Posts Tagged ‘ Sunwatchers ’

Sunwatchers: August 19, 2023 Deep in the Valley and April 20, 2023 Tubby’s

September 18, 2023
By
Photo by Christopher Bruno

Our coverage of the 2023 Deep In The Valley festival continues! 

Has it really been four years since we last saw Sunwatchers? Unbelievable! Fortunately nothing interesting has happened since 2019 and so we pick up right where we left off. But just a few things in the interim: Sunwatchers put out the righteous duo Oh Yeah? and Brave Rats in 2020; Jim McHugh put out a pair of work-abolishin’, eye-lazer shootin’ solo records the same year; Peter Kerlin’ released a guest-filled, wide-ranging experimental solo record; and Jeff Tobias released a trio of rad tapes/records just in the last year or so. Whew!

But wait, there’s more! Sunwatchers will release Music is Victory Over Time in just a couple months. These two sets we saw this year will serve as a good preview of what’s to come and it sounds pretty damn awesome. So be sure to preorder that right away. Meanwhile, enjoy this double dose of Sunwatchers to start your week.

Stream and Download at the Live Music Archive: Deep in the Valley | Tubby’s

Sunwatchers
2023-08-19
Deep in the Valley
From the Ground Brewery
Red Hook, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard + MBHO KA100DK/603A (stage lip) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks [38:10]
01. Beautiful Crystals
02. Too Gary
03. T.A.S.C
04. Foams
05. The Works
06. World People 
Sunwatchers
2023-04-20
Tubby's
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

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

Tracks [51:54]
01. Blitzkrieg Bop [Ramones] > World People
02. Too Gary
03. T.A.S.C.
04. Foams
05. Blitzkrieg Bob [reprise] > Tumulus
06. There Goes Ol’ Ooze
07. Beautiful Crystals
08. Silent Boogie

Sunwatchers & Eugene Chadbourne: May 10, 2019 Nublu Classic

June 4, 2019
By

Last month, Sunwatchers and Eugene Chadbourne played Nublu Classic in belated support of 3 Characters, their collaborative double-LP of Minutemen and Doug Sahm covers. The album was released in November, but perhaps due to scheduling they didn’t get the properly inaugurate it into the world until May. Last time we got to see Sunwatchers and Doc Chad play live, they did a trio of Chuck Berry tunes (he had recently passed) plus covers of songs by Sonny Rollins, Love, and John Lee Hooker. This time it’s all Minutemen and Doug Sahm songs, with a writing assist from Albert Alyer on the mashup “Joe McCarthy’s Ghost(s).” Perhaps it’s from the rigors of recording, or a whole lot of practice, but they’ve got these songs down tight. The only one not recorded for the album (and maybe the highlight of this set) is their delightful take on “Stoned Faces Don’t Lie,” a Doug Sahm number from way back with the Sir Douglas Quintet. It’s a shame that one didn’t make it onto the album, but better maybe that it’s just incentive for Sunwatchers and Eugene Chadbourne to ride again!

Speaking of Sunwatchers, grab tickets for their upcoming Rocks Off Cruise gig with Garcia Peoples. Yes, that’s Sunwatchers and Garcia Peoples on a boat. June 15th. Go for it.

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Sunwatchers and Eugene Chadbourne
2019-05-10
Nublu Classic
New York, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
MBHO KA200N/603A > 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 [58:52]
01. I Felt Like a Gringo [Minutemen]
02. Themselves [Minutemen]
03. Political Song For Michael Jackson to Sing [Minutemen]
04. It’s Gonna Be Easy [Doug Sahm]
05. Joe McCarthy’s Ghost(s) [Minutemen/Albert Ayler]
06. The Product [Minutemen]
07. The Anchor [Minutemen]
08. This Ain’t No Picnic [Minutemen]
09. The Price of Paradise [Minutemen]
10. Too Many Docile(d) Minds [Doug Sahm]
11. Uncle Sam Do [Doug Sahm]
12. Stoned Faces Don’t Lie [Doug Sahm]

Buy 3 Characters via Bandcamp

Dire Wolves: February 7, 2019 Union Pool

February 15, 2019
By
Photos by Drew Gardner

San Francisco’s Dire Wolves don’t come around too often, but when they do they bring the heat. This one features the Wolves’ Jeffrey Alexander backed by what he calls a “strange” version of the band: Jesse Sheppard (Elkhorn) on bass, Jeff Tobias (Sunwatchers) on sax, and Scott Verrastro (Bardo Pond) on drums. What results is the Wolves’ shaggy psych mixed with jazzy excursions.

Speaking of which, it’s Excursions to Cloudland, released on Beyond Beyond is Beyond Records, that hipped me to Dire Wolves. And then there’s also this fantastic split with Headroom that I’ve gravitated towards when looking for a fix. Dire Wolves will have another one out with BBiB sometime soon so stay tuned to find out what new lands they’ve got in store.

Thanks to Jeff Conklin for putting on this awesome bill. Tune in to The Avant Ghetto on WFMU for more of the goods!

I recorded this set with our usual setup for Union Pool: a board feed from FOH extraordinaire Doug combined with the MBHOs in DIN configuration at the board. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Dire Wolves (Inspiration Family Band)
2019-02-07
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Doug) + 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 [55:32]
01. Grow Towards The Light
02. Transmigrations
03. Enter Quietly > Take A Step Back
04. West Ellet Fadeaway

• Buy Dire Wolves music via Bandcamp
• • Buy Excursions to Cloudland via Beyond Beyond is Beyond

Sunwatchers: December 9, 2018 Baby’s All Right

January 16, 2019
By
Photos by Michael Baca

Plenty of new Sunwatchers action out there for the years old and new. First up there’s the killer collab with Eugene Chadbourne, 3 Characters, out on Amish Records last year. The gang cover a bunch of Minutemen tunes on the first disc, followed by some Doug Sahm and Henry Flynt tunes on the second. It’s a trip! Then there’s Sunwatchers’ third LP, Illegal Moves, which is gonna blow some minds—just check out that cover! We’ve heard many of the new tunes live this past year and there’s no doubt this is going to be stratospheric.

Speaking of seeing Sunwatchers live, here’s a nice set from last month at Baby’s All Right. The foursome break out a still-untitled new tune along with previewing some tracks from Illegal Moves.

I recorded this with the MBHO omniderectional mics on stage, combined with a board feed from the Baby’s crew. The sound is outstanding. Enjoy!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive



Sunwatchers
2018-12-09
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
Photos by Michael Baca

Soundboard + MBHO KA100N/603A (on stage, DFC) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks: [37:37]
01. Beautiful Crystals
02. Untitled
03. Greeneyed Pigmen (Get the Blade)
04. Everybody Play
05. The Works
06. Strollin Coma Blues

Band:
Peter Kerlin
Jim McHugh
Jeff Tobias
Jason Robira

• Preorder Illegal Moves
• • Buy 3 Characters via Amish Records

Sunwatchers: April 20, 2018 The Bell House

May 21, 2018
By

Say, how ’bout those Sunwatchers? Since we last checked in, the boys released Sunwatchers II on Trouble in Mind, played a whole bunch of shows, and released a little live rarities tape (featuring a contribution by yours truly I might add). Yep, they’ve been busy and so have we: unfortunately we didn’t make it out for their record release show back in February or their recent NYC date on the Sunwatchers Motel Band tour. But we did catch this epic opening set for DC’s The Messthetics last month at the Bell House, which finds the band playing a bunch of sweet tunes from the new record, a couple new ones, and a fantastic cover of Sonny and Linda Sharrock’s “Sweet Butterfingers.” Can’t get enough of those Sunwatchers!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Sunwatchers
2018-04-20
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Travis) + MBHO MBP603/KA200N (DIN, FOB, DFC) > Roland R-26 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, balance, mixdown, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [36:26]
01. Nose Beers
02. The Works
03. Silent Boogie
04. Beautiful Crystals
05. Psychic Driving
06. Sweet Butterfingers [Sonny & Linda Sharrock]
07. The Hot Eye

Band:
Peter Kerlin
Jim McHugh
Jeff Tobias
Jason Robira

• Buy Basement Apes Vol. 1 and Sunwatchers II via Bandcamp
• • Buy Sunwatchers via Castle Face

Sunwatchers: June 24, 2017 Union Pool (Summer Thunder)

July 5, 2017
By

It’s been a short couple months since we last saw Sunwatchers, but picking up on the final date of the Feral Ohms-Sunwatchers-Honey tour, the band had a few new tunes to share with us. We hadn’t previously heard “Nose Beers” or “The Works” (except on this excellent recording from last year via Southern Shelter); and the perfectly-titled “Greeneyed Pigmen (Get the Blade)” also appears to be brand new. The centerpiece of their set is a wonderful cover of Alice Coltrane’s “Ptah, The El Daoud,” from her 1970 album of the same name. Coincidentally, none other than Pharoah Sanders plays on that record and he was in town the previous night for a free show in Prospect Park along with Brooklyn Raga Massive’s tribute to John and Alice Coltrane. No doubt the spirits were in alignment for this one.

I recorded this with the mics set up on stage, combined with a board feed courtesy of Union Pool engineer Doug. It sounds excellent. Enjoy!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Sunwatchers
2017-06-24
Union Pool (Summer Thunder)
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Doug) + AKG C480B/CK61 (OS) > Zoom F8 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [33:28]
01. Nose Beers
02. The Works
03. Greeneyed Pigmen (Get the Blade)
04. Ptah, The El Daoud [Alice Coltrane]
05. Eusubius
06. Ape Phase

• Buy Sunwatchers via Castle Face

Eugene Chadbourne & Sunwatchers: April 25, 2017 Union Pool

May 30, 2017
By

Back in April, psych-freejazz outfit Sunwatchers did a three-week residency at Union Pool, each week performing with some local and not-so-local friends. To cap off the residency they brought out Eugene Chadbourne for an opening set (that recording here) plus a very special collaboration between Chadbourne and the ‘Watchers. It doesn’t get much better than these guys performing some Minutemen, Sonny Rollins, and Chuck Berry tunes together—but then somehow it does when they break free of Earth’s gravity on John Lee Hooker’s “Boogie Chillen.” Apparently there’s going to be an album featuring Sunwatchers backing Doc Chad (Chadwatchers, anyone?) and if that manages to be half as good as this set, it’ll be something for sure.

I recorded this from our usual location at Union Pool with a board feed courtesy of our bud Doug. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Eugene Chadbourne & Sunwatchers
2017-04-25
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Doug) + AKG C480B/CK63 > Zoom F8 > 2 x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, compression, normalize, fades) + Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (tracking, tagging) > FLAC (24/48, level 8)

Tracks [1:17:41]

Sunwatchers
01. [Intro]
02. New Dad Blues
03. Everybody Play
04. [banter]
05. The Hot Eye
06. Herd of Creeps

Eugene Chadbourne & Sunwatchers
07. [Eugene enters]
08. East Broadway Run Down [Sonny Rollins]
09. Ghosts/Joe McCarthy’s Ghost [Minutemen]
10. Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing [Minutemen]
11. Price of Paradise [Minutemen]
12. [tuning]
13. It’s Gonna Be Easy [Doug Sahm]
14. You I’ll Be Following [Love]
15. Reelin’ and Rockin’ [Chuck Berry]
16. Too Much Monkey Business [Chuck Berry]
17. Boogie Chillen [John Lee Hooker]

• Eugenechadbourne.com
• • Buy Sunwatchers via Castle Face

Sunwatchers: March 6, 2016 Palisades & March 11, 2016 The Studio at Webster Hall

March 13, 2016
By

Sunwatchers

Sunwatchers’ self-titled debut record was unleashed on unsuspecting turntables everywhere last week, via Castle Face Records. In celebration, the band embarked on a short tour bookended by two hometown shows: March 6th at Palisades for a late night vegan chili- and alcohol-fueled set, then March 11th opening for Yonatan Gat at the Studio at Webster Hall. We caught up with Sunwatchers for both.

The Palisades recording captures the band playing to an audience of friends and family who know what to expect from their jazz-psych excursions. Most of the record’s cuts are represented here, with a couple non-album additions: “There Are Weapons You Can Take to School” and “New Dad Blues.” For the raucous denouement of “Ape Phases” and “Moonchanges,” Sunwatchers are joined by Sam Kulik on trombone and Jesse DeRosa on trumpet to round out the brass section.

Meanwhile, their Studio at Webster Hall set finds the band among an audience who may not know Sunwatchers yet; but opening for Yonatan Gat, the open-minded had their minds opened indeed. For the shorter opening slot, Sunwatchers pared down to the essentials with album-opener “Heard of Creeps,” “For Sonny,” and “Moonchanges,” plus newcomer to their repertoire, “New Dad Blues.”

I recorded the Palisades set from the stage lip, combined with a board feed from Palisades FOH, Ariel, while Acidjack recording the Studio at Webster Hall set from our usual location at the soundboard with a board feed from the Studio’s FOH, John. The recordings each sound fantastic, presenting different shades of Sunwatchers—I highly recommend both.

Sunwatchers will be back in Brooklyn on March 22, at The Living Gallery. More info here.

Download the Palisades show at the Live Music Archive

Download the Studio at Webster Hall show at the Live Music Archive

Stream the Palisades show:

Stream the Studio at Webster Hall show:

Sunwatchers

Sunwatchers
2016-03-06
Palisades
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Ariel) + AKG C480B/CK61 (stage lip) > Roland R-26 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, balance, compression, normalize, fades) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [59:17]
01. [Intro]
02. Herd of Creeps
03. [banter]
04. For Sonny
05. [banter]
06. There Are Weapons You Can Bring to School
07. [tech break]
08. New Dad Blues
09. [banter]
10. White Woman
11. [banter]
12. Ape Phases
13. [banter]
14. Moonchanges

Sunwatchers
2016-03-11
Studio at Webster Hall
New York, NY  USA

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

Schoeps MK41V (at SBD, DFC, PAS) + Soundboard (engineer: John)>>Zoom F8>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Adobe Audition CS 5.5 (align, mix down, adjust balance of SBD, adjust levels)>Izotope Ozone 5 (effects, EQ)>Audacity 2.0.5 (track, amplify, balance, downsample, dither)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Herd of Creeps
02 For Sonny
03 [banter]
04 New Dad Blues
05 Moonchanges

Support Sunwatchers: Facebook | Bandcamp | Buy Sunwatchers via Castle Face

Sunwatchers: August 23, 2015 St. Paul’s Church

August 26, 2015
By

Sunwatchers

Merely a few days ago, if you had asked me to write a book report on the electric phin you would have gotten a blank stare. Turns out it’s an oddly-shaped, three-stringed Laotian lute and sounds pretty much like you’d imagine a Laotian lute would. My newfound knowledge is courtesy of Wikipedia and local psych-jazzers Sunwatchers, for whom the phin is only one aspect of their ambitious instrumentation. Besides the core of guitar-bass-drums the band also incorporates the alto sax and vibraphone. Combine all that together and you’ve got some pretty unique sounds. Fans of the instrumental and rhythmic experimentation of bands like Rhyton and Horse Lords should look no further for their new favorite up-and-coming Brooklyn band.

Sunwatchers are hot off recording their first LP, which is due out on Castle Face Records later this year, and sounds pretty damn great. The band has been playing together for a couple years now but Sunday marked their first show since the recording sessions. They put together an excellent showcase upstairs at St. Paul’s Church in South Williamsburg, drawing a sizeable and eager crowd for a sweaty Sunday night. But all left satisfied, and were rewarded for their diligence with an intimate, blistering set full of songs off the forthcoming LP.

I recorded this set from the stage lip where the mics picked up the bass, drums, guitar, and phin, while a feed from the mixer supplied most of the saxophone and vibraphone. The results are outstanding. Enjoy!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Sunwatchers
2015-08-23
St. Paul’s Church
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard + AKG C480B/CK61 (stage lip) > Roland R-26 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, compression, mixdown, normalize) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC

Tracks [33:29]
01. For Sonny
02. There Are Weapons You Can Bring to School
03. Moonchanges
04. Moroner
05. Ape Phases

Support Sunwatchers: Bandcamp

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