Blog Archives

Tortoise: March 25, 2017 Big Ears Festival (Knoxville, TN)

October 26, 2017
By


[Photo by David Simchock]

Earlier this year, we caught both of Tortoise’s Brooklyn dates on their second round of tour support for The Catastrophist. But you know we can never get enough Tortoise, and when the folks at Big Ears opened up their archives to us, we just couldn’t resist. So here’s Tortoise playing the Mill & Mine in Knoxville, TN as part of 2017’s Big Ears Festival. Enjoy!

Speaking of Big Ears, we’re going to be posting a bunch of sets from the 2017 festival in the upcoming weeks in anticipation of their 2018 festival. The initial lineup announcement comes November 1 and tickets are onsale November 3. I’ve been (in 2014) and it’s truly an awesome good time.

Download the complete show at the Live Music Archive.

Stream the complete show:

Tortoise
2017-03-25
Big Ears Festival
The Mill & Mine
Knoxville, TN

Soundboard + Zoom H6 > Audacity > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Recorded by Matt Honkonen
Tracked by Eric PH
Photo by David Simchock

Tracks [1:19:02]
01. The Catastrophist
02. Gigantes
03. The Suspension Bridge at Iguazu Falls
04. Eros
05. High Class Slim Came Floatin’ In
06. I Set My Face to the Hillside
07. Gesceap
08. Dot/Eyes
09. Monica
10. In Sarah, Mencken, Christ, and Beethoven There Were Women and Men
11. Shake Hands With Danger
12. Crest
13. Yonder Blue
14. Prepare Your Coffin

Tortoise: Website | Facebook | Buy The Catastrophist and more via Thrill Jockey

Avey Tare: October 23, 2017 The Bowery Ballroom

October 25, 2017
By


[photos by Will Oliver and We All Want Someone blog]

In stark contrast to Animal Collective’s frenetic Painting With, Avey Tare’s latest solo album Eucalyptus is a winding, intimate bedroom album. I’ve listened to it a few times since its July release and it’s certainly one of those records that opens up to you over time. For his short tour supporting the record, Avey seemed to acknowledge the difficulty of translating the Eucalyptus songs for a live performance. The songs take on their own live existences, heavily adapted from their recorded counterparts to be presented in front of an audience. Most of the songs he broke out Monday night at Bowery Ballroom, though, aren’t even on Eucalyptus. Like Animal Collective’s early years, rather than playing songs the audience already knows, Avey instead plays a new round of songs: “Enjoy the Change,” “Ono Lemonade,” “Saturdays,” “Eyes on Eyes,” “The Aging Heart,” and “Sew Happy” are all new compositions unheard until this tour. (That’s half the set if you did the math.) But that’s the great thing about the audience Avey has cultivated: they’re along for the ride whether it’s hits or songs they’ve never heard before. We were, however, rewarded with one special treat when Geologist came out the help Avey with the Animal Collective track “Man of Oil” from their recent Meeting of the Waters EP.

We recorded this set with the Schoeps mk22’s set up at our usual balcony location at Bowery, combined with a board feed from FOH Danielle. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Download: [MP3/FLAC]

Avey Tare
2017-10-23
The Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Danielle) + Schoeps mk22 > Zoom F8 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [1:19:15]
01. Enjoy the Change
02. PJ / DR aw one for J
03. Ms. Secret
04. Ono Lemonade
05. Saturdays
06. Eyes on Eyes
07. The Aging Heart
08. Selection of a Place
09. In Pieces
10. Man of Oil [Animal Collective] (w/Geologist)
11. Sew Happy
12. When You Left Me

AveyTare.com | Buy Eucalyptus via Bandcamp

Tyvek: August 26, 2017 Union Pool (Summer Thunder)

August 27, 2017
By

Tyvek took an uncharacteristically long break from recording between 2012’s On Triple Beams and last year’s Origin of What, but of course it was worth the wait. If you haven’t picked that one up yet, here’s your official reminder. It’s more of the raw energy you’ve come to expect from Tyvek, whose live performances also haven’t slowed down a bit in the last ten-plus years since “Frustration Rock” made them the biggest little punk band from Detroit. Tyvek is literally the most fun you can have watching a band do their thing, but throw in a mid-70s August day in Union Pool’s backyard and you’re in rock and roll heaven. Tyvek and the packed crowd sent off 2017’s Summer Thunder series in the finest form.

I recorded this set with acidjack’s Schoeps MK22’s set up right in front of the band, combined with a board feed from our man, Doug. The sound is raw—turn this one up for full effect!

Download: [MP3/FLAC]

Tyvek
2017-08-26
Union Pool (Summer Thunder)
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Doug) + Schoeps MK22 (ORTF, OS) > Zoom F8 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [31:59]
01. Tip to Tail
02. Real Estate & Finance
03. Can’t Exist
04. Girl on a Bicycle
05. Choose Once
06. Gridlock
07. Underwater Too
08. Frustration Rock >
09. Origin of What
10. Wayne County Roads
11. Give It Up

Facebook | Buy Tyvek records from In the Red

Honey: June 24, 2017 Union Pool (Summer Thunder)

August 24, 2017
By

Brooklyn’s no-frills, full-throttle Honey are longtime NYCTaper favs. We’re used to seeing the band playing dank DIY spaces, but this outdoor sunshine day show as part of Union Pool’s Summer Thunder series literally throws some light on the band. Crisp and clear upfront sound only manages to highlight their gritty garage punk. Paired up with Sunwatchers in an opening slot for the likeminded Feral Ohms, this is a ferocious set clocking in at under nineteen minutes—perfect for Honey to get the job done. Their new album New Moody Judy hits record stores everywhere via Wharf Cat Records on September 29th and this is just the primer you need.

I recorded this with the mics set up on stage, combined with a board feed courtesy of Union Pool engineer Doug. It sounds excellent. Enjoy!

Download: [MP3/FLAC]

Honey
2017-06-24
Union Pool (Summer Thunder)
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Doug) + AKG C480B/CK61 (ORTF, OS) > Zoom F8 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [18:40]
01. Dream Come Now
02. Wage Agreement
03. New Moody Judy
04. Hungry
05. Power

• Preorder New Moody Judy via Wharf Cat Records

Phish: July 29, 2017 Madison Square Garden

July 30, 2017
By

Night seven of the Baker’s Dozen was dubbed the cinnamon donut night. And while there are an overwhelming number of obvious and not-so-obvious songs that fit thematically, the band didn’t go overboard with cinnamon references aside from the semi-predictable Neil Young cover (which they pulled off perfectly). Otherwise it’s a varied set—at least for this Phish newbie—that has them jamming on a (pardon me) blazing “Blaze On” to open the second set, a first-set closing “I Am the Walrus,” and a killer “Alumni Blues” with the “Letter to Jimmy Page” bridge. While nothing could hold a candle to the previous night’s “Chalk Dust Torture,” this is no doubt a solid set throughout.

Eric PH recorded this set with the Schoeps MK41V’s mounted in the official taper’s section, from row 1 seat 1. NYCTaper will follow up with his Schoeps source shortly. Enjoy!

Download the complete show (Schoeps MK41V source): [MP3 / FLAC16 / FLAC24]

Stream the complete show (Schoeps MK41V source):

Phish
2017-07-29
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY

Baker’s Dozen #7

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Schoeps MK41V (OTS, LOC) > Aerco MP-2 > Zoom F8 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Set 1:
01. Llama
02. Wilson
03. Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan
04. Ya Mar [Cyril Ferguson]
05. Tela
06. The Birds
07. The Line
08. Water in the Sky
09. Vultures
10. Train Song
11. Horn
12. I Am the Walrus [The Beatles]

Set 2:
13. Blaze On
14. Twenty Years Later
15. Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues
16. Meatstick
17. Dirt
18. Harry Hood
19. [encore break]
20. Cinnamon Girl [Neil Young]

SUPPORT Phish: Website | Store

Drag Sounds: May 13, 2017 Our Wicked Lady

July 9, 2017
By

I’ve been aching to get a Drag Sounds recording up here ever since I saw them play at Hopscotch back in 2014. Of the very, very rich North Carolina music scene that gets showcased at the festival every year, Drag Sounds are at the top of the pile. Finally, the guys did a brief East Coast tour in May and I was able to get out on a rainy night to catch them indoors at Our Wicked Lady (originally scheduled as a rooftop show, can’t wait to get back to the venue for one of those). I had some good intel from Triangle-area folks that Drag Sounds were currently at the top of their game, but I was still surprised at how vital these guys are sounding—more swing here than you can shake a stick at. You’ll find a couple of these tracks like “Out All Night (For Love)” and “Messy Life” in various forms on the Bandcamp page, on the two-disc Sudden Comfort and earlier II. Newer song “Blessed Style” sounds like the band’s answer to “Sister Ray” if you ask me, but anyway it’s a monster. Drag Sounds are up-and-comers for sure so here’s the ground floor for ya, get on.

I recorded this with the mics set up in DIN stereo configuration, high up on the bar, combined with a board feed courtesy of Our Wicked Lady engineer, Rich Crescenti. It leans towards the rough side but rocks really hard. Enjoy!

Download: [MP3/FLAC]

Drag Sounds
2017-05-13
Our Wicked Lady
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Rich Crescenti) + AKG C480B/CK61 (DIN) > Zoom F8 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [33:27]
01. Out All Night (For Love)
02. Let It Me
03. Don’t to the Music
04. Messy Life
05. That Stuff’s Illegal
06. Blessed Style
07. Like Flies on the Board

• Buy Drag Sounds music via Bandcamp
• • Connect with the band via Facebook

Sunwatchers: June 24, 2017 Union Pool (Summer Thunder)

July 5, 2017
By

It’s been a short couple months since we last saw Sunwatchers, but picking up on the final date of the Feral Ohms-Sunwatchers-Honey tour, the band had a few new tunes to share with us. We hadn’t previously heard “Nose Beers” or “The Works” (except on this excellent recording from last year via Southern Shelter); and the perfectly-titled “Greeneyed Pigmen (Get the Blade)” also appears to be brand new. The centerpiece of their set is a wonderful cover of Alice Coltrane’s “Ptah, The El Daoud,” from her 1970 album of the same name. Coincidentally, none other than Pharoah Sanders plays on that record and he was in town the previous night for a free show in Prospect Park along with Brooklyn Raga Massive’s tribute to John and Alice Coltrane. No doubt the spirits were in alignment for this one.

I recorded this with the mics set up on stage, combined with a board feed courtesy of Union Pool engineer Doug. It sounds excellent. Enjoy!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Sunwatchers
2017-06-24
Union Pool (Summer Thunder)
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Doug) + AKG C480B/CK61 (OS) > Zoom F8 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [33:28]
01. Nose Beers
02. The Works
03. Greeneyed Pigmen (Get the Blade)
04. Ptah, The El Daoud [Alice Coltrane]
05. Eusubius
06. Ape Phase

• Buy Sunwatchers via Castle Face

Ovlov: June 23, 2017 The Bell House

June 30, 2017
By


[Photos by Rocketman]

Just when you thought it couldn’t be salvaged, here comes Ovlov to rescue Emo from the clutches of the mainstream garbage bands these kids today are listening to. (I’ll refrain from naming names.) Ovlov take me back to the nineties Emo I love with reference points like Hum, The Promise Ring, Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil, Nada Surf—all touchstones of my high school CD collection. Naturally, they’re doing it on Exploding in Sound Records, whose taste in quality young bands is unimpeachable. This set opening for Spiral Stairs at the Bell House captures the band playing songs off their EIS album, am, plus a few new ones. Considering Ovlov have broken up at least a couple times now, it’s not insignificant that they’ve got some new songs to play us—Ovlov still clearly still have a lot of music in them.

I recorded this with the mics set up at the board in DIN stereo configuration, which I then combined with a board feed from the Bell House’s FOH David Hurtgen. A special thanks goes out to David for loaning me a mic stand so I could make this recording for you all. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]

Ovlov
2017-06-23
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
Photos by Rocketman

Soundboard (engineer: Dave) + AKG C480B/CK61 (DIN, ROC) > Zoom F8 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, balance, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [34:21]
01. Grapes
02. Tru Punk
03. I’m Your Dini
04. Short Morgan
05. Half Way
06. Stick
07. Alligator
08. Where’s My Dini

• Buy Ovlov music via Bandcamp
• • Facebook

Feral Ohms: June 24, 2017 Union Pool (Summer Thunder)

June 29, 2017
By


[photos by PSquared Photography]

Though this was their NYC debut, Ethan Miller’s latest garage fuzzout band, Feral Ohms, began quietly releasing singles on his Silver Current label way back in 2013. What the hell took them so long? Well, Miller’s had some other stuff going on like Howlin’ Rain, Heron Oblivion, and the too-damn-short Comets on Fire reunion from that same year. So we’ll let Feral Ohms skate on their longtime absence from the East Coast. Besides, the band—that’s Miller on guitar and vocals, Josh Haynes on bass, and Chris Johnson on drums—made up for it and then some with this literally scorching Saturday afternoon outdoor set as part of Union Pool’s Summer Thunder series. They played the entire self-titled record to huge smiles all around as the packed crowd took in the sun and the tunes. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long before the ’Ohms come back this way again.

I recorded this with the mics set up on stage, combined with a board feed courtesy of Union Pool engineer Doug. It sounds excellent. Enjoy!

Download MP3 and FLAC via the Live Music Archive.

Feral Ohms
2017-06-24
Union Pool (Summer Thunder)
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Doug) + AKG C480B/CK61 (OS) > Zoom F8 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [36:06]
01. Love Damage
02. Living Junkyard
03. Early Man
04. God of Nicaragua
05. Teenage God Born to Die
06. Sweetbreads (false start)
07. Sweetbreads
08. Value on the Street
09. The Glow
10. Super Ape

• Buy Feral Ohms music via Bandcamp
• • Instagram
• • • Facebook

Spiral Stairs: June 23, 2017 The Bell House

June 27, 2017
By


[Photos by Rocketman]

It’s been nearly a decade since we’ve had new music from Scott Kannberg/Spiral Stairs—but the long wait is justified as his new album Doris and the Daggers is his best since Preston School of Industry disbanded in 2004. We caught up with Spiral Stairs for the first of his two night NYC stand and were rewarded with eighty minutes of tunes off the new record, plus some Pavement and Preston School of Industry favorites. If you needed reminding of Spiral’s crucial contributions to the former, the song selection here—“Date with IKEA,” “Kennel District,” “Passat Dream,” “Hit the Plane Down,” and “Two States”—will emphasize that Pavement had two major songwriters. For my money, I enjoyed hearing a couple from the criminally underrated Preston School of Industry, the wonderfully-lackadaisical “Whalebones” (which ranks up there with his signature Pavement compositions) and “Caught in the Rain.” (As an aside, there are quite a few PSOI tracks I’d still like to hear the Spiral Stairs band play live, like “Somethings Happen Always” and “Falling Away.”) But back to Doris and the Daggers: so many reviews have focused on the maturity of the record, which makes it sound overly serious. Spiral Stairs may be older and singing about real life, but he’s still doing so with a wink and smile and his penchant for an opaque but resonant turn of phrase.

I recorded this with the mics set up at the board in DIN stereo configuration, which I then combined with a board feed from the Bell House’s FOH David Hurtgen. A special thanks goes out to David for loaning me a mic stand so I could make this recording for you all. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]

Spiral Stairs
2017-06-23
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
Photos by Rocketman

Soundboard (engineer: David Hurtgen) + AKG C480B/CK61 (DIN, ROC) > Zoom F8 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, balance, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [1:18:31]
01. Flesh and Blood [Roxy Music]
02. Dance (Cry Wolf)
03. No Comparison
04. Exiled Tonight
05. Trams (Stole My Love)
06. Date with IKEA [Pavement]
07. Kennel District [Pavement]
08. Emoshuns
09. Dundee Man
10. Passat Dream [Pavement]
11. Hit the Plane Down [Pavement]
12. Whalebones [Preston School of Industry]
13. Caught in the Rain [Preston School of Industry]
14. Angel Eyes
15. Hypnotized
16. Two States [Pavement]

• Buy Doris and the Daggers at the Spiral Stairs website
• • Instagram
• • • Facebook

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