Blog Archives

Nada Surf: December 14, 2010 Rock Shop – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

February 18, 2011
By


[Photos by acidjack]

We had the pleasure of seeing Nada Surf play two very different types of special shows in 2010. First, there was their The Weight Is A Gift full-album runthrough that we recorded at the Bell House in March. And, at the end of the year, this very special not-quite-acoustic show at The Rock Shop to benefit Little Kids Rock, a worthy charity that provides free musical instruments and music instruction to public schools. True to form, the 90s veterans were relaxed and cheerful as they played to an enthusiastic group of fans jammed into The Rock Shop’s jewel box of a showroom. The show ended up being “not-quite” acoustic as the band opted for electric guitars in some cases due to problems with their acoustics, but the arrangements still reflected the more intimate nature of this show. Joined by Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices, the stripped-down arrangements suited the band, bringing frontman Matthew Caws’ sweet, distinctive vocals to the forefront, especially his knack for delivering a hooky chorus (for example, on this outstanding rendition of “Blonde on Blonde”).

I admit that I sometimes have to remind myself that Nada Surf is a New York band, so preternaturally sunny is their sound. But that is part of the beauty of this band, whose staying power has resulted from talent and songwriting rather than trend-mining. The band’s airy demeanor also proved to be an excellent antidote to both the freezing weather and the nascent depression of the holiday season. These well-crafted, approachable songs may seem better suited to a road trip singalong than to a tiny bar in Gowanus in midwinter, sure – but they felt damn good on this night.

Watch for a new record from Nada Surf in 2011, which will follow their 2010 cover album, If I Had A Hi-Fi.

I recorded this set from our usual spot at Rock Shop with a soundboard feed and the DPA microphones. The results are outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “Blonde on Blonde”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/N2306NadaSurf0210/16 Blonde on Blonde.mp3]

Stream “Electrocution”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/N2306NadaSurf0210/11 Electrocution.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Nada Surf
2010-12-14
Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced by acidjack for nyctaper.com

Equipment: Soundboard+DPA 4021>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: LOC, in front of soundboard, 8′, PAS
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (compress/limit segments of board feed, mixdown, set fades, light EQ to audience track, tracking, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

01 intro
02 Weightless
03 Happy Kid
05 Whose Authority
06 banter
07 Killian’s Red
08 Love Goes On [Go-Betweens]
09 What Is Your Secret
10 Enjoy The Silence [Depeche Mode]
11 banter
12 Electrocution
13 banter
14 80 Windows
15 banter
16 Do It Again
17 Blonde on Blonde
18 Always Love
19 banter
20 The Way You Wear Your Head
21 Paper Boats
22 See These Bones

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Nada Surf, visit their website, and purchase their official releases from the band’s official store here.

Wye Oak: January 27, 2011 Rock Shop – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

February 15, 2011
By


[Photos courtesy of Alexis Maindrault for A Heart Is A Spade]

Fresh off of three opening gigs at the Beacon Theater for The Decemberists (one of which we recorded), Baltimore’s Wye Oak gave their dearest fans a special night of music at the intimate Rock Shop. Fans had braved the cold and snow to pack the house for this outstanding performance, which featured a number of new songs from the band’s forthcoming album on Merge Records, Civilian. The duo of Jenn Wasner (on vocals and guitar) and Andy Stack (drums, keys and backup vocals) have been making their folk-influenced indie rock since 2006, and Civilian will be their third full-length. Wasner and Stack seemed to be thrilled to play for not only, as they put it, fans who were actually standing up, but for a crowd that was largely composed of people they knew. They rewarded us with a preview of some fantastic new songs, many of which were played for the first time. Wasner’s voice was even more evocative live than it is on record, and Stack’s one-handed drumming (while he plays the bassline on the keyboards) was amazing to watch in person.

Civilian will be released on March 8 on Merge Records.

I recorded this set from our usual spot in the venue with the DPA microphones and a crystal-clear soundboard feed. The results are outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “For Prayer”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/W2701WyeOak2011/19.%20For%20Prayer.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Wye Oak
2011-01-27
Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced for nyctaper.com by acidjack

Equipment: Soundboard+DPA 4021>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: LOC, at soundboard, mics at 8.5ft
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ each source, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 58:05]
01 The Alter
02 That I Do
03 [banter]
04 My Neighbor
05 [banter2]
06 [Emmylou – not posted]
07 My Creator
08 [banter3]
09 Holy Holy
10 [banter4]
11 Fish
12 [banter5]
13 Civilian
14 [banter6]
15 Hot as Day
16 I Hope You Die
17 [encore break]
18 If Children Were Wishes
19 For Prayer

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Wye Oak, visit their website, and purchase Civilian, available for pre-order from Merge Records here.

The Giraffes: February 5, 2011 Mercury Lounge – FLAC/MP3/Streaming Songs

February 14, 2011
By


[Photos courtesy of Todd Kancar]

I make no secret of my admiration for The Giraffes and have been consistently rewarded by them over the past 5+ years with amazing albums and some of the most incredible performances I’ve ever had the privilege to attend.  When I heard a rumor that this show would be lead singer Aaron Lazar’s last with the Brooklyn-based group and had the information confirmed, I was heartbroken.  And I wasn’t the only one.  As a testament to the popularity of this band (one that has been criminally overlooked by the mainstream), I personally received more requests to tape this night than every other show I’ve recorded combined; a few of them from South America and Europe.  Further fears were put to rest when I was assured that guitarist Damien Paris, drummer Andrew Totolos and bassist Jens Carstensen would continue on with The Giraffes.  Blazing through with nary a break, the gents brought out an impressive setlist that including superlative renditions of “Honey Baby Child”, “Sugarbomb” and the rare “On Lovers Lane”, among other gems.  The enthusiastic crowd, packed to the rafters in the sold-out venue, brought their A-game, too [see Todd Kancar’s photo below].  Riddled with stage divers, crowd surfers, people singing every word to every song and enough flashbulbs going off to induce an epileptic seizure, it wasn’t long before the gallons of alcoholic beverages flying through the air had covered nearly every available surface and person.  As I’ve remarked before, it takes an exceptional set of skills to be able to play under these conditions and, as always, these guys rose to the challenge.  We wish Aaron the best in his future endeavors and eagerly anticipate what Damien, Drew and Jens have in store for us with The Giraffes, v.4.0.

As a compliment to the mics, the always magnificent and accommodating house engineers, Kevin and Dan, supplied me with a feed from the board and were joined by guest engineer extraordinaire, Phil, for this set.  Aside from the bedlam unraveling on stage that resulted in the occasional, unavoidable vocal distortion and clipping from microphones being grabbed, dropped and yelled into by attendees, thanks to their first-rate work we have captured an excellent recording.  Enjoy and PLAY IT LOUD!!

Stream “Million $ Man”:

[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/G2808Giraffes9220/The%20Giraffes%20-%20Million%20$%20Man.mp3]


Stream “The City”:

[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/G2808Giraffes9220/The%20Giraffes%20-%20The%20City.mp3]

Download the FLAC/MP3 files and stream this entire show on the Live Music Archive [HERE]

Giraffes 2011-02-05 kancar528

The Giraffes
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY, USA

Source: SBD + DPA 4021’s > Edirol R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz)
Lineage: R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz) > USB > PC > Adobe Audition (mixdown, adjust levels, downsample, dither, tracking) > WAV (16-bit/44.1kHz) > Trader’s Little Helper (check/fix SBE’s, FLAC conversion) > FLAC ( level 8 )
Mercury Lounge house engineers: Kevin, Dan
Guest engineer: Phil
Recorded and produced by: Johnny Fried Chicken Boy

SETLIST:
[Total time: 1:42:00]
01. Damien’s rant
02. Smoke Machine
03. Million $ Man
04. Prime Motivator
05. Honest Men
06. Honey Baby Child [*]
07. Wage Earner
08. I’ll Be Your Daddy
09. On Lovers Lane
10. The Power Of Fatherhood
11. Medicaid Benefit Appliqué
12. Sugarbomb
13. banter
14. The Border
15. The Ballad Of Sissyfist
16. The City
17. Sickness (This Is)
18. Having Fun
19. Haunted Heaven
20. Clever Girl
21. Man U.
22. Done

* Pierre Michel song

If you download this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Giraffes, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases and merchandise.

The Hold Steady: January 31, 2011 Music Hall of Williamsburg – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

February 3, 2011
By


[The Hold Steady at Music Hall on January 30. Photos courtesy of Joshua Sarner and Prefix Magazine]

Eight years ago to the day, The Hold Steady took the stage at Music Hall of Williamsburg – then a much-less-luxurious venue called Northsix in a similarly less luxurious (or luxury-condo-fied) Williamsburg – for their first gig. To hear Craig Finn tell it, that the band celebrated their eighth anniversary in the same spot was a happy coincidence. Whether by coincidence or calculation, I suspect that first Music Hall show had a good bit in common with this one. “What’s up, Brooklyn? We’re The Hold Steady, and we’re gonna have a really good time tonight!” was Finn’s opening proclamation, and I would bet his first opening ever was much the same. Because, although their songwriting has grown more expansive, along with their critical acclaim and the size of their fanbase, The Hold Steady has always been one of the world’s greatest bar bands. The band’s appeal is democratic and uncomplicated: penetrating lyrics you can understand (that are also good enough to wow rock critics); crowd-participating, fist-pumping anthems; outstanding musicianship; and a frontman in Finn who appears to be having the best time of anybody there. This second show of two nights at Music Hall was all about momentum. Breaks between songs were almost non-existent; ditto crowd banter. Finn & Co. worked so hard through this nearly 100-minute set, it could have been a Springsteen show. In terms of the setlist, the band’s latest, Heaven Is Whenever, was well-represented along with Stay Positive, but so was the band’s first record, the less-noticed Frenchkiss Records release, Almost Killed Me, including on a beautifully paced encore that began with the pensive “Positive Jam”, followed by “Southtown Girls” (from Boys and Girls in America) and concluding with an extended version of “Most People Are DJs”. Although it was a Monday night, the crowd was fired up and slam dancing, about as sweaty as Finn himself. I would like to think that whoever attended that first Hold Steady gig would have done the same. If not, they should have: The Hold Steady are a hard-working rock band that is damned hard to deny. Show me someone else who can put on this kind of show – and get this kind of response – on a Monday, and I’ll show you rock royalty.

I recorded this set from about halfway to the stage from the left balcony. The mics were aimed directly at the left stack to maximize direct sound, and the results speak for themselves. Check out the streaming songs below, and enjoy!

Stream “Stevie Nix”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/H6589HoldSteady1192/17 Stevie Nix.mp3]

Stream “Positive Jam”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/H6589HoldSteady1192/22 Positive Jam.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Hold Steady
2011-01-31
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY USA

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced by acidjack for nyctaper.com

Equipment: Microtech-Gefell MG210>Naiant littlebox>Sony PCM-M10 (24/44.1)
Position: Left balcony, pointed at left stack
Mastering: 24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (set fades, tracking, flac)

Tracks [Total Time 1:35:17]
01 Intro
02 Ask Her For Adderall
03 The Swish
04 Magazines
05 Rock Problems
06 Hurricane J
07 Cattle and the Creeping Things
08 Barfruit Blues
09 The Sweet Part of the City
10 Same Kooks
11 Sequestered in Memphis
12 Barely Breathing
13 Lord, I’m Discouraged
14 Constructive Summer
15 Chips Ahoy!
16 Stuck Between Stations
17 Stevie Nix
18 First Night
19 Ascension Blues
20 Slapped Actress
21 [encore break]
22 Positive Jam
23 Southtown Girls
24 Most People Are DJs

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Hold Steady, visit their website, and purchase their official releases from the links at their website [HERE].

Suuns: January 25, 2011 Rock Shop – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

February 2, 2011
By


[Photo by Eloy Anzola. Visit his website here]

Montreal’s Suuns are one ambitious, exciting band. If you punched up any random 30-second clips of tracks from their debut LP, Zeroes QC, you could encounter any number of distinct musical ideas. You might find the Zeppelin-on-acid riffs that are the foundation of “Armed for Peace,” or the brooding, addiction-nightmare hiss of the vocals over a spare beat on “Up Past the Nursery,” or even the slowed-down dubstep beat on “Pie IX”. The point being, Suuns make angular, twisted art rock without a single stylistic straightjacket. From the get-go, this brash set at Rock Shop set a dark mood; the opening number “Skyscraper” blistered us with its marshal, repetitive drumbeat and bassline, clanging keyboard riff and frontman Ben Shemie’s seething, ravaged vocal. Whether during the tightly-wound intro to “Pie IX” or the door-blowing assault of the set’s closer, the eight-minute “Sweet Nothing,” Suuns held our attention with their controlled intensity. They are a challenging band in the best of ways, unconcerned with pop convention or pandering. And although it is true that they can veer dizzyingly between tempos, styles and structures, their talent is equal to their ideas.

I recorded this set from our usual location in this outstanding venue, with the Schoeps microphones and a soundboard feed from the Rock Shop’s team. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Armed for Peace”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/S0125Suuns0211/05 Armed for Peace.mp3]

Stream “Pie IX”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/S0125Suuns0211/08 Pie IX.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Suuns
2011-01-25
Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced by acidjack for nyctaper.com

Equipment: Schoeps CMC6/mk41+Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: At soundboard, LOC, mics pointed at stacks at 8.5′
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ audience source, mixdown, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Skyscraper
02 Arena
03 Up Past the Nursery
04 [new]
05 Armed for Peace
06 Gaze
07 [banter]
08 Pie IX
09 Sweet Nothing

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Suuns, visit their MySpace page, and purchase Zeroes QC from Secretly Canadian records here.

Mission of Burma: January 29, 2011 The Bell House – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

January 30, 2011
By

The inimitable Mission of Burma have graced us with their presence a lot recently – first, back in December at Maxwell’s for one of the Yo La Tengo Hanukkah shows, then Maxwell’s again this past Friday.  But according to fans who saw all three, this bigger show at The Bell House was the king of them all.  It is not uncommon for legendary bands of Mission of Burma’s generation to get by on autopilot, playing the old songs everyone wants to hear in a lower-energy, lamer fashion that is just good enough to sell tickets.  But true the ethos they have maintained throughout their decades-long career, Mission of Burma have managed their comeback with integrity and grit.  Along with timeless punk classics, the band has moved forward to produce vital new material that holds up well to the rest of their catalog.  This show found the band playing four songs from their 2009 LP, The Sound, the Speed the Light, but after that, it was back to the old days for this amazing and, at 80+ minutes, lengthy, set. With the legendary producer Bob Weston behind the board running the band’s sound and tape loops, the sound was dialed-in and, per Bob’s custom, ear-splittingly loud.  Whether you were a new fan coming to see what the fuss was all about, or a longtime fan, you were not leaving this show disappointed – especially not after MOB closed the set with the song that started it all, “Academy Fight Song.”

I recorded this set from our usual spot in the venue by the soundboard with the DPA microphones and a hand-built analog preamp to bring a warm, classic sound.  The results are excellent.  Enjoy!

Stream “Academy Fight Song”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/M4509MissionofBurma2239/28 Academy Fight Song.mp3]

Stream “Trem Two”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/M4509MissionofBurma2239/09 Trem Two.mp3]

Download the MP3 and FLAC files and stream the entire show on the Live Music Archive [HERE]

Follow acidjack on Twitter

Mission of Burma
2011-01-29
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

Equipment: DPA 4021>Oade M248>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: Center, clamp to soundboard booth, micas at 9ft, DIN
Mastering: 24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ, set fades, tracking, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 1:22:12]
01 intro
02 Forget What You Know
03 7’s
04 1001 Pleasant Dreams
05 2wice
06 Blunder
07 [banter]
08 SSL 83
09 Trem Two
10 Mica
11 [banter]
12 He Is, She Is
13 Part the Sea
14 [banter]
15 Just Waves
16 Feed
17 1, 2, 3 Partyy!
18 Fame and Fortune
19 Spider’s Web
20 That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate
21 encore break
22 Red
23 That’s When I Reach for My Revolver
24 Class War
25 encore break 2
26 Secrets
27 banter
28 Academy Fight Song

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Mission of Burma, visit their website, and purchase their official releases directly from the Store at their website [HERE].

Oh Land: January 26, 2011 Hiro Ballroom – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

January 27, 2011
By


[Photos by Ryan Muir and courtesy of Metromix]

Last night’s industry showcase performance by Oh Land at Hiro Ballroom gave full evidence of the amount of dues that the former ballerina and current model/emerging pop star has paid over the past year – and the extent to which they have paid off. It struck me how many gigs like this she has probably played – to mixed rooms of her most fervent supporters and some who are just there to be seen – yet she remains graceful, kind and seemingly unfazed by the starmaking process. Work back from this very-well-attended celebration of a show through the latter part of last year, and you’ll find every type of appearance imaginable – a small club gig at Mercury Lounge, opening gigs for Mates of State, seemingly endless and tireless CMJ appearances, playing Brooklyn Bowl for our friends’ Brunch After Dark, and earlier, their backyard for Backyard Brunch Sessions, the Northside Festival, SXSW…. By the time that her second Brooklyn Bowl show rolled around, Oh Land’s performances had already become much more refined than her first Brooklyn Bowl appearance at the Northside Festival – true pop star performances, not merely a pretty girl, a keyboard and her “contraption” (a combination drum machine/keyboard/projector, I believe it is). This Hiro show presaged the logical next phase of her career as her first full length for Epic Records is released in March – when her music’s fan base has fully transitioned from the blog world to clubland and the mainstream beyond. Her repertoire has diversified a bit in that direction; a new club-ready song I had not heard before was in the mix, as well as the anthems “We Turn It Up” and another one I had not heard before, which I will call “Human.” But what separates Oh Land from typical pop music (even highly lauded, but ultimately terrible Scandinavian pop music), is her playful spirit, her quirkiness, and her unforced songwriting; any artist who calls her live show “Mary Poppins on acid” has probably put any Katy Perry comparisons on hold. Oh Land’s very busy 2011 already has another big moment – the opening slot for the comeback performance of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark at Terminal 5 later this year. We wish her an exciting and wonderful year.

I recorded this set with the Schoeps microphones on a 13-foot stand next to the soundboard. Unfortunately, the soundboard feed that was provided only contained the drum machine’s feed and was mostly useless, so this is an almost-all audience recording that does contain some noise from the bar crowd. Therefore, it is not quite up to our usual standards, but remains an accurate capture of the evening. For a truly outstanding Oh Land recording, I recommend that you download the shorter but better-sounding Brunch After Dark/Brooklyn Bowl recording as well/instead. Enjoy!

Special thanks to Epic Records for inviting nyctaper to this performance. Don’t miss Oh Land’s as-yet-untitled LP when it is released on March 15.

Stream “We Turn It Up”
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/O0627OhLand0210/13 We Turn It Up.mp3]

Stream “Sun of a Gun”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/O0627OhLand0210/06 Sun of A Gun.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Oh Land
2011-01-26
Hiro Ballroom
New York, NY

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced by acidjack for nyctaper.com

Equipment: Schoeps CMC6/mk41+Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: At soundboard, ROC, mics pointed at stacks at 13ft
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ, mixdown)>Audition (multiband compression)>Audacity (compress clapping, tracking, set fades, downsample to 44.1khz/16bit)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Perfection
02 [new]
03 [banter]
04 Break the Chain
05 Wolf and I
06 Sun of a Gun
07 Lean on Me
08 banter
09 Helicopter
10 Human
11 White Nights
12 [encore break]
13 We Turn It Up
14 Rainbow

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Oh Land, visit her website, purchase her EP, which is available at all major retailers, on iTunes and here, and purchase her upcoming LP when it is released on Epic Records on March 15.

Matt Douglas: January 9, 2011 Pete’s Candy Store – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

January 20, 2011
By


[iPhone 4 photo by acidjack]

I have known the Raleigh, NC-based singer and songwriter Matt Douglas, best known for his work with The Proclivities and his new band with the singer-songwriter Caitlin Cary, The Small Ponds, since we were high school kids, so it is fair to say that I am not impartial when it comes to his music. A multi-talented musician who excels on multiple instruments including sax and guitar, Douglas has spent most of his life as a teacher and student of music. Matt’s songs draw on a range of musical influences, including Hungarian folk music, which you may not pick up right away in what on their surface are classic American songs with rock, folk and country influences. I was thrilled to have a chance to catch up with Matt on this short solo tour of small venues, where he played material he wrote for both of his current bands, as well as a cover of Etta James’ “My Heart Cried.” These stripped-down gigs have a way of accentuating excellent songwriting (or exposing bad songwriting) rapidly; the lyrical and stylistic diversity of these songs told me that Douglas has earned his place on this journey will both skill and dedication. Two new songs early in the set, the country-inflected “Two of a Kind” and “Plexiglass Coffin” are expected to be released on a Matt Douglas solo record sometime this year. Wherever he is, and whomever he is playing with or for, expect Douglas to continue to expand his musical universe.

Matt has two NY-area shows coming up in February – first on February 12 at Terminal 5, where he plays horns with Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, and then on February 16 at one of our favorite venues, Rock Shop, which is a Small Ponds gig.

I recorded this set with the tiny DPA 4061 omnidirectional mics clipped to either sides of a chair directly in front of the stage. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Ray of Sunshine”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/M9010MattDouglas0211/mattdouglas2011-01-09pete’s_acidjack-02.mp3]

Stream “Two of a Kind”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/M9010MattDouglas0211/mattdouglas2011-01-09pete’s_acidjack-04.mp3]

Direct download of entire set in MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Matt Douglas
2011-01-09
Pete’s Candy Store
Brooklyn, NY USA

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced for nyctaper.com by acidjack

Equipment: DPA 4061 (Coresound “HEB”)>Sony PCM-M10 (24/44.1)
Position: Center, 1ft from stage
Mastering: 24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (tracking, smooth peaks, light compression, set fades)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time

1. Intro
2. Ray of Sunshine
3. banter
4. Two of a Kind
5. banter
6. Plexiglass Coffin
7. banter
8. Charlatan
9. banter
10. My Heart Cried
11. Handguns & Dancing Shoes
12. banter
13. Pauline
14. banter
15. Gypsy Cards

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Matt Douglas, visit his website, and purchase the latest Small Ponds record here or on iTunes.

Austra: December 4, 2010 Glasslands – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

January 20, 2011
By


[Photo by acidjack with iPhone4 with Hipstamatic]

Toronto’s Austra came to town with one of that music scene’s current favorite sons, Diamond Rings, who referred to them later that night as “my favorite band.” This set at Glasslands gave many of us our first taste of a band that is likely to get big in a hurry, as they just signed to the UK’s famed Domino Records just a few days ago (with a new record on the way this spring), and have embarked on an extensive European tour. The brainchild of well-known Toronto-based vocalist Katie Stelmanis (Autra is actually her middle name), Austra play dreamy leftfield pop at home in the current moment; those searching for references might think about a band like The Knife; I also hear a less poppy, less histrionic bit of a band like Florence and the Machine as well (listen to “Lose It” for the reference). The centerpiece of the band’s sound is unquestionably Stelmanis’ powerful vocals, which soar above the driving electro beats. Expect to see Austra again stateside for SXSW, and look out for a video from them next month!

I recorded this set from the same location as the Diamond Rings recording, and other than some isolated crackling from the house system, the sound is outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “Lose It”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/A1204Austra2010/Austra-LoseIt.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Austra
2010-12-04
Glasslands
Brooklyn, NY USA

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced by acidjack for nyctaper.com

Equipment: DPA 4021+Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: Balcony, ROC, mics roughly DIN
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Darken Her Horse
02 Lose It
03 The Villain
04 The Choke
05 Beat and the Pulse
06 Spellwork

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Austra, like them on Facebook, and purchase their releases directly from Domino Records here.

The Depreciation Guild: January 15, 2011 Rock Shop (FINAL SHOW!) – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

January 18, 2011
By


[The Depreciation Guild at the Black Cat in Washington, DC in 2009. Photos by Mehan Jayasuriya – see his Flickr stream here.]

The Depreciation Guild are no more. Perhaps owing to the success of their other projects (such as lead singer Kurt Feldman’s other band, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, for whom he is the drummer) the members have decided to part ways. Though the band’s earliest material was basically chiptunes, leaning heavily on a modified 8-bit NES console for most of its beats, by the time their final record, Spirit Youth was released, TDG had developed a more guitar-heavy sound to go with Feldman’s blissed-out vocals, which usually lead to them getting the “shoegaze” tag. The band’s approach to its last show was surprisingly low-key – the fact that it was their last show wasn’t mentioned at all from the stage as they played a strong set covering both of their records, including what could perhaps be remembered as their signature number, “Trace.” Before they played the final number – “Butterfly Kisses” from In Her Gentle Jaws, there was no reminiscing, no big sendoff for the fans. “This is our last song,” was all that Feldman had to say before the band’s final four minutes together. Perhaps no more needed to be said – we will miss this excellent band whose potential was only beginning to be fully realized. We wish the band members success in their future (and current) endeavors.

I recorded this set from our usual location in the venue, at the right corner of the soundboard with the DPA microphones and a soundboard feed. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “My Chariot”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D5205Dguild2001/02 My Chariot.mp3]

Stream “Trace”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D5205Dguild2001/06 Trace.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Depreciation Guild
2011-01-08
Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced by acidjack for nyctaper.com

Equipment: DPA 4021+Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: Center, mics pointed at stacks at 8.5ft
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks, very light EQ, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 56:40]
01 Sky Ghosts
02 My Chariot
03 Crucify You
04 Blue Lily
05 November
06 Trace
07 Heavy Eyes
08 Dream About Me
09 [encore break]
10 White Moth
11 Butterfly Kisses

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Depreciation Guild, visit their website, and purchase their excellent last album, Spirit Youth, from your favorite retailer.

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