Blog Archives

Vulture Shit: April 28, 2015 Baby’s All Right – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

June 5, 2015
By

Vulture Shit
[Photo by Jamie Langley]

“We’re Vulture Shit. That’s the worst kind of shit.” —Randy Vandal, Vulture Shit

Vulture Shit are a non-traditional post-hardcore trio traveling under what I’m pretty convinced are assumed names: Randy Vandal (vocals), Mike D. (drums), and Mike B. (bass). If you were in a band called Vulture Shit, you’d disguise your true identity too. But these guys are no superheroes—according to their lyrics they are all too normal. Disgustingly, creepily normal. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn (surely the height of social networking banality), though your odds of landing that new gig will probably diminish due to the association. But enough about the players—what about the music? The lack of guitar is the obvious insight, but it’s not missed at all. Mike B.’s expert bass-playing is absolutely singular and I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard anything like it. Combined with Mike D.’s powerhouse drumming, this is all Vulture Shit needs in terms of instrumentation. Randy Vandal vocalizes like a younger Matt Korvette (Pissed Jeans) or a way younger David Yow (you know). Laying down a whopping twelve songs in twenty-three minutes, this trio wowed a crowd—myself included—that had shown up early to catch Pile (their set here).

Baby’s FOH Harrison Fore recorded this set with a board feed and the Baby’s room mics. I mixed those two sources in post-production. Like the Pile set from the same night, the sound is exceptional even for Baby’s standards. Enjoy!

You can take my word—and this recording—for it, but seeing is believing: catch Vulture Shit next Friday June 12 on a stellar Northside Fest showcase at Aviv, along with NYCTaper favs Washer. Tickets are on sale.

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

Stream the complete show:

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.

Vulture Shit
2015-04-28
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Harrison) + Audio Technica 4051 > 4x Mono WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [22:56]
01. I Love the Way He Touches His Computer
02. I Love My Job
03. Curfew
04. Cable’s Out
05. Church Van Contraband
06. Walkie-Talkie Sleepover (My Fault My Friend Died)
07. The End
08. Dinnertime
09. You Crossed the Line
10. Rookie Cop
11. Area Dad
12. Hell on a T-Shirt

Support Vulture Shit: Bandcamp | Facebook

Pile: April 28, 2015 Baby’s All Right – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

June 5, 2015
By

Pile
[Photo by Jamie Langley]

Don’t be surprised when Pile’s latest long-player, You’re Better Than This, is all over 2015’s year-end lists. It’s the most immediately engaging record I’ve heard all year, and another winner from the folks at Exploding in Sound Records. Pile has been supporting the record with a never-ending tour, putting Rick Maguire high up on the list of hardest working musicians in the game. This Baby’s All Right show from April is their second stop in NYC this year, having previously played the grittier Palisades in February. Meanwhile, NYCTaper caught up with the band down in Austin for a short SXSW showcase set back in March (that recording here).

You’re Better Than This has put Pile on many people’s radars, but it was clear from the crowd that some people have been with Pile all along. Early adopters could be identified as the ones mouthing the words to even older songs like “Pets” from the 2010 self-released album, Magic Isn’t Real, as well as “The Browns” and “Grunt Like a Pig” from the 2012 EIS debut Dripping. Though I’m a bit newer to the band, I count myself lucky to have caught them at Baby’s—these guys won’t be playing 280-capacity rooms for long.

Baby’s FOH Harrison Fore recorded this set with a board feed and the Baby’s room mics. I mixed those two sources in post-production. The sound quality of this recording is above and beyond even Baby’s usual high standards for sound. Enjoy!

Pile will be back around playing The Bell House on July 3. Tickets are still available.

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

Stream the complete show:

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.

Pile
2015-04-28
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Harrison) + Audio Technica 4051 > 4x Mono WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [40:32]
01. The World is Your Motel
02. Mr. Fish
03. Baby Boy
04. The Browns
05. Special Snowflakes
06. Grunt Like a Pig
07. Pets
08. Appendicitis
09. #2 Hit Single

Support Pile: Bandcamp | Facebook | Tumblr

Media Jeweler: April 3, 2015 Shea Stadium – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

May 29, 2015
By

Media Jeweler
[Photo by acidjack]

Media Jeweler are a new-ish four piece from the OC, and since 2013 they’ve been laying down a category-defying brand of post-rock with complex, overlapping rhythms and repeating motifs. Acidjack and I stumbled upon them last month playing an opening set at Shea Stadium. We were blown away by their unique jams and a set crafted not like a collection of disparate elements but as a concise and deliberate piece. That ability carries over to their upcoming album, $99 R/T HAWAII, for which I scored a sneak preview that lives up to the high expectations conjured by their live performance. The band was in town for one night only, stopping off at Shea after recording in Providence, RI and this marks their first live appearance outside of California. The album is due out soon, but in the meantime you can catch Media Jeweler at some live dates out by their home turf. They’re planning a return to the east coast this fall, a visit I’m already looking forward to.

This set was recorded by Shea Stadium engineer, Nick Pitman. I mixed down the multitrack files and the sound is excellent. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

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

Stream the complete show:

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.

Media Jeweler
2015-04-03
Shea Stadium
Brooklyn, NY

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com courtesy of liveatsheastadium.com
Recorded by Nick Pitman
Produced by Eric PH

Soundboard multitrack > Adobe Audition CC > Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [25:12]
01. Untitled
02. No Exit
03. Passport Invalid
04. Blistered
05. Looking Glass
06. Looking Back
07. Looking Glass (Reprise)

Support Media Jeweler: Facebook | Website | Bandcamp

Obnox: May 15, 2015 Cake Shop – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

May 22, 2015
By

Obnox
[Photo by Jason House, I’m Just Here For the Bands]

Last year’s Louder Space wasn’t so much a breakthrough album for Obnox as it was a perfect distillation of Lamont Bim Thomas’ prolific garage-punk/hip-hop outfit. If the juxtaposition of those two genres gives you pause, fear not: Thomas is equally comfortable whether he’s doing an MC5-inspired cover of Neil Young’s “Ohio” or namechecking Mary J. Blige. He’s followed up Louder Space this year with the excellent Boogalou Reed (on 12XU) and the just-released Know America (on Ever/Never Records), an airwaves-takeover-style concept record. And in case I didn’t sufficiently highlight the word “prolific,” he’s got another record coming Ever/Never later this year. Even with this wealth of new material, last week’s Obnox set from Cake Shop (currently celebrating their ten-year anniversary) is packed with hits from the deepest reaches of their discography: “How to Rob (The Punk Years),” “Molecule,” “Mecca Son Shine,” and “Red I” from Louder Space; “Dough” and the title track from the “Smoke Woody Haze” EP; “Being Cleveland” from the double LP Corrupt Free Enterprise. The newer tracks are “Loudpack” and “Grease” from Know America, and “Watching You” from Boogalou Reed. Meanwhile, “Carmen, I Love You” is out digitally but a vinyl issue seems imminent. Some technical troubles prevented Thomas from playing guitar for the bulk of the set, but what’s missed in his distorted guitar work is more than made up for by his on-point vocal delivery and best-in-the-business stage banter.

I recorded this set with a pair of AKGs set up at the stage lip and a pair of Church Audio cards positioned to pick up the monitors. Very special thanks to Cake Shop’s engineer Jeff, who made this recording possible by helping me out with a loaner stand. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

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

Stream the complete show:

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.

Obnox
2015-05-15
Cake Shop
New York, NY

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

AKG C480B/CK61 (stage lip, DFC) + Church Audio CA-11 Cardioids (PAS, ROC) > CA-9100 >> Roland R-26 > 2x WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [49:27]
01. [Intro]
02. The Get It Inn
03. Watching You
04. [tech break]
05. Dough
06. How to Rob (The Punk Years)
07. [tech break]
08. Mecca Son Shine
09. Carmen, I Love You
10. Being Cleveland
11. Grease
12. Red I
13. Molecule
14. Loudpack
15. Smoke Woody Haze

Support Obnox: Facebook | Buy Know America from Ever/Never Records | Buy other Obnox records from 12XU

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band: April 18, 2015 Baby’s All Right

May 20, 2015
By
Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
[Photos by Jamie Langley]

Even though he’s Philadelphia-based, New York looks more and more like Chris Forsyth’s home turf, having already played a couple shows here this year. On a short break between recording and mixing their next record for No Quarter, Forsyth and the Solar Motel crew stopped by NYC for a one-off with likeminded jammers Howlin Rain (their set posted here). This set from Baby’s All Right is comprised entirely of new material that’s slated to appear on that next record: “High Castle Rock” and “The Rarity of Experience, Parts 1–2” we’ve heard before but “Anthem” and “Harmonious Dance” are completely new to us. The new one won’t drop until 2016, so in the mean time we’ve got you covered with another live Solar Motel excursion.

Baby’s FOH Harrison Fore recorded this set with a board feed and the Baby’s room mics. I mixed those two sources in post-production. It might be our best Forsyth capture yet. Dig in!

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

Chris Forsyth & The Solar Motel Band
2015-04-18
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Harrison) + Audio Technica 4051 > 4x Mono WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [38:00]
01. Anthem
02. [banter]
03. The Rarity of Experience, Parts 1-2
04. [banter]
05. High Castle Rock
06. [banter]
07. Harmonious Dance

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

B Boys: April 11, 2015 Silent Barn – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

May 7, 2015
By

B Boys

Hey there, b boys and b girls. Today, we’ve got a fresh recording of a local Brooklyn trio, B Boys. These guys mine the rich territory of late ’70s post-punk acts like Wire and the Buzzcocks mixed with a more modern garage-y sound. You may have caught them playing out recently at Silent Barn or one of the final shows at Death By Audio last November. They’re in the studio right now recording their first album, but meanwhile they’re also sharing a studio version of “Other Head” on their Bandcamp page. We caught up with B Boys opening up for Tyvek at Silent Barn last month and were surprised at how catchy these tunes are. Their short, to-the-point set will no doubt leave you wanting more, but only after you’ve had the poppy “I Don’t Mind” and the aggro “Psycho” on repeat for a while, not to mention the weird, bendy “Other Head.”

I recorded this set with the AKGs in front of the board combined with a feed from Silent Barn’s Yaman Palak. The sound is as raw as punk rock should be. Enjoy!

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

Stream the complete show:

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.

B Boys
2015-04-11
Silent Barn
Brooklyn, NY

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

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

Tracks [23:42]
01. Sound Frequency
02. Psycho
03. Seagulls
04. Other Head
05. Untitled
06. Fear It
07. I Don’t Mind

Support B Boys: Bandcamp

Six Organs of Admittance: April 30, 2015 Baby’s All Right – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

May 6, 2015
By

Six Organs of Admittance
[Photos by Jamie Langley]

For many Six Organs of Admittance fans, 2012’s Ascent delivered on something they’ve been waiting for a long time: the Six Organs-Comets on Fire record. The long-fabled collaboration—essentially Ben Chasny backed by his Comets bandmates—was originally teased way back in 2009 by Ethan Miller’s Silver Currant blog as “The Lost Electric Six Organs Album.” It featured three demos, all of which would later be recorded for Ascent. The demos themselves would get a limited CD-R/tape release from Silver Current as well. Three years later, Six Organs is back with Hexadic, in which all the songs were composed according to a complex card-based system that I won’t bother trying to explain. (If you want to know more about that go straight to the source and pick up Chasney’s book, The Hexadic System.) Hexadic does two things for Six Organs: it picks up where Ascent leaves off with another electric, high-energy version of the band; and it also completely re-formulates and invigorates the project. For songs that were composed based on a formal system, they downright rock.

Finally making their way to the east coast this April (there was a February west coast tour), this lineup of Six Organs at Baby’s All Right features Andrew Mitchell on bass and Adam Payne on drums. Five songs here are from Hexadic while the balance of the set sees the band drawing from across the Six Organs catalog. The most surprising inclusion is “Black Needle Rhymes” off of 1999’s Dust & Chimes, here re-imagined as a medley with a cover of Coil’s “Fire of the Mind.” “Shelter From the Ash” and “A Thousand Birds” are Six Organs hits if I’ve ever heard one. But my absolute favorite moment in this set is when “Home” (from School of the Flower) segues seamlessly into “Anesthesia” (from Luminous Night). It’s positively chilling.

Baby’s All Right FOH Harrison Fore recorded this set with the house mics and a soundboard feed and I mixed the two sources in post-production, like the Elisa Ambrogio set from the same night. The sound is outstanding. Enjoy!

Six Organs of Admittance is still on tour with Elisa Ambrogio. Check the dates here.

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

Stream the complete show:

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.

Six Organs of Admittance

Six Organs of Admittance
2015-04-30
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Harrison) + Audio Technica 4051 > 4x Mono WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [52:04]
01. Hollow River
02. Wax Chance
03. The Ram
04. Guild
05. A Thousand Birds
06. Home
07. Anesthesia
08. Sphere Path Code C
09. Even If You Knew
10. Black Needle Rhymes / Fire of the Mind [Coil]
11. Shelter From the Ash

Support Six Organs of Admittance: Website | Buy Hexadic from Drag City

Elisa Ambrogio: April 30, 2015 Baby’s All Right and January 31, 2015 Silent Barn – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

May 5, 2015
By

Elisa Ambrogio
[Baby’s All Right photos by Jamie Langley]

If you somehow missed out on Elisa Ambrogio’s sleeper-hit solo record, The Immoralist, last year, it’s time to rectify that. Besides the standout single “Superstitious” garnering a Best Tracks of 2014 slot from Pitchfork, the entire album is superb front-to-back. And fear not Magik Markers fans, Ambrogio’s signature guitar work is all over this record. It’s a quieter album that you might have expected from the Markers front-woman, but also one any fan of that band will find satisfying. The songwriting will feel familiar but for this solo record the subject matter is more personal and the vocals are upfront so that you can hear every word. If you got in on the two records from the tragically under appreciated 200 Years (the duo of Ambrogio with Six Organs of Admittance mastermind Ben Chasny), you’ll have a good idea what to expect from her solo outing.

I’ve been lucky enough to catch Elisa Ambrogio’s solo tour twice this year, each time with different supporting musicians and each lending a slightly different perspective to the songs. Back in January, she stopped by Silent Barn on the tail end of a tour with banjo-player and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Bowles on drums (his set posted here). Then, on the second leg of a tour with Six Organs of Admittance this past week at Baby’s All Right, Ambrogio played a few solo songs followed by some full band songs with Ben Chasny on guitar and drummer Adam Payne (also of Residual Echoes). Ambrogio and Chasny even dust off one of their 200 Years tunes, “West Hartford.” Perhaps due to the late hour or the DIY venue, the Silent Barn set is the looser of the two, with Ambrogio coming nearly unhinged in her solo finale of “Kylie.” In contrast, the Baby’s set is slightly more polished, with Chasny’s subtle guitar work adding some interesting texture to the songs, particularly on “Far From Home.”

The Silent Barn set was recorded with the AKGs set up in front of the soundboard combined with a board feed. There’s a little more ambient crowd noise on this one (particularly the first minute or two of “Comers”), but Ambrogio’s powerful songs soon quell the crowd and the set is quite enjoyable. The Baby’s All Right set was recorded by FOH Harrison Fore, combining the house mics with a stereo board feed. The respectful and attentive crowd is reflected in the clarity of the recording. Overall, the two sets present varying but complementary takes on Ambrogio’s live sets. I think you’ll enjoy them!

Elisa Ambrogio is still on tour with Six Organs of Admittance. Check the dates here.

Download the complete April 30 Baby’s All Right show: [MP3] | [FLAC]

Download the complete January 31 Silent Barn show: [MP3] | [FLAC]

Stream the complete April 30 Baby’s All Right show:

Stream “Clarinet Queen” from Silent Barn:

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.

Elisa Ambrogio and Ben Chasny

Elisa Ambrogio
2015-04-30
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Harrison) + Audio Technica 4051 > 4x Mono WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [37:43]
01. Comers
02. Arkansas
03. West Hartford [200 Years]
04. Clarinet Queen
05. Superstitious
06. Stopped Clocks
07. Far From Home
08. Kylie


Elisa Ambrogio
2015-01-31
Silent Barn
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Mike) + AKG C480B/CK61 (FOB, PAS) > Roland R-26 > 2xWAV(24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown, compression) > iZotope Ozone 5 (EQ, Exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (level 8)

Tracks [30:53]
01. Comers
02. Superstitious
03. Clarinet Queen
04. Stopped Clocks
05. Arkansas
06. Kylie

Support Elisa Ambrogio: Buy The Immoralist from Drag City

Howlin Rain: April 18, 2015 Baby’s All Right – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

May 1, 2015
By

Howlin Rain
[Photo by Jamie Langley]

Ethan Miller’s Howlin Rain is no stranger to live recordings. Last year’s Live Rain is the ultimate testament to the band’s larger-than-life, seventies arena rock sound. Meanwhile, Miller’s record label Silver Current is devoted primarily to documenting Howlin Rain’s live shows along with shows from his erstwhile noise-rock outfit, Comets on Fire. 2012’s Brooklyn Bowl show captured by Acidjack and hi and lo is no slouch either—check that cover of Richard Thompson’s “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” if you require definitive proof.

Compared to their live sound, Howlin Rain’s most recent studio album, Mansion Songs, is a lower-key, stripped-down affair  that showcases Miller’s songwriting and vocals. Currently on tour for that album, Howlin Rain are in full-on guitar rock mode, stretching the songs out well past their recorded lengths. This is arena rock in a small club and the only indication you’re at Baby’s All Right and not Giants Stadium is the reasonably-priced beer. If I were to choose a favorite here, it’s the face melting fifteen-minute “Self Made Man” from previous record Russian Wilds. You won’t hear jamming like it this side of the ’77 Dead tour.

Baby’s FOH Harrison Fore recorded this set with the venue’s installed house mics and a stereo soundboard mix. In post-production I mixed these two sources. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Download MP3 and FLAC via the Live Music Archive.


Howlin Rain
2015-04-18
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Harrison) + Audio Technica 4051 > 4x Mono WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, mixdown) > Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [49:46]
01. Meet Me in the Wheat
02. The New Age
03. Coliseum
04. [tuning]
05. Self Made Man
06. [tuning]
07. Big Red Moon

Support Howlin Rain: WebsiteFacebookBuy Mansion Songs and other Howlin Rain records and merch from Revolve

Sir Richard Bishop: April 10, 2015 Union Pool – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

April 28, 2015
By

Sir Richard Bishop
[Photo from Boston 2011 by Tim Bugbee/tinnitus photography]

To say Rick Bishop is peerless among contemporary guitarists is a bit of a half-truth. Along with his brother Alan Bishop (aka Alvarius B), they continue in the tradition of their long-running band Sun City Girls, who covered every genre of music imaginable. Rick Bishop’s solo music isn’t quite as wide-ranging but his body of work is massive, composed largely of solo guitar songs often steeped in the inflections of Indian and Middle Eastern music. And yet he always sounds like himself—his playing with Sun City Girls, as a solo guitarist, and as one-third of Rangda is inimitable. In a recent interview with Premier Guitar, he says of his craft: “My style is a mish-mash that comes out of improvisation, with mistakes and everything along the way. I never worry about what the style is, and whatever comes out, comes out.” Born of a love affair with a nineteenth-century guitar, his latest album for Drag City, Tangier Sessions, features seven improvised songs recorded in a room in the Moroccan city on a handheld Sony PCM D50 digital recorder. It’s a true collaboration, not between musicians but between a musician and the history of a truly singular instrument. The story of the album is the story of how Bishop was bewitched by this guitar and he’s spoken about it recently in interviews as well as in the appropriately titled “Guitar Talk” video promoting the album.

Bishop stopped by Brooklyn’s Union Pool on his ongoing tour for Tangier Sessions, bringing along the famed instrument. To see and hear Bishop play this guitar in person is simply jawdropping. His guitar musings, whether structured songs that have appeared on albums or in-the-moment improvisations, are brought to life in vivid detail by this guitar and his deft playing. Bishop improvises often, sometimes trading on a phrase or theme of a recorded song, and I’ve done my best to identify what I could. The most recognizable tracks are “Safe House” off Tangier Sessions and “Abydos” off Fingering the Devil. “Maqam” (if I hear him correctly) appears to be an improvisation named after a type of melody in Arabic music.

In addition to playing improvisations and a couple of his solo tracks, Bishop treats us to three Sun City Girls songs and each is indicative of that band’s irreverent humor: “Porno Shop” (from Horse Cock Phepner)  is about the closing of a porno shop for ostensibly moral reasons; in “Six Kids of Mine” (from Dante’s Disneyland Inferno) a father at the end of his rope resorts to infanticide; and in “Bitter Cold Countryside” (also from Dante’s Disneyland Inferno) a town bands together to murder a carpetbagging preacher. From Bishop’s “NPR shit” (his words!) to the absurdity of the Sun City Girls tracks, the crowd is with him all the way knowing full well that it’s not often you get to see a Sir Richard Bishop show like this.

I recorded this set with the AKGs mounted to the balcony and a board feed from Union Pool FOH Leah. Despite some ambient noise from the bar—inevitable for a quiet show like this—the sound is excellent and I only hope that it does justice to Bishop and his guitar. Enjoy!

Bishop is currently rounding out his US tour and will hit Europe next. Dates here.

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

Stream the complete show:

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.

Sir Richard Bishop
2015-04-10
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY

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

Soundboard (engineer: Leah) + AKG C480B/CK61 (FOB, LOC, PAS) > Roland R-26 > 2xWAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC (align, balance, compression, mixdown) > Audacity 2.0.5 (amplify, fades, downsample, dither, tracking, tagging) > FLAC (16/44.1, level 8)

Tracks [55:10]
01. Zurvan
02. [banter/tuning]
03. Esoterica of Abyssynia
04. [tuning]
05. Mystic Minor 23
06. Porno Shop [Sun City Girls]
07. Six Kids of Mine [Sun City Girls]
08. Safe House
09. Nowhere Over the Rainbow
10. The Pillars of Baalbek
11. Bitter Cold Countryside [Sun City Girls]
12. Mekong
13. Abydos

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