36 search results for "Hurray For The Riff Raff"

NYCTaper Upcoming Schedule – Spring and Summer 2014

March 22, 2014
By

taper larger

The calendar having turned towards a new season, its time for a long overdue update to the schedule. You’ll find a lot of old favorites on the list, some new ones and the festivals as highlights.

[Caveat: Below is the updated schedule. We expect to attend and record these events. However, circumstances will prevent some of these from being done, and others will be added in the meantime.]

If you want nyctaper to record your band, a band you represent, a show you’re promoting, or even your favorite band in the world, get us in the door and make sure everyone who needs to approve of the recording gives permission. Also, remember each person on the nyctaper crew does this all for free, the recordings, the post-production, the reviews, the links, etc., so treat us fairly.

Schedule:

Thou:
March 23, 2014 Saint Vitus Brooklyn

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead:
March 29, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Hurray For The Riff Raff:
April 2, 2014 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Real Estate:
April 4, 2014 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Dean Wareham:
April 5, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra:
April 7, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

NYCTaper Presents – Whiskey Bitches / Crazy Pills and TBA Bands:
April 8, 2014 Death By Audio Brooklyn

William Tyler:
April 16, 2014 Union Pool Brooklyn

Acid Mothers Temple:
April 23, 2014 Mercury Lounge NYC

EMA:
April 25, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC (permission pending)

Steve Gunn / Kevin Morby:
April 25, 2014 Rough Trade Brooklyn

Megafaun:
May 2, 2014 Baby’s All Right Brooklyn

Slint:
May 4, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

NYCTaper Presents – Whiskey Bitches / Ghost Punch and TBA Bands:
May 6, 2014 Cameo Gallery Brooklyn

Mogwai:
May 9, 2014 Terminal 5 NYC

La Sera:
May 10, 2014 Baby’s All Right Brooklyn

The Shoes / Paul Collins Beat:
May 10, 2014 Bell House Brooklyn (permission pending)

Owen Pallett:
May 13, 2014 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Chad VanGaalen:
May 15, 2014 Bell House Brooklyn (permission pending)

Woods:
May 16, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Panda Bear:
May 18, 2014 Wordless Music – Warsaw Brooklyn (permission pending)

Built To Spill:
May 20, 2014 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Built To Spill:
May 21, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

The Pains Of Being Pure at Heart:
May 22, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Acid Mothers Temple:
May 28, 2014 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Mountain Jam:
June 5-8, 2014 Hunter Mountain NY

Sharon Van Etten:
June 13 and June 14, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Courtney Barnett:
June 17, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Merge 25:
July 23-26, 2014 Carrboro NC

NYCTaper Upcoming Schedule – Into 2014

December 30, 2013
By

taper large

Happy New Year to our faithful readers! We’re looking forward to many new exciting developments this year, including the anticipated opening of a special venue, the return of some of our favorite artists and another full schedule of tapings.

[Caveat: Below is the updated schedule. We expect to attend and record these events. However, circumstances will prevent some of these from being done, and others will be added in the meantime.]

If you want nyctaper to record your band, a band you represent, a show you’re promoting, or even your favorite band in the world, get us in the door and make sure everyone who needs to approve of the recording gives permission. Also, remember each person on the nyctaper crew does this all for free, the recordings, the post-production, the reviews, the links, etc., so treat us fairly.

Schedule:

Potty Mouth:
January 6, 2014 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn (permission pending)

Dva:
January 9, 2014 Northern Spy Showcase, Trans Pecos Queens

Destruction Unit:
January 10, 2014 Saint Vitus Brooklyn

Lee Ranaldo and The Dust:
January 11, 2014 Bell House Brooklyn

Ex Caves, Greg Fox, Laura Ortman, Alex Waterman:
January 13, 2014 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Kevin Morby:
January 16, 2014 Mercury Lounge NYC

the Mountain Goats:
January 19, 2014 NARAL Benefit, Pinhook, Durham, NC (permission pending)

Prince Rupert’s Drops:
January 21, 2014 Union Pool Brooklyn

Woodsman:
January 24, 2014 Mercury Lounge NYC

Aa (Big A little A):
January 28, 2014 Death By Audio Brooklyn

Greensky Bluegrass:
January 30, 2014 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Oneida:
January 31, 2014 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Jeremy Messersmith:
February 4, 2014 Mercury Lounge NYC

Snowmine:
February 6, 2014 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Pissed Jeans / Purling Hiss:
February 9, 2014 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Jay Farrar:
February 9, 2014 City Winery NYC

Jonathan Wilson:
February 12, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC (permission pending)

Nicole Atkins:
February 13, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Yuck:
February 15, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC (permission pending)

Angel Olsen / Cian Nugent:
February 20, 2014 Le Poisson Rouge NYC

Sebadoh:
February 24, 2014 Mercury Lounge NYC

Stephen Malkmus:
February 26 and 27, 2014 Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamsburg

North Mississippi Allstars:
February 28, 2014 – March 1, 2014 Brooklyn Bowl

Cowboy Junkies:
March 4, 2014 City Winery NYC

South By Southwest Festival:
March 12, 2014 Austin TX

The War On Drugs:
March 20, 2014 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Treefort Music Festival:
March 20-23, 2014 Boise ID

Hurray For The Riff Raff:
April 2, 2014 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Mogwai:
May 9, 2014 Terminal 5 NYC

Mountain Jam:
June 5-8, 2014 Hunter Mountain NY

Merge 25:
July 23-26, 2014 Carrboro NC

The Deslondes: November 4, 2013 Mercury Lounge – Flac/MP3/Streaming

November 18, 2013
By

Deslondes
[still from this video]

The Deslondes aren’t a new band, but they’re a band with a new name. The group is led by our old friend Sam Doores and his writing partner Riley Downing and were once called The Tumbleweeds. Sam took a couple of years to play with Hurray For The Riff Raff, and he returned full time to his own band the Deslondes were born. The name is taken from the street in New Orleans where Sam lives, and the band plays down home Americana with touches of country, bluegrass and honky tonk. This Fall the Deslondes were the support on the recent Spirit Family Reunion / HFTRR tour that came to NYC a couple of weeks back, and we caught the “secret” show at Mercury Lounge. The Deslondes set featured some older Tumbleweeds songs and some new tracks destined to be recorded soon, and was well received by the packed house. We’re streaming set highlight “Depression Blues”.

I recorded this set in the same manner as the Hurray For The Riff Raff recording and the sound quality is equally superb. Enjoy!

Stream “Depression Blues”:

Download the Complete Show [MP3] / [FLAC]

Note: All of the material on this site is offered with artist permission, free to fans, at our expense. The only thing we ask is that you download the material directly from this site, rather than re-posting the direct links or the files on other sites without our permission. Please respect our request.

Deslondes
2013-11-04
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Sennheiser MKH-8040s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2 x 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, set fades, downsample) > CDWave 1.95 > (tracking) > TLH > flac (320 MP3 and Tagging via Foobar)

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper

Setlist:
[Total Time 33:32]
01 I Got Found
02 Throw Another Cap in the Fire
03 Those Were Could Be the Days
04 Less Honkin More Tonkin
05 The Real Deal (This Time)
06 Low Down Soul
07 Depression Blues
08 [banter]
09 This Mornin I Was Born Again

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Deslondes, visit their website, visit their Facebook page, and shop at the Store at their website [HERE].

NYCTaper Upcoming Schedule – Winter 2013-14

October 22, 2013
By

taper large

With CMJ in the rear view mirror, its time again to look forward.

[Caveat: Below is the updated schedule. We expect to attend and record these events. However, circumstances will prevent some of these from being done, and others will be added in the meantime.]

If you want nyctaper to record your band, a band you represent, a show you’re promoting, or even your favorite band in the world, get us in the door and make sure everyone who needs to approve of the recording gives permission. Also, remember each person on the nyctaper crew does this all for free, the recordings, the post-production, the reviews, the links, etc., so treat us fairly.

Schedule:

John Wesley Coleman:
October 24, 2013 Cake Shop NYC\

The Black Crowes:
October 26, 2013 Terminal 5 NYC

Thee Oh Sees:
October 27, 2013 285 Kent Brooklyn

Thee Oh Sees:
October 29, 2013 Irving Plaza NYC

Matt Nathanson:
October 30, 2013 Terminal 5 NYC

Sebadoh:
November 1, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Hurray For The Riff Raff:
November 4, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

John Vanderslice:
November 5, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

Deer Tick:
November 7, 2013 Webster Hall NYC

Built to Spill:
November 7, 2013 Irving Plaza NYC

Lucero:
November 8, 2013 Terminal 5 NYC

Wooden Shjips:
November 13, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

Hayden / Doug Paisley:
November 14, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn (permission pending)

Wooden Shjips:
November 14, 2013 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Kevin Devine:
November 22, 2013 Webster Hall NYC

Mike Doughty:
November 23, 2013 Webster Hall NYC

The Complete Last Waltz:
November 27, 2013 Capitol Theatre Portchester

Dean Wareham:
November 29, 2013 Bell House Brooklyn

Los Lobos:
November 30, 2013 City Winery NYC

Yo La Tengo:
December 13, 14, 15, 16, 2013 Bell House Brooklyn

Phosphorescent:
December 19, 2013 Music Hall of Williamsburg (permission pending)

Lee Ranaldo and The Dust:
January 11, 2013 Bell House Brooklyn

Cracker / Camper Van Beethoven:
January 19, 2014 Highline Ballroom NYC

NYCTaper CMJ Day Party – October 17 at Cake Shop

September 22, 2013
By

NYCTaperCMJ(1)

For the sixth year in a row with the fine folks at Cake Shop, we’ll be presenting a Thursday Day party during CMJ week. And much like our past efforts, this year’s roster of bands is a great one. Our previous shows have featured up and coming performers who have gone on to significant success such as Savoir Adore, Sharon Van Etten, White Fence, Diamond Rings, Widowspeak, Heliotropes, Mount Moriah, Hurray For The Riff Raff, She Keeps Bees, and many others.

Here are the details:

NYCTaper CMJ Day Party
(Unofficial Show)
Thursday October 17, 2013
Cake Shop 152 Ludlow Street, NYC 10002

Doors at 12 Noon

Music (preliminary schedule)
12:45 Slow Down Molasses (Saskatoon Canada)
01:30 J Fernandez (Chicago)
02:15 The Moondoggies (Seattle WA)
03:00 Bent Shapes (Boston)
03:45 Julia Weldon (New York)
04:30 “Special Guest”
05:15 The Echo Friendly (Greenpoint)
06:00 Caged Animals (Brooklyn)

NYCTaper Upcoming Schedule: Fall 2013

August 14, 2013
By

63_taperbird

Its been an interesting Summer here at NYCTaper. We’ve had some great experiences both locally and on the road, but also the bittersweet experience of the last excellent month of Maxwell’s followed by its untimely closing. The Wilco all-covers set was certainly a benchmark for the site, as we received links web-wide and something like 20,000 downloads. This Fall we’ll continue on with a strong schedule of shows with both new bands to the site and some old favorites.

[Caveat: Below is the updated schedule. We expect to attend and record these events. However, circumstances will prevent some of these from being done, and others will be added in the meantime.]

If you want nyctaper to record your band, a band you represent, a show you’re promoting, or even your favorite band in the world, get us in the door and make sure everyone who needs to approve of the recording gives permission. Also, remember each person on the nyctaper crew does this all for free, the recordings, the post-production, the reviews, the links, etc., so treat us fairly.

Schedule:

Pop 1280:
August 16, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

Daughn Gibson / Hiss Golden Messenger:
August 17, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Ski Lodge:
August 20, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn (permission pending)

Mac DeMarco:
August 28, 2013 East River Park NYC

Ty Segall:
August 29, 2013 Music Hall of Williamsburg

She Keeps Bees:
August 29, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Ty Segall:
August 30, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Captured Tracks Festival:
August 31 and September 1, 2013 The Well Brooklyn

Swearin:
September 4, 2013 285 Kent Brooklyn

Hopscotch Festival:
September 5-7, 2013 Various Venues Raleigh NC

North Mississippi Allstars:
September 11, 2013 Irving Plaza NYC

Deervana:
September 13, 2013 Brooklyn Bowl

Waxahatchee / Screaming Females:
September 16, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Obits / Prince Rupert’s Drops:
September 21, 2013 Bell House Brooklyn

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper:
September 22, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

The Suburbs:
September 27, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

Superchunk:
September 27 and 28, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC [permission pending]

Dent May:
October 3, 2013 285 Kent Brooklyn

Oneida / Dump:
October 4, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Meat Puppets:
October 12, 2013 Brooklyn Bowl

Hawkwind:
October 13, 2013 Gramercy Theatre NYC [very tentative]

NYCTaper CMJ Day Party:
October 17, 2013 Cake Shop NYC

Lee Ranaldo:
October 25, 2013 Bell House Brooklyn

Matt Nathanson:
October 30, 2013 Terminal 5 NYC

Sebadoh:
November 1, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Spirit Family Reunion / Hurray For The Riff Raff:
November 2, 2013 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn

John Vanderslice:
November 5, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

Built to Spill:
November 7, 2013 Irving Plaza NYC

Lucero / Titus Andronicus:
November 8, 2013 Terminal 5 NYC

Kevin Devine:
November 22, 2013 Webster Hall NYC

NYCTaper Upcoming Schedule: Summer 2013

May 22, 2013
By

63_taperbird

It promises to be an active Summer here at NYCTaper. We have festivals, outdoor shows, and the returns of many favorites to the site. The highlights include our all-hands-on-deck trip to Mountain Jam, and many other special events. Hope to see you out there!

[Caveat: Below is the updated schedule. We expect to attend and record these events. However, circumstances will prevent some of these from being done, and others will be added in the meantime.]

If you want nyctaper to record your band, a band you represent, a show you’re promoting, or even your favorite band in the world, get us in the door and make sure everyone who needs to approve of the recording gives permission. Also, remember each person on the nyctaper crew does this all for free, the recordings, the post-production, the reviews, the links, etc., so treat us fairly.

Schedule:

Amanda Palmer:
May 25, 2013 Bowery Ballroom (Mermaid Benefit)

Flashlights:
May 27, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

The Thermals:
May 28, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Julia Weldon:
May 29, 2013 Rock Shop Brooklyn

Futurebirds:
May 31, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Hooded Fang:
June 4, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

the Mountain Goats:
June 5, 2013 Maxwell’s Hoboken NJ

Fuzz (Ty Segall):
June 6, 2013 Death By Audio Brooklyn

Mountain Jam:
June 6 – June 9, 2013 Hunter Mountain NY

The Antlers:
June 12, 2013 Le Poisson Rouge NYC

Deer Tick:
June 13, 2013 Shine A Light Festival, Rockville Centre NY

Mac DeMarco / White Fence:
June 13, 2013 Brooklyn Bowl

Miracle of 86:
June 14, 2013 Maxwell’s Hoboken NJ

White Fence:
June 14, 2013 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Miracle of 86:
June 15, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

Lambchop:
June 16, 2013 Warsaw Brooklyn

Heliotropes:
June 18, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Blank Tapes:
June 18, 2013 Union Pool Brooklyn

Low:
June 19, 2013 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Man Or Astro-Man:
June 20, 2013 Mercury Lounge NYC

Dirty Beaches:
June 28, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Tall Tall Trees:
June 29, 2013 Backyard Brunch Sessions Brooklyn

Deafheaven:
July 2, 2013 Saint Vitus Brooklyn

Los Lobos / Alejandro Escovedo:
July 11, 2013 Lowdown Hudson Blues Festival NYC

Lemonheads:
July 24, 2013 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Woods:
July 27, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Frank Turner:
July 30, 2013 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Hurray For the Riff Raff:
August 1, 2013 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Galactic:
August 7, 2013 Brooklyn Bowl

Amanda Palmer:
August 9, 2013 Damrosch Park NYC

Daughn Gibson / Hiss Golden Messenger\:
August 17, 2013 Glasslands Gallery Brooklyn

Mac DeMarco:
August 28, 2013 East River Park NYC

Ty Segall:
August 29, 2013 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Ty Segall:
August 30, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Superchunk:
September 27 and 28, 2013 Bowery Ballroom NYC

NYCTaper’s Favorite Concerts We Recorded in 2012 (w/ Streaming Songs)

December 27, 2012
By


[Photo by Geoffrey Dicker for According 2 G]

There is always more live music going on in New York than any one person (or four people) can see at one time, let alone record and share. Add to that the tradition of the summer road-trip (or flight to North Carolina) and we had a ton of shows to see, share and discuss. When you record this many shows, it’s pretty easy for your memory of individual ones to get hazy. Some you forget (or maybe want to forget) altogether. This list is not intended as a definitive “best of”, necessarily, but out of the hundreds of bands we saw take the stage, the moments represented here were the ones that not only stuck in our minds, but that we kept turning back to and listening to again and again. This was another tough year for New York and for this country in general, but that didn’t stop people from making great music, and we are thankful to have been there to witness it as often as we were. We hope that if you listened to any of our recordings this year that they brought you happiness, and wish you all the best for 2013.

In no particular order….

Bjork – February 25, 2012 Roseland and February 12, 2012 New York Hall of Science
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/B6591Bjork8793/18.%20Possibly%20Maybe.mp3]
We were lucky enough to catch two of the Biophilia: Live shows by Björk, an original and rare talent whose bizarre science-meets-music vision brought to life on a 360-degree stage was as electric as the giant Tesla coil onstage. The singer’s voice is without match, and the Icelandic choir that joined her made the material even better. These were some of the most popular recordings on the site this year, even if the sound alone could not quite do these staggeringly entertaining performances justice.

Hiss Golden Messenger – September 7, 2012 Hopscotch Festival, Raleigh, NC (day show and night show)

Other than that he isn’t in a major media market, is on a tiny, mostly reissue-based label, and has a challenging full-time day job, I can’t figure out why MC Taylor, who performs as Hiss Golden Messenger, isn’t more popular outside of North Carolina. I suppose those three are good reasons, but as this year’s Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, NC reminded us, North Carolina is very much a musical hotbed right now. Taylor’s music is an approachable blend of rock, country, gospel and folk, with a timeless appeal that can span generations and earn Grammy awards. At these two shows – first the Three Lobed Recordings/’WXDU Day Show in a stripped-down setup, and then at night in a larger auditorium with a full band, Taylor performed songs that were flat-out heartbreakingly beautiful and just as equally memorable. The man’s performances are instant classics. If he comes to your town, drop what you’re going and go see what he’s about.

Akron/Family – January 21, 2012 at 285 Kent
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/A3030Akron1020/13.%20Light%20Emerges.mp3]
Akron/Family almost always put on a memorable show, but the freewheeling atmosphere of 285 Kent combined with A/F almost guaranteed one for this night. This manic, lengthy celebratory, show featured full crowd participation (audience drummers!) and an intense performance.

Dinosaur Jr. – December 1, 2012 Terminal 5
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D6540Dinosaur_Jr6738/Dinosaur_Jr_-_Dont.mp3]
Johnny Fried Chicken Boy and I had already nominated this show as one of the best of the year before we had even hit the post-show pavement. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the album You’re Living All Over Me, the original lineup played that record and a slew of other favorites with special guests including Frank Black, Lee Ranaldo, Kim Gordon, Don Fleming, Johnny Marr, Tommy Stinson and NYC’s current favorite journeyman artist Fred Armisen. For me, the rendition of “Don’t” with Gordon on vocals  was the night’s absolute barnburner.


[Wilco at Brewery Ommegang]

Wilco – July 28, 2012 Brewery Ommegang
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/W2238Wilco2297/Wilco_-_Handshake_Drugs.mp3]
Thanks to the location and its signature product, I’m not sure how clearly most of us, er, actually remember this show. But the entire NYCTaper crew taking a roadtrip to one of New York’s best breweries to see one of our favorite bands had to mark a high point of the year for us. Wilco played an excellent set in at-times-torrential rain that included some rare numbers like “Laminated Cat” as well as a trio of Being There classics as part of the encore. At least, I think that’s what happened….

Ty Segall/Thee Oh Sees – September 24, 2012 Death By Audio

I didn’t have a better time at any other show this year.  Two big acts (one of whom we were writing about back in 2009) in small clubs playing their butts off is always a good combination.

Patterson Hood – July 23, 2012 Bell House
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D8030DriveByTruckers3838/21%20Heat%20Lightning%20Rumbles%20In%20the%20Distance.mp3]
It’s easy to be cynical about a lead singer of a still-thriving band doing a solo album (this one his second). But Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers showed himself to be a musical force in his own right. Laughing and telling stories to the crowd in between numbers, this show gave us a window into the man’s soul in a way that you can’t get at the Truckers’ more big-time performances.

Luna-Reunion-1024x680
[A reunited Luna at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh, NY]

Dean & Britta – July 21, 2012 Mulcahy’s, Wantagh
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D1310DeanWareham2001/08.%20Tiger%20Lily.mp3]
An amazing story of how the original members of Luna decided to reunite with Sean Eden for a charity and play songs we’re not likely to ever hear again live in this configuration. And our pals The War on Drugs were there to play a set (and dedicate a song to us) as well!

DIIV – June 8, 2012 285 Kent
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D8600DIIV2012/11%20Bambi%20Slaughter.mp3]
As is so often the case, promoter ToddP got a crack at this band as a headliner before the hype machine had quite hit full steam.  Sure, 285 Kent isn’t Music Hall of Williamsburg size-wise, but there were more than enough in-the-know people to slam-pack this venue to its sweatiest capacity, as DIIV showed themselves to be one of this year’s best new bands (as many other sites would later acknowledge). Oh, and they covered an unreleased Nirvana b-side, too.

d40-nyctaper-oneida-0932-e1338817682145
[Oneida at 285 Kent, courtesy of Jill Harrison]

Oneida – May 12, 2012 285 Kent (NYCTaper 5th Anniversary Show)
[audio:http://nyctaper.com/O8020Oneida3329/03.%20Bad%20Habit.mp3]
Is it hard to overstate how fucking awesome it is to have one of our favorite bands playing one of our favorite sets of theirs ever at a show thrown to celebrate five years of this site’s existence? Why, yes it is.

Yo La Tengo – all of the 2012 Hanukkah shows at Maxwell’s, but particularly December 9, 2012, December 10, 2012 and December 14, 2012

At points this December it felt like the site should be called “YoLaTengoTaper” given the amount of time we were spending at Maxwell’s to see this year’s Yo La Tengo Hanukkah shows. Our obsession with these shows is well-justified;  the storyline is irresistible. A legendary local band, playing eight shows in a row from their tiny homebase venue to benefit Hurricane Sandy recovery, with special guests like the Sun Ra Arkestra, The Feelies, Devendra Banhart, Andrew Bird, Kid Millions of Oneida, and more is kind of the ultimate holiday gift from a band to its fans, no?

sharonve
[Sharon Van Etten at Bowery. Courtesy of Chris Gersbeck at Fucking Nostalgic]

Sharon Van Etten – February 26, 2012 Bowery Ballroom
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/S0606SharonVE8008/08.%20Give%20Out.mp3]
We have followed Sharon Van Etten for years and our respect for her is well-documented, but this homecoming show at Bowery Ballroom represented the full realization of Van Etten as a bona fide full band. The Tramp material in particular here was performed flawlessly, with the grace and intensity we’ve come to expect from her.

Lower Dens – May 2, 2012 Glasslands
[audio:http://www.nyctaper/nyctaper.com/L0052LowerDens0122/Brains.mp3]
I usually find it hard to narrow down the number of “favorite” shows I see at Glasslands, but this year, this Lower Dens show was a huge standout. With the Baltimore band touring behind their expansive new LP, Nootropics, they showed up in front of a maxed-out crowd and proved that their meditative, texture-heavy songs could also kill it live.

Kevin Devine – December 1, 2012 Webster Hall

December 1st must have been one of the best days for music all year. Two of our favorite shows – Dinosaur Jr. at Terminal 5 and this sprawling Kevin Devine show – happened on this date, and we missed at least two others that would have been must-sees on any other night. We’re not sure any contemporary artist has ever played three full albums on one date, but Kevin did it, and with exceptional grace. A night to remember.

alabama_shakes-5097_EG_650
[Alabama Shakes at Bowery Ballroom. Photo courtesy of Eric Groom Photography]

Alabama Shakes – April 11, 2012 Bowery Ballroom
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/A2210AlabamaShakes1410/Alabama_Shakes_-_Boys_and_Girls.mp3]
When you see a band on the night that they discover they’ve “made it” in New York, you usually see them at their best. After that moment, things will never be the same for them, internally or externally. From 2009 until this moment, Alabama Shakes was an at-best regionally known band from Athens, Alabama that had been gaining some post-CMJ buzz from 2011. After this Bowery Ballroom show, as I said to Johnny Fried Chicken Boy during the show, they were headed straight for a Grammy, which they now have a pretty good shot at earning. They were obviously humbled and amazed by what they saw in front of them – a slew of industry people and eager fans looking at the “next big thing”.  And they played that way.

Hurray For the Riff Raff – June 15, 2012 Mercury Lounge
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/H1208Hurray0022/12.%20Time%20Is%20On%20My%20Side%20(Irma%20Thomas).mp3]
Among several shows of theirs we saw this year (including our own CMJ show), this was the perfect example of a band finding its voice in the live setting at the same time as they released a fantastic album – in this case, the largely unheralded but outstanding Look Out Mama. 

Woods – November 3, 2012 Music Hall of Williamsburg

As many of us were just emerging from Hurricane Sandy hell (and many were still stuck in it), Woods gave Brooklynites a reason to leave the house for this outstanding show at Music Hall. Woods may be of the more recent vintage of Brooklyn bands, but their ability to stretch, bend and reshape a song is of another era. Their appropriately titled new record, Bend Beyond, is only a guidepost for what you get at one of their incredible live shows.

Olivia Tremor Control – June 16, 2012 Music Hall of Williamsburg
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/O6150OTC0212/03%20Can%20You%20Come%20Down%20With%20Us.mp3]
When I was at this show, I thought it heralded a comeback for the Athens, GA-based psychedelic wizards. Instead, this was the last time I would ever see Olivia Tremor Control. Founding member Bill Doss passed away scarcely a month later, and with him, this cherished cornerstone of the Elephant 6 collective. Rest in peace, Bill, and may your music live forever.

The Mountain Goats – October 13, 2012 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Those in the know called this Mountain Goats show the best of the latest tour. We’re here to give you the audio evidence that they’re right.

Gov’t Mule (w/ the Levon Helm Band) – June, 2012 Mountain Jam, Hunter, NY
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/M9999MountainJam9999/20%20Birth%20of%20the%20Mule.mp3]
Set against a backdrop of the Catskill Mountains, Gov’t Mule and the Levon Helm Band paid one hell of a tribute to one of music’s most dearly departed this year, Levon Helm. As if the idea that music has the power to transcend even death needed affirming, these guys did it with this performance.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Frank Turner – September 30, 2012 Webster Hall
The Soft Moon – September 20, 2012 Glasslands
Lucero – April 20, 2012 Webster Hall

Special thanks to all of the artists, management, labels, photographers and other music sites that have supported NYCTaper this year and in the past five years.  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 2013 and beyond.  Happy New Year!

softmoon

[Soft Moon at Glasslands, courtesy of Eric Groom Photography]

Hans Chew also playing the NYCTaper CMJ Day Party at Cake Shop (Thursday Oct 18)

September 25, 2012
By

Yesterday we posted about our first CMJ show of 2012, the day party on Thursday October 18, 2012 at Cake Shop. We revealed two artists for this amazing bill, with clues about the other five acts. Today, we’re filling in another name — the inimitable Hans Chew. A little bio about Hans:
“Hans Chew’s 2010 debut album, Tennessee and Other Stories…, received four-stars from Rolling Stone Magazine who called it “fantastic… timeless…”. Uncut Magazine included the record in their Top 50 Albums of the Year and their list of the 20 Best Americana Albums, while also nominating Hans for their highest honor, The Uncut Music Award. Hans Chew is alive and kicking in New York City. He is currently working on his next record, due in 2012.”

Yesterday, Hans revealed his appearance at our show with this tumblr post:

We’re all set to play the @nyctaper @cmj 2012 day party at @cakeshopnyc !!!
This show is sure to be a highlight of CMJ 2012 in October…our band is like a bunch of rabid thoroughbreds kicking in their stalls raring to rock and roll a New York City crowd after a long local hiatus…not to be missed… Also on the bill are New Orleans’ own Hurray For the Riff Raff, who recently appeared on HBO’s Treme, and have been touring Europe extensively, and recently played a spectacular show in Brighton, UK promoted by our European management company Brighthelmstone Promotions. Plus Merge Records’ act Mount Moriah, and more TBA…
http://www.nyctaper.com/2012/09/nyctaper-at-cmj-2012-first-show-thursday-october-18-day-party-at-cake-shop/

We’re all set to play the @nyctaper @cmj 2012 day party at @cakeshopnyc !!!

This show is sure to be a highlight of CMJ 2012 in October…our band is like a bunch of rabid thoroughbreds kicking in their stalls raring to rock and roll a New York City crowd after a long local hiatus…not to be missed…
Also on the bill are New Orleans’ own Hurray For the Riff Raff, who recently appeared on HBO’s Treme, and have been touring Europe extensively, and recently played a spectacular show in Brighton, UK promoted by our European management company Brighthelmstone Promotions. Plus Merge Records’ act Mount Moriah, and more TBA…

So now the bill looks like this:
6:00 – Hurray For The Riff Raff
5:15 – [awesome all female quartet]
4:30 – Hans Chew
3:45 – [female folk singer extraordinaire – after year playing keys for BK indie vets]
3:00 – Mount Moriah
2:15 – [talent-rich songscape creator – childhood friend of nyctaper faves]
1:30 – [irresistable Michigan-based pop trio]

NYCTaper at CMJ 2012: First Show Thursday October 18 — Day Party at Cake Shop

September 24, 2012
By

The success of a dogged pursuit can be sweet. In the case of our first 2012 CMJ lineup, its sweet several times over. As our longtime readers are aware, we’ve been fans of Hurray For The Riff Raff since 2008, but its been their recent album Look Out Mama that put it over the top. After the two outstanding concerts they played at Mercury Lounge this Summer, we pursued them heavily for CMJ. HFTRR is currently on tour in Europe, which will take them literally to the day before our show at Cake Shop on Thursday October 18. They fly from Europe over night, and land in NYC in the early afternoon of the 18th. We are sending a car service to take them directly from the airport to Cake Shop, where they’ll play the final set of our CMJ party. Quite an amazing set of circumstances, and one that we’ll not soon forget.

In another nice bit of coincidence, Hurray For The Riff Raff appeared on last night’s season premiere of Treme, HBO’s series about post-Katrina New Orleans. The band is playing outside of the coffee shop where the character Sofia works, and Sofia’s new boyfriend sings with the band. We hope HFTRR will be making regular appearances this season on Treme.

Another one of our dogged pursuits for CMJ was Mount Moriah. Last Fall, they played a set at Bowery Ballroom that was both impressive and moving. I’ve burned my recording of that performance to CD and play it in my vehicle more than literally any other CD that I own. The music is now burned into my brain. When we invited the band to play our CMJ show, it was admittedly a bit of a long shot. Mount Moriah is from North Carolina and have played multiple US tours. There was another fact in their development we did not know at the time — they’ve signed to Merge Records. But in another beautiful bit of synchronicty, Merge Records is hosting their first CMJ show since 2008 on Thursday night at Mercury Lounge, and Mount Moriah is on the bill. Shortly after the announcement of their Merge gig, the band agreed to play our show, and we could not be more excited.

NYCTaper CMJ 2012 Day Party
at Cake Shop
Thursday October 18, 2012
Doors 12 Noon
Music begins at 1:30pm

More musical guest to be announced this week. We’ll fill in the set times as we go along (see if you can guess!) …

6:00 – Hurray For The Riff Raff
5:15 – [awesome all female quartet]
4:30 – [Brooklyn-via-Tennessee ragtime piano genius]
3:45 – Jo Schornikow
3:00 – Mount Moriah
2:15 – Port St. Willow
1:30 – [irresistible Michigan-based pop trio]

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