Who? Chicago string and heart-on-sleeve collective with a revolving cast of over 50 musicians. No one is Scottish, nor do they preach any gospel, though chief songwriter and frontman Elia Einhorn (guitar/vocals) does throw in a Bible reference or two on their forthcoming self-titled album, out Oct. 23 via Chicago's Bloodshot

Despite the 'sold out' marquee, the Bowery Ballroom was actually penetrable last night (Oct. 18); evidence that CMJ '07 is kickin' some serious booty, perhaps? Is New York City wearing you down, dear festival attendees?

As expected, day one (Oct. 16) of CMJ 2007 was an overload of talent, thickly spread over hundreds of venues and multiple boroughs throughout the Big Apple. Considering, there's pretty much no way to rig yourself a concrete schedule; bands go on late thanks to impromptu encores and festival badges don't guarantee you a spot in the club

Who? Before lending her smoky vocals to Peter, Bjorn and John's summer smash "Young Folks," Swedish indie poptress Victoria Bergsman fronted the Concretes for 11 years. Having left the lineup in summer 2006 due to creative differences -- "True art can't be made in a democratic group, where everyone gets to have their say," Bergsman

Just three songs in, singer Tim Harrington suspended himself upside down like some deranged punk orangutan from the 15-foot balcony of Manhattan's Bowery Ballroom Saturday evening (Sept. 22), trusting a few fans to hold him in place while he screeched a string of abrasive lyrics.