With five days of frenzied music madness coming to an end, the free acoustic Big Ugly Yellow Couch showcase was a nice, calming way to close out CMJ.

Santah was the first to grace the upstairs area of Pianos with their presence. Armed with interesting acoustic instruments like the ukulele and the charango, this mild-mannered Illinois quintet had the loveable essence of a folksy traveling band making their way to big city. Their songs were delightful, and their talent shone brightest in harmonies that rang as sharp and defined as the beautiful chords of a harmonica.

Brooklyn trio Dinosaur Feathers took the stage next, along with their illustrious fourth member known as “The Suitcase”. While the traveling drum machine and sampler sort of goes against the expected vibe of an acoustic show, it is what makes this group distinctively quirky. Pairing that with their solid harmonies makes their live act undoubtedly entertaining.

With the Midwest and the East represented by the first two groups, California sensations Young the Giant finished off the night with their quintessential West Coast sound. The set started with “Apartment”, the same inspired opening track as their new self-titled album. Throughout this song and the rest, Sameer Gadhia’s soulful voice and feverishly rattled handheld percussion provided the perfect mix for fellow members’ amazing acoustic guitar melodies, bass, and drums.

Despite a few equipment kinks and an unfortunately chatty crowd, the guys managed to play tracks like “I Got”, “Cough Syrup”, and “Strings” to absolute perfection. The best was most certainly saved for last in this lineup, and Young the Giant’s fifth and final CMJ appearance was an momentous way to complete a week that highlights the best music in all the land.