Blog Archives

OPTO S: February 9, 2024 Rubulad

February 22, 2024
By
Photo by Claire Hewer

Brooklyn’s OPTO S remind me of filthy subway cars, John Carpenter’s Escape From New York, and streets at nighttime shiny with recent rainfall. Musically, they sound indebted to Suicide and the No Wave bands of the early 80s. Which is appropriate considering their name refers MTA subway nomenclature specifying a type of train operation—they’re a New York band through and through.

We caught OPTO S earlier this month opening for the mighty Oneida at Bushwick venue Rubulad. The band are no strangers to live recordings, having released Human Indictive / Live on ESP Disk (also available on vinyl at Forced Exposure), recorded before the pandemic but released as things shut down. A few years later now, the band are playing some promising new material, including “Dead Skunk,” “Lucy 2,” and “Going Down the Wrong Path.” You heard them here first! Meanwhile, the band is in the midst of doing some live dates. Catch them soon in Philadelphia on March 1st at Century Bar and back in NYC on March 29th at Berlin. Check their Facebook for details.

Stream and download at Archive.org

OPTO S
2024-02-09
Rubulad
Brooklyn, 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 + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.4.2 > FLAC

Tracks [33:11]
01. Carmine Street
02. Before My Eyes
03. Dead Skunk
04. Lucy 2
05. Spinning Gears
06. Going Down the Wrong Path
07. Something Crazy

Sky Furrows: February 9, 2024 Rubulad

February 20, 2024
By

Sky Furrows is the meeting of Albany’s Burnt Hills and writer-poet Karen Schoemer. They sound something like Sonic Youth, Slint, and Kinski in a blender—psych- and post-rock instrumentals buffeted by Schoemer’s sung-shouted intonations. While Phil Donnelly (drums), Mike Griffin (guitar), and Eric Hardiman (bass) keep a tight rhythm section, Schoemer recites stories, dreams, and observations. From “Shopping Bags,” off of Reflect and Oppose: “A man and a woman in a suit and gown pose for a photographer in front of the river. They look as though they’re dressed for a wedding. People do that, they get dressed days beforehand and pose as if it’s the actual ceremony.” On their own, the music and vocals would be equally of interest, but brought together there’s a tension that makes Sky Furrows so unique and compelling.

Earlier this month, we caught up with Sky Furrows opening for Oneida at Bushwick’s Rubulad. I was immediately enthralled with the band and picked up their most recent record, Reflect and Oppose, a joint release between Feeding Tube and Cardinal Fuzz so you know to expect quality. The record, I have to say, is even better than the show (partly because you get a lyric sheet to follow along) but the live set you’re hopefully about to listen to is a great entry to the band. If you’re in Catskill, NY on March 8th I recommend catching them with Oneida again at the Avalon Lounge. Tickets here. See you there!

Stream and Download at Archive.org

Sky Furrows
2024-02-09
Rubulad
Brooklyn, 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 + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.4.2 > FLAC

Tracks [34:00]
01. Wearing Rug
02. He Calls Me
03. Jenni
04. Shopping Bags
05. Three Husbands
06. Old Morality
07. Humor Whisky
08. Koba Grozny

Phil Donnelly - drums
Mike Griffin - guitars
Eric Hardiman - bass
Karen Schoemer - voice 

SAVAK: December 1, 2023 Tubby’s

February 1, 2024
By

I’m appreciating more and more that the bands I love who I would regularly see in Brooklyn have made Tubby’s a regular spot. It’s like Union Pool north and you just might spot someone you recognize. We saw SAVAK there last year with Chris Brokaw and again in December with New Wet Kojak. This time the band showed up augmented with a second drummer, SAVAK-regular Matt Schulz joined by Jeff Gensterblum set up in the center of the Tubby’s floor. The two pounded away for a really unique set. The more drummers the better I always say!

This set features a few songs I hadn’t heard live from SAVAK, like “Oddsmaker” off their last album Human Error/Human Delight which I was glad to finally hear. No new songs in the set but SAVAK do have a new album out soon: Flavors of Paradise, which can be preordered over at Bandcamp.

If the regular Union Pool is still you’re spot, you have a couple upcoming chances to catch SAVAK. The first is a free show on February 20th with J. Robbins of Jawbox fame. You couldn’t possibly go wrong there. Claim your free ticket here. Next up, on March 7th, SAVAK will play a record release show for Flavors Of Paradise. Grab those tickets here.

I recorded this from our usual spot at Tubby’s. Will provided a perfectly-mixed board feed and Sohrab Habibion sweetened things up with his mastering. The sound is killer. Enjoy!

Stream and Download at the Live Music Archive

SAVAK
2023-12-01
Tubby's
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Will) + MBHO KA200N/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.4.2 > FLAC

Tracks [40:10]
01. Sick of War
02. No Blues No Jazz
03. Reaction
04. I Don't Want To Be Defended
05. This Currency Exchanged
06. What is Compassion?
07. Dead Dick
08. Christo's Peers
09. Oddsmaker
10. How Many Duchesses
11. Trashing the Ghost
12. Cold Ocean 

Sohrab Habibion - vocals, guitar
Michael Jaworski - vocals, guitar
Matt Hunter - bass
Matt Schulz - drums
Jeff Gensterblum - drums

New Wet Kojak: December 1, 2023 Tubby’s

January 10, 2024
By

Back in the 90s I don’t think New Wet Kojak played all that often, but whenever they played in NYC it was 21+ and I was left—literally, in one instance—standing outside. Fortunately for their reunion after fifteen or so years of dormancy (theirs, not mine) I’m well past drinking age so here we are with the first of three dates the band did in December. In case you’re not familiar, New Wet Kojak is the louche-rock side-project/supergroup of Girls Against Boys‘ Scott McCloud (vocals/guitar) and Johnny Temple (bass) with Geoff Turner of Gray Matter (guitar), Nick Pellicciotto of Edsel (drums), and Charles Bennington of High Back Chairs (sax/keyboards). If you recognize all those bands, you probably own a bunch of Dischord CDs and we should hang out sometime. Anyway, before they (thought they) were cool, Pitchfork really liked New Wet Kojak’s Nasty International, their second album on Touch & Go, and gave it a nine-point-something before later scrubbing that from their site.

Now, 25+ years later, with McCloud and Temple also having revived their 80s post-hardcore band Soulside in addition to sporadic tours with Girls Against Boys, it seems most appropriate to reactivate New Wet Kojak. (Side note: it’s not too late for Little Baby to play their third show!) Never as high profile as their main act, a nice size, enthusiastic crowd at Tubby’s made it clear New Wet Kojak weren’t forgotten. Most of the songs played at Tubby’s are off the band’s two Touch & Go records with a couple from the later Do Things on Beggar’s Banquet. No songs here from their final album This is the Glamorous which I can only guess is a strategy to leave us wanting more—let’s not wait so long for next time.

I recorded this from our usual location at Tubby’s with a board feed from FOH engineer Will. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Download FLAC/MP3

nyctaper · New Wet Kojak – Live at Tubby's 2023
New Wet Kojak
2023-12-01
Tubby's
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Will) + MBHO KA200N/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.4.2 > FLAC

Tracks [54:59]
01. Code Windham
02. Sticky 2 Me
03. Stereo Explosive
04. Kick Some Life
05. You Got Some Dog
06. Thought You Were
07. Sophia Loren
08. Shake You Down
09. Freak Now
10. Unbuckled
11. Stick Out Your Tongue
12. Punx Not Dead
13. Sexy Postcard

Support this excellent artist!
https://newwetkojak.bandcamp.com/

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band: December 8, 2023 Tubby’s

December 21, 2023
By

When you know, you know: after a friend recommended it, I made it a mere 30 seconds into Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band’s album Dancing on the Edge before hitting the buy button. I also didn’t wait for Dancing on the Edge to arrive in the mail before buying Send Flowers from Davis’s other (previous?) band, State Champion. The arrival of Dancing on the Edge carried with it a flyer with tour dates, leading me to wind up at this show you’re about to listen to. The perfect digital/analog progression of discovery. And what a discovery it’s been: I’ve probably listened this album more than anything else I bought this year and it’s only been out for two months. I’d lose my music-blog bona fides if I didn’t draw the inevitable comparisons to esteemed names like Berman, Callahan, Oldham. Davis’s characters practically walk out of the stereo as vivid and tangible as anyone in your local bar. If you’re going to bother learning the lyrics to any record released this year, here’s the one. And lucky for you: Dancing on the Edge is available again in its second pressing.

I recorded this from our usual spot at Tubby’s with a board feed provided by FOH engineer Will who mixed this set perfect: each instrument is separately audible, making this a real you-are-there treat. Enjoy!

Download FLAC and MP3

nyctaper · Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band – Tubby's 2023
Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band
2023-12-08
Tubby's
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard (engineer: Will) + MBHO KA200N/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.4.2 > FLAC

Tracks [55:55]
01. Bluebirds in a Fight
02. A Suitable Exit
03. Junk Drawer Heart
04. Flashes of Orange
05. Learn 2 Re-Luv
06. Free From the Guillotine
07. Bluebirds Revisited

Seawind of Battery & ragenap: October 27, 2023 Troost

December 4, 2023
By

Our friend and fellow taper noah_s caught Seawind of Battery and ragenap live at Troost a few weeks back. We were excited to to post his recording and in the meantime Mike and Joel were similarly excited—so much so that they released this recording on Eiderdown Records as Chaos LIVE Preserver which you can grab at Bandcamp. Here’s the review and recording from noah_s:

Full Disclosure: I have been one of ragenap’s (Joel Berk) beta listeners since he began putting his jams into recorded form. I would listen to demos & rough mixes he recorded the night before early in the morning while I had my coffee. I once described his music as feeling as if a can of Coke had been opened in my head and I could feel the bubbles fizzing through my brain as I woke up while listening. 

On Friday 10/27/23 at Troost in Greenpoint I finally got to see the live version. Paired up with Seawind of Battery (Mike Horn) – and celebrating the release of their tape Chaos Life Preserver on Eiderdown Records – the duo gave us 35 minutes of droney spacey improvised bliss.They built their set up from a looped riff started by Horn to a joyous and bright section that reminded me of staying up all night to watch a sunrise. Layers of guitar and bass VI worked through an array of never-ending delays and reverbs filled the small bar that was packed with friends, family and Halloween weekenders alike. They built this zone up for about half the set and then spent the other half slowly devolving it while also adding flourishes and delay whips before sticking the landing like a moon lander floating down into low gravity. I know I’m not alone in hoping these two make a lot more music together both in the studio and live.

For this recording I used my CA-11 cardioid mics for the first time and I’m extremely happy with how it came out. I was set up on a tripod near the bar about 15 feet back from where the band set up and as centered as I could be without blocking people from walking in/out.

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

Ryley Walker: August 19, 2023 Deep in the Valley

August 24, 2023
By

Welcome to our coverage of Deep in the Valley 2023! The second year of our favorite Hudson Valley fest was again held at beautiful From the Ground Brewery in Red Hook, NY and hosted by our friends at Raven Sings the Blues. Thanks to everyone involved for their hospitality. I can’t wait to see you there next year. In the meantime, relax and enjoy some tunes from the day…

First off here’s the day’s headliner Ryley Walker, playing in duo configuration with Ryan Jewell. While not quite full-band, seeing Ryley and Ryan together is always magical and this performance doesn’t disappoint in the least. Ryley-classics “The Halfwit in Me” and “The Roundabout” take center stage here with the jams and detours we love from these songs. I’m a massive fan of Course in Fable and consider it Ryley’s finest, so I was glad to hear “Rang Dizzy” from that one. The last song is an instrumental which I’m sure has a title that is escaping me. Listening back I almost feel like I’m in a field in Red Hook, New York with some apple trees off to the side. This one’s the highlight of a nearly perfect day.

I recorded this with the MBHO omnis at the stage lip, combined with a board feed courtesy of engineer Daniel Stout. The sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream and download at the Live Music Archive

Ryley Walker
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 [43:52]
01. The Halfwit in Me
02. Rang Dizzy
03. The Roundabout
04. Instrumental

Purling Hiss: April 23, 2023 Union Pool

June 11, 2023
By

Purling Hiss hit the road for the first time in a while to support their new record on Drag City, Drag On Girard. Last time I saw the ‘Hiss it was a solo Mike Polizze show opening for Dungen. I can’t even remember when that was but oh it’s great to be back. Long before I began contributing here at NYCTaper I followed along with all the excellent recordings especially from the Water on Mars-era. While I would have loved to hear the title track from that one, we got a solid setlist from them closing out their second night at Union Pool, including oldies “Almost Washed My Hair” and “Run From the City.” If you missed Purling Hiss at Union Pool, they’re playing a free show at Rippers on August 25th. Do it!

I recorded this from our usual spot at Union Pool with a feed from the engineer, Jase, who was responsible for the excellent sound all night. And thanks to all the folks for making it one of our favorite venues!

Download FLAC and MP3

nyctaper · Purling Hiss – Live at Union Pool 2023-04-23
Purling Hiss
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 [38:17]
01. Yer All in My Dreams
02. Drag On Girard
03. Mercury Retrograde
04. Run From the City
05. Baby
06. Out the Door
07. Fever
08. Don't Even Try It
09. Almost Washed My Hair

Oneida: August 4, 2022 Tubby’s

May 17, 2023
By

Brahs and Sahs! Here’s your unofficial Oneida chatbot with the news: It’s nearly summer and once again August has been declared the month of Oneida, with tour dates in a bunch of cities you’ve heard of and possibly live in. Last year’s August festivities were interrupted by that nasty bug (but not before we got to see them play Tubby’s), so wish the boys a Success-ful tour and grab your tickets now—dates below!

Soundtrack your buying with this sumptuous gig from last August in support of their latest album Success and general Oneida awesomeness. All the hits from the album are here with some oldies to round things out—I can’t even remember the last time I saw them play “Double Lock Your Mind,” not to mention the fan-favorite “Each One Teach One” making an appearance. But I love the new ones too—they’re like Oneida meets the Ramones? I don’t know but “Rotten,” “I Wanna Hold Your Electric Hand,” and “Beat Me to the Punch” are infectious pop-tunes run through the Oneida riff machine.

I recorded this from our usual spot at Tubby’s with a board feed courtesy of our bud, Will. The sound is excellent. And remember—if you don’t appreciate the Oneida you have we’re not gonna get you another one.

Download FLAC and MP3

nyctaper · Oneida – Live at Tubby's 2022
Oneida
2021-08-04
Tubby's
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

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

Tracks [1:21:42]
01. Rotten
02. Cockfight
03. Opportunities
04. Each One Teach One
05. Paralyzed
06. Ghost in the Room
07. I Wanna Hold Your Electric Hand
08. Low Tide > Ragged Shore
09. Up With People
10. Solid
11. Double Lock Your Mind
12. Beat Me to the Punch

Find Oneida ticket links, records, and more at Joyful Noise!

Listen/discover/buy the jams at Bandcamp!

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