah Johannes - SV4 (DJ set) - Sweet Fanny Adams - Swimclub - The Swimmers - Sxip Shirey and Adam Matta - Sydney Wayser - TAB the Band - Tabi Bonney - Takka Takka - Tall Tall Trees - Tandy - Tanya Morgan - Taylor Barton with GE Smith - Team Facelift - Team Genius - Team Robespierre - Team William - Ted Leo - Teddy Blanks - Teenage Bottlerocket - The Teenage Prayers - The Telepathic Butterflies - Telltale - The Temper Trap - Tempo No Tempo - Tenderhooks - Tennis Pro - Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt - Terry Poison - The Senate - Theophilus London - These United States - Think About Life - Thomas Simon - Thomas Truax - Those Chosen - Threes and Nines - Through The Sparks' Jody Nelson - Thunder Power - Tickley Feather - Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! - Tigercity - Timber Timbre - The Title Tracks - Tizzy Bac - Tonedeff - Tony Castles - Tragedy (All Metal Tribute to the Bee Gees) - The Trashmen - Treeboy & Raspberry Jones (DJ set) - Trinity (A.G., Sadat X, DJ Jab) - Tris McCall - Trouble Andrew - The True Womanhood - Turbo Fruits - The Twi The Humble Feather - Twin Atlantic - Twin Berlin - Twitch the Ripper - Two Bears - Two Fresh - Two Tears - The Uglysuit - U-God - Ume - Under The Sherry Moon - Ungdomskullen - Unicycle Loves You - Uninhabitable Mansions - Unnatural Helpers - The Unsacred Hearts - US Royalty - UUVVWWZ - Val Emmich - Valerie Francis - Valley of the Shadow of Death - The VANDELLES - Vega - Veil Veil Vanish - Veritas - Vertical Horizon - The Very Best - Via Tania - Vices - Violens - Violent Kin - Voices Voices - Volcanoless In Canada - The Voxys - Vulture Whale - VV Brown - Wait Think Fast - Wallpaper - Walter Schreifels Band - Warpaint - We Are Country Mice - We Are Enfant Terrible - We Are The World - We Are Wolves - We Have Band - We Landed On The Moon! - We Should Be Dead - We The They - Weird Owl - We're Pregnant - Western Civ - The Western States Motel - Whistling Wolves - White Tie Affair - The Whore Moans - Wil Seabrook - Wild Yaks - Will Kevans - William F. Gibbs - Willowz - Winterpills - Wiyos - Wiz Kalifa - Workout - The Wrecking - WUnderbugg - X-Ecutioners - The xx - YACHT - YahZarah - The YellowDogs - Yes Giantess - You Scream I Scream - You, You're Awesome - Young Boys - Young Mammals - Young Prisms - Your Nature - Youth Group - Yukon Blonde - Yula - Zac Brown Band - Zach Williams - Zaza - Zeus - Zigmat - Zo! & The Els - Zs - Zuri Star - ZzZ

Antlers. They rocked my face off here in Madison.

Also, I won't take the time to go through the rest of that because it's the wurst.

Antlers. They rocked my face off here in Madison.

Also, I won't take the time to go through the rest of that because it's the wurst.

In my quick skim I noticed Souls of Mischief and Trinity (with AG and Sadat X). Intrigued.

Excuse me while I go wipe the blood from my eyeballs.

Gah, it makes me so sad that the majority of CMJ shows are 21+.  Also, having a physics exam during the middle of it doesn't help either..

But these are a few that I would go to if I have the chance:

Cold Cave

Japandroids

JEFF the Brotherhood (blues-y punk rock, amazing live show)

Miracles of Modern Science (they dress up in space suits and sing about space voyages!!)

Nyle (this guy is a good friend-- he's also an incredible rapper, and he if doesn't make it big in a few years then something is very wrong with the world)

YACHT

Hercules and Love Affair

Duchess Says

and I'd definitely go see Kria Brekkan, but you should probably only venture that if this seems enjoyable to you:

If you squint hard enough, there are some decent bands there. I'd recommend these:

Broadcast

Atlas Sound

Sian Alice Group

Dum Dum Girls

Obits

Pissed Jeans

Cymbals Eat Guitars

Múm

Drawlings

Tickley Feather

The Selmanaires

I second pissed jeans.  That band in insane.  

Or, not to do a little shameless promotion, but you can go and see them on October 30th at the show I'm putting together @ le poisson rouge :D (playing with Awesome Color, Drunkdriver, and 3 other bands!!)

The first picture in this article gives you an idea of what to expect from the Pissed Jeans live experience:

http://www.thefader.com/2009/10/05/live-wfmu-fest/

...but seriously Ive always wanted to hit a Pissed Jeans show.

Also Japanther puts on a good time... and go see The xx and tell me how the album translates live.

I've seen the XX twice and I loved the live show but I can see also people saying there's no point in seeing them live. I've seen Hercules & Love Affair before too so as good as they were I'll probably pass.

Pissed Jeans, Tickley Feather, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Broadcast, Mum, Kria Brekkan are all acts I'm thinking of seeing. Didn't know the Antlers were suppose to be so good live. Maybe I'll see that. Oh and Cold Cave. Good picks guys.