CMJ 2013: Lucius Celebrate First LP, Claire And Duologue Make U.S. Debuts – Exclusive Photos

The CMJ Music Marathon is a way for music fans to get a taste of new sounds, and as such, some bands use the event to premiere their latest works.

Last night (Oct. 15), Brooklyn's own Lucius celebrated the release of their debut album, 'Wildewoman,' at the Rockwood Music Hall. Playing their first CMJ gig, the band gave attendees an energetic preview of the new record and provided a nice kickoff to the showcase, hosted by the local radio station WFUV. From their outfits to their classic pop sound, Lucius had "'60s" written all over them, and if the clothes and musicianship didn't impress the audience, the effortless and strong harmonies of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig surely did.

They weren't the only band at Rockwood making a debut. German electro outfit Claire proved theirs more to their music than distortion and sound machines with a semi-unplugged set. Josie Claire Bürkle's delicate vocals kept listeners warm and toasty throughout the band's brief four-song set.

Duologue have an elaborate pedal setup for a band composed of the basic rock components. Perhaps the only thing missing is a drummer, but this is where the U.K. group brings the surprise factor. The quintet, which includes a violinist, uses solely samples and sounds as the rhythmic foundation of their music. Their debut album, 'Song and Dance,' shows that this actually works and is quite entertaining.

D.C.'s US Royalty rocked the house with a set of hard-hitting and wailing tunes that made you want to headbang. The foursome blends indie rock, Americana and a bit of glam-style hair-band fare so seamlessly that it never becomes a hot mess. Performing tracks from their upcoming sophomore effort, 'Blue Sunshine' (out on Jan. 24), US Royalty showed why they're mainstays on the indie scene.

While there was a constant ebb and flow in terms of crowd movement, the venue filled up nicely for the night's headliner, Caveman. The local favorites are signed to the Communion Records, which put on the the evening showcase last night, and serving up tunes from their recently released self-titled album, they kept up the momentum, even as it neared midnight.

Check Out Photos from the CMJ 2013 Showcases at Rockwood Music Hall: