It’s an article of faith that artists who are friends of Three Lobed Recordings always bring their best for the label’s annual Hopscotch day show showcase, co-sponsored with Durham’s WXDU. Nathan Bowles, a multi-year veteran of the event, outdid himself this year, choosing to use this platform to debut his new trio with Casey Toll on double bass and Rex McMurry on drums. Although this was the trio’s very first show, you wouldn’t necessarily have known it, as Bowles and the new band added new heft to what were originally his solo songs (“Blank Range”) as well as coming out strong with new ones (one untitled, one known as “Freshfaced”). Bowles’ current music has already redefined and expanded the notion of modern banjo music, but the trio promises to push things even further, offering the opportunity to head in directions he hasn’t yet contemplated in other groups in which he participates, such as the Black Twig Pickers. For one, these songs feel a bit more like rock songs, with McMurry’s drumming pushing a faster tempo and an overall heavier direction, particularly on the new song. “Freshfaced.” Seeing Nathan Bowles is always a treat — and it’s something we do as often as we can — and this trio only adds to the anticipation of what he’s up to next. Bowles has a few shows around the southern U.S. this month, so go have a listen if you can.
I recorded this set with Evan Lamb’s house mix, plus an additional soundboard feed of the banjo, together wtih Schoeps MK4V microphones onstage, and AKG 460 cardiod mics hung over the audience. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!
Nathan Bowles Trio
2017-09-08
Three Lobed / WXDU Hopscotch Afternoon Jamboree
King’s
Raleigh, NC USA
Recorded and produced by acidjack
Hosted at nyctaper.com
Soundboard (engineer: Evan Lamb)+Schoeps MK4V (onstage)>KCY>Z-PFA>AKG 460/CK61 (FOB, DFC)>(24bit/48kHz WAV files)>Adobe Audition CC (align, mix down, compression)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, effects)>Audacity 2.0.5 (track, amplify, dither)>FLAC ( level 8 )
Tracks
01 Blank Range
02 [untitled for now]
03 Freshfaced
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