Live From CMJ, Journalist

Discovery of the evening: Matthew McConaughey was once arrested for causing a disturbance by playing the bongos naked. While heinously baked. Of course.

Two girls in hippified Fever Ray facepaint (panda eyes and copious glitter, basically) and psychedelic leotards push past me toward the front of the room, followed by skinny men in thick-rimmed spectacles. I don't want to use the "h" word — the one that isn't "hippie" — but…

Various Aus music types who I semi-recognise filter down the stairs. Much back-slapping ensues. If anyone at this party calls me "mate", I'm leaving.

I've never ever felt bass like this before in my life. It could be that I'm standing in front of the bass bin, which is actually pushing me backwards every time the kickdrum hits. Good grief.

If it's October in New York, it must be time for the CMJ Music Marathon. The five-day festival of running around NYC like a lunatic is back for another year, and our intrepid New York correspondent TOM HAWKING is keeping a diary for us this year. Here's how he fared on day one!