First of all, a little housekeeping: My band did, in fact, find a drummer between last month's column and this month's. So far, he appears not to be a serial murderer so all is well on that front. I feel as though I negated my own theory by actually being able to find someone, but I'm happy to break some of my own rules now and again if that's what it takes.

Jersey, am I right? I'm sure some of you will agree with me right off the bat but let me explain the sentiment. Manhattan, our glorious city's center, is an island. As much as we'd all like to deny it, that island is bordered almost as much by New Jersey as it is other parts of New York. Every once in a while us New Yorkers have to venture West and cross the state line. For music fans, your "once in a while" is when the band you really like is only coming as close as Maxwell's.

I bet you were all wondering how my love affair with Justin Townes Earle is going. It's going really well, thanks. His new album Midnight at the Movies is, dare I say it, better than his first major release, The Good Life. I can't count the number of times I've listened to it back to back. He's touring right now in support of the new album and I got tickets to see him at Maxwell's. Maxwell's is a nice venue. It's on the intimate side in size and the sound is usually pretty good. To say I was excited would be a gross understatement.

After a ride on the Path train to Hoboken and a walk down Washington Street, me and my trusty companion were there at about 8:30. Doors were at 7:00, there were 3 bands on the bill with JTE headlining. We had just enough time to sneak in a couple beers and some food before going into the back room for the big show. I was about halfway through a very tasty crab cake sandwich when JTE, in all his lanky glory, walked out from the back and out the front door. "He must be going out for his pre-show cigarette", I thought to myself and continued to eat. He then walked back to the music room and we quickly got our check and paid up. This is where the story takes an ugly turn. (Just warning you.) When we got to the doorguy he said that my name was not on the list. I was absolutely positive that I had purchased tickets so I hastily grabbed the closest iPhone so that I could access the confirmation in my email. Whilst doing this, the door man came out and called my name. I sighed a sigh of relief. Yes! He had found my name on the list! Not so fast, Langerak. He had found my name but it was on the list for the early show. JTE's set was over. We missed it. When we saw him he was going out for his post-show cigarette.

In Jersey they do things differently. Anyone who has been to a show in NYC knows that the doors open an hour prior to the first band. So, in this case, JTE should have gone on at 10:00 (in fact, probably 10:30) not 9:00 sharp. Oh, how foolish I was to think that years of NYC show going experience would serve me in another state. Normal rules of convention do not apply in the Jerz.

I won't say too much about the aftermath of the realization that we had missed the show. I cried into my Hoegarden for a little while and then we hightailed it back to civilization. It wasn't awesome.

I think we've all learned a little something here. Now onto this month's recommendation: Depeche Mode has a new album! It's called Sounds of the Universe and it's one of their better recent efforts. It's hard to imagine them ever topping Violator but this, their 12th studio album, is very solid. The usuals are present: dancy beats, arpeggiated synth lines and terrible, but charming rhyme schemes (this is from the people who brought us gems like "When I need a drug in me, It brings out the thug in me, Feel something tugging me"). Some new things are mixed in as well - a little falsetto here, a Beatles inspired melody there. Good stuff. I'm into it.