Blog Archives

[photo courtesy of Devyn Manibo]

In the next few weeks, Real Estate will release a single that will again point their career arc upwards. “Reservoir” b/w “Out of Tune” will be released on True Panther Records and based upon the live performances of both songs we have heard, this single will be huge. In June at Music Hall, “Reservoir” was the untitled “new song” that we streamed and raved about. Now with a title, “Reservoir” is an irresistible upbeat number with a melodic guitar line and a relaxed vocals. “Out of Tune” has been the opening song for the last two Real Estate recordings we captured, and its slower with more of a 70’s vibe than its flipside. At Pier 54 on Thursday, both songs were on display, along with a completely new debut performance of a song preliminarily called “All The Same” during a nice forty-five minute opening set. The band continues to get tighter live and with this high quality new material on the horizon, Real Estate is going places. Those places include a tour with Deerhunter in October with a local date of Webster Hall on October 15.

I recorded this set under the same conditions as the Deerhunter recording, but the sound in the venue was clearer and more well-balanced during this set. Enjoy!

Stream “Reservoir”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/R2410RealEstate9229/06%20RealEstate2010-08-12_nyctaper_t06.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Real Estate
2010-08-12
Pier 54
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front Row
15 Feet From Left Stack

DPA 4021’s > Marantz PMD-660 (Oade BCM) > 16bit 44.1 wav > Soundforge (set fades, level adjustment, slight eq) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by
nyctaper 2010-08-16

Setlist:
[total time 47:28]
01 Younger Than Yesterday
02 Beach Comber
03 Pool Swimmers
04 Green River
05 Suburban Beverage
06 Reservoir
07 Out Of Tune
08 Art Fandelet
09 Suburban Dogs
10 [new song – “All The Same” debut]
11 Fake Blues

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Real Estate, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their releases from Woodist Records, Half Machine Records, and Underwater Peoples (currently sold out).

[photo by Anika]

Common Prayer released their debut album There is a Mountain on June 1 on Big Potato Records and have received rave reviews from diverse sources such as the BBC and Other Music. While the album is regarded as a superb “under the radar” release, Common Prayer is simply the latest project in the musical career of Jason Russo — founder and leader of psychedelic alt-rockers Hopewell, and one-time/sometime touring member of Mercury Rev. Russo and partner Alexandra Marvar recorded the album in England with help from the Bennett Brothers (of Truck Festival) and brother Justin Russo (Silent League) and the album maintains a friends and family appeal — Americana with a British countryside flavor. The live band includes Russo and Marvar with three additional players on drums, keys and vocals. At Rock Shop on Friday night, Common Prayer played a thirty-minute set of songs from album, along with one excellent cover. Jason is clearly the focus of the band, but all players were in unison throughout the relaxed set which captured the feel of the album while also adding a little live muscle to the material. Common Prayer will perform again at Union Pool on September 3, and then again at Glasslands on September 16.

I recorded this set as I had the two Rock Shop sets from last week (Sharon Van Etten and Tune-Yards) — a nice soundboard feed mixed with high-end microphones. This time I used the Neumanns. The sound quality is quite exceptional. Enjoy!

Stream “Us vs. Them”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/C1308Common1020/4%20CommonPrayer2010-08-13_nyctaper_t04.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Common Prayer
2010-08-13
The Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Neumann KM-150s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2x 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-08-15

Setlist:
[Total Time 32:44]
01 commonprayer
02 Marriage Song
03 Hopewell
04 Us vs. Them
05 Sara G
06 Of Saints
07 Free Air
08 Everything & More
09 Love –> Building on Fire (Talking Heads)

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Common Prayer, visit their website, and purchase There is a Mountain from the links at their website.

[photo courtesy of Natasha Ryan]

The last time we saw Deerhunter, it was two years ago (at Music Hall) and the band was riding the success of Microcastle and performing as a five-piece band. Bradford and the band were relaxed and playing with more confidence than ever. In the intervening two years, Deerhunter has not been particularly active as a touring band, as Bradford has released an Atlas Sound album (and tour) and the band got busy recording the next album — Halcyon Digest due for release on September 28 on 4AD Records. Last night in the rain at Pier 54, Deerhunter returned to NYC as a four-piece and played a blistering guitar-heavy set that featured four new songs and several re-worked older numbers. Of note were the upbeat “Rainwater Cassette Exchange”, a long (eight minute) shimmering “Fluorescent Grey” (streaming below) and the completely rabid twenty-minute “Nothing Ever Happened” that devolved into a lengthy multilayered and looped guitar jam. Deerhunter means business with this more muscled approach and we expect that Halcyon Digest will be a superb new release.

This set was recorded with our mobile DPA rig from the first row on the rail, directly in front of the left PA stack at about 15 feet. The recording has an in-your-face directness and clarity, but the sound mix in the outdoor venue was spotty at times, and often over-modulated Bradford’s guitar. With those caveats, enjoy!

Stream “Fluorescent Grey”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/D9090Deerhunter8282/09%20Deerhunter2010-08-12_nyctaper_t09.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Deerhunter
2010-08-12
Pier 54
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front Row
15 Feet From Left Stack

DPA 4021’s > Marantz PMD-660 (Oade BCM) > 16bit 44.1 wav > Soundforge (set fades, level adjustment, slight eq) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by
nyctaper 2010-08-13

Setlist:
[total time 1:19:53]
01 Desire Lines
02 Hazel Street
03 Revival
04 Rainwater Cassette Exchange
05 Never Stops
06 Spring Hall Convert
07 Fountain Stairs
08 Wash Off
09 Fluorescent Grey
10 Helicopter
11 [encore break – loops]
12 Cover Me (Slowly)
13 Agoraphobia
14 Nothing Ever Happened / Jam

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Deerhunter, visit their MySpace page, visit the band blog, visit the Halcyon Digest page, and purchase Halcyon Digest when it is released by 4AD Records [here].

[photo courtesy of Kyle Dean Reinford Photography]

This Sunday was the third installment of the Vivo in Vino concert series, which matches artists with winemakers for a night of music and vino. This week featured one of our favorites Holly Miranda, along with the superb boutique California winery Bear Flag. This was our first experience with the Vivo in Vino series, and without question we will not miss another one — this was simply the best time I’ve had at a concert in several years. Perhaps fueled by the excellent wine or the welcoming urban-rustic surroundings of the fine wine bar In Vino, it just seemed that everyone in the packed room was there for merriment and music. Holly in particular was a joy to behold, as she performed a series of eclectic covers in her powerful voice and inimitable style with a feeling like she was both enjoying the songs and having fun with the audience.

I recorded this set with the DPA’s mounted to a pole about 15 feet from the stage and mixed with an RCA out from the small PA box. The vocals are dominant in the mix in large part because the system did not pick up much of the guitar in the speakers. With that caveat, enjoy!

Stream “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” (Jeff Buckley cover):
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/H3010HollyMiranda2909/11%20HollyMiranda2010-08-08_nyctaper_t11.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Holly Miranda
2010-08-08
Vino In Vino
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + DPA 4021s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2x 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-08-10

Setlist:
[Total Time 48:12]
01 [introduction/wine discussion]
02 Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (Smiths)
03 Waves
04 I’m Your Man (Leonard Cohen)
05 Secret Identity
06 Glass, Concrete & Stone (David Byrne)
07 [set break + introduction]
08 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James)
09 I’m On Fire (Springsteen)
10 God Damn the Sun (Swans)
11 Lover, You Should Have Come Over (Jeff Buckley)
12 [banter/audience participation practice]
13 Ex-Factor (Lauren Hill)

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Holly Miranda, visit her website, visit her blog, and purchase The Magician’s Private Library directly from the Beggars Group website [HERE].

[photo by Ryan Muir – this photo first appeared at brooklynvegan]

For thirteen years, Owen Ashworth has written a plethora of poignant songs about twenty-something angst. As Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, often playing solo accompanied by a table of two keyboards and multiple effects, Owen was one of the first performers to create entire soundscapes from modest electronic equipment. His songs speak to that post-college disillusionment through brief realistic first person slice of life vignettes that are both sad and moving. Perhaps since he has now moved beyond the age range of his protagonists, Owen has announced that this year will be the last for this particular musical project. In mid-July, Casiotone was the headline band for an excellent night of music at Monster Island. Owen’s set was a tight fifty-two minute run through a nice selection of the recent Casiotone catalog, including five songs each from the last three albums, but only one song from The First Two Albums. He will return to Monster Island on October 15 for the final NYC show for Casiotone For The Painfully Alone.

I recorded this set with a nice feed from the soundboard mixed with the Neumann microphones mounted on a pole ten feet from the stage. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Streets of Philadelphia” (Springsteen cover):
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/C1907Casiotone2220/17%20Casiotone2010-07-18_nyctaper_t17.mp3]

Stream “Bobby Malone Moves Home”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/C1907Casiotone2220/15%20Casiotone2010-07-18_nyctaper_t15.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
2010-07-18
Monster Island Basement
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Neumann KM-150s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2x 16bit 44.1kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-08-07

Setlist:
[Total Time 52:58]
01 [introduction]
02 Optimist Vs. The Silent Alarm
03 Man O’ War
04 I Love Creedence
05 White Corolla
06 White on White
07 Lesley Gore on the T.A.M.I. Show
08 Old Panda Days
09 Traveling Salesman’s Young Wife Home Alone On Christmas In Montpelier, VT
10 [banter]
11 Scattered Pearls
12 New Year’s Kiss
13 [banter]
14 Cold White Christmas
15 Bobby Malone Moves Home
16 Young Shields
17 Streets of Philadelphia (Springsteen)
18 [banter]
19 White Jetta

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, visit the website, visit the MySpace page, and purchase the official releases directly from the Tom Lab Records website [HERE].

[photos for nyctaper by David Andrako]

Although she has played several times recently in NYC, we had not previously cross paths with Merrill Garbus and Tune-Yards. I had heard tremendous accolades for her set opening for Dirty Projectors at Bowery, so it was with great anticipation that we witnessed her Monday night set for the grand opening of The Rock Shop. The reports that Tune-Yards elevates their music to another whole level for the live show have not been exaggerated. From the very first moments of this set, Merrill was in complete control. As she opened with the abundantly sampled voice tracks of the anthemic “Hatari”, the packed house swayed with every beat and responded to every call. While several songs were performed solo, for most of the set Merrill was accompanied by the outstanding bass of Nate Brenner, and for several special numbers she was also joined by a three-piece horn section. But the focus never left Merrill, as her stage persona is thoroughly compelling. Tune-Yards will soon record their follow-up to the well regarded debut record Bird-Brains, and several of those songs were on display on Monday night. Of the newer numbers, the call and response “Do You Want to Live?” retains Merrill’s uncannily natural adaptations of African rhythms, while the encore “Powa” (streaming below) is a more offbeat pop number with multi-influenced rhythmic changes.

This set was recorded under the same conditions as the Sharon Van Etten recording and the sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “Powa”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/T2080TuneYards1102/13%20Tune-Yards2010-08-02_nyctaper_t13.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Tune-Yards
2010-08-02
The Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + DPA 4021s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2x 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-08-04

Setlist:
[Total Time 59:39]
01 Hatari
02 You Yes
03 [banter]
04 Fiya
05 Gangsta
06 Real Live Flesh
07 News
08 Do You Want to Live?
09 Jumping Jack
10 [banter]
11 Biz
12 [encore break]
13 Powa

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Tune-Yards, visit the website, visit the MySpace page, and purchase Bird-Brains directly from the 4AD Records website [HERE].

[photos for nyctaper by David Andrako]

The faithful readers of this site are well aware of our great affection for the music of Sharon Van Etten. We’ve recorded her live on many occasions and her shows have been featured on nyctaper eight times. All of those recordings feature the angelic voiced folksinger performing solo with her guitar. Last night at the brand new Rock Shop (more on this excellent venue later), Sharon Van Etten entered the next stage of her career as she played all new songs for the first time with a full band. The new album is entitled Epic and will be released in October, but is available in limited quantities at Sharon’s merch table at shows. Her lyrics remain achingly personal, if a tad more abstract, but its the voice that is still the centerpiece of Sharon’s music. Fortunately, her rhythm section played at a tasteful volume so that Sharon did not need to sing over the band. The band also features the excellent Cat Martino (who we last saw at Truck America Festival) who provided background vocals and effects that worked perfectly within the new band framework. Of the new songs, our favorites are “Save Yourself” (streaming below) and “One Day”. Sharon also featured a new musical wrinkle, as she performed “Love More” on organ for the first time in a live setting.

Sharon Van Etten plays again on Saturday August 7, at the Bushwick Star in Brooklyn, before departing on an East Coast tour with Marissa Nadler. Sharon will also begin recording a new album in October.

We recorded this set with the DPA microphone mounted in a stand in front of the soundboard twenty feet from the stage and mixed with a feed from the soundboard. The sound is excellent and is perhaps the best quality of any Sharon recording we have featured on this site. Enjoy!

Tune-Yards was also recorded and will be posted very soon.

Stream “Save Yourself”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/S0606SharonVE8008/4%20SharonVanEtten2010-08-02_nyctaper_t04.mp3]

This Recording is now available for Download in FLAC and MP3 at Archive.org [HERE].

Sharon Van Etten
2010-08-02
The Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + DPA 4021s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2x 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-08-03

Setlist:
[Total Time 36:39]
01 A Crime
02 [band introductions]
03 Peace Signs
04 Save Yourself
05 [banter]
06 Don’t Do It
07 Love More
08 One Day
09 [new song]

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Sharon Van Etten, visit her website, visit her MySpace page, and purchase her new CD when it is released on Bada Bing Records in October [HERE] and purchase her debut CD Because I Was In Love from InSound [here] or Amazon [here] or directly from the Language of Stone website [here].

[photo courtesy of Natalia Moena]

No Age is on the verge of rising to the level of the punk royalty. After a productive five-year history where the Sub Pop duo have collaborated with everyone from Bob Mould to Dan Deacon, have produced two outstanding albums and a plethora of singles and EPs, and remained true to their DIY aesthetic, No Age is poised to release what may be their “Zen Arcade” — Everything In Between (due in September), an album of musical and emotional growth which expands their dark and aggressive sound to something beyond punk. Last Sunday at Brooklyn Bowl, five of the new album songs were on display mixed within the classic No Age material, and in some cases surpassed the older songs. The track streamed below (the song titles for the album are available but not apparent from listening) was one of the strongest numbers in the entire set. No Age has added a third member for the touring band (keyboard and effects) but still retain that manic energy that have propelled them thus far. We can’t wait for September.

This set was recorded in the same manner as the Cap’n Jazz set from the same show. This recording accurately reflects the sound in the venue that afternoon. Enjoy!

An nyctaper recording of No Age at Above The Auto Parts Store in October is still available here.

Stream “[new song]” (Track 6):
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/N1710NoAge0029/06%20NoAge2010-07-25_nyctaper_t06.mp3]

Direct download of complete show in MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

No Age
2010-07-25
Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard + Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Neumann KM-150s > Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) > 2x 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (level adjustments, mixdown, set fades) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-07-30

Setlist:
[Total Time 46:45]
01 [introduction]
02 [new song]
03 Teen Creeps
04 You’re A Target
05 [banter]
06 [new song]
07 [new song]
08 Losing Feeling
09 [new song]
10 Sleeper Hold
11 [new song]
12 Eraser
13 Boy Void
14 Miner

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT No Age, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases from the Sub Pop Records website [HERE].