Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Echo & the Bunnymen took a break from their last few big-venue gigs commemorating 1984’s classic “Ocean Rain” to give 250 standees at Manhattan’s Mercury Lounge a treat Oct. 17.

Lead singer Ian McCulloch dug deep into his wardrobe for black shades and black coat above zipped-up black hoodie. He was chatty and surgically attached to a cigarette.

As guitarist Will Sergeant played the opening notes to “Going Up,” off the band’s 1980 debut “Crocodiles,” the audience rejoiced. They sung along for this and every number that followed -- a mixed blessing if you want to hear the band.

A few times the boys slipped verses from a cover into one of their own numbers, as on the finale of “Nothing Lasts Forever,” when they quoted Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side.”

The night wrapped up in less than an hour and saw no encore. All was forgiven for this rare appearance of a band whose sound gets replicated by many up-and-coming groups at the Mercury Lounge. They’ll be back in New York at Hammerstein Ballroom on Nov. 22 as they tour in support of their 10th album, “The Fountain,” out Nov. 10 in the U.S.

CMJ Round-UP

Oct. 20-24 saw me trekking around Manhattan and Brooklyn for the CMJ Music and Film Marathon, which features multiple shows in various venues at all hours. Five acts stood out.

At Le Poisson Rouge on Oct. 20, Bradford Cox started off under his solo alias of Atlas Sound with acoustic guitar in hand and harmonica around neck. The tall and lanky Cox opened with the reverb-heavy “My Halo” off his new album, “Logos.” Later he was joined by his backing band, the Selmanaires, and the set continued to be filled with his take on early ‘70s folk rock.

The Philadelphia trio Cold Cave brought their dark, new- wave synth-pop to the Studio at Webster Hall on Oct. 20. Layering keys and beats with Wesley Eisold’s deep voice and Caralee McElroy delicate vocals, they managed to create a powerful blend of upbeat and laid-back music. Their debut album, “Love Comes Close” is set for release by Matador Records.

London’s the xx packed the Mercury Lounge on Oct. 21. The quartet offered fine musicianship and hypnotic voices. The set highlighted their excellent album “xx” and a clever cover of Womack & Womack’s “Teardrop.”

At Public Assembly on Oct. 22, local band Cymbals Eat Guitars played the most intense set of music I encountered at CMJ. From the panting into the microphone between songs, there’s no doubt the lead singer and guitarists are giving their all. The songs are all complex and bespeak a band far more seasoned than one that has just released its first album, “Why There Are Mountains.”

Local Natives

California’s Local Natives quintet packed the small stage at Pianos on Oct. 24 and won my award for CMJ Champions of Harmonizing. Mixing acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, keys, bass and percussion, the set featured a great cover of the Talking Heads’ “Warning Sign” along with excellent originals such as “Airplanes” and “Sun Hands” that displayed their captivating tribal indie folk sound.

For the month ahead, the Pixies will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album “Doolittle” with four shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom Nov. 23-26. Here’s a selection of New York-area shows in November. Please note that opening bands aren’t always listed. Shows marked (SO) are sold out, although online services such as Craigslist often have tickets:

Nov. 2
F*ck Buttons/Growing/These Are Powers at Bowery Ballroom
Nov. 3
Noah & The Whale at Mercury Lounge
Nov. 4
Buraka Som Sistema at Le Poisson Rouge
Nov. 5
Herman Dune at Bell House
Nov. 6
Girls/Real Estate at Bowery Ballroom (SO)
Nov. 7
Basement Jaxx (DJ Set) at Santos Party House
Nov. 8
Monsters of Folk at Beacon Theater
Nov. 9
Cass McCombs at Bowery Ballroom
Nov. 10
Ray LaMontagne at Beacon Theater (SO)
Nov. 11
Dan Auerbach/Jessica Lea Mayfield at Webster Hall
Nov. 12
White Denim/Brazos at Music Hall of Williamsburg
Nov. 13
Art Brut/Surfer Blood at Brooklyn Bowl
Nov. 14
Shonen Knife/JEFF the brotherhood at Maxwell’s 
Nov. 15
Neko Case at Wellmont Theater
Nov. 16
J. Tillman at Bell House
Nov. 17
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros/Fool’s Gold/Local Natives at
Bowery Ballroom (SO)
Nov. 18
Evangelicals/Holiday Shores at Union Hall
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros/Fool’s Gold/Local Natives at
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Dirty Projectors at Bowery Ballroom (SO)
Nov. 19
Times New Viking at Union Pool
Dirty Projectors at Music Hall of Williamsburg (SO)
Nov. 20
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson/These United States at Mercury
Lounge
Nov. 21
Langhorne Slim/Dawes at Le Poisson Rouge
Dirty Projectors at Music Hall of Williamsburg (SO)
Nov. 22
Devendra Barnhart at Town Hall
Dirty Projectors at Bowery Ballroom (SO)
Nov. 23
Royksopp at Webster Hall
Nov. 24
Sonic Youth at Music Hall of Williamsburg (SO)
Nov. 25
Julian Plenti at Music Hall of Williamsburg
Nov. 26
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov. 27
Zero 7 at Terminal 5
Nov. 28
Audion at Le Poisson Rouge
Nov. 29
Do Make Say Think at Bowery Ballroom
Nov. 30
Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam at Bowery Ballroom

(Jaime Widder works in sales for Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on this story: Jaime Widder in New York at jwidder@bloomberg.net;

Last Updated: November 2, 2009 00:01 EST