Blog Archives

Acrylics: January 8, 2011 Rock Shop – MP3 Download + Streaming Song

January 15, 2011
By


[iPhone4 photo by acidjack]

The Brooklyn duo Acrylics stopped by the A Heart Is A Spade launch party to celebrate both the launch of that outstanding new music site as well as, it turned out, a big playoff win by the New York Jets, which guitarist/singer Jason Klauber was particularly pumped about. Perhaps Jason’s happiness about the football victory translated into an extra-exuberant set of polished indiepop by Klauber and keyboardist/singer Molly Shea. The band did a superb job of reproducing their electronic compositions in the live setting, avoiding the trap that some like-minded bands fall into of using too much prerecorded material. With a sound that references 70s and 80s synth rock and well as the accessible melodies of classic pop music, Acrylics will likely find a home on both dancefloors and in quieter settings – midtempo dance numbers like “All of the Fire” and “Nightwatch” to the former; more melancholy compositions like “Sparrow Song” the latter. In fact, Lives and Treasure is also the title of their forthcoming album, which drops on January 25 on Hot Sand Records.

I recorded this set from the same location as the Grooms recording, and the sound is flawless. Enjoy!

Stream “Lives and Treasure”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/A0108Acrylics2011/04 Lives and Treasure.mp3]

Stream: “Nightwatch”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/A0108Acrylics2011/05 Nightwatch.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Acrylics
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: LOC, mics pointed at stacks at 8.5ft
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ on both sources, mixdown, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Time 40:16]
01 All of the Fire
02 Counting Sheep
03 Asian Pear
04 Lives and Treasure
05 Nightwatch
06 Sparrow Song
07 Molly’s Vertigo
08 banter
09 The Catacombs

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Acrylics, like them on Facebook, and purchase Lives and Treasure from Hot Sand Records here when released. The All of the Fire EP is currently available on iTunes.

Grooms: January 8, 2011 Rock Shop – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

January 12, 2011
By


[Grooms at Bowery Ballroom last year. Photo by Amanda Hatfield]

Grooms released their searing debut LP, Rejoicer, in late 2009 (followed by a broader re-release in 2010), and have a second, tentatively entitled Prom, already around the corner. In a treat for the audience, they dedicated the majority of this set at Rock Shop, celebrating the debut of our friends A Heart Is A Spade, to new material from that album. Despite frontman Travis Johnson having thrown his back out earlier in the day, he, drummer Jim Sykes and bassist Emily Ambruso drilled the new material. Where some artists could almost be two different bands between their live and recorded sound, Grooms bring the taut, aggressive musicality of their records to the live setting effortlessly. If you liked Rejoicer, you will likely not shy from the new material, either; I particularly liked the new title track, “Prom” and the rocking “Into the Arms.” The knock, if you wish to call it that, on Grooms has been that they have a “90s sound”, which, if it means that they make aggressive guitar music without keyboards, laptops, DJs and other totems of the current scene, that’s true, and all to the good. Being a three-piece without the aforementioned accoutrements, one thing that Grooms’ sound has is a sense of space and air in their music, giving you a chance to better appreciate the interplay and skill of the individual musicians, and how each contributes to the whole. Prom should be released on Kanine Records early this year, but until then, here is a taste of what’s to come.

I recorded this set from the left corner of the room by the soundboard with the DPA microphones, coupled with a soundboard feed from Shane at Rock Shop. The sound was dialed-in throughout the night, and resulted in an outstanding recording. Enjoy!

Stream “Into the Arms”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/G8100Grooms1120/08 Into the Arms.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Grooms
2011-01-08
Rock Shop
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: LOC, mics pointed at stacks at 8.5ft
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ on both sources, mixdown, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Time 34:02]
01 Tiger Trees
02 Imagining the Bodies
03 Expression Of
04 Prom
05 Acid King of Hell (Guitar Feelings)
06 Aisha
07 Sharing
08 Into the Arms
09 3D Voices

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Grooms, visit their website, and purchase their official release from Kanine Records here.

Julian Lynch: January 7, 2011 Music Hall of Williamsburg – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

January 11, 2011
By


[Photos by Eloy Anzola. Check out his website here and his Flickr stream here]

To those who spent last Friday night avoiding the winter weather, burrowing into the couch and watching Winter’s Bone or similar winter-related Oscar bait: You blew it. The critically acclaimed Ridgewood, NJ-based guitarist and songwriter Julian Lynch, whose latest record Mareearned raves this year, gave an outstanding performance that put his axe skills front and center. Mare is a reasonably sedate work, and it incorporates a range of instrumentation that reflects Lynch’s background in ethnomusicology (which he still studies at the University of Wisconsin). To the weather-braving crowd at Music Hall of Williamsburg, Lynch gave us a more guitar-driven band, with focused, tight solos, some increased tempos (witness the sped-up “Just Enough,” one of my favorite Mare tracks) and one mind-blowing jam on “Travelers.” Nonetheless, the show retained the mellow feel of Lynch’s recorded material, as well as its outstanding variety of sonic textures and rhythms, referencing at various times drone, folk, country, pop and rock. Coming off of a major performance at ToddP‘s New Year’s Eve show, headlining Music Hall was another worthy notch in Lynch’s belt.

I recorded this set from the balcony with the Schoeps microphones. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Just Enough”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/J7100JulianLynch0211/02 Just Enough.mp3]

Stream “Travelers”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/J7100JulianLynch0211/07 Travelers.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Julian Lynch
2011-01-07
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: Schoeps CMC6/mk41>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: Right balcony, mics on extension arm, pointed at stacks
Mastering: 24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (set fades, tracking, light EQ, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Terra
02 Just Enough
03 Nen Vole
04 Stomper
05 Rivers
06 Back
07 Travelers
08 Mare
09 [tuning]
10 Rancher

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Julian Lynch, visit his website and bandcamp page and purchase his official releases from Olde English Spelling Bee.

Roadside Graves: August 28, 2010 Mercury Lounge – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

January 8, 2011
By


[Roadside Graves at Mercury Lounge on January 9, 2010. Photo by Amanda Hatfield]

I lucked out when I recorded These United States in August of last year, because Metuchen, NJ’s Roadside Graves had already set a high bar with a perfect set of Saturday night rock n’ roll. Pitchfork‘s writeup on their 2009 release, My Son’s Home, compared their narrative style to Bob Dylan and the Band (and they aren’t the only ones), and indeed, they have an unmistakably classic rock style that can at times veer into dark territory. But in the grandest of folk traditions, they wrap sad and even macabre themes in the upbeat guise of working man’s anthems – if you don’t listen too closely, you can just chug your beer, shake your ass and be happy. But there is a lot to explore beneath that surface that will reward the more patient and pensive listener; the band’s latest EP on Autumn Tone Records, You Won’t Be Happy With Me, continues the strong work done on My Son’s Home. Despite the many country comparisons, I find the band hewing closer to the more Irish folk inspired-sound of a band like NYC’s Bogmen, or The Pogues. Throughout the set, the band kept the stage banter fun and light, introducing their new song “Liv Tyler” through a funny little tale about an audience member misinterpreting the title as “MILF Diver”. Such is the beauty of Roadside Graves – they make serious rock n’ roll, but they’re also a great band to spend your Saturday (and the rest of your week) with.

I recorded this set from the same location as the These United States recording, with the soundboard feed and the Schoeps microphones. The sound is outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “Liv Tyler”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/R0828RoadsideGraves2010/RSG-LivTyler.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Roadside Graves
2010-08-28
Mercury Lounge
New York, 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] (24/44.1)
Position: ROC, at soundboard, mics at 7.5ft
Mastering: 2x24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (smooth peaks, mixdown, set fades, tracking, amplify and balance)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Brokeback Mountain Theme>Far and Wide
02 Demons>Ruby Medley
03 Take A Train
04 Everything
05 Father
06 Liv Tyler
07 West Coast
08 God Touched Me
09 [banter]
10 Jail

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Roadside Graves, visit their website, and buy their records directly from Autumn Tone records.

Yellow Ostrich: January 4, 2011 Mercury Lounge – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

January 6, 2011
By


[Photos by the always excellent David Andrako]

This is my first recording of 2011, and I am pleased to say that Yellow Ostrich is officially my first great find for the year. I first heard of the band when they appeared on the bill for our friends at FREEWilliamsburg‘s CMJ show, and although I missed that show, Yellow Ostrich was highest on the list of bands I needed to see. After a somewhat uneven slate of opening acts, vocalist/guitarist Alex Schaaf and drummer Michael Tapper took the stage to a packed Mercury Lounge. Schaaf is a gifted vocalist with a sweet and somewhat nasal voice; in his delivery I hear a bit of a young Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel. The set opener, “Whale” was a whimsical and instantly catchy treat that started things off strong (if you hear a slight discontinuity in the track, it is because we removed a few seconds of computer glitch). But other than “Whale,” I actually preferred some of the band’s slightly less poppy, more angular numbers – the older song “Fog”, in particular, and the set’s closer, “Mary.” Most of the set focused on the band’s latest record, The Mistress, which is available, along with all of the band’s catalog, on their bandcamp page on a “pay what you will” basis, and can be pre-ordered on vinyl from Afternoon Records here. We expect more great things from this young band in 2011, and their year has already had a fantastic beginning, with them landing the coveted Pianos Thursday night residency for February.

Catch Yellow Ostrich at Shea Stadium on January 15, or February 3, 10, 17 or 24 at Pianos.

I recorded this set with an excellent soundboard feed from the Mercury Lounge engineers and the Schoeps microphones. The sound is outstanding. Thanks to Kevin for his consistently strong work behind the board.

Stream “Fog”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/Y1400YellowOstrich2110/06 Fog.mp3]

Stream “WHALE” (yes, it has a little glitch, but this song is so damn good):
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/Y1400YellowOstrich2110/01 WHALE.mp3]

Stream “Mary”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/Y1400YellowOstrich2110/12 Mary.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Yellow Ostrich
2011-01-04
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY USA

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

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

Tracks [Total Time 32:31]
01 Whale
02 banter
03 Hold On
04 banter
05 Daughter
06 Fog
07 banter
08 Hate Me Soon
09 banter
10 Campaign
11 banter
12 Mary

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect you to PLEASE SUPPORT Yellow Ostrich, be their friends on Facebook, and purchase their music from bandcamp and Afternoon Records.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy: December 7, 2010 Maxwell’s – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

January 3, 2011
By


[Photos by Barry Yanowitz. Visit his website for these and many other excellent photos]

Will Oldham is one of those musical old souls, whose sound is impeccably ageless. With songs that incorporate elements of Americana, folk, country, rock, punk, blues, and a tinge of gospel, he is the consummate American artist, carrying in his haunting voice the sound of six generations’ worth of hardscrabble and heartbreak. Oldham has recorded in recent years under the moniker Bonnie “Prince” Billy, with this particular roster of players dubbed Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang. Although they were opening for Yo La Tengo on the seventh night of their incredible Hanukkah run at Maxwell’s, Oldham and the band treated us to a full-length set that leaned heavily on Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang’s current release on Drag City, The Wonder Show of the World, but also showcased some rare and unusual numbers, including a cover of Willie Nelson’s “In God’s Eyes”, and the Hasidic spiritual “Dark’cho”. The players comprising the Cairo Gang gave each song the benefit of rich, full arrangements that highlighted Oldham’s unforgettable vocals. In particular, I was blown away by the soulful “Teach Me To Bear You” from The Wonder Show of the World, with an extended, more rocking closing than on the record. Having enjoyed Oldham’s records for years, it was truly a holiday gift to finally experience this incredible artist and songwriter’s live show.

Special thanks go to Will Oldham for approving this recording.

I recorded this set from the same spot as the other sets we have posted from this concert series, using a soundboard feed and the Schoeps supercardiod microphones. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Teach Me To Bear You”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/B7012BPB0210/BPB-TeachMeToBearYou.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Bonnie “Prince” Billy
2010-12-07
Maxwell’s
Hoboken, NJ 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: LOC, clamp to soundboard booth, mics at 7.5′, pointed at stacks
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ AUD source, mixdown, set fades, tracking, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Bonnie “Prince” Billy and the Cairo Gang are:
Will Oldham, voice
Emmett Kelly, guitar/voice
Danny Kiely, bass
Van Campbell, drums
Angel Olsen, voice
Ben Boye, keys

Tracks [Total Time 1:06:09]
1. The World’s Greatest [R. Kelly]>Island Brothers
2. Easy Does It
3. Someone Coming Through
4. -banter-
5. Teach Me To Bear You
6. Troublesome Houses
7. In God’s Eyes [Willie Nelson]
8. New Wonder
9. Go Folks, Go
10. I Never Thought My Love Would Leave Me
11. -banter-
12. Merciless and Great
13. Darkecho Elokeino
14. The Sounds Are Always Begging

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Will Oldham’s other projects, visit his website, and purchase his official releases from Drag City records here.

Our Top 25 Concert Moments of 2010 (with MP3 Download and Streaming Songs)

December 31, 2010
By

We were treated to a lot of amazing music this year, and the site has continued to grow. This year, we reached our 600th recording posted since 2007 – a pretty incredible number considering that this is only the fourth year of the site.  As a final New Year’s treat to our readers, we thought we would share a “mixtape” with you of some of our favorite concert moments of 2010.

Out of the two hundred-plus shows that we saw, we selected 25 moments that we thought were particularly memorable (among the shows we recorded, at least). There is a wide range of music, styles and artists represented: folk, rock, Scandinavian pop, punk and much more. There are new bands who are just breaking into the mainstream, as well as mainstream acts continuing to perform at a high level. The only consistent theme is that these artists all touched us in some way, giving performances that stayed with us long after the last notes were played.

The following list is in no particular order. Links to download the entire compilation, as well as selected numbers streaming, are below.

Want to keep up with the latest concert updates and recordings on the site? Follow @nyctaper and @acidjacknyc on Twitter.

Download the entire mixtape [HERE]

1. Built to Spill – “Carry The Zero” – September 20, 2010 Rocks Off Concert Cruise. This show was nuts – on a boat, with a tiny main floor, with a crowd that was loud, drunken and rowdy, and a veteran band doing what they do best. We saw Built to Spill a ton of times over the past two years, but this show was the clear standout. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/BTS-CarryTheZero.mp3]

2. Oh Land – “Lean On Me” – November 8, 2010 Brooklyn Bowl. We first saw this young Danish artist play Brooklyn Bowl back in July. Although she was still getting comfortable with her new material, her talent and unique stage presence were already on display. After seeing her again at the Backyard Brunch Sessions, we caught her again a month later at Brooklyn Bowl. Her evolution blew us away – displaying newfound poise and confidence, designer clothing and a new percussionist, Nanna dominated the stage. Though many of her songs lend themselves to dancing, I have always been partial to this more precious number. She may now be the face of Missoni, but Oh Land is far, far more than a pretty face. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/OhLand-LeanOnMe.mp3]

3. John Vanderslice – “The Parade” – October 21, 2010 Mercury Lounge. On the night after our Unofficial CMJ Day Party at Cake Shop, we caught one of our favorite acts, the inimitable songwriter John Vanderslice at Mercury Lounge. John has always been a supporter and friend of the site, but we were especially gratified by his heartfelt intro to this song when he thanked nyctaper from the stage. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/JV-TheParade.mp3]

4. The Dirty Projectors – “As I Went Out One Morning [Bob Dylan]” – September 11, 2010 Terminal 5. After this band blew us away at the tail end of 2009, we were thrilled that Johnny Fried Chicken Boy was able to catch their show at the massive Terminal 5. This Dylan cover was among many special songs played during another show that wowed us with its musical skill. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/DirtyProjectors-AsIWentOutOneMorning.mp3]

5. Pavement – “Fight this Generation” – September 19, 2010 Williamsburg Waterfront. Pavement‘s return was probably my personal musical highlight of the year – nobody ever thought it would happen, and when it did, they were exactly as nonchalant about the whole thing as you would expect. Everything went right at their first NYC show in ten years, and the irony of Pavement – an iconic band for Generation X – playing “Fight This Generation” on the Williamsburg waterfront to an entirely new generation of fans was perfect. This loose, jammy rendition killed, too. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/Pavement-FightThisGeneration.mp3]

6. Superchunk – “Digging For Something” – September 19, 2010 Music Hall of Williamsburg. While I was checking out Pavement, nyctaper was down the street taking in an equally amazing performance from another 90s indie darling, Superchunk. Supporting their first new album in almost a decade, Superchunk gave us even more than we could have imagined when special guest John Darnielle joined them for this number. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/Superchunk-DiggingForSomething.mp3]

7. John Roderick w/ Nada Surf – “The Commander Thinks Aloud” – March 26, 2010 Bell House. Nada Surf‘s multi-night series of full album performances had many memorable moments, but my favorite of all came from John Roderick of The Long Winters, the opening act at the Bell House/The Weight Is A Gift show. With Nada Surf as his backing band, Roderick capped off his acoustic set by tearing through a fully electric version of this big number that showcases Roderick’s unique voice. You can stream and download this song, and the entire show, on the Live Music Archive [HERE].

8. Natureboy – “I’ll Keep It With Mine” – May 15, 2010 Piano’s. This show was a special day for us, as we celebrated the third anniversary of the site with some of our favorite bands. Natureboy drew a strong crowd as our first act of that evening, and they made our night by performing, our request, their cover of this Dylan-via-Nico classic.[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/Natureboy-KeepItWithMine.mp3]

9. Fucked Up – “Son the Father” – February 18, 2010 Maxwell’s. I had the pleasure of seeing Fucked Up three times this year, and each show was awe-inspiring. Damian “Pink Eyes” Abraham is a punk rock showman without parallel: on the mic, he is extremely hardcore; in between songs, he chats up the crowd like each person is his best bud. “Son the Father” is one of the band’s best songs, and it was at about this point during the Maxwell’s show that (as has to be the case at every Fucked Up show) all hell broke loose. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/FuckedUp-SonTheFather.mp3]

10. The Black Keys – “Same Old Thing” – July 28, 2010 Terminal 5. There was a huge response to our post of The Black Keys‘ show at Terminal 5, and for good reason – it is an excellent recording of a band that is rapidly ingratiating itself with the mainstream. This song is a four-piece version of this song, with Leon Michaels on keyboards and Nick Movshon on bass. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/TBK-SameOldThing.mp3]

11. Panda Bear – “Song For Ariel (Guys Eyes)” – September 11, 2010 Governor’s Island. On the same day as the epic Dirty Projectors show back in Manhattan, Panda Bear was giving a magical performance on Governor’s Island that blew our minds both for the incredible quality of the sound (which did not always receive such good reviews for other shows) and the clarity and focus of the performance. This guitar-heavy and reworked version of this song was one of many highlights of an amazing show that also featured some new songs. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/PandaBear-SongForAriel.mp3]

12. Soft Black – “I’m Not Afraid of You” – August 7, 2010 A Backyard in Bushwick. This whole show was a testament to the power of the local music community and the DIY spirit of the moment. Soft Black were supposed to be playing on a rooftop elsewhere in the ‘hood as part of a benefit show for the people of the Gaza Strip. That show was shut down by the cops three acts in, while it was still light outside. But instead of giving up and calling it a night, the fans and bands rallied to move the show to one of the musicians’ backyard. Soft Black dedicated this haunting song, with its defiant refrain, to a kid who got arrested when the police shut down the rooftop show. The song itself is quite dark, but the moment was joyful, and powerful, in a way that I will never forget. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/SoftBlack-I’mNotAfraidOfYou.mp3]

13. Real Estate – “Reservoir” – June 25, 2010 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Real Estate is another band that has wowed us both with their consistent playing as well as their respect for their fans. We had seen them open for labelmates Woods a number of times, but this time, they found themselves as the headliner of the Woodsist showcase at the Northside Festival. This showcase was one of the best experiences of the entire Northside Festival, but Real Estate’s set in particular stood out, as the more mature band showed off some new songs, including the excellent “Reservoir.” Download the entire set [HERE].

14. Maps & Atlases – “Solid Ground” – August 12, 2010 Mercury Lounge. I caught Maps & Atlases back in 2009 touring behind their previous record, the EP You, Me and the Mountain. I liked what I saw – the unusual combination of freak folk and math rock, vocalist Dave Davison’s vocals, the dual percussionists – but they didn’t seem quite there yet. For one, while I liked their sound, I wasn’t completely blown away by the songs. That all changed with the release of this year’s Perch Patchwork, which was one of my favorite records of the year, and a massive leap forward artistically. For this show, the band was greeted by a spirited crowd literally screaming for more, and in particular, this song (you can hear a drunk dude yelling “Solid Ground!” in between every other song on the set before they finally play it). When the band finally played the song, the payoff was huge, and the jam at the end clinches it. After an outstanding set, Maps broke down their gear and put some chairs and drums in the center of the floor and played an acoustic set for those willing to wait. The performance was not only the most improved of any band that I saw this year, but also one of the flat-out best. It didn’t hurt any that the recording came out flawlessly, too. Download the entire set [HERE]. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/M&A-SolidGround.mp3]

15. Holly Miranda – “I’d Rather Go Blind [Etta James]” – May 26, 2010 Bowery Ballroom. A Bowery Ballroom headlining gig has become a barometer of a band’s success these days – for a New York band on their way up, there is your time on the scene before Bowery, and your time after, and after, things are never the same. This show represented Holly Miranda’s Bowery breakout, and she treated the event with the reverence due it as she ripped off a lengthy set representing her latest record The Magician’s Private Library, and played two covers, including this jaw-dropping rendition of an Etta James classic. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/HollyMiranda-RatherGoBlind.mp3]

16. Wilco – “Thank You, Friends” – April 2, 2010 Wellmont Theatre. The challenging acoustics of this venue did not deter Wilco from delivering one of the most epic sets we have seen of theirs (well over three hours long). This Big Star cover played tribute to their singular frontman, singer and songwriter Alex Chilton, who sadly passed away this March. Alex and his many contributions to rock music will be dearly missed. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/Wilco-ThankYouFriends.mp3]

17. Sharon Van Etten – “One Day” – October 8, 2010 Rock Shop. It is no secret that this site has been a huge booster for Sharon Van Etten, and we are thrilled to see her career taking off in a big way (you can hear one of her songs, “I Fold” in the closing sequence in a recent episode of the Showtime series The Big C). In the two shows she played at Rock Shop this year, Sharon’s maturity and outstanding songwriting made us fall in love with her music all over again. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/SVE-OneDay.mp3]

18. Woods – “Bend Beyond” – May 13, 2010 Abrons Arts Center. In a music scene that is strong but fragmented, Woods have emerged as bi-coastal scene godfathers of sorts, in the way that Sonic Youth have been for a generation. The Woodsist label, for which the band is the anchor, has produced a roster of like-minded acts from the East and West Coasts that share a common affinity for the psychedelic, folk-influenced sound the label is known for. While they have been building a formidable presence with the label, Woods themselves have evolved far beyond the “freak folk” tag into a full-blown indie rock jam band of sorts, turning four-minute album tracks into epics that showcase their virtuosity on their instruments. This show, featuring the band backed by the Joshua Light Show, was especially sprawling, and never moreso than on this nearly twenty minute “Bend Beyond.” This show proved that this was a very different band than the act I saw opening for Dungen in 2009 – that band was a great “freak folk” act, if you will. This band is legendary. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/Woods-BendBeyond.mp3]

19. Spoon – “Car Radio” – September 13, 2010 Cake Shop. After we caught their set opening for Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden, we weren’t sure we would have another chance to record Spoon this year. But then along came this secret show at Cake Shop, a live video recording for “Nobody Gets Me But You,” that proved to be one of the most exciting and intimate performances we saw all year. These guys remember where they came from (Austin) and we trust that they will never stop being one of the most consistent, most fan-friendly acts in the country. Download the entire set [HERE].

20. The Loom – “The First Freeze” – October 10, 2010 Backyard Brunch Sessions. We enjoyed many of the Backyard Brunch Sessions sets we saw this summer and fall, but perhaps none more than this performance by our friends The Loom, who proved that great musicians do not need extra amplification or trickery to make powerful music. Set up in a humble backyard in Bushwick, rocking a homemade bass made out of a washtub, they wowed us with their modern, folk-influenced sound. This song was my favorite of all, not least of which because of the added humor of some rowdy neighbors making noise in the background (who cannot be heard on the recording) – making a bunch of noise right before this (the quietest song of the set) song began. Once it got going, it was the most mesmerizing vocal performance of the day. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/Loom-FirstFreeze.mp3]

21. Yo La Tengo – “Little Eyes” – December 7, 2010 Maxwell’s. If you have read this site once in December, you know that Yo La Tengo’s 2010 Hanukkah shows have been our main focus this month. These eight nights of unique setlists, special guests, and fan camaraderie at one of our favorite venues in the city, Maxwell’s, are some of the best nights of the year every time that YLT decides to do them. This song, from the Summer Sun album, is an expanded version augmented by the guitar wizardry of the legendary Nels Cline, who joined the band for most of this night’s set. Although we loved the December 5 show featuring Mission of Burma, this show on the 7th turned out to be our favorite of them all – a perfect balance of the band’s harder and softer dynamics that showcased them at the height of their powers. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/YLT-LittleEyes.mp3]

22. Bear In Heaven – “Lovesick Teenager” – November 19, 2010 Music Hall of Williamsburg. Bear In Heaven was another band that stepped up in a big way in 2010. A year’s worth of touring took what had been a great album act but somewhat uneven live band and turned them into the juggernaut that we witnessed at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Whereas previous shows had always faced technical limitations (primarily with respect to sound), everything was perfectly dialed in for this show, with the Music Hall sound system delivering crystal clear sound and a light show that dazzled the sold-out crowd. Not but twelve months ago this band was playing the cozy Zebulon down the street. This show was obviously this band’s “Bowery moment.” [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/BearInHeaven-LovesickTeenager.mp3]

23. The Joy Formidable – “Austere” – January 12, 2010 Pianos. Whereas a Bowery Ballroom show tends to cement a band’s status in the scene, Pianos is Manhattan’s best incubator. Shows there tend to capture the nervous energy of bands trying to make their break who know that this could be it. We are pleased to say that since this show, The Joy Formidable did make it in a big way (including their own Bowery moment), playing tons of NY-area shows (almost all of which we saw) and bringing their music to new fans each time. Their massively loud sound is probably better suited a bigger venue, but we loved this Pianos show best of them all (and our recording sounded great). [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/TFJ-Austere.mp3]

24. The National – “Terrible Love” – December 8, 2010 Maxwell’s. Though it borders on heresy (and is not an opinion shared by all who work on this site), I was not an instant convert to The National‘s critically acclaimed High Violet. I didn’t hate the album, but after a three year break from recording, I was not sure what I should expect from the band. High Violet didn’t grab me in the way that earlier records like Alligator did, and it didn’t help that I first saw the songs live in the sonically deficient Terminal 5, where the sound was so poor that even The National’s sound engineer commiserated with us about the venue’s challenges. Luckily, I was given a second chance at this rare set opening in the (relatively) tiny Maxwell’s for Yo La Tengo on the final night of their Hanukkah shows. This time, in this intimate setting, the subtle beauty of the High Violet songs shone through, especially on the set’s closer, this fantastic rendition of “Terrible Love.” [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/National-TerribleLove.mp3]

25. We Were Promised Jetpacks – “It’s Thunder and It’s Lightning” – February 15, 2010 Knitting Factory. I went to this show on a lark, having never heard this Scottish trio before. Apparently I had missed the memo, as the Knitting Factory was so packed I was literally crushed against the soundboard. In the best of ways, We Were Promised Jetpacks are what I like to call Scotland’s answer to U2 – their songs rely on anthemic riffs and vocalist Adam Thompson’s throaty choruses. The band worked this crowd into a froth, the energy seething through the room, as Thompson belted out song after song in a way that could have melted the ice outside. In a show full of them, this song was a particularly stirring anthem. [audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/2010Best20/WWPJ-Lightning.mp3]

Special thanks to all of the artists, management, labels, photographers and other music sites that have supported NYCTaper this year. And of course, a huge thank you to our readers, who we hope to continue to provide with high-quality, artist-sanctioned recordings, reviews and photos throughout 2011. Happy New Year!

Yo La Tengo: December 8, 2010 Maxwell’s – FLAC and MP3 Downloads (two sources!) plus Streaming Songs

December 30, 2010
By


[Photos by Liz Clayton for Yo La Tengo’s Hanukkah Diary]

Following a killer opening set by The National, Yo La Tengo opened the final performance of their eight-night run of Hanukkah shows at Maxwell’s with the somnolent “Night Falls On Hoboken”, but the pace picked up from there, with the Beatles cover “Eight Days A Week”. Still, compared to the Nels Cline-influenced night 7 and the super-noisy, ear-(and Ira’s head)-bleeding night 5, the band stayed on the mellower side for the bulk of the main set, including on a beautiful “Demons” and Georgia taking over vocal duties on the Norma Tanega cover, “Walking My Cat Named Dog”. Hamish Kilgour of The Clean joined for most of the main set, including on a cover Kilgour’s band’s “Whatever I Do It’s Right”, with Kilgour on vocals. That was followed by a noisy cover of The Mad Scene’s “Sweet Dreams” (a tribute to both Kilgour, who is also in that band, and Georgia, who a frequent part of their lineup). Appropriately, the main set ended with the core trio on two of their best-loved classics, “Blue Line Swinger”, and “Our Way To Fall”.

I had my doubts as to whether there was any way to create a coda to such an incredible eight nights that would make sense and do justice to all that came before it. But, it is foolish to doubt a veteran band in their element – Yo La Tengo did exactly what they needed to do, bringing it back home with frequent contributor Bruce Bennett on guitar for the Velvet Underground‘s “I Can’t Stand It Anymore,” followed by their guitar tech Gil Divine joining the band for Randy Newman’s “We Belong Together” and the grand finale, Mel Brooks’ “Love Power”.  To cap all of that off, Ira threw himself into the crowd and surfed the length of Maxwell’s as everyone howled with approval.  After eight nights of obscure, classic and famous special guests, outstanding comedy, and Yo La Tengo performances that would never be forgotten, there was nothing more to say, play or do.  Yo La Tengo relinquished the stage triumphant. And once again, night fell on Hoboken.

nyctaper recorded the set with the Neumann microphones and a soundboard feed, while I used a combination of DPA and Schoeps mics set up from the same position. We are offering both of these outstanding recordings for download here. As you would expect, the audience recording is warmer and provides more feel of the room, while the Neumann/soundboard recording provides exceptional clarity and detail.  Samples of both are included.  All tracks are tagged for easy importing into iTunes.  Enjoy!

Stream the nyctaper version of “Deeper Into Movies”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/Y6644YLT9879/YLT-DeeperIntoMovies2010-12-08.mp3]

Stream the acidjack version of “Eight Days A Week”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/Y6644YLT9879/YLT-EightDaysAWeek2010-12-08.mp3]

Direct download of the nyctaper MP3 files [HERE]

Direct download of the acidjack MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [nyctaper version] / [acidjack version]

Yo La Tengo
2010-12-08
Maxwell’s
Hoboken, NJ  USA

Recorded and Produced exclusively for nyctaper.com by
nyctaper and acidjack
2010-12-27

NYCTaper Version

Digital Master Recording
Four Channel Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Neumann KM-150s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2x 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:52:05]
01 Night Falls On Hoboken
02  Eight Days A Week [Beatles]
03  [banter]
04  Madeleine
05  Mr. Tough
06  Gentle Hour [Snapper]
07  Tired Hippo
08  Demons
09  [banter2]
10  Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog [Norma Tanega]
11  Whatever I Do It’s Right [The Clean]
12  [banter3]
13  Sweet Dreams [Mad Scene]
14  Sudden Organ
15  Deeper Into Movies
16  Nothing To Hide
17  Blue Line Swinger
18  Our Way To Fall
19  [encore break]
20  I Can’t Stand It Anymore [Velvet Underground]
21 [banter4]
22  We Belong Together [Randy Newman]
23  Love Power [Mel Brooks]

acidjack version

Equipment: DPA 4021+Schoeps CMC6/mk41>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: LOC, at soundboard, mics at 7.5′, pointed at stacks
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks and claps, light EQ, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Night Falls On Hoboken
02 Eight Days A Week [The Beatles]
03 banter
04 Madeleine
05 Mr. Tough
06 banter
07 Gentle Hour [Snapper]
08 Tired Hippo
09 Demons
10 banter
11 Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog [Norma Tanega]
12 Whatever I Do It’s Right [The Clean]
13 Sweet Dreams [The Mad Scene]
14 Sudden Organ
15 Deeper Into Movies
16 Nothing To Hide
17 Blue Line Swinger
18 Our Way To Fall
19 encore break
20 I Can’t Stand It Anymore [Velvet Underground] (with Bruce Bennett on guitar)
21 banter
22 We Belong Together [Randy Newman]
23 Love Power [Mel Brooks] (with Gil Divine on guitar)

If you download these recordings from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Yo La Tengo, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases from the store at their website [HERE].

Headless Horseman: December 16, 2010 Glasslands – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

December 22, 2010
By


[Photos by acidjack with iPhone4 and Hipstamatic]

I will forgive you for thinking, on first listen, that some of the crackles and pops in this recording of Headless Horseman‘s latest performance at Glasslands are technical faults. The band’s sound relies on the studio combo of heavy compression and clipping to create their fuzzy, beat-driven bedroom folk (think a glitchier Menomena or a more electronic Microphones). The band’s blown-out sound challenged the Glasslands sound system (and maybe some ears) at times, but their pop sensibility shone through. The duo of Fareed Sajan (of Bottle Up and Go) and Conner O’Neill make their live sounds through an interesting array of drums and other homespun percussion that lies between them, allowing them both to pound out their beats simultaneously if they wish (they also have a laptop, of course). Most of these songs come from the band’s current bandcamp EP, 5songs, which should be on your hard drive if it isn’t. The band also played a new number that we have not heard before. This was the last show that I attended this year, and there couldn’t have been a better way to end a spectacular year, with a cutting-edge band that we are sure to see more of in 2011. Thanks to our friends at forthebeat for putting together this excellent bill!

I recorded this set from the balcony with the DPA microphones and a soundboard feed. A couple of the pops during “Demonsong” may actually not be intentional, but the sound overall is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “SH8KR”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/H1612HeadlessHorseman0210/HeadlessHorseman-SH8KR.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Headless Horseman
2010-12-16
Glasslands
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: Balcony, ROC, mics ORTF
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, set fades, light compression, tracking, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

01 Wavlngth
02 banter
03 Demonsong
04 SH8KR
05 [new]
06 banter
07 Growing

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Headless Horseman, visit their MySpace page, and purchase 5songs from their bandcamp page.

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

December 19, 2010
By


[photos by acidjack with iPhone4 and Hipstamatic]

The man who I anointed the male Lady GaGa (followed by Pitchfork co-opting the comparison in their review of Special Affections) after he played the NYCTaper 2010 CMJ Show was at it again on a Saturday night early this month, and he remains on a roll. Glasslands has had some especially strong rosters lately, in part thanks to the efforts of PopGun Booking, and this was no exception, with ArpLine, Austra and Body Language also on the bill. But the tall, blonde man from Toronto was clearly the main draw. Don’t think that a one-man act cannot put on a rock-n-roll show; John O’Regan (Mr. Diamond Rings himself) gave that the lie big-time as he danced, played guitar, spazzed out, and rocked out all over the stage. If this is what he is capable of with no backup of any kind on the Glasslands stage, he might just be scary at the next level; even at this show, a creepy guy in the front was photographing his shoes and (from where I was sitting, at least) his crotch. But you can’t fault people for getting a little creepy – the sexual energy of O’Regan’s set is undeniable, and unlike really anything crossing most indie rock stages these days. He vamps, he flaunts, he owns the place. And O’Regan is about to gain a much wider audience for his music, too, as he begins at tour as the opening act for Robyn (tour dates here). She’d better be ready, or O’Regan just might blow her off the stage.

I recorded this set with a soundboard feed from the Glasslands staff and the DPA microphones. Other than some light distortion on the board feed during one track, the sound is outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “Play By Heart”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D1807DiamondRings2211/DiamondRings-PlayByHeart2010-12-04.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Diamond Rings
2010-12-04
Glasslands
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: Clamp to balcony, ROC, ORTF
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audition (apply compression to soundboard track)>Audacity (split soundboard track, copy right channel, mixdown, set fades, tracking, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Play By Heart
02 On Our Own
03 banter
04 Wait and See
05 Something Else
06 banter
07 You & Me
08 It’s Not My Party
09 banter
10 All Yr Songs

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Diamond Rings, visit the website, visit the MySpace page, and purchase Special Affections from the Secret City Records [HERE].

SUPPORT NYCTaper




DISCLAIMER and LEGAL NOTICE

nyctaper.com is a live music blog that offers a new paradigm of music distribution on the web. The recordings are offered for free on this site as are the music posts, reviews and links to artist sites. All recordings are posted with artist permission or artists with an existing pro-taping policy.

All recordings and original content posted on this site are @nyctaper.com as live recordings pursuant to 17 U.S.C. Section 106, et. seq. Redistribution of nyctaper recordings without consent of nyctaper.com is strictly prohibited.

nyctaper.com hereby waives all copyright claims to any and all recordings posted on this site to THE PERFORMERS ONLY. If any artist posted on this site requests that recordings be removed, those recordings will be removed forthwith.