Every year at this time, music lovers in the New York City get a large dose of wonderful musical excess. First off, each October the CMJ Music Marathon (which now includes a film festival) brings dozens of indie and alternative musicians from around the world into the City and environs for four days of sonic mayhem.  

Above: The Bongos featuring James Mastro (left) and Richard Barone (right) return for a few shows at this year's CMJ Music Marathon.

How do you fit all that live music into just four days? Have the sets start in the early afternoon and run into the wee hours of the next morning.  (I went to a CMJ showcase a few years ago at which the first band went on at midnight, and by the time the fourth and final band wrapped up, it was 4 a.m.)

Who's appearing at this year's CMJ extravaganza? You can check the CMJ schedule to view all the listings in a number of different ways, but it's a daunting task... the overabundance might just make your head explode. Bands from The Antlers and The Bongos to Deer Tick, Hey Rosetta, Fanfarlo, Japandroids, School of Seven Bells, and Ted Leo + The Pharmacists will be playing. As well as a whole bunch of bands I've never heard of (mostly because I just can't keep up with all the new musical acts the way I used to try to).

There will also be a couple of "all-metal" tribute shows: one devoted to Michael Jackson, the other to the Bee Gees. Those could be brilliant and unexpected, or... well, you can guess.

You could read through all the bands and listings at the CMJ Web site, or you read a good guide to CMJ 2009, such as the one at Pitchfork. Once you've decided who you want to see, the CMJ Web site has a feature that lets you create your own personalized schedule, so you can keep track of what you're planning on catching.

The second reason for October musical overload is another much-anticipated rite of autumn in New York: The WFMU Record Fair. The event for music lovers and collectors is put on by WFMU, the self-proclaimed "free-form station of the nation," which is a rare animal in radio: a college radio station that has continued to thrive even though its college (New Jersey's Upsala College) went out of business a couple of decades ago.

The WFMU Record Fair runs this weekend, October 23rd to 25th, and as its name suggests, it does indeed have records--as in vinyl (including LPs, 45s, and 12"s). And CDs, DVDs, and even VHS tapes. There are also special WFMU records on sale for a dollar.

The WFMU Record Fair has gotten bigger and more popular over the years, and now includes live bands and DJs.

The fair takes place at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 W. 18th St. (between 6th & 7th Avenues). One-day admission is $7, or you can buy an early-bird admission for $25 that gets you in a few hours early on Friday and allows you unlimited entry the entire weekend.

If you're a rock music lover and will be in the New York City area this week, you're in for a treat.