[photo courtesy of Greg Aiello]

The only Benevento Russo Duo concert of the entire calendar year 2010 took place on Friday night at Highline Ballroom and it was truly a special event. We’ve seen quite a bit of Marco Benevento playing with his trio over the last couple of years, and Joe Russo has played with several units including the Gene Ween Band. But, despite the Duo’s divergent career paths over the last two years, Marco took time out to give the crowd good news — The Duo are still a team and intend to record new music this year. As Joe has also become the full-time drummer for Furthur with former members of the Grateful Dead, it was perhaps appropriate that the longest and spaciest song of the evening was a twenty-minute trip through “Blues For Allah”. Other eclectic takes on some mainstream covers were mixed in with Duo staples (including “Becky” steaming below) for a 100-minute set of outstanding material. As the satisfied crowd slowly left the Highline, it was clear to all that the Duo are indeed very much still alive.

I recorded this set with a feed from the soundboard mixed with the DPA’s in the room. The sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Highline’s excellent FOH sound engineer Peter for his generous assistance and his superb mix, to Lauren for the arrangements, and to Highline for their hospitality.

Stream “Becky”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/B5691Benevento4319/15%20BeneventoRusso2010-08-27_nyctaper_t15.mp3]

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

Benevento Russo Duo
2010-08-27
Highline Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + DPA 4021s > 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
2010-08-29

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:41:18]
01 Tartan & Sabia
02 Are You The Favorite Person of Anybody?
03 Sunny’s Song
04 Awards
05 [banter]
06 Walking, Running, Viking
07 Purple Jr.
08 Blues For Allah (Grateful Dead)
09 Best Reason To Buy The Sun
10 Words (Neil Young)
11 Sabbath (Brad Mehldau)
12 Play, Pause, Stop
13 [encore break]
14 One Rainy Wish (Jimi Hendrix)
15 Becky

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Benevento Russo Duo, visit their website, and purchase their official releases from the Store at their website [HERE].

[Photo by acidjack]

Motel Motel have been a popular act on this site since we first posted about them in April of last year.  Since then, we have avidly followed their shows, and for good reason – they are an outstanding live act.  When I caught their show at Union Pool back in January, the band debuted six new songs that they had been working on.  This event represented the culmination of those efforts, as the band put this show on to celebrate the release of their new record The Big Island. A beautifully recorded, conceptual release that follows on the place-oriented theme of their previous effort, New Denver, The Big Island is a more cohesive work, the kind of record that, in a bit of a throwback, is intended to be listened to straight through.  Having become familiar with the new songs in the live setting, when I finally listened to the album itself, I was blown away – the production elevates what are already excellent songs, to the point that this record has quickly become one of my top five favorites of the year.

This 50-minute set showcased six of the new songs, plus the classics “Harlem” and the encore “Coffee.”  This show sold out the Union Pool show room and packed the rest of the bar with revelers well into the night.

I recorded this set from my usual spot in this venue, with mics up on the balcony and a soundboard feed.  Although the quality cannot match the near-flawless Gaza Benefit recording from earlier this month, and the acoustics of Union Pool can be challenging from the balcony, with some digital TLC I think the quality of this recording is still very, very strong, especially the latter half.  Enjoy!

Motel Motel have another NYC gig coming up, on September 23 at Littlefield.

Stream “Ocean”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/M2609Motel9922/MotelMotel-Ocean8242010.mp3]

Direct download of the MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Motel Motel
2010-08-24
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: DPA 4021+mono soundboard feed>Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) (24/44.1)
Position: Clamp to left side of SBD cage with extension pole into audience, DIN
Mastering: 2×24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (double mono SBD channel, EQ/compress SBD, EQ audience, mixdown, set fades, additional EQ, volume adjustments)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 51:17]
01 Thunderhead
02 [banter]
03 Keauhou
04 [banter]
05 Kaimanu>
06 Ocean
07 Wolf Road
08 [banter]
09 Helena, MT
10 Harlem
11 [encore break]
12 Coffee

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Motel Motel, visit their website, and purchase The Big Island from the band’s store here.

[photo from Charles Burst MySpace page]

Charles Burst began his set with most of us imagining we were in for a beautiful evening of DIY rooftop music that benefited a good cause, specifically UNWRA and the Free Gaza Movement.  Indeed, Burst’s laid-back country and blues inspired songs provided a perfect backdrop to a breezy summer evening on the 210 Cook St rooftop… until the NYPD decided to shut down the party.  Fortunately, Burst managed to finish most of his set of finely crafted, timeless American rock n’ roll.  Burst is an accomplished producer/engineer and general music guru, having worked with artists such as The New Pornographers and Gang Gang Dance, among many others.  His second record The Famous Patient (released last month), is as strong as many of the other artists’ work he has helped along, and it is always a pleasure to see a talented soul step out from behind the console to show us his or or her own creative vision.  This concert’s ultimate survival would not have been possible without Burst’s contribution of his gear, which he graciously allowed to be moved to the second location of the show.  We hope to come out for many more of his local performances in the future.

I recorded this set in the same manner as the Shark? and other sets.  The sound quality is outstanding other than some occasional noise caused by the high winds up on the roof.  Most of these flaws have been toned down, but there are still a few points in the recording where the wind noise is perceptible.  With that caveat, enjoy!

Stream “Bars”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/C7080CharlesBurst0210/CharlesBurst-Bars.mp3]

Download the MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Charles Burst
2010-08-07
Gaza Benefit Show
210 Cook St Rooftop
Brooklyn, NY  USA

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

Equipment: DPA 4021 + stereo soundboard feed>Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) (24/44.1)
Position: Mics “onstage”, ORTF
Mastering: 2×24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (compress board track, mixdown, set fades, compress wind noise, amplify and balance channels, tracking, downsample to 16bit)>FLAC (level 8 )

Tracks
01 Eureka
02 I Came Back For the Children
03 The Famous Patient
04 Some Things You Need To Know
05 Girl On the Rocks
06 [banter]
07 Bars
08 Idiot Song
…cops shut down the show.  The end.

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Charles Burst, visit his website, and purchase The Famous Patient either directly on vinyl from Ernest Jenning records here, or in digital format from your favorite retailer.

[photos courtesy of Jonny Leather]

The Loom headlined the latest in the excellent Jonny Leather concert series at Rock Shop on Friday last. The band has completed their debut full length album and performed many of the numbers from this outstanding package. The puzzling aspect is that the album has yet to be picked up by a label. The Loom are a band of superb musicians who write intelligent songs. They are all also quite together people — the kind of artists that should be overwhelmed with suitors. One can only hope that its just a matter of time until a smart indie label works with this band to allow it to reach the wider audience it deserves. At Rock Shop, the Loom’s performance was perhaps tighter than we have ever seen, and John’s vocal harmonies with new member Sarah were in perfect unison. The Loom will return to Rock Shop for a show on Monday September 27.

We recorded this set under the same conditions as the Common Prayer recording and the sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “True Believers All”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/L0505Loom1111/04%20TheLoom2010-08-13_nyctaper_t04.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Loom
2010-08-13
The Rock Shop
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
2010-08-20

Setlist:
[Total Time 56:22]
01 With Legs
02 The Middle Distance
03 Doldrums
04 True Believers All
05 [banter]
06 A Song of Faint Praise
07 [banter]
08 The First Freeze
09 Song for the Winter Sun
10 Curtain Calls
11 For the Hooves that Gallop
12 Snowed In
13 Helen
14 [encore break]
15 [new song]

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Loom, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their debut EP At Last Light from the links on their MySpace page.

[The Royal Chains.  All photos courtesy of Jonny Leather]

Jonny Leather’s excellent bill at Littlefield last month brought back a favorite band from one of his previous shows, the Brooklyn/Nashville duo The Royal Chains, as well as a band I had not seen, NYC’s The Sanctuaries.  As with their excellent performance that I recorded at one of Jonny’s earlier shows, The Royal Chains did not disappoint, trying out some new material that showed off their more melodic and mellow side, such as on “Sea Level/Black City.”

The Sanctuaries have one of those challenging names to Google, but they will give you reasons to find them, with immediate hooks and a wry sense of humor to boot.  The catchy “House of Noise,” which this relatively new band has released on a 7?, promises to be a regular favorite at their shows.  Catch the Sanctuaries this month at Union Pool on August 31, and in Fredonia, NY at The Foxhole.

Please support Jonny Leather and the shows he promotes.  Two ways to learn more are to be his friend on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.

I recorded this set in the same manner as the Medications recording, with a stereo board feed and the Schoeps hypercardiod mics.  Other than some occasional flaws in the board mix, the sound is excellent.  Enjoy!

Stream The Royal Chains’ “Sea Level/Black City”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/R3050RoyalChains1020/RoyalChains-SeaLevel.mp3]

Stream The Sanctuaries’ “House of Noise”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/R3050RoyalChains1020/Sanctuaries-HouseofNoise.mp3]

Direct download of The Royal Chains MP3 files [HERE]

Direct download of The Sanctuaries MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC: [ROYAL CHAINS] / [SANCTUARIES]

[Sanctuaries – photo by Jonny Leather]

The Royal Chains
2010-07-23
Littlefield
Brooklyn, NY  USA

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

Equipment: Schoeps CMC641+Stereo Soundboard Feed>Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) (24/44.1)
Position: ROC, at left side of sound booth, mics at 7.5?, pointed at stacks
Mastering: 2×24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, compress peaks, volume adjustments, downsample)>FLAC level 8

Tracks [Total Time 46:18]
01 Major Seven Blues
02 Lucy Takes the Dare
03 [banter]
04 Sea Level/Black City
05 Wolf
06 [banter]
07 Pioneer
08 Stay In Control
09 A Million Fires

Visit The Royal Chains website here.
Purchase their music and merch here.

The Sanctuaries
2010-07-23
Littlefield
Brooklyn, NY  USA

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

Equipment: Schoeps CMC641+Stereo Soundboard Feed>Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) (24/44.1)
Position: ROC, at left side of sound booth, mics at 7.5?, pointed at stacks
Mastering: 2×24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, compression of peaks, set fades, volume adjustments, downsample to 16bit)>FLAC Level 8

Tracks [Total Time 46:18]
01 Queen’s Gambit Declined
02 Brief Encounter
03 House of Noise
04 Hey Brooke
05 Judgin’ You is Easy ‘Cause You’re Easy
06 Young Big Brother
07 Heaven is a Mountain
08 Fooled by Youth
09 I’m Dead Already

Visit The Sanctuaries MySpace page here.
To buy their shirts and 7?, email the band here.

[photo courtesy of Jason House]

At a packed Rock Shop on Friday night, it all came back to O’Death. For a band that has only played literally a handful of shows in the last year, their performance was incredibly energetic and inspired. As the band drew from their entire catalog, the frenzied crowd fully participated in the exchange. A series of obscure request calls resulted in a b-side Pixies cover (“Nimrod’s Son”) and a song (Track 20) that we have never heard. The O’Death standards (including “Down To Rest” streaming below) were all played, and when the band announced the end of the show and traditional “Yonder Christian” set closer was performed, the crowd left with full appreciation that a band almost left for dead was still very much alive and kicking.

I recorded this set with the Neumanns set up in front of the booth and mixed with a feed from the board. The sound in the room and the crowd energy was superb, so that the mix relies more (about 60/40) on the audience feed. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Down To Rest”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/O1205ODeath8822/17%20ODeath2010-08-20_nyctaper_t17.mp3]

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

O’Death
2010-08-20
The Rock Shop
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
2010-08-22

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:10:25]
01 Adelita
02 Only Daughter
03 On An Aching Sea
04 Underwater Nightmare
05 [equipment break]
06 Angeline
07 Spider Home
08 Home
09 Fire On Peshtigo
10 Mountain Shifts
11 Legs To Sin
12 Grey Sun
13 Spitfire
14 [banter]
15 Lowtide
16 [banter/birthday]
17 Down To Rest
18 [banter]
19 Nimrod’s Son (Pixies)
20
21 [banter]
22 Allie Mae Reynolds
23 [banter]
24 Yonder Christian

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT O’Death, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their latest from the Store at the O’Death website [HERE]