nyctaper Recordings

Acidjack reports:
“Pop Tarts Suck Toasted named Shark? its “band of the week” recently, and for good reason. As PTST pointed out, the band’s awesomely DIY music has the timeless quality that is necessary to being more than a flash in the pan — good songs. I hear more than a little bit of a band like The Feelies in some of these songs, in a good way. The band’s stripped down aesthetic was represented perfectly by the equally stripped-down Cake Shop, and this recording is an excellent representation. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Shark?
2010-01-28
Cake Shop
New York, NY

An acidjack master recording

Recorded and produced by acidjack
Hosted by nyctaper

Equipment: DPA 4021>Edirol R-44 (24/44.1)
Position: Mics taped to wall, 6ft from right stack
Mastering: 24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (set fades, tracking, EQ, amplify each channel)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks (please help with setlist!)
01
02
03 Fear
04
05 Big Wheels (It’s Alright)
06 Hey Grrrl
07 I’m An Animal
08 Oh My!
09 I’ve Got Friends
10

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Shark?, visit their MySpace page, and download their official EPs directly from Bandcamp (here).

[photos taken for nyctaper by Kate Ehle – more here]

Bradford Cox struggled several times throughout the Atlas Sound show last night at Bell House with his equipment, but by the end of show made this joking/offhand remark that was abundantly true — “I don’t need the f’ing looper thing”. While the basic premise of Atlas Sound has always been Bradford and his various looping and other effects as accompaniment to his guitar and vocals, what became clear last night was that he doesn’t need the help. The strongest moments during the show were when it was just Bradford, guitar and harmonica — seemingly an authentic post-indie next-generation 1970-era Neil Young. This particular performance was noteworthy for the several new songs mixed in with Logos material, and a surprise Deerhunter song in the encore slot. But what we took away from the night was the hope that next time Bradford will leave his toys home and accept that his stage presence and immense musical talents alone can carry the show.

We recorded from our usual location at this venue and the sound quality is outstanding. There is one minor flaw as we had a cable connection issue for the first two minutes of the set but remedied much of the problem in post-production. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Atlas Sound
2010-02-03
Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Neumann KM-150s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2 x 16bit 44.1kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-02-04

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:25:04]
01 The Scream
02 [technical problems]
03 Te Amo
04 Walkabout
05 Sheila
06 An Orchid
07 Please Come Home
08 Flagstaff
09 Attic Lights
10 [encore break/banter]
11 Criminals
12 [false start/banter]
13 Spring Hall Convert
14 Logos
15 [closing remarks]

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Atlas Sound, visit the MySpace page, visit Bradford’s blog, and purchase the latest album Logos directly from the Kranky Records website (here).

[photo by nyctaper]

On the same night last month at Glasslands when we recorded Babies and Beach Fossils, I was also quite impressed with the music of one of the opening bands. True Womanhood is a trio from Washington DC that plays a type of avant-pop that’s hard to pigeonhole. With a drummer who plays on an unorthodox kit, the rhythms can be challenging but are complimented by tenor-based harmonies and melodic guitar lines. The band’s new EP Basement Membranes was released this past week, and the opening song from this concert (“The Monk”) appears on that disc.

We recorded this set with the two Neumann mics mixed with a board feed. The post-production required some channel conversion to balance out the recording, but the results are excellent. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

True Womanhood
2010-01-06
Glasslands Gallery
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
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

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-01-12

Setlist:
[Total Time 29:24]
01 The Monk
02 Grey Man
03 Mantle
04 Night Prowler
05 A Diviner
06 Dungeoness

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT True Womanhood, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new EP directly from the Environmental Aesthetics website (here).

[Dinosaur Feathers also played Bell House this week — photo courtesy of Jonny Leather]

Acidjack reports:
“As their name implies, Dinosaur Feathers are a strange beast. A three-man band with no drummer that uses all three members’ considerable vocal talents to burst forth with acappella style harmonies. A band I have only seen in the winter that plays music whose sounds like summer. A band that operates out of Brooklyn in 2010 that, as far as I can tell, does not sound a single bit like any other band, doesn’t seem to be following any obvious trend, and as far as that is concerned, doesn’t give a damn if they’re trendy or not. And, I can’t get their songs out of my head. Finally, I watch these guys onstage, and they engage in some truly bizarre behavior– they smile, they seem to enjoy themselves, and they don’t seem self-conscious at all about actually looking happy! Give their songs a listen, and you might see why. This is music I would love to hear at an outdoor show in July, even though I loved it at Cameo in the freezing cold.

The Dinosaur Feathers have a self-released new record, Fantasy Memorial coming out on March 3rd. I recommend strongly that you check it out.

Thanks to Dinosaur Feathers for inviting nyctaper to record this performance. I recorded this from the center in the back of the room with the DPA microphones up high. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!”

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Dinosaur Feathers
2009-12-17
Cameo Gallery
Brooklyn, NY

An ACIDJACK master recording

Recorded and produced by acidjack
Hosted at nyctaper.com

Equipment: DPA 4021>Marantz PMD660 (Oade Concert Mod) (16/44.1)
Position: Slightly LOC, stand at 11′, DIN
Mastering: 16bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (tracking, amplify each channel, set fades)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
1 – I Ni Sogoma
2 – Cross the Cannon
3 – Talking
4 – Life and Death of a Christmas Tree
5 – Parallel July
6 – More Talking
7 – Family Waves
8 – Fantasy Memorial
9 – Vendela Vida
10 – History Lessons

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Dinosaur Feathers, visit their MySpace page, and pre-order their new album Fantasy Memorial from InSound [HERE].

[photo courtesy of Rez Avissar]

Acidjack reports:
“Critical darlings (thanks for the “Best New Music” accolades, Pitchfork!) Bear In Heaven packed the Mercury Lounge to bursting Wednesday night, giving a performance that showed a darker side to their music than the clean, almost poppy sound of their excellent record, Beast Rest Forth Mouth. In concert, the band puts forth a somewhat more shoegazy vibe, with pounding drums, intense reverb and layered keyboards. Through the haze of incense burning onstage, Bear In Heaven made clear why they have stood out among Brooklyn’s many excellent bands. One could easily imagine this music translating to a venue three times the size of tiny Mercury, which boomed with the band’s colossal sound. As Pitchfork’s effusive review put it, “This is music that’s bigger than your iPod– music you’ll want to feel all around you.” Absolutely true.

I recorded this set from a heavily trafficked but optimally positioned spot in the venue, dead center between the speakers, with a stereo soundboard feed as well. As you will hear, adjustments were needed to the house mix during the first two songs, and there was heavy reverb throughout. The recording is a very accurate capture of the sound of the night. Enjoy!”

Back in October, nyctaper also recorded Bear in Heaven as part of the Showpaper/ToddP/Pitchfork benefit at Market Hotel. Previously, we posted from this night Cymbals Eat Guitars, Surfer Blood, Smith Westerns, and Real Estate. This Bear in Heaven set was recorded with the Neumann microphones combined with a soundboard feed, and the sound is excellent.

Direct download of MP3 files
Mercury ’10 (HERE)
Market Hotel ’09 (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC: [MERCURY] / [MARKET]

Bear In Heaven
2010-01-27
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY

An acidjack master recording

Recorded and produced by acidjack
Hosted at nyctaper.com

Equipment: Stereo soundboard feed + DPA 4021>Edirol R-44 (24/44.1)
Position: Clamp to SBD cage, center, mics at 8.5′
Mastering: 2x24bit/44.kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, set fades, EQ, tracking, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Drug A Wheel
02 Fake Out
03 Ultimate Satisfaction
04 Wholehearted Mess
05 Lovesick Teenager
06 Beast In Peace
07 Deafening Love
08 Dust Cloud
09 banter
10 You Do You
11 Casual Goodbye

************

Bear in Heaven
2009-10-24
Market Hotel
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Neumann KM-150s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2 x 16bit 44.1kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-01-31

Setlist:
[Total Time 30:51]
01 Drug A Wheel
02 Fake Out
03 Ultimate Satisfaction
04 Wholehearted Mess
05 Lovesick Teenagers
06 Beast in Peace
07 Dust Cloud

If you email nyctaper for access to these recordings, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Bear in Heaven, visit their website, and purchase their official releases directly from the Hometapes Records site [HERE].

[photo by nyctaper]

Its hard for me to believe that its been exactly two years since I last saw Mission of Burma. On that night in Brooklyn, the band performed their standard high intensity volume show which we caught from the floor — my ears were ringing for days. Last night at Bowery, from our safe perch at the balcony rail, the sonic blast was less intense and our vantage point permitted a close examination of the work of the fourth member of the band, sound tech/tape wizard Bob Weston. While last night’s material tended primarily towards the three post “reunion” albums, old timers in the crowd were treated to terrific versions of “Certain Fate”, “Mica”, personal favorite “Academy Fight Song”, along with a fairly obscure Yardbirds cover.

This show was recorded from our standard location at this venue and the sound is excellent. Enjoy!

This Recording is now available for Download in FLAC and MP3 at Archive.org [HERE].

Mission of Burma
2010-01-29
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Four-Track Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Balcony Rail
Next to the Soundboard Booth

Neumann KM-150s + DPA 4021’s > 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

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2010-01-30

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:19:59]
01 [introduction]
02 The Setup
03 Devotion
04 Donna Sumeria
05 One Day We Will Live There
06 Possession
07 Mica
08 13
09 1, 2, 3, Partyy!
10 Good Cheer
11 So Fuck It
12 2wice
13 Einstein’s Day
14 HiFi (new song)
15 Absent Mind
16 Here It Comes (Monkey Boy)
17 1001 Pleasant Dreams
18 That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate
19 [encore break/tape loops]
20 Dumbells
21 Happenings Ten Years Time Ago (Yardbirds)
22 Academy Fight Song
23 [tuning/banter]
24 Good, Not Great

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, 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].

[photo taken for nyctaper by Kate Ehle – many more here]

This recording was offered to nyctaper from Jason of the excellent One For The Good Days blog.

Our friends over at the Fishpork blog posted an extensive review of this show, and here is an excerpt:

If you closed your eyes for a moment you could imagine a symphony of performers before you at any point of the show, while after each song Pallett softly thanked the crowd. The sheer simplicity mixed with the complex nature of recreating his arrangements stunned the Bowery crowd. Pallet’s vocals stood out in the live setting. Combining these elements, Pallet put on a 60-minute set with songs pleasing to new and old fans alike.

We recorded Owen opening for the Mountain Goats back in December [here].

Jason captured this recording from the front far left side of the balcony at Bowery, directly in front of the left side stack. The recording has outstanding clarity and is an excellent listening experience. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Final Fantasy
2010-01-18
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Audience Master
Recorded from far front and left Balcony
Sony ECM-DS70p > iRiver (Rockbox Firmware) >
Adobe Audition (Volume and Compression) > Flac

Recorded and Produced by Jason
Hosted by nyctaper

Setlist:
01 – The Man With No Ankles
02 – Keep The Dog Quiet->Mt. Alpentine
03 – The Great Elsewhere
04 – Flare Gun
05 – The Butcher
06 – Dream of Win and Regine
07 – That’s When The Audience Died
08 – Many Lives-49 MP
09 – Midnight Directives
10 – Honor The Dead Or Else
11 – Lewis Takes Action
12 – Lews Takes Off His Shirt
13 – CN Tower Belongs To The Dead
14 – This Lamb Sells Condos

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Owen Pallett, visit his website, and purchase his new album Heartland from the Domino Records website [HERE].

[photos taken for nyctaper by Kate Ehle – many more here]

Some things never get old. Such was my experience at Of Montreal last night at Highline Ballroom. No matter how many times I see this band, Kevin Barnes and company continue to deliver the new, the original, the bizarre and most importantly the wildly entertaining. While the follow-up to 2008’s Skeletal Lamping is reportedly finished recording, Of Montreal only performed one new song. But as promised early in the set, they did perform quite a number of earlier and semi-obscure songs. For instance, we had not seen “Du Og Meg” live since early 2007 at Irving Plaza, and had never heard The Sunlandic Twins bonus track “Everyday Feels Like Sunday” (thanks Matt). “She’s A Rejecter” closed the set with an extended post-Kevin-exit jam that was both new and extremely well done. As the second and final encore, Of Montreal added to the covers collection with a Kevin and Solange Knowles duet on the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back”. In between, the stage antics were plenty bizarre and often hilarious, particularly when the corporal punishment of some bad piggies was administered by Susan Sarandon.

We recorded with the four microphone rig from directly in front of the soundboard. The crowd was boisterous as expected, but the sound in the venue was quite good and the recording reflects that quality. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Of Montreal
2010-01-26
Highline Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Four-Track Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front of Board Center

Neumann KM-150s + DPA 4021’s > 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

Recorded and Produced by
nyctaper
2010-01-27

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:23:20]
01 [introduction]
02 Suffer For Fashion
03 Mingusings
04 Forecast Fascist Future
05 Du Og Meg
06 Lysergic Bliss
07 Disconnect The Dots
08 Spike The Senses
09 And I’ve Seen a Bloody Shadow
10 Plastis Wafers
11 St. Exquisite’s Confessions
12 Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
13 Teenage Unicorn Fisting
14 An Eluardian Instance
15 Oslo In The Summertime
16 Everyday Feels Like Sunday
17 A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger
18 She’s a Rejecter
19 [encore break]
20 For Our Elegant Caste
21 I Want You Back (Jackson Five)

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Of Montreal, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new CD Skeletal Lamping at the Polyvinyl website [HERE].