Posts Tagged ‘ No Quarter Records ’

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band: April 23, 2023 Union Pool

May 13, 2023
By
Photo by Jesse Jarnow

It’s hard to remember the last time I saw Chris Forsyth and crew tear it up. Before the pandemic? Time blurs! I do know that this was my first in-person experience of the most recent Solar Motel Band lineup with Tom Malach (Garcia Peoples) on guitar, Doug McCombs (Tortoise, Brokeback, etc.) on bass, and of course Ryan Jewell, who somehow manages to be everywhere at once, on drums. This set is mostly songs off of Forsyth’s latest burner, Evolution Here We Come, including the Richard and Linda Thompson song “You’re Going to Need Somebody.” Forsyth is ever-reliable in his choice of covers, here capping off the night (and not to mention the triple-threat Garcia Peoples/Purling Hiss/Motel Band tour) with his take on Neil Young’s “Powderfinger.” But it’s the Evolution-closer “Robot Energy Machine” that really let’s the group stretch out, McCombs and Jewell providing the motorik backing rhythms for Forsyth and Malach to trade lines over. Maybe next tour Forsyth and co. will be doing a Neu! cover. You never know!

I recorded this from our usual spot at Union Pool. Thanks to all the folks there and sound engineer Jase Hottenroth for making this happen. Enjoy!

Stream and Download at the Live Music Archive

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
2023-04-23
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Jase Hottenroth) + MBHO KA200N/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks [56:56]
01. Tomorrow Might As Well Be Today
02. Experimental & Professional
03. Heaven For a Few
04. Bad Moon Risen
05. [banter]
06. You're Going to Need Somebody [Richard & Linda Thompson]
07. Robot Energy Machine
08. Powderfinger [Neil Young]

Chris Forsyth: April 29, 2019 Rough Trade NYC

April 30, 2019
By

A few weeks ago, the internet buzzed with discussion of “indie jam,” the term coined by Steven Hyden at Uproxx and referring, as many noted in response, to a constellation of bands advanced largely by Jeff Conklin on The Avant Ghetto. (We at NYCTaper are acknowledged by Hyden too, I’m obliged to mention.) In the article, musicians like Chris Forsyth (along with Garcia Peoples, Sunwatchers, Ryley Walker, William Tyler, and many others) are credited with “an inclination to meld all kinds of music — including indie, post-rock, folk, country, jazz fusion, and, yes, punk — and take it in adventurous and often improvised directions.”

“Indie jam”—or whatever you want to call it—surely wasn’t born in an out-of-the-way amphitheater in Raleigh, NC. But in September 2013, when we were first introduced to Forsyth’s far-out jams that were clearly referencing the Grateful Dead and Television, something was afoot. Is it time for us shrug off the legacy of Kurt Cobain’s distaste for the Dead and acknowledge the ongoing intersections of indie rock and jambands? Across the aisle, jamband fans are approaching the same questions, as the podcast Beyond the Pond seeks to introduce Phish fans to music outside the jamband ecosystem.

In the meantime, while the heads have been catching up to him, Chris Forsyth has released a series of increasingly great albums. The latest is All Time Present, in which Forsyth’s singular guitar playing weaves effortlessly between varied genres, from psych rock to, yes, even dance.

On Monday night we caught Forsyth’s Brooklyn record release show, appropriately opening for Träd, Gräs och Stenar. Joined by the latest edition of the Solar Motel Band, Peter Kerlin on bass and Ryan Jewell on drums, the trio play “Tomorrow Might as Well Be Today” and “Mystic Mountain” before being joined by Pat Gubler (P.G. Six/Wet Tuna) on keys for “Dream Song” and an absolutely epic performance of “Dreaming in the Non-Dream.” Returning the favor from last month’s Garcia Peoples record release show, the Solar Moteliers are joined by Tom Malach, Danny Arakaki, and Cesar Arakaki to complete the circle with “Techno Top.”

Chris Forsyth, Garcia Peoples, Dire Wolves, and Weak Signal play Market Hotel on July 27. You can find out what magic is in store from this insanely great lineup by grabbing a ticket.

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Chris Forsyth
2019-04-29
Rough Trade NYC
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Terry) + MBHO KA200N/603A (DIN) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, compression) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [59:36]
01. Tomorrow Might as Well Be Today
02. Mystic Mountain
03. Dream Song
04. Dreaming in the Non-Dream
05. Techno Top

Solar Motel Band:
Chris Forsyth
Peter Kerlin
Ryan Jewell

3-5 with Pat Gubler
5 with Tom Malach, Danny Arakaki, and Cesar Arakaki of Garcia Peoples

Website | Facebook | Buy All Time Present via Bandamp

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band: May 28, 2016 Union Pool

June 7, 2016
By

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band

Chris Forsyth and his Solar Motel gang just finished up a tour with the Pacific Northwest’s monsters of psych, Heron Oblivion, and the NYC area was blessed with two stops, first at Jersey City’s WFMU Monty Hall and the second at Union Pool. Naturally, we were there at Union Pool to capture their performances (including openers and fellow Philadelphians Spacin’ which we’ll have up soon). Forsyth’s set gives us a lot to chew on: an extended, exploratory rendition of “The First Ten Minutes of Cocksucker Blues” and some of his finest vocals yet on “The Rarity of Experience, Parts 1-2.” In the group’s tradition of bringing covers out on the road—we’ve previously caught a couple renditions of “The Calvary Cross” and most recently the Dead’s “Cold Rain and Snow”—this tour saw a relentless version of The Dream Syndicate’s “The Days of Wine and Roses.” Rounding things out is the ponderous “Harmonious Dance,” ending things on the quiet side before Heron Oblivion stormed the stage. Forsyth & Co. will be back in town for another superb bill with Oneida at the Knitting Factory. Buy your tickets early and often; we’ll see you there.

I recorded this set from our usual location in the venue, with a board feed from FOH Leah. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Downloads are available at the Live Music Archive

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
2016-05-28
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by Eric PH

Soundboard (engineer: Leah) + AKG C480B/CK63 (PAS) > Roland R-26 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, compression, mixdown, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [45:32]
01. The First Ten Minutes of Cocksucker Blues
02. The Rarity of Experience, Parts 1-2
03. The Days of Wine and Roses [The Dream Syndicate]
04. Harmonious Dance

Support Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band: Website | Facebook | Buy The Rarity of Experience from No Quarter

Chris Forsyth & the Solar Motel Band: March 19, 2016 Trans-Pecos

March 24, 2016
By

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[photos by Joe Lops]

Chris Forsyth extended a recent run of excellent work with The Rarity of Experience, a double LP that earned plaudits from Pitchfork to The New York Times. Much has been made of the record’s unequivocal commitment to out-and-out riffage, but that has always been Forsyth’s MO with the Solar Motel Band. The side of him that produced The Island, the delicate, mellowed out collaboration with Koen Holtkamp, is still out there, but when he takes the stage with this band, expect an out and out rock show.

That’s what we got at this NYCTaper-sponsored show at Trans-Pecos, which represented the formal NY album release party for the record.  Things kicked into high gear immediately with “High Castle Rock” from the new record, followed by its appropriately-named Anthems I and II, and then its title track. Our only detour to Forsyth’s earlier work came in the form of “The Ballad of Freer Hollow” from 2014’s Intensity Ghost, which nestled in well with the extended two-part jams “Anthem” and “The Rarity of Experience” (notable also for adding vocals to the mix). In a nod to the band who inspired so much of improvisational guitar music (not to mention the practice of fan-based live concert recording), Forsyth and crew gave us their take on the Dead’s “Cold Rain and Snow.” It was a worthwhile reminder that while Forsyth’s name is front and center in the proceedings, part of what makes these performances special is the interplay among a very, very talented group of band members. Forsyth’s delivery wouldn’t be what it is without bassist Peter Kerlin and drummer Ray Kubian doing more than just making a backbeat, nor fellow guitarist Nick Millevoi providing the other half of the guitar attack. You don’t get a sound this all-encompassing with a “solo” artist and some guys; this is truly a band. And, for those of you who missed them this time around, head to Union Pool on May 28, where you can catch the band opening for Heron Oblivion.

I recorded this set with a pair of Schoeps MK22 microphones at the stage lip, another pair of Schoeps MK4V back by the soundboard, and a direct soundboard feed of house engineer Ned’s mix. The sound quality is outstanding, and a perfect representation of the enormity of the Solar Motel Band’s sound. Enjoy!

Download the complete set from its page on the Live Music Archive: [FLAC] | [MP3]

Stream the complete set: 

Chris Forsyth & the Solar Motel Band
2016-03-19
Trans-Pecos
Queens, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted by nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Schoeps MK22 (stage lip, DFC, ORTF)>Nbob Cables>PFA>Aeta PSP3 + Soundboard (engineer: Ned) + Schoeps MK4V (at SBD, ROC, PAS)>>Zoom
F8>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Adobe Audition CS 5.5 (align, mix down, adjust balance of SBD, compress SBD, adjust levels)>Izotope Ozone 5 (effects, EQ)
>Audacity 2.0.3 (track, amplify, balance, downsample, dither)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 High Castle Rock
02 Anthem I
03 Anthem II
04 The Rarity of Experience pt. 1
05 The Rarity of Experience pt. 2
06 The Ballad of Freer Hollow
07 [banter]
08 The First Ten Minutes of Cocksucker Blues
09 Cold Rain and Snow [Grateful Dead]
10 [banter2]
11 Boston Street Lullaby

If you enjoyed this recording, please visit his website and buy The Rarity of Experience from No Quarter Records.

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NYCTaper Presents: Chris Forsyth and The Solar Motel Band + Herbcraft – Tomorrow Night (Saturday) at Trans Pecos

December 11, 2015
By

CF AJ

Over the last two years Chris Forsyth and The Solar Motel Band has become one of the favorite bands of the NYCTaper crew. The band has also been one of our go-to performers when it comes to taping — in slightly over two years, there are now seven SMB recordings on the site from a variety of our favorite venues (all available here). Listening to the music, its easy to see why the band is attractive to us. They combine many of the elements and influences that we favor, including psych-rock, space rock and a healthy dose of the innate ability to improvise and elevate the music to a higher plain. Its a rare ability and one that’s hard to describe but easy to recognize when you see it and hear it. Chris Forsyth and The Solar Motel Band have that “X” factor that must be seen live to be truly understood.

Of all of the local venues where we’ve experienced SMB, it was the most glaring omission that the band had not previously performed at the City’s premiere location for music that transcends genres and easy descriptions, Trans Pecos. We are so pleased to be able to present SMB at Pecos. It seems like such a natural pairing and we expect that the venue’s vibe will fit perfectly with the band’s live show.

Chris Forsyth and The Solar Motel Band will release their new album The Rarity of Experience in March and No Quarter Records released a teaser for the record today. We expect to see some of that new material at tomorrow’s show. Here is the teaser:

When it came to the invitation for the support act for this special night, we were certain that the band needed to be someone who shared a musical kinship with Forsyth. We harkened back to a very memorable experience acidjack had at Mercury Lounge in early 2014, a “heady” night that made such a mark that the show made our “Best Of” list for entire year of 2014. The band was Herbcraft, and although we have not seen them since that night, the music was really quite a perfect fit for this show. Herbcraft have released an even spacier album in August of 2015 called Wot Oz (with our friends Woodist) and we are very much looking forward to seeing the new material live.

Here’s a track “Push Thru The Veil” from the 2014 Herbcraft recording:

Trust us on this show. This will be an experience to remember. Support the bands, come to the show. Heck, if you’re in NYC and you’ve downloaded material from this site, support us too. We’d like to keep presenting these kinds of shows.

The Details:
NYCTaper Presents
Chris Forsyth and The Solar Motel Band (Philadelphia)
Herbcraft (Maine)

Live at Trans Pecos
Saturday December 12, 2015
Doors at 7pm

Trans Pecos
915 Wyckoff Avenue
Ridgewood Queens NY [MAP]

L Train to Halsey or J/M to Myrtle-Wyckoff
ALL AGES $12 in advance / $15 Day of Show

Tickets in advance through Ticketfly (save three bucks!) are [HERE]

Facebook Invite Page is [HERE].

Jennifer Castle: October 4, 2015 Webster Hall

October 20, 2015
By

jennifer-castle-12
[photos courtesy of P Squared Photography]

It’s never an easy task to be a singer-songwriter opening for an eight-piece band in a 1500-capacity venue, but Jennifer Castle pulled off that feat, opening for Destroyer, in a way that let her material shine. I was surprised to discover that we hadn’t checked in with her since a Union Pool show in 2012, which came before the release of her widely-acclaimed 2014 album, Pink City. So, this was our first time getting to engage with much of that material, and I’m glad we had the chance. Accompanied by guitars and keys, but no percussion, Castle spared little time between songs, packing in as much as she could into the thirty-minute slot. What came across, in the big space of Webster Hall, was how strong her voice is, as able to fill this space as the coffee shops and smaller clubs where this music is typically more comfortable. She began with a newer song, “I Don’t Care About Money,” followed by “Powers” from her 2012 album Castlemusic, possibly the strongest track on that offering. From there, the Pink City material began in rapid-fire fashion, beginning with “Working For the Man.” The diaphanous-but-tensile quality of Castle’s voice is especially evident on this song, and the impressive vocal turns continued for many of the new songs. Not that Castle’s a stranger to challenging work — she’s played with everyone from fellow Canadian folkie Doug Paisley to the somewhat more aggro Toronto crews Fucked Up and The Constantines. Even if this setting might not have been the perfect way to be introduced to Jennifer Castle in terms of size, I suspect she earned a lot of new fans here. She continues with Destroyer on the West Coast before heading to Europe with them in November. Make sure to show up early to catch her set.

As with the Destroyer set, I recorded this set with a soundboard feed from the Webster Hall engineer Raphael, with a bit of Schoeps MK41V microphones to add ambiance. The sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

Download the complete set: [MP3] | [FLAC]

Stream the complete set: 

Jennifer Castle
2015-10-04
Webster Hall
New York, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Thanks to Jennifer Castle for permission

Soundboard (engineers: Raphael) + Schoeps MK41V (at SBD, DFC)>KCY>Z-PFA>>Edirol R-44>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Adobe Audition CS 5.5 (fades, align, mix down)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, effects, compression)>Audacity 2.0.5 (track, amplify, balance, downsample, dither)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 29:34]
01 I Don’t Care About Money
02 Powers
03 Working For the Man
04 Truth Is the Freshest Fruit
05 How Or Why
06 Sailor’s Blessing
07 Sailing Away
08 Pink City

Band
Jennifer Castle – Vocals, guitar
Mike Smith – Bass
Ryan Driver – Keyboards

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Jennifer Castle, like her on facebook, and buy Pink City from No Quarter Records.

Joan Shelley: February 12, 2015 Union Pool – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

September 4, 2015
By

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Joan Shelley released her excellent new album, Over and Even, today on No Quarter Records. For many, this will be their first time hearing these new songs, unless you checked in with NPR last week. However, the crowd on this chilly night at Union Pool back in February had almost everyone beat by several months, as Shelley decided to use this performance to show off a majority of the new album.

The Kentucky-based singer-songwriter first came to wider attention with her previous effort, Electric Ursa, but it was evident from the get-go that the new songs represent a further refinement of her craft and acknowledgment, but not a caving to, pop sensibility. The extra-approachable riff of the album’s title track sets the tone for the rest of the material, making it no surprise that Stereogum made it an “Album of the Week.” In doing so, they pointed out that Over and Even is more about the setting of a mood than any specific turn of phrase or even specific song, and that’s not a negative. The new work, even in its fledgling form on this night, shows incredible consistency, with each number feeling a bit like an old song you’re being introduced to for the first time. It’s a pastoral, flawlessly crafted album that holds your attention as it takes its time to unfold.

Shelley was joined for this show not only by regular collaborator Nathan Salsburg — a force on the guitar in his own right — as well as Glen Dentinger on bass. Site favorite Nathan Bowles also made an appearance, and he’s always a welcome presence on any stage. None of that can distract from the main event, of course, which is Shelley’s voice and her presence, both of which manage to be delicate but resolute. What Shelley’s live show drives home is just how spare and right her album’s production is, as there is clearly little she needs to embellish what’s already there. As good as the new songs are, Electric Ursa got its due during the show as well, with the title track of that album closing out the night, and one of its most approachable songs, “Something Small,” providing a welcome dose of recognition mid-set. As requested by Joan’s label, we’ve held back this recording until the release of Over and Even, and are thrilled to be able to share this performance on its release day.

I recorded this set with a soundboard feed from Union Pool engineer Rob, together with Schoeps MK41 microphones. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete set: [MP3] | [FLAC]

Stream the complete set: 

Joan Shelley
2015-02-12
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Soundboard (engineer: Rob) + Schoeps MK41 (PAS)>KCY>Z-PFA>Sound Devices USBPre2 >> Edirol R-44 [OCM]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Adobe Audition CS 5.5 (fades, compression, mix down)>Izotope Ozone 5 (effects, exciter)>Audacity 2.0.5 (track, amplify, balance, downsample, dither)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 47:00]
01 Brighter Than the Blues
02 Wine and Honey
03 River Low
04 [banter1]
05 Over and Even *
06 Something Small
07 [banter2]
08 Stay on My Shore
09 Easy Now
10 [banter3]
11 Not Over By Half
12 Electric Ursa

Band
Joan Shelley – vocals
Nathan Salsburg – guitar
Glen Dentinger – bass
* Nathan Bowles – guitar

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Joan Shelley, visit her website, and buy Over and Even from No Quarter Records.

IMG_8262

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band: June 11, 2015 McCarren Park (Northside Festival)

July 23, 2015
By

chris-forsythe-and-the-solar-motel-band-2
[photos by PSquared Photography]

Last month, we were pleasantly surprised by the addition of Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band to the Northside Festival‘s premier event: Luna’s first NYC show in a decade. Our love for the Moteliers is no secret by now and their late breaking appearance in McCarren Park gave us the chance to soak in some sun and suds with our favorite Philadelphians. Though all the tunes here will be familiar if you’ve been following along this year, the latter three-fourths of the set—”The Rarity of Experience, Parts 1-2,” “High Castle Rock,” and “Harmonious Dance”—is all new material that will appear on the next Solar Motel record due out on No Quarter in 2016.

NYCTaper recorded this set in the same manner as Luna’s set from the same day. There are a couple spots of wind, but none mar the recording and the sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Forsyth also has an upcoming collaboration with Koen Holtkamp of Mountains called The Island and due out on Trouble in Mind this fall.

Downloads are available at the Live Music Archive

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
2015-06-11
Northside Festival
McCarren Park
Brooklyn, NY

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded by NYCTaper
Produced by Eric PH

Soundboard + Schoeps CCM4u Cardioids > Sound Devices 744t > 2xWAV (24/48) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, normalize, fades, tracking, downsample, dither) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [40:26]
01. The Ballad of Freer Hollow
02. [banter]
03. The Rarity of Experience, Parts 1-2
04. High Castle Rock
05. [banter]
06. Harmonious Dance

Support Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band: Website | Facebook | Buy Intensity Ghost from No Quarter

Doug Paisley: September 24, 2011 Mercury Lounge – Flac and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

October 9, 2011
By


[photo courtesy of Jon Behm]

When an artist who I respect asks me to do something, I usually comply. On a night when I barely arrived in time to record their set at Mercury Lounge (here), Megafaun’s Phil Cook informed me that I should definitely record Doug Paisley’s set. I quickly finished setting up the rig and immediately hit record to capture Doug’s set — and I’m quite happy that I did. While singer-songwriters with sweet voices and narrrative lyrics are all too common, Doug Paisley is clearly a special case — his natural manner and authenticity immediately strikes the listener and draws them in. At Mercury last week, Doug had the tough task of opening the set, on a Saturday night, at a late show. But the crowd quickly responded and for the next 30 thirty minutes were strikingly attentive. Doug’s set consisted of numbers from this two albums on No Quarter Records, including 2010’s Constant Companion. We have chosen to stream “What About Us?”, from his self-titled debut, and a song that also appeared on Mojo Magazine’s “New Harvest” compilation.

I recorded this set in the same manner as the Megafaun capture. The volume on stage and in the PA was quite low, so the boosting of levels in post introduced a slight hum into the recording. Otherwise the sound quality is superb. Enjoy!

Stream “What About Us”:
[audio:http://www.nyctaper.com/D2409DougPaisley1120/09.%20What%20About%20Us.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

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.

Doug Paisley
2011-09-24
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY USA

Four-Track 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 1.98 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2011-10-08

Setlist:
[Total Time 29:58]
01 What I Saw
02 No One But You
03 In The Morning
04 Broken in Two
05 I Stand Alone
06 Sugartown
07 City Lights
08 At The End of the Day
09 What About Us

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Doug Paisley, visit his website, and purchase his official releases from No Quarter Records [HERE].

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