As the final day of CMJ came to a close, rather than ending with a bang, it felt more like a sigh of relief, or fizzle. That is, at least, considering the number of attendees who decided to brave the heavy rains and wind gusts that consumed Manhattan on Saturday evening (10/25). While reportedly a total of some 11,000 took part in the week's festivities, tonight's crowds seemed to have diminished considerably.

Just a few steps from the NYU campus, a handful of scarf and dark-rimmed glasses donning 20-somethings stood, arms folded, in the basement at Ace of Clubs, where a Brit-heavy showcase got started with Device [ tickets ]. This quartet of more mature-looking dudes played a foot-tapping blend of straightforward rock, mixed with some jazzy blues moments. The intimate group of onlookers even demanded another song when the set ended, giving this show the relaxed vibe of a house party.

Up next, male duo The Sea [ tickets ] ripped through their fast-paced set of high energy rock. Lyrically, things got a bit repetitive, but regardless, people were starting to dance. The dimly-lit, chilled-out basement scene was getting energized so much that the confident and sassy lead singer, wearing loose '80s-graphic printed pants and a half-buttoned black shirt, decided to initiate a CMJ cheer. "I expected better from you guys," he said of the lukewarm response. The band didn't leave the stage until they had properly jammed out, going beat mad on the drums and violently strumming the electric guitar.

What followed fell along a fine line of being either extremely obnoxious or strangely interesting. London noise-makers Pre had some loud, energetic sounds, but it was their frontwoman who made the entire performance over-the-top and ridiculous, in an almost desperate attempt to earn some shock value. Frantically shrieking, yelping or moaning indecipherable words, she rolled on the floor seductively or angrily jogged in place like someone who had too many Red Bulls. The crowd response was a combination of disbelief, restrained laughter and intrigue. Either way, this was like a train wreck that couldn't be ignored. It might have been more exciting had artists like Karen O, Courtney Love and CSS not done this kind of wild routine before--and better. If there was any real lyrical content within these songs, it was incomprehensible, a lot like this show.

As the small club gained a few more patrons, it became obvious that the band everyone came here to see was synth-poppers Sohodolls [ tickets ]. Fans rushed the stage, dancing and singing along with this group of majorly fashion-minded and glamorous Brits. Polished and pretty, singer Maya von Doll moved like a robot in high heels. Although entertaining, she was hardly the only attraction, considering that the guitarist wore a pearl necklace and the keyboardist looked like he had hired Boy George as his stylist. "It's getting hot and dry in here," announced von Doll, before downing whatever was in her red plastic cup. "Yeah, that's a band," she added, coyly when the crowd didn't get her joke. That was basically the extent of her communication with the mini-mob of mostly female devotees.

Maybe it was the dreary weather, or perhaps just the conclusion of a long week for everyone involved, but it felt like the energy of CMJ was certainly losing momentum. Walking home in the rain, it became all too clear as to why they call this a marathon: the rewards, the struggles, the exhaustion--oh my, the exhaustion--but somehow it all feels so worthwhile, but also so good to be over.

Read LiveDaily's coverage of CMJ Day One

Read LiveDaily's coverage of CMJ Day Two

Read LiveDaily's coverage of CMJ Day Three

Read LiveDaily's coverage of CMJ Day Four