Blog Archives

Taper’s Choice: April 24, 2022 The Sultan Room Rooftop

June 6, 2022
By
Photos by Jefe

Billing themselves as “Not the Jam Band We Need But the Jam Band We Deserve,” Taper’s Choice are somewhat mysterious newcomers to the scene—and they’re sure having fun with it. Here’s what we know: the band is a jam supergroup comprised of Dave Harrington (Darkside), Chris Tomson (Vampire Weekend), Alex Bleeker (Real Estate), and Zach Tenorio (Arc Iris). Beyond that scant info, it wasn’t until recently that tunes have emerged. Previously available only at merch tables at the band’s few California shows earlier this year, the cassette-only Choice Tapes Vol. 1 circulated word-of-mouth for a while before finally landing on Bandcamp along with Choice Tapes Vol. 2. (I hear Vol. 3 is in the works.) Songs on the tapes are titled only with single or double curly quotes on both volumes but if you listen hard maybe you’ll hear some similarities to jams circulating in “trader” circles on the Live Music Archive.

We were fortunate to get invited out to the band’s exclusive (and sold out) first show in New York (or Jam Hollywood to those in the know). Two sets under the stars at Brooklyn’s Sultan Room (one of the premier destinations for jams in the borough) and we were sold 100% on Taper’s Choice. These guys even have their own festival! Take that Phish. And go buy some tickets to Choice Fest.

Stream and download at the Live Music Archive

Taper's Choice
2022-04-24
The Sultan Room Rooftop
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 3.0.2 > FLAC

Set 1:
01. Running From the Rain
02. Lick the Toad 
03. The Dave Test (Yes) >
04. Walkin’ Around 
05. Darkness on the Edge of Midtown*

Set 2:
06. Above the Timberline  
07. Every Bubble >
08. Born to Burst*
09. Lilac Palace 
10. Low Era*^
11. Döner Wrap

*with Stuart Bogie - sax
^Geese cover with Cameron Winter (lead singer of Geese)
Kenny Wollesen - percussion on all of second set

Taper's Choice is:
Dave Harrington, Alex Bleeker, Chris Tomson, Zach Tenorio-Miller

Vapour Theories: June 24, 2021 Sunflower Philly (Philadelphia, PA)

May 31, 2022
By

It’s been far too long since we’ve heard from the mighty Bardo Pond. (Though they’ve been quietly reissuing their 90’s albums.) But the Gibbons brothers—John and Michael—have kept busy with their Vapour Theories side project, releasing the aptly-titled Celestial Scuzz last year. It might not come as a surprise that Vapour Theories sounds a lot like Bardo Pond stripped of everything but the guitars.

Last year we caught the brothers opening for Birds of Maya in their hometown Philadelphia, outdoors on a beautiful early Summer day, and here (finally!) is that recording. Besides a little ambient noise from the outdoor setting, the sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream and download the full show at the Live Music Archive.

Vapour Theories
2021-06-24
Sunflower Philly
Philadelphia, PA

Vapour Theories is John and Michael Gibbons of Bardo Pond

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 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks
01. Part 1
02. Part 2

Buy Celestial Scuzz via Bandcamp
Buy Bardo Pond records via Bandcamp

SAVAK: April 8, 2022 Tubby’s (Kingston, NY)

April 12, 2022
By

SAVAK released their last LP, Rotting Teeth in the Horse’s Mouth, on April 10, 2020. To say that was a weird time would be an understatement. I vividly recall exploring my former neighborhoods of Ditmas Park and Midwood, frequently soundtracked by that new LP in those early days.

Now it’s two years later and… here we are. SAVAK’s latest record, Human Error / Human Delight arrives on Friday and I even got to see them play live for the first time in probably three years. Too long! But like those early days, SAVAK’s set from last Friday is a much needed salve. There’s nothing quite like live music and SAVAK’s energy is infectious as ever. This was my first chance to hear some of the new songs, like the standout album-opener “No Blues No Jazz,” “Dealers,” “Cold Ocean,” and a riotous, closing “Set Apart.” SAVAK steer full-throttle towards delight!

SAVAK have a few upcoming dates around NYC, including one at The P.I.T. on May 12, plus opening slots for Jawbox (!) in July and June of 44 (!!) in October, both at Le Poisson Rouge.

I recorded this set with the mics clamped to the soundboard booth, combined with a board feed from FOH Will. I mixed those down and then Sohrab provided some additional mastering. The results are excellent. Enjoy!

Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]

Stream the complete show:

nyctaper · SAVAK – Live at Tubby's 2022

SAVAK
2022-04-08
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 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks [40:15]

  1. Early Western Traders
  2. Vis-a-Vis
  3. How Many Duchesses
  4. Dealers
  5. I Don’t Want To Be Defended
  6. Cold Ocean
  7. No Blues No Jazz
  8. Door Deals & Debt
  9. They Are Not Like Us
  10. Set Apart

• Buy Human Error / Human Delight via Bandcamp
• • Connect with the band at their Website and on Facebook

David Grubbs & Ryley Walker: December 12, 2021 Public Records

January 9, 2022
By

Way back in September, which is about a decade ago according to my experience of time, David Grubbs and Ryley Walker got together to release a fantastic collaborative album, A Tap on the Shoulder, via Ryley’s Husky Pants label. The album brings the two former Chicagoans together for the first time for seven loose, explorative guitar tracks with Grubbs also contributing some piano.

Though the pair won’t be touring behind the record (for now, anyway), they did get together last month for a one-off record release show at Public Records in Brooklyn. For fifty minutes they alternate between ruminative wanderings and dizzying freakouts, neither soloing or overwhelming the other. It sounds like they’re listening to each other just as much as they’re playing their own guitars. You don’t see two performers of this caliber get together very often, and I’m glad we were there to capture it.

Ryley Walker isn’t touring with David Grubbs, but you can still catch him live this month and beyond. Check the dates over at his website!

I recorded this show with a pair of MBHO omnidirectional mics positioned at the stage lip. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream and download the show at the Live Music Archive.

David Grubbs & Ryley Walker
2021-12-12
Public Records
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

MBHO KA100DK/603A (stage lip) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks

  1. Live at Public Records 2021 (53:12)

Garcia Peoples: June 23, 2021 The Sultan Room at The Turk’s Inn

July 7, 2021
By

A few weeks ago Garcia Peoples began their summer stand at The Sultan Room, the rooftop performance space at The Turk’s Inn. The first of three, two-set performances features some new songs, unheard jams, and the highly anticipated return of “One Step Behind” to New York City—that one was last heard in these parts and subsequently immortalized on the Live at Nublu 10/10/19 tape. The outdoor sessions continue July 21st and August 18th. (Pro tip: Get a discounted ticket for both shows!) But you say: “I can’t wait a whole two weeks for live music!” Well never fear, because Garcia Peoples play Colony in Woodstock, NY this Saturday. The show starts at Noon with an opening set from Zachary Cale. Bound to be good times there. And hey, while we’re at it here’s a lovely tape from last month at the very same venue by friend-of-the-site, Mr. Kliked.

I recorded this show at the stage lip, combining my mics with a board feed courtesy of the audio engineer, Imoni Cole-Palmer. The sound is excellent—upfront, Legendary Guitar Amp Tapes-style. Enjoy!

Downloads available at the Live Music Archive

Garcia Peoples
2021-06-23
The Sultan Room at The Turk’s Inn
Brooklyn, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

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

Total Time 2:12:23

Set 1:
01. Gliding Through
02. Eminor Jam >
03. Wasted Time
04. Crown of Thought
05. One at a Time
06. Fire of the Now
07. A Jam
08. Fill Your Cup

Set 2:
09. D Jam >
10. Dodging Dues Suite
11. One Step Behind
12. Feel So Great > Jam
13. World’s Illusion

Birds of Maya: June 24, 2021 Sunflower Philly

July 6, 2021
By

I guess like many of us, Birds of Maya were productive in the last year and a half. They finally released Valdez, the long lost album you never knew existed. Recorded way back in 2014, it picks up right where 2013’s raucous Celebration leaves off. Given the band’s long hiatus, I seized this opportunity to travel down to Philadelphia to catch their record release show at Sunflower Philly, a beautiful outdoor space in North Philadelphia. The band rips through some tunes from the new record and jams Celebration-style on a couple of song collages I’ve titled “Sunflower” and “Philly” here that have the band cycling through a few riffs that I swear sound familiar and slippery at the same time. A few blown fuses don’t stop these Birds as they cap things off with their take on The Stooges’ “TV Eye” with the legendary Harmonica Dan on, well, harmonica.

No future dates on the books for Birds of Maya but make sure to grab Valdez from Drag City and maybe encourage these guys to make some new recordings.

I recorded this with the MBHO’s up front. Once people got rocking I had to move a little bit and the sound can be slightly uneven in areas. Nonetheless this is an excellent capture of a really special show. Enjoy!

Download MP3/FLAC

nyctaper · Birds of Maya – Live at Sunflower Philly 2021

Birds of Maya
2021-06-24
Sunflower Philly
Philadelphia, PA

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 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks [48:32]
01. High Fly
02. Please Come In
03. Cosmic Honey Shaker
04. Porch Dude
05. Jam/TV Eye (false start)
06. TV Eye

Stuart Bogie, Ryley Walker, Spencer Zahn, Kevin Raczka: June 10, 2021 Nublu

June 25, 2021
By
Photos by Bryon Whitley

In the very few gigs I’ve been to since the return of live music, I’ve met a lot of new people. This is somewhat surprising since in the last year our worlds have become so much smaller, interacting only with those in our bubbles. But nature heals. Here we have long time friend-of-NYCTaper Ryley Walker meeting some new people for a jam session at Nublu: multi-instrumentalist Stuart Bogie, bassist Spencer Zahn, and drummer Kevin Raczka. The core quartet was augmented with an astounding group of musicians, including: Dave Scalia (drums), Chris Bullock (sax), Domenica Fossati (flute), Jake Pinto (keys), Eric Biondo (trumpet/keys), Raymond Mason (trombone), Jackie Coleman (trumpet), and Billy Austick (trumpet). Many of these folks are members of Antibalas, who by the way have a few gigs coming up including Central Park Summerstage and a couple nights at Brooklyn Bowl. I really can’t do justice to all these musicians in writing so I encourage you to listen for yourself to explore these new and exciting encounters.

I recorded this from our usual location at Nublu and the sound is excellent as we’ve come to expect. Shoutout to Nublu and Chris Tart for being such great hosts. Enjoy!

Stream and download the show at the Live Music Archive.

Stuart Bogie, Ryley Walker, Spencer Zahn, Kevin Raczka
2021-06-10
Nublu 151
New York, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

MBHO KA300/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC

Tracks [2:39:34]
01. I
02. II
03. III
04. IV
05. V

Stuart Bogie (sax, etc.)
Ryley Walker (guitar)
Spencer Zahn (bass)
Dave Scalia (drums)
Kevin Raczka (drums)

With:
Chris Bullock (sax)
Domenica Fossati (flute)
Jake Pinto (keys)
Eric Biondo (trumpet/keys)
Raymond Mason (trombone)
Jackie Coleman (trumpet)
Billy Austick (trumpet)

Ryley Walker: June 5, 2021 Private Backyard, Flushing, NY

June 7, 2021
By

“I don’t think Steve Gunn forgets his lyrics,” Ryley Walker wondered aloud midway though “The Roundabout” this past Saturday. He was performing in front of a small backyard audience in Flushing, Queens. We’re all a little rusty, performers and audiences alike, as live music returns to New York. But as we experienced this weekend, everyone’s quick to rediscover the well-worn grooves. In this hour and a half set, Ryley touches on his entire catalog, from Primrose Green to his outstanding new album, Course in Fable. A few covers complete the afternoon, including a lovely take on “There’s Hell in Hello, But More in Goodbye” from Jim O’Rourke’s Bad Timing record.

I recorded this show with a pair of MBHO omnidirectional mics positioned up front and overhead. Despite the windy day, the sound is superb. Enjoy!

Thanks to Ryley Walker for playing; and to Mark and Kim for hosting. You can purchase all of Ryley Walker’s albums, including Course in Fable, at Bandcamp. He’ll be on tour this fall with a full band opening for Dinosaur Jr. That tour wraps up November 20 at Brooklyn Steel. More immediately, Ryley will be joined by Stuart Bogie, Spencer Zahn, and Kevin Raczka for a sesh at Nublu 151 this coming Thursday, June 10. See you there!

Stream and download the show at the Live Music Archive.

Ryley Walker
2021-06-05
Private Backyard
Flushing, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

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

Tracks [1:34:05]
01. On the Banks of the Old Kishwaukee
02. The Roundabout
03. Rang Dizzy
04. Promise Me
05. Telluride Speed
06. Shaking Like the Others
07. The Halfwit in Me
08. If I Were a Carpenter [Tim Hardin]
09. Improvisation
10. Primrose Green
11. Summer Dress
12. Over the Hill [John Martyn]
13. There’s Hell in Hello, But More in Goodbye [Jim O’Rourke]
14. Fair Play [Van Morrison]
15. The Grand Old Trout [Bill MacKay]

High Time: January 20, 2020 Baby’s All Right

February 27, 2020
By
High Time at Brooklyn Bowl last year, courtesy of the band

“Never miss a Sunday show,” they say. It’s a direction local Grateful Dead tribute band High Time have taken entirely to heart, playing almost exclusively Sunday nights throughout Brooklyn venues. Never miss a High Time show is also a pretty good idea: sticking to (let’s face it) the highest quality Dead material from ’65–’74, High Time promise to perform “The Classic Psychedelic Rock N Roll Music of the Grateful Dead.”

I first caught High Time last year during a two-night stand at Union Pool, and on the hottest day of the year the band did some face-melting of their own inside the air-conditioned venue. I finally got to see them again last month at Baby’s All Right where they played matinee and late shows. It didn’t hurt that they brought along a couple of my favorite bands to open, MV & EE and Elkhorn. It’s a real testament to High Time’s engagement with music beyond the Dead—quality openers playing original, Dead-influenced music sadly isn’t the norm for tribute acts. But then again High Time aren’t exactly your run-of-the-mill Dead cover band. They bring a rare energy and spirit to the music, treating it as a living thing instead of putting it behind museum glass with an attempt to create a note-by-note facsimile. Playing intimate venues like Baby’s All Right, this is the closest you’re going to get to seeing the Dead at the Matrix without time travel.

There were many highlights from last month’s shows that I’m excited to share, but the pinnacle of these sets for me was the afternoon’s “Playing in the Band” > “Dark Star” > “Eyes of the World” > “Playing in the Band” suite, an absolute rager and you shoulda been there. But if you weren’t, have no fear because High Time will be back on Sunday (naturally) April 26 at Brooklyn Bowl. Check out the poster below and grab your tickets. A good time is pretty much guaranteed and you’re unlikely to find something better to do than a night of Dead tunes on a Sunday.

Download both Baby’s All Right shows in MP3/FLAC





High Time
2020-01-19
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

On stage recording by Eric PH
Set 1 audience recording by Adam from High Time
Set 2 soundboard recording by Alex Harwood

Mixed and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Aud (set 1)/Soundboard (set 2) + MBHO KA100DK/603A (on stage) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.0.5 > FLAC

Matinee Show [1:21:15]
01. Jack Straw > They Love Each Other
02. Till the Morning Comes
03. Playing in the Band >
04. Dark Star >
05. Eyes of the World >
06. Playing in the Band
07. [encore break]
08. Brown Eyed Women

Late Show [1:35:15]
01. [Intro]
02. New Speedway Boogie
03. Alligator
04. [banter]
05. Truckin’ >
06. The Other One
07. [banter]
08. Scarlet Begonias
09. China Cat Sunflower >
10. I Know You Rider
11. [encore break]
12. Mr. Charlie

MV & EE: January 19, 2020 Baby’s All Right

January 27, 2020
By

It’s been a while since we’ve seen Matt and Erika playing together at MV/EE. Of course Matt’s been busy charting new frequencies with his latest solo record, Preserves, and jamming with his other duo, Wet Tuna. But really there’s nothing nicer than a cosmic Sunday matinee with the classic duo, who drove down from Vermont to open for Dead tribute band High Time. Even the traffic couldn’t dampen their spirits as they took a more relaxed drive with “East Mountain Joint,” followed by “Tea Devil,” and an extended ride on “Shit’s Creek” and “No $.”

This recording is a result of a combined effort—my onstage recording with the MBHO omnis and Baby’s FOH Alex Harwood’s soundboard recording. The sound is outstanding. Enjoy!

Download MP3/FLAC



MV & EE
2020-01-19
Baby’s All Right
Brooklyn, NY

On stage recording by Eric PH
Soundboard recording by Alex Harwood

Mixed and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com

Soundboard + MBHO KA100DK/603A (on stage) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.0.5 > FLAC

Tracks [36:06]
01. East Mountain Joint
02. Tea Devil
03. Shit’s Creek > Jam > No $ > Shit’s Creek

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT MV & EE: Their Website | Buy Root/Void from Woodsist | Twitter

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