Like its neighbor Cake Shop, Pianos is one of those New York music venues that’s as themed as a Disney World ride. This is certainly not a bad thing at all. Who doesn’t love a brightly colored bar and an oddly lit stage?

For the third consecutive day of CMJ, acts that include the likes of Oberhofer and  Braids took to the Pianos’s stage and showed the audience the true meaning of pop rock. An early performance, Oberhofer was due on at 4 o’clock. When the band got on the stage, I suddenly realized that the lead singer was a classmate of mine. Not only was I just a little giddy inside, but also I was also flooded with an immense amount of NYU pride. Considering our mascot is the “fighting violet”, this sense of pride doesn’t happen very often.

Initially a solo project, Brad Oberhofer plays with a band for his live performances, but it’s clear to see who’s the major brain of the outfit. The group played bouncy tracks “o0o0o0O0o” and “Smylez”. In addition to the emotionally rich lyrics and well-constructed songs, Oberhofer had a fantastic stage presence and filled the room with atmosphere. At times, the sound was questionable, and as the band hit the choruses of various songs songs, you could feel your ear drums begin to explode. But, it is rock music, so maybe that’s a bonus.

The last performance of the Birddog party came from Calgary band Braids. Originally a musical experiment by four best friends from high school, the group has come a long way since their accidental formation.  Their live performances are known to be notoriously awesome, so I was expecting top form from this Canadian four piece. As it turns out, the rumors were true. This band had the magical touch of making every single soul in that room want to dance with their carefree beats and sweet piano. Braids played favorite “Lemonade”, which caused a slight riot in the small venue. One thing was for sure, this band was definitely up to par.

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Braids video courtesy of Heidi Vanderlee