With Halloween just around the corner and Saw VI out in theaters that day, what better time to throw a metal party? That was the thinking behind the first annual Metal Insider CMJ Listening Party, which took place on Friday, October 23rd at New York’s The Studio at Webster Hall.

With dozens of metal radio DJs and music directors in town for the annual CMJ Music Marathon, the listening party served as an exclusive taste of World Painted Blood, the long-awaited new album from Slayer. In addition, the attendees also got a chance to look at “Playing With Dolls,” a disturbing series of vignettes featuring the music of World Painted Blood that will be featured on the deluxe edition of the album, which will be out on November 3rd. The party also featured a screening of Gallows short film, Grey Britain.

It wasn’t just radio that made it to the party. A number of labels, managers and booking agents made it out, along with bands like Acrassicauda, Anaka, and VH1 Classic’s That Metal Show co-host Don Jamieson. They were able to feast on alcohol courtesy of sponsors Hornitos Tequila and Pabst Blue Ribbon. Each guest was also welcome to have a one-of-a-kind MusicSkins Metal Insider skin for their Blackberry, iPhone or iPod (stay tuned for a chance to win one of your own!).

Some attendees were lucky enough to get a Saw VI shirt courtesy of Lions Gate Films, or books about Anvil and Robert “Freddy Kreuger” Englund courtesy of Simon & Schuster. An even more select group got to win a copy of the first 5 Saw movies. And what better way to celebrate listening to World Painted Blood than with your own tube of Slayer blood. Who’s in for next year?!

PHOTOS: Metal Insider Listening Party

On Thursday, October 22, The Syndicate threw a Comedy Central Records Secret Show at Comix NY along with co-presenters The Laugh Button.com. The hot ticket event packed in over 275 CMJ goers and comedy trendsetters for a ton of super late night laughs from up-and-coming Comedy Central Records comedians.

The line up was as follows:
Host: Shane Mauss
Big Jay Oakerson
MC Mr.Napkins
John Mulaney
Anthony Jeselnik
Joe DeRosa

Fellow comedians Eugene Mirman, Judah Friedlander and Jeffrey Ross were also in house to support this collection of new Comedy Central talent.

Complimentary beverages were sipped care of Hornitos Tequila, Brooklyn Brewery and Sonu Water were served through the night. Everyone in attendance was given a special gift bag filled with Comedy Central goodies and other fine treats. Big thanks to Comedy Central CDs and DVDs, Simon & Schuster, Raw Revolution, Screenlife Games and Layrite Pomade.

PHOTOS: Comedy Central Records Secret Show

Co-presenters, The Laugh Button also have a great write-up of the night along with other photos. Check it out here.

We picked things right back up on Thursday afternoon, teaming up with our friends at Punknews.org to put together a showcase of some of the best rock around.

Our Thursday afternoon showcase was once again at The Studio At Webster Hall where we cracked open the doors at noon for patrons to come in and take advantage of the early drink specials (and they did). People caught sets by Let Me Run, who were just a few shows into their run with a new vocalist, Defeater, Far From Finished, Red Collar, with a drummer nursing a freshly broken arm, Look Mexico, with Bridge & Tunnel who capped the day, 3 shows, and nearly 20 bands who played Syndicate showcases at The Studio at Webster Hall. Not bad for just one week.

PHOTOS: The Punknews.org / Syndicate showcase

We spent a large portion of the Wednesday hanging out with our buddies over at The Studio at Webster Hall. We had some great bands on hand to keep us company.

We teamed up with Rachael Rays’ Feedback and the folks over at Amnesty International to put on two showcases, one during the day and one in the afternoon. The daytime showcase consisted of performances by Orenda Fink, Good Old War, Look Mexico, The Uglysuit, and Shayna Zaid & The Catch.

The nighttime showcase kicked things up a notch with full bore sets by The Cringe, The Swimmers, Twin Atlantic’s first ever NYC show, Rubik, and Bang Bang Eche.

PHOTOS: Feedback & Amnesty International Showcases

In keeping with tradition, The Syndicate hosted another action packed Conflict of Interest party to kick off the CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival. COI XI brought out 1500+ people to Rebel NYC on October 19th to get the party started.

The night wouldn’t have happened without our partners Rachael Ray’s Feedback, Black Seal Records, Hornitos Tequila and Listen Records. Along with Hornitos, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Sonu Water who made sure no one was thirsty!

MusicSkins distributed schnazzy limited edition COI XI skins. Contact us if you didn’t get one.

We enjoyed unbelievable live sets by White Denim, The Cringe, The Union Line and Fanfarlo, and danced to energized DJ sets by Pretty Girls & Lasers, Cubic Zirconia, Roguewaves and Volvox.

Thanks to ASCAP, Blackheart Records, Comedy Central Records, LAYRITE Pomade, KIND Healthy Snacks, Old Shoe Records, Pearl Jam, Screenlife Games and Simon & Schuster for stuffing our gift bags with lots of great stuff for our guests!

Also, many thanks to EMI for The Beatles, Radiohead and Beastie Boys raffle prizes.

PHOTOS: Conflict Of Interest XI

PHOTOS: Hornitos Photobooth

Get some rest and we’ll see you next year!

Read what people are are saying about Conflict Of Interest XI

CMJ.com – “The Syndicate’s annual pre-CMJ Music Marathon party, now in its 11th year, welcomed CMJ earlybirds to the festival Monday night. Three floor of industry types and fans alike mixin’ and minglin,’ drinkin’ some PBR and shootin’ some tequila naturally led to groovin’ to DJ sets…Not a bad way to start a week of good people and great music”

Metromix – “The annual Syndicate Conflict of Interest party is a pre-CMJ tradition—a boozy, noisy kickoff event held at throwback super club Rebel. Like in previous years, the lineup notes a who’s who of the industry buzz.”

Guilt Free Pleasures – “All three floors were pretty packed by about 9pm, and I would like to give Syndicate major props for throwing a great event.”

I Rock I Roll – “My favorite band I’ve seen has been Fanfarlo at last night’s Syndicate party, in between sipping some tasty Hornitos Sunrises and chatting with old friends from back in my music industry days. Fanfarlo were lovely, sported every variety of plaid imaginable, and I want to see them every single day.”

Under The Radar – “a promising kickoff to the fest.”

Everyone loves pictures. The folks at Hornitos and their Mischieve Tequila supplied the bandit masks, COI XI party-goers supplied the mischief, and our friend Diana Levine was on hand to take the pictures.

The Syndicate is proud to team up with Rachael Ray’s Feedback to present the 11th Annual Conflict of Interest party. Pabst Blue Ribbon and Hornitos Tequila will help us kick off the 2009 CMJ Music Marathon and Film Fest on Monday October 19th at Rebel NYC.

There will be performances by White Denim, Fanfarlo, The Cringe and The Union Line. With dj sets by Pretty Girls & Lasers, Cubic Zirconia, Roguewaves, and Volvox.

We’re thrilled with how both of the Wednesday shows turned out. As music fans it was really important for us to create two line-ups that we would be excited about ourselves and we feel really lucky to have had so many awesome bands sign on. Amnesty International as a partner just made sense to us.

They have such a deep involvement with both music and on college campuses year round and we all agree that their work is extremely important. When Rachel Ray and her Feedback team took an interest in what we were working on it was a big compliment and really exciting. Through her recent parties during SXSW and other live events they’ve proven themselves as true supporters of independent music and they have pretty great taste as well. We couldn’t be happier.

Aubin and the other folks at Punknews have put on some pretty great showcases during past CMJ Marathons.

The goal with this show was to put together a really great matinee to showcase some of the newer bands who we think have really started to make a name for themselves and are doing so in smart and creative new ways. We like these bands a lot and believe that although individually they hit on a lot of different sounds across the “punk rock”-spectrum, at the core they all represent an approach to the music business and strong DIY ethic that is so important to both of our companies.

We partnered up with our friends at Comedy Central Records, The Laugh Button and Comix, our favorite comedy venue in NYC, to throw a super late night laugh-fest during the CMJ Marathon.

On Thursday October 22, 300 lucky will be treated to a secret line up of Comedy Central’s rising comics and special guests. Drinks care of Brooklyn Brewery, Hornitos Tequila and Sonu Water. There will be plenty of giveaways care of Comedy Central and other sponsors!