Blog Archives

[photo courtesy of Camey Scott]

I love these break-out Bowery nights. We first got to know Holly Miranda back in October, when we recorded her set opening for the Antlers, and I then got drunk with both bands after the show. Holly’s obvious and immense talents are perhaps eclipsed only by her personality — she is genuinely a fun and nice person. It was an extra treat when the nyctaper recording of Holly’s Pink Floyd cover from that night went viral on the web. Following the February release of her new album The Magician’s Private Library on XL Recordings, the world at large caught on, critical praise and new fans followed. At the conclusion of her first major headlining tour, Holly returned home last night to a packed Bowery Ballroom and delivered a performance of stunning quality and depth. The strong Magician’s material we expected, along with the promised horn section and special guests (Kyp Malone). What we did not expect were two eclectic covers, including her jaw-dropping take on the Etta James classic “I’d Rather Go Blind”. It doesn’t get much better than that, and to have it happen at her Bowery break-out is even more rewarding.

We recorded this set with the Neumann microphones at the balcony rail. The sound mix at Bowery on this night was quite exceptional, and we are quite pleased with the excellent quality of this recording. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Holly Miranda
2010-05-26
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded at Balcony Rail

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

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-05-27

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:08:40]
01 No One Just Is
02 Waves
03 Mark My Words [new song]
04 No One Can See Me Like You Do (Yoko Ono)
05 High Tide
06 Forest Green, Oh Forest Green
07 Everytime I Go To Sleep
08 Joints
09 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James)
10 Slow Burn Treason
11 Sleep on Fire
12 [banter]
13 Pelican Rapids
14 [encore break]
15 Singular Acceptance
16 Secret Identity
17 Hymnal

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 Beggar’s Group website [HERE].

[photo by nyctaper]

Neil Halstead is such a modest and unassuming fellow, that I was not even sure it was him setting up to play at the Truck America Festival earlier this month. As we set up the nyctaper DPA microphones as the stage mics for guitar and violin for his set, Neil was quietly tuning his guitar. He began his set in a similar fashion, mumbling hello before the first number. The moment the music began, it was as if a switch was turned on and his immense talent shone through. As a key figure in the influential 90’s band Slowdive and later with the excellent Mojave3, Neil Halstead’s solo work is almost a third career, and his two albums stand up to the best of his early bands’ catalog. His Truck set drew from those two releases and included some new numbers, before Neil was joined by Joe Bennett on violin for a couple of Mojave3 songs. While the crowded tent was eerily quiet during his set, at times the only sound was the voice of Neil’s young son calling out to his dad — which was entirely appropriate given the family nature of the excellent Truck America Festival.

We recorded this same in the same location and with the same equipment as the Gary Louris set and the sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

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

Neil Halstead
2010-05-01
Truck America Festival
Big Indian, 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
2010-05-23

Setlist: (setlist help requested)
[Total Time 49:17]
01 Driving With Bert
02
03 Queen Bee
04
05 See You On Rooftops
06
07 [banter]
08
09 Yer Feet
10
11 Some Kinda Angel
12
13
14 [banter]
15 Sometimes The Wheels

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Neil Halstead, visit his website, visit his MySpace page, and purchase his latest album from the Brushfire Records website [HERE].

[photos taken for nyctaper by David Andrako — click photos for higher resolution]

Although Dinosaur Feathers have appeared twice on nyctaper in the last six months, it had been last summer since I personally had last seen them live. In the intervening months, the band released their new album Fantasy Memorial, which has gathered a ton of glowing press (and one painfully overwritten pan by a low-rent pitchfork wannabe with issues). With the positive momentum behind them, Dinosaur Feathers went on a successful tour, booked high profile gigs (Sasquatch Festival and summer Pier shows included) and generally are playing with a ton of confidence. We were delighted to have beat the rush and booked them months ago for our anniversary show at Pianos this past Saturday. The three band members spent the entire show in the room, chatted with friends and cheered on the other bands — their success has not changed them from the friendly folks we met last year. The set was, by the band’s own account, one of the best shows they’ve played in a while. Greg and Duck were as one in unison on the harmonies, and new-ish bassist Ryan adds a palpable kinetic stage energy. The songs were primarily new album material, with one debut EP track and one new song included. The venue was packed when Dinosaur Feathers performed — you can literally hear the buzz of the room in between songs — and a large part of the success of our third anniversary show can be attributed to this band.

This set was recorded with a feed from the board mixed with two Neumann room mics and the sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Dinosaur Feathers
2010-05-15
NYCTaper 3rd Anniversary Concert
Pianos
New York, 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
2010-05-20

Setlist:
[Total Time 36:56]
01 I Ni Sogoma
02 Family Waves
03 Teenage Whore
04 Our Good Mother
05 Parallel July
06 Silhouette [new song]
07 Vendela Vida
08 Fantasy Memorial

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Dinosaur Feathers, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new album Fantasy Memorial from the BUY link at their website [HERE].

[photo by nyctaper]

The last time I saw Gary Louris perform on stage, it was an off-night of a long Jayhawks tour for the criminal under-appreciated Sound of Lies (circa ’97-’98) at a semi-secret show at Mercury Lounge. At close range, one of the 90’s most influential alt-country bands (even after the exit of Mark Olson) were a pleasure to behold and that Mercury gig is a great memory. Although several members still occasionally play together, the slow demise of the Jayhawks was one of the more sad turns of the early 00’s. So it was with great joy that we read of the new plans for a 2010 reunion in Minneapolis, with plans to play some East coast shows including NYC later in the year. At the Truck America Festival last weekend, Gary Louris played a set of his solo and Jayhawks material, and provided an excellent preview of this much anticipated reunion. Gary’s unique baritone has not worn with age, and his guitar work is as melodic as ever. To close the set, Gary was joined by the “barn band”, which included the Bennett brothers, Tim Easton and Cat Martino. The group performed three numbers, including “best of” Jayhawks classics “I’d Run Away” and “Blue”, and if fan pages are to be believed, the finale brought tears to the eyes of Jayhawks devotees.

Gary Louris plays NYC this coming Friday May 14 at Le Poisson Rouge, tickets are still available here.

We recorded this set with the same equipment and location as the Mercury Rev set and the sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Gary Louris
2010-05-01
Truck America Festival
Big Indian, 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
2010-05-09

Setlist:
[Total Time 56:43]
01 [introduction]
02 Angelyne
03 D.C. Blues
04 Tailspin
05 Everybody Knows
06 Listen Joe
07 Settled Down Like Rain
08 I Need You Tonight [new song]
09 Poor Little Fish
10 Save It For A Rainy Day
11 She Only Calls Me On Sundays
12 Waiting For The Sun
13 All the Right Reasons
14 I’m Gonna Make You Love Me
15 I’d Run Away
16 Blue

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Gary Louris, visit his facebook page (most updated info), visit his website, and purchase his official releases from the Store at his website [here].

[amazing photos taken for nyctaper by David Andrako]

Local Natives are on the speed-of-light upwards artistic trajectory. As a group of friends from Orange County California, the band was two short years ago barely out of school, known by another name, and self-recording in a house they shared. Two months ago, their debut album Gorilla Manor was released stateside by Frenchkiss Records, and the band is currently on a whirlwind tour of sold out venues, popular success, and critical raves. On Thursday and again on Friday, Local Natives sold out Bowery Ballroom. We saw the band on Friday, where in the middle of their set they performed the Talking Heads cover that appears on their album (“Warning Sign”) while David Byrne himself peered down approvingly from the Bowery balcony. In what must have been an heady and surreal moment for a band of early 20’s Cali-kids, Local Natives seem to have taken it all in stride. With only one album under their belt, the band’s set was a tad short on length, but it was certainly long on hooky west coast indie folk-rock harmony, and the screaming crowd offered their unceasing and unqualified approval.

Local Natives return to NYC for a Saturday August 7 show on Governor’s Island.

We recorded this set from the balcony rail with the four microphone rig and the sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Local Natives
2010-05-07
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Four-Track Digital Master
Recorded from Balcony Rail

Neumann KM-150s + DPA 4021’s > 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
2010-05-07

Setlist:
[Total Time 56:29]
01 Camera Talk
02 World News
03 Wide Eyes
04 Cards & Quarters
05 Shape Shifter
06 Warning Sign (Talking Heads)
07 Cubism Dream
08 Airplanes
09 Who Knows Who Cares
10 [encore break]
11 Stranger Things
12 Sun Hands

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Local Natives, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase Gorilla Manor directly from Frenchkiss Records [here].

[photo by nyctaper]

Its hard to distinguish between the multitude of “garage” bands these days, as the genre has reached its critical mass. The proliferation of three and four-piece guitar-bass-drums lo-fi two-minute-song band can be dizzying, especially when it seems that a new one is championed every day by Pitchfork. What separates Harlem from the rest, and what likely resulted in their signing to Matador, is the obvious songwriting ability and vocal talents. Harlem can be screamers, but the band can also harmonize — making them less Nuggets-style garage and more British Invasion-esque (“Someday Soon” sounds like a Beatles Vee-Jay Records outtake). Although some of their contemporaries can be somewhat hard on the ears, Harlem’s new album Hippies (released in April, 2010) is a delectable collection of fine pop songs dressed up in youthful recklessness. That style was on display as Harlem opened for Titus Andronicus a couple of weeks ago at Maxwell’s. As the band worked from an improvised setlist, the show picked randomly among songs from their two albums, but the energy was positive and the interplay with the crowd was good-natured and humorous. The band dedicated their final song “Beautiful & Very Smart” to a couple in the crowd who had just gotten married that day.

We recorded this set as a four-track soundboard/audience matrix from out usual location in this venue and the sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Harlem
2010-04-24
Maxwell’s
Hoboken, NJ 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
2010-05-07

Setlist:
[Total Time 30:50]
01 Witchgreens
02 Someday Soon
03 Gay Human Bones
04 South of France
05 Be Your Baby
06 Friendly Ghost
07 Number One
08 Caroline
09 Scare You
10 [banter]
11 Beautiful & Very Smart

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Harlem, visit their MySpace page, and purchase Hippies directly from Matador Records [here].

[photo by nyctaper]

Twenty years ago, Jonathan Donohue was a member of both The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. Although his tenure with the Lips lasted just two albums, echoes of the humanistic psychedelic indie folk-rock that both bands helped create still reside in Donohue’s songs. And while both bands reached their critical and artistic peaks in the late 90’s, the Lips with The Soft Bulletin and Mercury Rev with Deserter’s Songs, in recent years their parallel paths have diverged. The Flaming Lips of recent vintage concentrate more on the theatrical and marginally bombastic elements of their music, and seem to be content to deliver the same prop-heavy performances year after year. Donohue has maintained a lower profile and has delivered a series of excellent albums, the most recent of which, Snowflake Midnight, contains what is arguably his most heartfelt lyrical work. On Saturday night at the Truck America Festival, Mercury Rev headlined the main stage with a new wrinkle — a string section conducted by Joe Bennett. Additionally, Mercury Rev alums Justin and Jason Russo joined the band for this special show.  From the outset it was abundantly clear that this was no ordinary set, but rather was more a career-celebrating retrospective.  Jonathan acknowledged his long time fans, referenced the twenty year old self-released cassettes that he brought along to the festival, and delivered a set that included a song from those old cassettes (“Car Wash Hair”), a moving Nico cover (the Jackson Browne penned “These Days”), and indeed one of his Flaming Lips contributions (“There You Are: Jesus Song No. 7”). The string section did not just work well, it was almost as if each song demanded the contributions of these outstanding musicians and the seamless scoring of Joe Bennett. Of particular note, the guitar and clarinet work of Sean “Grasshopper” Mackowiak was sublime and superb. At the close of the set, “Isn’t It A Pity” was such a strong emotional number that although the stage was set to close for the night, Mercury Rev was called back for an encore. It was the only encore we saw all weekend.

I recorded this set in the same location and with the same rig as The Joy Formidable set from the previous night. However, the mix for this set was quite excellent, and as a result the sound quality of this recording is outstanding. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Mercury Rev
2010-05-01
Truck America Festival
Big Indian, 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
2010-05-05

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:02:35]
01 Endlessly
02 [banter]
03 First-Time Mother’s Joy (Flying)
04 Car Wash Hair
05 Blue Clouds (Daniel Johnston)
06 Tonight It Shows
07 Runaway Raindrop
08 [banter]
09 Opus 40
10 There You Are: Jesus Song No. 7
11 Holes
12 These Days (Jackson Browne)
13 Isn’t It A Pity
14 [encore break]
15 Goddess On A Hiway

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Mercury Rev, visit their website, and purchase their official releases from the store at the Mercury Rev website [here].

[photo by nyctaper]

The real test of the quality of a band is whether their music translates in different settings with varying audiences. When we saw The Joy Formidable in a packed Pianos in January, the energy in the room was palpable and their set was quite powerful. Our conclusion was that the band was absolutely destined for greater success. In the intervening couple of months, our prescience has proved correct — The Joy Formidable returned to NYC on Saturday to play before a sold-out and over capacity Mercury Lounge. But the set that again proved the abundant worth of this Welsh trio was their performance headlining the main stage on Friday night at the Truck America Festival. In the spacious outdoors and cool night Catskills air, TJF powered the entire main stage tent with their abundant energy. From the opening notes of “Greatest Light”, Ritzy and Rhydian attacked their instruments and pranced around the stage while Matt mashed the drums relentlessly. At one point, Ritzy got a bit carried away and nearly smashed into the entire drum kit. Order restored, the band whipped through their standard setlist (we had hoped for “Popinjay”, which they saved for Mercury), and closed the set and the main stage day with eight minutes of relentless “Whirring”, as the kneeling Ritzy ravaged her pedals and amp.

This set was recorded with the R-44 four track, with two Neumann microphones on a stand at the soundboard mixed with a stereo board feed. The sound quality is quite good, and subject to only the limitations of recording music in a tent. Enjoy!

The Joy Formidable have added a special show at the end of the current tour in which they return to Mercury Lounge on May 10.

Today (May 4), The Joy Formidable release their new EP A Balloon Called Moaning on Black Bell Records.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Joy Formidable
2010-04-30
Truck America Festival
Big Indian, 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
2010-05-03

Setlist:
[Total Time 41:02]
01 The Greatest Light Is the Greatest Shade
02 Cradle
03 The Last Drop
04 Austere
05 Ostrich
06 Magnifying Glass
07 Anemone
08 Whirring

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Joy Formidable, visit their website, and purchase their debut EP A Balloon Called Moaning from the Black Bell Records website [here] or from the store at the TJF website [here].