Brooklyn-based venue, The National Sawdust, was formed with the mission of bringing dynamic, artist-led musical experiences to the performance space and The Revolution series is a prime example. This musical movement--the twelfth in the series--aims to highlight artists that are bringing innovation and advancements to their genres. This Saturday's show will feature an eclectic array of talent with slacker rockers Rachel Angel, electro-R&B group Eda Wolf, and the jazz/funk/neo-soul quintet Nuf Said gracing the bill. The show is a sure-fire ticket to a killer set of performances, so be sure check out more info on The Revolution Vol. 12 here.-Olivia Sisinni

Doesn't it suck that summer is over? For many it means returning to the daily grind, and for others who couldn't afford a vacation... continuing it, but with no sunny days, warmth or beach getaways as consolations. It's enough to drive someone crazy, or at least induce crazy dreams. That's exactly what neofunk Nuf Said's new video for "Rise" seems to narrate. Vividly animated by Miguel Rueda, the video tells a trippy story of a woman, lead singer Ioanna Vintu, dreaming of herself and others, including members of the band, going insane over the repetitive absurdity of their daily lives. The video culminates with Vintu and a friend playing cards in a cafe with an alien they previously hit with their car  The trippy visuals are perfectly accompanied by the track, whose syncopated drum pattern, eerie vocals and disjointed instrumental parts fit right in, and re-emphasize the themes of the video. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Saturday night at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village started with the serene songs of Huntington, Long Island-hailing quintet NY Lights (pictured). Sounding out few kinds of genres - indie, psychedelic rock, and Americana, amongst them -the one-year-old band struck an intriguing balance between warmth and edginess, its drum slaps and sandy vocals riding along the ear with steady drive.

Later, on the Lower East Side, in the oaken cellar of Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3, the standout of this viewer's CMJ experience was seen: Grey McMurray. Enveloped in a low red light and aided by a trio of deft musicians (including a cellist), the Brooklyn-based artist played a kind of freak-soul as he dipped down into often uncomfortable yet sometimes inviting visions of spirituality and love, his drooping guitar and cavernous voice simultaneously chilling and moving the listener. Antony Hegarty and Nick Hakim are probably his musical siblings but McMurray conjured a creepily warm aura in Rockwood's downstairs room that is perhaps his own.

Upstairs on Stage 2, fellow Brooklyn act EMEFE blasted its synth-lined afrobeat, its rubbery horns and perky electronics showing reverence for Fela Kuti and Talking Heads while culminating in its own pop-oriented, bold funk. The six-piece also allowed for some spontaneity, though, bandleader Miles Arntzen during one track recording the audience's handclaps for inclusion on a forthcoming song.

Next door on Stage 1, Brooklyn three-piece Lazyeyes broke into a relentlessly ringing set that, during one song, brought to mind the rough innocence of 'Pablo Honey'-era Radiohead and, during others, the foreboding catchiness that Joy Division displayed on "Disorder." Towards the end of its set, the frontman Jason Abrishami of the young group said that they "have a couple of songs left" while bassist Paul Volpe joked that they "have a couple of years left" but one hopes that they keep up their compellingly raw energy.

Back at Stage 2, New York outfit Nuf Said ended the night with its jazzy R&B, the group's swirling horns proving a pleasant and compelling addition to the gently strong vocals of lead singer Ioana Vintu and the mellow guitar-bass combination in the background. Like other New York outfit Mad Satta, Nuf Said seamlessly melds genres such as jazz, R&B, and funk while showing that they can end a talent-packed festival such as CMJ with festive boldness. - Zach Weg