[photo by Taylor Forry]

On June 16, at the appropriately named Grand Ballroom, a room full of awed people witnessed an absolutely amazing display of musicianship, spectacle and performance. Sigur Ros were joined by their friends Amiina and an Icelandic horn section, and for two full hours presented a flawless rendition of their material. This was not just a concert, it was an event, and from the very first notes the energy in the room was electric. In the last two weeks, the glowing reviews have accumulated with nary a negative word — truly an accomplishment in these days of opinion overload.

We sat in the 5th row for this concert, close enough to see all the stage interactions, but far enough back to feel the depth of the outstanding sound quality at this concert. We did not record, but rather relied on our correspondent “oneforthegooddays” to capture this event. By happenstance, he sat about 10 seats to our left.

This recording was made with a modest Sony stereo microphone and the rockbox upgraded i-River and is true to the sound in the venue — this is a flawless superb capture. Thank you oneforthegooddays!

This download is going to be available simultaneously on nyctaper and oneforthegooddays site [HERE], and in celebration of this amazing event, we will return to direct flac download and also offer direct mp3 download for this recording!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete Concert in FLAC [HERE].

Sigur Ros
2008-06-16
Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from FOB
Row E, Seat 3

Sony ECM DS70P > i-River (Rockbox) > 16bit 44.1kHz wav > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustment) > CD Wave > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded by oneforthegooddays
Produced by nyctaper
2008-06-28

Setlist
[total time 1:36:19]
01 Svefn-g-Englar
02 Glósóli
03 Sé Lest
04 Ny Batteri
05 Við Spilum Endalaust
06 Hoppipola/Með Blóðnasir
07 Heysatan
08 Viõrar Vel Til Loftárasa
09 Sæglópur
10 Olsen Olsen
11 Hafsol
12 Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur
13 Gobbledigook
Encore:Popplagið (not recorded)

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Sigur Rós, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new CD Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust directly from their website.

[photo credit]

Last night at McCarren Pool, Devo performed every song a fan could want to hear — except “Beautiful World” which was to be the third encore when the curfew ended the show. In the preceding 65 minutes, Devo played a tight set of their classic material and given the technological expertise of the band, it was not surprising that the sound quality in the venue was superb. This was perhaps the best that the Pool has ever sounded.

We recorded from the “sweet spot” with our best mobile unit. Under the perfect circumstances, the result is one of the best captures we’ve ever recorded. Enjoy!

Tom Tom Club was also recorded and will be posted in the near future.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Devo
2008-06-26
McCarren Park Pool
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from FOB Dead Center
50 Feet from Stage

DPA 4021s > Marantz PMD-660 (Oade BCM Mod) > 16bit 44.1kHz wav > Soundforge (level adjustments, slight EQ, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries)> flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2008-06-27

Setlist
[total time 1:04:34]
01 [introduction]
02 That’s Good
03 Going Under
04 Girl U Want
05 Whip It
06 Secret Agent Man
07 Satisfaction
08 Uncontrollable Urge
09 Mongoloid
10 Blockhead
11 Jocko Homo
12 Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
13 Gates of Steel
14 [encore break- Devo Corporate Anthem]
15 Freedom of Choice
16 Gut Feeling/Slap Your Mammy
17 [crowd outro]

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Devo, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their CDs and Merch directly from the Club Devo Store at their website.

[photo credit]

I would like to write about the live experience of Brilliant Sweaters, but to be honest with all the stages and multiple recording locations at the After the Jump Fest, I actually didn’t witness any of this 23 minute set. However, one of the nice parts of going back to review 12 hours of live material is the discovery of some pretty excellent music — and the Brilliant Sweaters were one of the sets that jumped out at me. They write catchy power-pop tunes and have a wicked sense of humor. We will certainly (actually) see them live this summer! Brilliant Sweaters perform at SEALAB744 tomorrow night (June 27) and also have a midnight gig at Cake Shop on August 15 that we will likely attend.

This recording is a superb capture, as the soundboard feed and Neumann microphone mix was balanced perfectly. The only flaw from this set seems to be a loose guitar cable that created some intermittent pops in the feed. Enjoy!

After The Jump is a charitable organization of NYC music bloggers who donate all proceeds of their events to the advancement of music in NYC schools. nyctaper requests that if you download this recording, that you support this cause. Selected tracks from the recordings to be featured on this site from the ATJ Festival will be produced into a compilation, with all proceeds being donated to the music programs in NYC schools. When the compilation becomes available, all nyctaper readers who downloaded ATJ sets will be expected to purchase the release.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Brilliant Sweaters
2008-06-21
Galapagos Main Stage
After The Jump Festival
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard/Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Front of Board Neumann KM-150s > Edirol UA-5 (Oade Digimod) > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 16bit 44.1kHz wav file > Soundforge (set fades, level adjustments) > CD Wave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2008-06-26

Setlist:
[total time 23:10]
01 Are You My Mother
02 I Dropped Out of High School
03 Sexy Genius
04 Black Toxic River
05 Pick Up the Phone
06 I Love You But You’re Worthless
07 Uncomfortable Places
08 Any Other Way
09 Mixed Up in the Business of Pleasure
10 Do It Again

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Brilliant Sweaters, visit their myspace page.

[photo courtesy of Bob Sanderson]

As with all the bands that were to appear at the amazing After the Jump Festival on Saturday in Williamsburg, we researched Ponytail listening to their songs and reading some reviews. Absolutely nothing we heard or saw could have prepared us for the live experience. This quartet from Baltimore present a truly original and undefinable approach to modern music.

My best comparison would be the early 80’s version of Pere Ubu — except that the singer is a 22-year old women named Mollie Siegel who looks about fourteen, instead of an obese savant. Each of the three musicians were quite proficient but we were particularly impressed with Dustin Wong who plays a frenetic mix of lead and rhythm guitars along with keyboards and backing vocals.

Ponytail are touring extensively in support of their brand new CD Ice Cream Spiritual. These dates include the July 12 ToddP show at the Yard, July 13 at Mercury Lounge, and July and August dates at the Knitting Factory. Visit their MySpace page for more tour dates and details.

We recorded this set from inside the soundboard booth with our DPA microphones mounted to the soundproofed wall above the booth. The sound in this venue is always outstanding and this recording reflects that quality. Enjoy!

After The Jump is a charitable organization of NYC music bloggers who donate all proceeds of their events to the advancement of music in NYC schools. nyctaper requests that if you download this recording, that you support this cause. Selected tracks from the recordings to be featured on this site from the ATJ Festival will be produced into a compilation, with all proceeds being donated to the music programs in NYC schools. When the compilation becomes available, all nyctaper readers who downloaded ATJ sets will be expected to purchase the release.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Ponytail
2008-06-21
After the Jump Festival
Music Hall of Williamsburg
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Inside Soundboard Booth

DPA 4021s > Marantz PMD-660 (Oade BCM Mod) > 16bit 44.1kHz wav > Soundforge 8.0 (level adjustments, set fades) > CD Wave > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2008-06-23

Setlist:
[Total time 33:21]
01 Late For School
02 G Shock
03 7 Souls
04 Music Tunes
05 Music Tunes Part 2
06 Beg Waves
07 Die Allman Bruder
08 Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From an Angel)

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Ponytail, visit their myspace page, and purchase their official releases [HERE] and [HERE].