Blog Archives

Randall Bewley of Pylon Passed Away Today

February 25, 2009
By

Randy Bewley was a profoundly original guitarist and an incredibly nice man. The night after we recorded Pylon at the Knitting Factory in December, we ran into Randy, Michael and Vanessa at the Of Montreal show at Music Hall. The three were just so friendly and complimentary and seemed to just be having such fun with the new life of Pylon. Randy in particular was so buoyant that we were certain that Pylon would continue for however long they wished. Tragically, that will not be the case. Randy suffered a heart attack on Monday and this afternoon he passed away in Athens.

Pylon has posted the following message:

We love Randy
This past Monday evening, Randy Bewley had a heart attack while driving his van on Barber Street in Athens, GA. He was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center. Today, our bandmate and brother passed away at a little before 5 p.m. with his family and friends at his side. He will be missed, even as we celebrate his life and creativity. His guitar sound was as special as he was and always will be. Randy’s guitar work defined not only a generation of sound but Randy himself. His visual art, painting and photos, combined with his signature sound formed a loose set of boundaries that helps understand him. His quiet devotion to family and friends will become a benchmark for those he leaves behind.

NYCTaper Interview: Jason Loewenstein + Circle of Buzzards Preview

February 23, 2009
By


[photo from jakerock]

We have seen Jason Loewenstein and Bob D’Amico perform together many times in the last several years. As the tremendous driving and aggressive rhythm section behind the live Fiery Furnaces, Jason and Bob created the foundation for some of the best live music ever featured on this site. It was then with great delight that we saw the two had formed a new band Circle of Buzzards in the temporary lull in the Furnaces schedule.

Circle of Buzzards will perform for only the fourth time in their brief existence on Thursday February 26 at Glasslands. Sample recordings are available on Jason’s site and on their MySpace page.

We spoke via email with Jason about Circle of Buzzards, the Glasslands gig, and also received some Sebadoh news.

NYCTaper: Hi Jason, thanks for agreeing to speak to nyctaper.
We are pretty stoked about Circle Of Buzzards, having seen you and Bob play together a bunch of times. Is this a project that you two have been discussing for a while, or did it just grow out of the down time in the Fiery Furnaces schedule?

Jason Loewenstein: Circle of Buzzards was born because The Empire State Troopers asked us to go out on the road with them. I wanted to go out on the road with them, but I needed a band and some songs. So I made them up and we loaded up the van.

NYCT: Do you envision this as a long-term project?

JL: I hope so, I think this is a really good band.

NYCT: Do you expect that it will remain a bass/drums duo?

JL: Yes. The elements of rhythm, melody and amplitude are fully represented thru the wanton precision of a highly developed physical representation of our mental state(s) and their connection to the present moment awareness of our 6 senses and the physical aggregates of our audience. We are of and in the present moment and seek to bring all others there with us since they are already there.

NYCT: So what can we expect at the Glasslands gig. I see that there are four songs on your page, are there other Buzzards songs, or might we hear some At Sixes And Sevens material or some covers?

JL: We have a bunch of songs. None of which will come from my solo record. We will probably play for about a 1/2 hour… There will likely be one cover song, but I dont think that anyone will know it. I will probably just pretend that its our song / not mention it.

NYCT: As nyctaper, I find it really refreshing that you have such an open policy towards tapers, as have all your bands. Can you talk a little about your open approach to tapers and the reasons why?

JL: Nothing good can come being a shit-hoarder. Musicians are lucky that anyone would give a shit to make tapes of them!

NYCT: Finally, I guess any Sebadoh fan would find me remiss if I didn’t ask about the current state of that band. Is there anything in the works, recording, tours, etc?

JL: I will be playing with Lou later this year to support a solo record that he just finished…Sebadoh is still very much alive… Just busy with other things at the moment… Lou is gonna tour with Dinosaur, I will be playing with Circle of Buzzards and Fiery Furnaces in addition to making recordings for other bands… When the pace lets up a bit, we can be Sebadoh again!

Vivian Girls: January 30, 2009 The 1896 – Flac and MP3 Downloads

February 23, 2009
By


[photo courtesy of Impose Magazine – more here]

When we walked into “The 1896” in industrial North Bushwick for the “Brooklyn vs. Baltimore” Marathon a few weeks ago, it was basically a huge empty warehouse. In the corner, ToddP’s staff worked on constructing the stage, and in the other room the bands and other early entrants started the party. Within an hour, the empty room became a packed event with estimates of between 1500 to 2000 people. The eight separate groups delivered inspired sets and by the end of the night, virtually anyone who attended this event knew it had been an incredible night. When the book about Todd’s effect on the NYC music scene is written, this particular concert will certainly be among the memorable events.

We recorded six of the eight acts, but ambient noise of the partying crowd essentially drowned out the music for much of the later acts. When the Vivian Girls began their set, the room had not quite filled up yet, and the music is clearer. We chose a spot in front of the soundboard, which was about 50 feet from the stage. During the Vivs set, we had a clear shot at the stacks and this recording is quite clean — perhaps the only flaw is the natural echo of the huge room. However, we have sampled this recording against our recording of the Vivian Girls from South Street Seaport in September, and this one is definitely a better listen. The Vivians performed several new songs, and indeed at least one (possibly two) songs were performed for the first time. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Vivian Girls
2009-01-30
The 1896
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front of Board
50 Feet from Stage

Neumann KM-150s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Monster XLR cables > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge 8.0 (set fades, slight level boost, resample 16/44) > CD Wave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by
nyctaper
nyctaper@nyctaper.com
2009-02-22

Setlist:
[total time 22:19]
01 Walking Alone At Night
02 Surfin’ Away
03 The End
04 Can’t Get Over You
05 When I’m Gone
06 Lake House
07 Tell The World
08 I Have No Fun

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Vivian Girls, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their releases from the links at their website, and links at MySpace.

The Beets: January 16, 2009 Cake Shop – Flac and MP3 Downloads + Fashion Week Commercial

February 21, 2009
By


[click to watch The Beets commercial]

So I’m riding in a cab the other day, gazing out the window, when I was jolted to hear the music of The Beets coming from the taxi video screen. The fashion designer Cynthia Rowley produced a bizarre commercial for fashion week which features a bevy of French fashion models playing musical chairs in a gym and The Beets are the band that provides the music (also on youtube here). Besides the fact that the commercial makes virtually no sense whatsoever, its almost comically surreal that of all the bands that could have been selected to play the music, Ms. Rowley chose an obscure Queens lo-fi garage band. I would love to know the story behind their selection.

A month ago, we recorded The Beets at Cake Shop as part of a State Capital Records showcase. This show was captured from up front and the sound quality is quite good, considering that the band intentionally distorts its sound behind a wall of reverb. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Beets
2009-01-16
Cake Shop
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Upfront
10 Feet from PA

DPA 4021s > Edirol UA-5 (Oade Digimod) > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 24bit 48kHz wav > Soundforge 8.0 (level adjustments, downsample 16/44) > CD Wave > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2009-02-11

Setlist:
[total time 17:55]
08 Tracks

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Beets, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their CDs from the instructions on their MySpace page.

Iron and Wine: October 15, 2003 Knitting Factory – Flac Download + Tour News!

February 20, 2009
By


[photo from Iron and Wine MySpace]

This week it was announced that Iron and Wine would perform a pair of intimate concerts at NYC’s Abrons Arts Center on May 17 and 18, as part of a tour of small venues with setlists chosen by the fans. Tickets for the Abrons shows go on sale today (Fri 2/20) at Noon EST NOW.

Perhaps the last time that Sam Beam performed at a venue in NYC of this modest size was his first couple of trips to New York, when he played the Knitting Factory. The second such appearance is the concert offered for download here. That night the Knit was a completely packed house, and Iron and Wine delivered a full length concert of one-hundred minutes of material. The setlist included five songs from his yet-to-be-released second album Our Endless Numbered Days, along with one very memorable Flaming Lips cover — “Waitin’ for a Superman” which Iron and Wine will officially release for the first time on May 19, 2009 on the new compilation Around the Well.

This concert was recorded by long time local taper xcxre9, who provided the never-circulated master DAT for extraction and production to be posted on nyctaper. The recording suffered from a major flaw that was adjusted in post-production. The low volume of the quiet music was respected by the crowd during the songs, but the volume of cheering was overwhelming during the breaks in between numbers. In post, the crowd was reduced to an unheard-of 10% of its original volume. Listeners can hear some artifacts of this process, but the overall listening enjoyment of this recording as a whole has been greatly increased. Enjoy!

This concert is being offered in flac format only in respect for the original taper.

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Iron and Wine
2003-10-15
Knitting Factory
New York, New York

Digital Audience Master
Recorded from FOB

Recording: DPA 4061s > SBM-M1 > Sony D-8 DAT Master
Transfer: DAT Master > Panasonic SV-3800 > digital coaxial > Audigy 2 ZS Platinum > Soundforge (major level adjustment/close clapping reduction) > 16 bit 44.1 wav > CD Wave (tracking) > Flac Frontend  (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded by xcxre9
DAT Extraction and Post-Production by nyctaper 2009-02-20

Setlist:
[total time 1:38:01]
01 Each Coming Night
02 Weary Memory
03 On Your Wings
04 Someday The Waves
05 Promise What You Will
06 Faded From The Winter
07 Bird Stealing Bread
08 Free Until They Cut Me Down
09 The Sea And The Rhythm
10 Jesus The Mexican Boy
11 Sinning Hands
12 Lion’s Mane
13 Upward Over The Mountain
14 Waiting For A Superman (Flaming Lips)
15 Promising Light
16 The Rooster Moans
17 Southern Anthem
18 Dearest Forsaken
19 Muddy Hymnal
20 [encore break]
21 The Postal Service
22 Naked As We Came

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Iron and Wine, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases and merch from the store at their website [HERE].

NYCTaper on Twitter

February 20, 2009
By

nyctaper is now on Twitter [here]. We will be providing updates on the new recordings on the site in real time.

So follow nyctaper on twitter!

Heartless Bastards: February 6, 2009 Terminal 5 – FLAC and MP3 Downloads

February 19, 2009
By


[photo by Johnny for nyctaper]

Review by Johnny:
Why this band isn’t hugely popular, I have no idea. Truth be told, I had only gotten into Heartless Bastards recently and had really liked what I’d heard. I was further intrigued when I realized that raspy voice coming out of the speakers belonged to a woman. The lucky (and smart) part of the crowd that showed up at Terminal 5 early was treated to an amazing set by Erika Wennerstrom and company. Blending a tight mix of indie rock, garage punk, roots and blues, the band captured the attention of the audience during their too-short half-hour set. I could go on and wax poetic about Heartless Bastards, the strength and depth of their songs, comparisons to other bands, etc… but I don’t need to. Their music speaks for itself.

Our recording position in the venue was the same as for the Black Keys and Lucero. Aside from the chatter during the low-volume parts and the house adjusting levels (particularly vocals) during the first song, the mix is spot-on and the recording sounds really good. Enjoy!

Direct download of the complete show in MP3 [HERE]
Direct download of the complete show in FLAC [HERE]

If either of the links are no longer working, email nyctaper with a request for the download location of the files.

Heartless Bastards
February 6, 2009
Terminal 5
New York, NY, USA
(Opened for The Black Keys / Lucero)

Location: 2nd level, directly behind soundboard, DFC
Source: AUD > AKG C 414 B-XLS > Edirol R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz)
Lineage: R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz) > USB > PC > Adobe Audition (adjust levels, downsample, dither, tracking) > WAV (16-bit/44.1kHz) > Trader’s Little Helper (check/fix SB’s) > FLAC Frontend > FLAC ( level 8 )
Recorded and produced by: Johnny Fried Chicken Boy

SETLIST:
[Total time: 31:08]
01. Early in the Morning
02. Done Got Old
03. Came a Long Way
04. The Mountain
05. Sway
06. Nothing Seems the Same

If you download this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Heartless Bastards, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases and merch from the store at their website [HERE].

Lucero: February 6, 2009 Terminal 5 – FLAC and MP3 Downloads

February 19, 2009
By


[photo by Johnny for nyctaper]

Since Johnny’s Black Keys recording received universal rave reviews from nyctaper listeners, we had high expectations for the opening sets of this show — those expectations have been met!

Review by Johnny:
I can honestly say that I hadn’t heard a note from this band until they stepped on the stage at Terminal 5. Led by Ben Nichols, Memphis-based Lucero seem to be cut from a different part of the same whiskey-soaked cloth as Drive-By Truckers and the Replacements that Bruce Springsteen had used to wipe his brow. They present a rollicking good time that would make seeing them in some boozy little southern fried bar a mind-blowing event. Not to say their set at Terminal 5 wasn’t awesome, but equipment problems plagued guitarist Brian Venable for the first part of the performance, eliciting a few snickers from the crowd whereas in a smaller venue the throng would’ve been passing shots up to the stage in an effort to relieve the group’s frustration. Kudos to them for keeping their sense of humor through the ordeal and putting on a great show. The beautiful interplay of the pedal steel and the keyboards didn’t hurt either. The only way to say it is that these guys ripped. If this is what they are like on an “off” night, I can only imagine the experience when they’re “on”. As I stated earlier, I hadn’t heard of Lucero prior to this show. But rest assured, at least one of their albums will join me at the register next time I’m in a record store and I’m damn well going to see them the next time they’re playing a gig in town.

Our recording position in the venue was the same as for the Black Keys and Heartless Bastards. Aside from the chatter during the low-volume parts and the guitarist’s equipment troubles, the mix was about as good as it gets in this venue and the resultant recording sounds really good. Enjoy!

Direct download of the complete show in MP3 [HERE]
Direct download of the complete show in FLAC [HERE]

If either of the links are no longer working, email nyctaper with a request for the download location of the files.

Lucero
February 6, 2009
Terminal 5
New York, NY, USA

Location: 2nd level, directly behind soundboard, DFC
Source: AUD > AKG C 414 B-XLS > Edirol R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz)
Lineage: R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz) > USB > PC > Adobe Audition (adjust levels, downsample, dither, tracking) > WAV (16-bit/44.1kHz) > Trader’s Little Helper (check/fix SB’s) > FLAC Frontend > FLAC ( level 8 )
Recorded and produced by: Johnny Fried Chicken Boy

SETLIST:
[Total time: 53:43]
01. That Much Further West
02. Nights Like These
03. Kiss the Bottle [*]
04. Johnny Davis
05. Joining the Army (aborted)
06. Nineteen Seventy-Nine
07. I Can Get Us Out of Here
08. Wasted
09. Tonight Ain’t Gonna Be Good
10. Noon as Dark as Midnight
11. Slow Dancing
12. Bikeriders
13. Nobody’s Darlings
14. Better Than This [#]

* Jawbreaker song
# Ben Nichols solo

If you download this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Lucero, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases and merch from the store at their website [HERE].

These Are Powers: February 13, 2009 Secret Project Robot – Flac and MP3 Downloads

February 16, 2009
By


[photo by Tod Seelie – courtesy of Impose]

The CD release show for These Are Powers new release All Aboard Future was perhaps the most ambitious show of this kind that we have ever seen. In anticipation of the release, These Are Powers commissioned artists to interpret the songs on the album. The result is a week-long exhibition at Secret Project Robot. Friday night was the opening and it culminated in a performance by These Are Powers in one of the exhibition rooms. The band performed in the midst of an installation piece, with PA speakers all around the room, and played an incredibly energetic set to a completely packed crowd.

We recorded from the center back against the short side of the rectangular room, which placed our microphones only about 15 feet from the band. The sound system was powerful and this recording has an incredibly rich bass presence and a full spectrum. The only drawback is the art-crowd’s persistent chatter, which fortunately can not be heard when the band is at full volume. Enjoy!

These Are Powers are at Other Music for an in-store performance tonight (Monday Feb 16). They will also perform again this coming Friday (Feb 20) at Market Hotel.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

These Are Powers
2009-02-13
Secret Project Robot
Brooklyn, NY USA

“All Aboard Future” CD Release Show and Art Exhibit

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Center – 15 Feet from Stage

Neumann KM-150’s > Monster Cable > Apogee Mini-Me > digital coax > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 24bit 48kHz wav > Soundforge 8.0 (level adjustments, downsample) > CD Wave 1.75 > Flac Frontend (level 7) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2009-02-15

Setlist:
[Total time 47:19]
01
02 Cockles
03 Double Double Yolk
04 Untitled [new song]
05 Adams Turtle
06 Life of Birds
07 Easy Answers
08 Chipping Ice
09 World Class Peoples

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT These Are Powers, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases including the new CD All Aboard Future from the Dead Oceans site [HERE].

The Black Keys: February 6, 2009 – FLAC and MP3 Downloads

February 13, 2009
By


[photo by johnny for nyctaper]

When nyctaper was at the Market Hotel for last Fridays’ lo-fi fest, we had a new correspondent at Terminal 5 to record The Black Keys. His recording is really quite outstanding. Here’s Johnny:

Review By Johnny
On the inaugural run of their tour for Attack & Release last spring, the Black Keys came to Terminal 5 and put on a blistering show that made instant converts of even the most jaded concert-goers. Patrick Carney pounded away on his drum kit like a man possessed while guitar-slinger Dan Auerbach steered the notes into unreal sonic territory and even made a comment from the stage about how uncharacteristically “loose” the wildly appreciative NYC audience was. This time around expectations were very high. Several months of touring found a slightly more polished (and occasionally sloppy) but no less energetic duo playing to a very receptive crowd on the first of two sold-out nights at Terminal 5. Attendees of last May’s show will notice that the setlist hasn’t changed much, however, the bluesier numbers seemed to be a little more intense and smoldering and they appeared to stretch out more on some of the songs. As hoped and expected, the Keys came out with an excellent, high-octane set, reaffirming what the faithful know and impressing the uninitiated. As I heard one person remark on the way out, “Wow, I can’t believe it’s just two guys!”

An unexpected ban on tripods/stands due to the sold-out nature of the show resulted in a scramble to find an alternative recording position. We found a space right behind the soundboard on the second floor and clamped to the railing. The crowd around me was very polite albeit chatty (what is it about Terminal 5 that makes people want to talk so much?), incredibly accommodating, proved that beers could unexpectedly show up in your hands and, in the case of several girls I met, very cute. The recording came out very well due to location but, typical of the mix for Black Keys shows, is a little bass-heavy which is further accentuated due to the layout of this venue. I hope you like what you hear as much as we did. Enjoy!

Direct download of the complete show in MP3 [HERE]
Direct download of the complete show in FLAC [HERE]

If either of the links are no longer working, email nyctaper with a request for the download location of the files.

The Black Keys
February 6, 2009
Terminal 5
New York, NY, USA
(Opening bands: Lucero / Heartless Bastards)

Location: 2nd level, directly behind soundboard, DFC
Source: AUD > AKG C 414 B-XLS > Edirol R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz)
Lineage: R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz) > USB > PC > Adobe Audition (adjust levels, downsample, dither, tracking) > WAV (16-bit/44.1kHz) > Trader’s Little Helper (check/fix SB’s) > FLAC Frontend > FLAC ( level 8 )
Recorded and produced by: Johnny Fried Chicken Boy

SETLIST:
[Total time: 1:16:08]
01. Same Old Thing
02. 10 A.M. Automatic
03. Thickfreakness
04. Girl Is On My Mind
05. Stack Shot Billy
06. Busted
07. Everywhere I Go [*]
08. Strange Times
09. Your Touch
10. I’m Glad [#]
11. Psychotic Girl
12. No Trust
13. Have Love Will Travel [%]
14. The Breaks
15. I Got Mine
16. encore break
17. Set You Free
18. Till I Get My Way

* Junior Kimbrough song
# Captain Beefheart song
% Richard Berry/Sonics song

If you download this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Black Keys, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases and merch from the store at their website [HERE].

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nyctaper.com is a live music blog that offers a new paradigm of music distribution on the web. The recordings are offered for free on this site as are the music posts, reviews and links to artist sites. All recordings are posted with artist permission or artists with an existing pro-taping policy.

All recordings and original content posted on this site are @nyctaper.com as live recordings pursuant to 17 U.S.C. Section 106, et. seq. Redistribution of nyctaper recordings without consent of nyctaper.com is strictly prohibited.

nyctaper.com hereby waives all copyright claims to any and all recordings posted on this site to THE PERFORMERS ONLY. If any artist posted on this site requests that recordings be removed, those recordings will be removed forthwith.