Week in Review: Apollo Kids

​In the week one of this blog's authors inspired a short play about juggalo zombies and Lady Gaga, we celebrated by announcing the 2010 Village Voice/Redeye Distribution Day Party, featuring the great Marnie Stern, Hooray For Earth, and a bunch of others, including a wonderful special secret guest. Speaking of CMJ: controversy! Pitchfork announced a rival festival, #Offline, to take place at the same time. We explained why. And then CMJ returned mild fire. Stay tuned.

Asthmatic Kitty walked us through the release of Sufjan Stevens's Age of Adz. Lady Gaga got banned on the Lower East Side. Converse got some competition when it came to offering free studio time in Brooklyn. And victorious Lupe Fiasco fans, release date finally hand, vowed to march on Atlantic Records anyway; today, they actually did.

Swans attempted to murder as all the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. We reported live from the bizarre but much-improved Paper Magazine nightlife awards. Biz Markie regaled a bunch of ad agency people. Mark Ronson and friends invaded Webster Hall. Mike Posner serenaded a roomful of screaming ladies at Irving Plaza. Yelawolf celebrated his Fader cover in CBGB's basement. Flashing Lights commemorated two years of confusion and elation. Ratatat nearly caused a riot at Terminal 5. And Horse Meat Disco, Justin V., and Prince Language starred in another Let's Play House spectacular.

A-Trak and Armand Van Helden talked Duck Sauce, "Barbra Streisand," and Doing Karaoke With Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig. Julie Christmas covered Jacque Brel's "If You Go Away." Pop. 1280 offered us "Step Into the Grid." And the singer and guitarist TK Webb told us about life after New York.

Plus more indie pets, Voice writers in Best Music Writing 2010, the best/most ridiculous CMJ panel of all time and more, below. Looking for something to do this weekend? Consult our guide to the weekend in nightlife, featuring the Freedom Party, One Step Beyond, Jackpot, and Love Tempo. We're back Monday, or thereabouts...