nyctaper posts

[photo courtesy of Camey Scott]

Here is our annual Top 10, a completely subjective ranking of our favorite shows of 2010. Acidjack will be along soon with our annual “highlights” post (with a downloadable song mix).

1. Holly Miranda August 8, 2010 Vivo in Vino
This night was without a doubt the best time I had at a show all year. The combination of great wine, great company and a relaxed solo performance by Holly led to a very memorable evening. It helped that Holly dedicated “I’d Rather Go Blind” to me personally. Her set consisted primarily of covers and her inimitable voice nailed each one of them. The guys at Vino are terrific people, and we partied with the rest of the wine on an East Village rooftop late into the night. An unforgettable time.

2. Yo La Tengo December 7, 2010 Maxwell’s
The best of the eight strong Hanukkah 2010 shows, this night featured the superb guitar work of Nels Cline. The extended jams of “Glitter” and “Hatchet” were song of the year contenders.

3. Built to Spill September 2, 2010 Rocks Off Concert Cruise
This show was the second best time we had all year — BTS playing literally inside of the packed crowd on the main deck of the Rocks Off cruise. The band seemed to thrive on the energy and the surroundings as their performance was lengthy and inspired — it was two hours of smiles all around.

4. Oneida March 19, 2010 Knitting Factory
Oneida live performances are always bigger than life. This one was perhaps the best we’ve ever seen this band. The show started with a crashing “Ghost in the Room” which gave way to an untitled new jam which endured for an unbelievable twenty-nine minutes. While the rest of the set could have been considered icing after that jam, it continued along in the same vein with tremendous versions of “Up With People”, “Sheets of Easter” and “I Will Haunt You” to close the show.

5. Holly Miranda May 26, 2010 Bowery Ballroom
I love these events where artists headline and sell out Bowery Ballroom for the first time. Its sort of like a signpost along their career path that reads “I Made It”. On this particular night, Holly not only “made it” but delivered a stunning performance — her Etta James cover is perhaps my favorite single song played this year.

6. Pavement September 19, 21, 22, 23, and 24 Williamsburg and Central Park
A reunion we truly never expected to see, this was a week-long celebration of the most enduring band of the 90s. The setlists varied, the band played two-hour shows, and they seemed to be having a great time. Pavement likely won’t be back again, so this was a perfect final send-off.

7. Woods June 25, 2010 Music Hall of Williamsburg
A band that just keeps getting better, Woods relaxed neo-psychedelia with folk roots can be at time twisted and other moments melodically simple. On this night it was the extended jams that made the show.

8. Tune-Yards August 2, 2010
The opening night of the Rock Shop was a winner. We came to see Sharon Van Etten, and stayed for the headliner. What we witnessed was an incredible live talent. Merrill Garbus creates intricate layered beats and strong vocals to propel her African-influenced songs. This night the packed venue rocked with every beat.

9. Owen Pallett April 24, 2010 Webster Hall
The most talented performer we saw all year. Its breathtaking that one person can create such huge symphony-like pieces, and the bonus is that the songs are well written with clever lyrics.

10. The Joy Formidable January 12, 2010 Pianos
We saw TJF three times this year, but this first show at the tiny Pianos really impressed. It was a ferocious performance, we predicted the obvious — that the band would soon be big — and were proved right when they headlined Bowery later in the year.

Honorable Mention:
Akron/Family March 3, 2010 Music Hall of Williamsburg
Ted Leo April 9, 2010 Irving Plaza
Panda Bear September 11, 2010 Governor’s Island
Pearl and The Beard September 25, 2010 Backyard Brunch Sessions
Sharon Van Etten October 8, 2010 The Rock Shop
Suzanne Vega November 14, 2010 Housing Works Bookstore
Jeff Tweedy December 4, 2010 Bowery Ballroom

[poster created by Fumi at Miniminiaturemouse.com]

We are very pleased to formally announce the details of our 2010 NYCTaper CMJ Day Party! For the third year in a row, we have teamed with the people of Cake Shop to present an entire afternoon of free entertainment, this year featuring 12, yes TWELVE, outstanding bands — our hand-picked selections of the best and brightest of today’s new music.

Here are the show details:
NYCTaper CMJ Day Party
Thursday October 21, 2010
12 Noon to 6:30 p.m.
Cake Shop
152 Ludlow Street NYC
FREE

12:30 Courtesy Tier
01:00 Jounce
01:30 Soft Black
02:00 Unicycle Loves You
02:30 Brit and The Cavalry
03:00 Common Prayer
03:30 The Rest
04:00 True Womanhood
04:30 She Keeps Bees
05:00 Diamond Rings
05:30 Keepaway
06:00 ArpLine

We will also be offering more music from the bands that will be playing the show, along with profiles of the artists and interviews.

We are also extremely happy to welcome the outstanding brewery Six Point Craft Ales as a sponsor of this event.

The second annual Northside Festival returns from June 24 – June 27 at various venues in Brooklyn. The list of bands includes twenty-two artists who have previously been featured on NYCTaper, and this year we will be very busy covering many of the Fest’s featured shows. While the official complete schedule has not been released, there are quite a number of excellent showcases that have been announced. In particular, the Woodist Records showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg is scheduled for Friday June 25, and the Brooklynvegan showcase is at the same venue on Saturday June 26. We expect to cover both of these. In addition, shows by Titus Andronicus, Fiery Furnaces, Dinosaur Feathers, Liars, F*cked Up, Les Savy Fav and Polvo are all must-see’s.

Northside Festival is also running an excellent contest in which they will give away eight badges and other assorted goodies, the first prize of which includes a VIP pass and an iPad. All the details of the contest are here.

We will post our complete show schedule for the Northside Festival when all the showcases are officially announced. Until then, expect more updates here and at the Northside site and Northside twitter.

[poster created by Fumi at Miniminiaturemouse.com]

Tonight NYCTaper is celebrating our 3rd Anniversary with a special concert at Pianos. Doors are at 8 p.m., and the first performer begins at 9 p.m. Our recommendation is that if you plan to come to this show, be there early. The music begins with the superb Natureboy who are back from Truck America Festival where their performance generated some well-deserved buzz. By 10 pm, when Uninhabitable Mansions take the stage, the venue may be too packed to guarantee admission. The Facebook page for this show has over 90 confirmed attendees and with the guest list, the showroom at Pianos may be above capacity. Dinosaur Feathers (11 p.m.) and ArpLine (midnight) have been getting a ton of press lately, and may be too big to play a venue this size again.

If you plan to attend for one or two particular acts, you may not gain admission if you arrive at the time of their set. Again, please be early to be able to get in.

I will be posting regular updates on the NYCTaper Twitter account, so follow our twitter for ongoing reports about the show.

Here are the details:
NYCTaper 3rd Anniversary Concert
Saturday May 15, 2010
Pianos
158 Ludlow Street (MAP)
Lower East Side NYC
$10

8 p.m. Doors
9 p.m. Natureboy
10 p.m. Uninhabitable Mansions
11 p.m. Dinosaur Feathers
12 p.m. ArpLine

Facebook Invite Page

Pianos listing

[Full Moon Resort – photo by nyctaper]

The Truck America Festival this past weekend in Big Indian, New York, was not so much a festival as a summer camp for like-minded musicians. In an age when “festival” has come to mean a glut of unrelated bands playing an uninspired set and moving on, Truck America was a leap back in time. We arrived on Friday and were immediately greeted by friendly faces, many of whom would later entertain us. In the Roadhouse, Tim Easton’s Friday late night set was witnessed by Gary Louris, Jason Russo (Hopewell), and Cat Martino, all of whom would play together on stage for Gary’s set on Saturday. We saw Jonathan Donahue of Mercury Rev watching a set by Spouse early on Saturday, while we realized that the band on stage were folks we’d chatted with on Friday. It was that kind of weekend. At the center of it all were the brothers Bennett, Joe and Robin, who made everyone welcome. On Saturday, Joe personified the spirit of musical community. He played bass with Gary Louris, violin with Neil Halstead, trumpet with Mercury Rev, scored the orchestra for Mercury Rev, and conducted the band. Similarly, Robin played with a series of bands throughout the weekend, and both emceed.

Friday night’s highlights included the amazing set by The Joy Formidable in the main tent, who by happenstance stayed the night in the room next to mine in the main house of the resort (pictured above). After a very long day, I literally began to nod out on top of my equipment when I was jolted awake by a phenomenal 3 a.m. set in the roadhouse by Hopewell.

[photo by nyctaper]

Saturday was relaxing day, and we stayed primarily in the main stage tent (pictured above), while enjoying five different bands. Gary Louris, Mercury Rev and Neil Halstead (who spent the day chasing his toddler) were all highlights. Throughout the weekend, the scenic beauty of the Catskills provided an ideal setting for what was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend of the best indie-folk that the world has to offer.

[Esopus Creek runs through the Resort – photo by nyctaper]

With the great assitance of the Festival’s excellent sound crew, we captured nine separate sets. We expect to post these individually over the next couple of weeks, along with more details from the Fest, and sincerely hope that our readers will support the bands and next year’s Truck America Fest.

[poster created by Fumi at Miniminiaturemouse.com]

In May, NYCTaper celebrates its third year in existence. In May of 2007, we opened the site with a recording I made in Iceland of the Sugarcubes reunion. It was an odd choice for a site dedicated to new music in NYC, but we have never been predictable. In the next three years, we have posted nearly five hundred recordings of a littany of bands from a multitude of genres, with the goal of introducing our readers to artists who we believe deserve the attention and support. These three years have been an incredibly rewarding experience, and despite a few pitfalls, its been almost universally positive. Frankly, the highlights are too many to list.

In recognition of this anniversary, we are presenting a very special concert featuring four outstanding bands who have graced the pages of NYCTaper over the last year. The show is on Saturday May 15 at Pianos. Doors are at 8 p.m. and admission is $10.

Here are the details:
NYCTaper 3rd Anniversary Concert
Saturday May 15, 2010
Pianos
158 Ludlow Street (MAP)
Lower East Side NYC
$10

8 p.m. Doors

9 p.m. Natureboy
We were so impressed with Sara Kerminshahi’s recording project (accompanied by Masterface) when she performed at Union Pool in November, that her set was in our list of Top 10 Concerts of 2009. Sara combines her rich vocals with acoustic instruments and electronic beats to present her atmospheric melodic songs in an irresistable package. Not to be missed.

10 p.m. Uninhabitable Mansions
The Brooklyn “supergroup” is an art collective of musicians from bands such as Au Revoir Simone, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Radical Dads, and Dirty on Purpose. The abundance of talent combines for an outstanding indie-pop unit who we adored at Bowery in December.

11 p.m. Dinosaur Feathers
In the wake of the release of acclaimed new album Fantasy Memorial, The Feathers are on the verge of becoming an indie sensation. They appeared on NYCTaper in March, and shortly thereafter we booked them for this show. Recently, the band were invited to play some major shows including Sasquatch Festival and Pier 54 (with the Antlers). This show at Pianos may be the smallest venue DF play before the buzz takes over.

12 p.m. ArpLine
Its just a matter of time with ArpLine. Their intense psychedelic synth rock has appeared twice on NYCTaper, in March from Glasslands and in January from Mercury Lounge. ArpLine’s new album Travel Book is already on our friend Jonny Leather’s best albums of 2010.

Let us know that you’re coming on the Facebook Invite Page for this event.

Here is the Pianos listing.

Hope to see our readers there!

Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters will tour in the Fall of 2010 and Spring of 2011 and perform the complete double-album The Wall at each of the approximately 50 shows. The complete details and tour dates will be announced on Monday April 12 at 2 pm EST at roger-waters.com (there’s just a placemarker there now). While rumors of this tour have floated on the web for quite some time, some potential details have emerged. The US leg of the tour will likely begin in September and run through December. There are some southern dates (Tampa, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale) listed on a Dutch fan site for mid-November. The last public performance of The Wall was a 1990 star-studded extravaganza in Germany that celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall. While this tour may include some special guests, Waters’ traditional touring band — minus Andy Fairweather-Low (prior commitments) — will perform the majority of the show. Rehearsals are said to begin in August.

Waters last performed in NYC at Madison Square Garden in September of 2006 and May of 2007 during the tour where his band performed the complete Dark Side of the Moon.

Lil Daggers are a quintet from Miami Florida that has a classic garage-rock sound that reminds me a lot of the Lyres — that is to say a reverbed-drenched organ-heavy sound that would be as comfortable in 1965 or 1985 as in 2010. We are also predicting that they will soon be the “next big thing” coming from the surprisingly rich musical landscape of the Sunshine State (Surfer Blood, The Drums, Holiday Shores).

Lil Daggers are here in NYC to play three shows this weekend, including the one we’ll be attending at Glasslands on Sunday, April 11. The Glasslands show also features nyctaper faves Shark? and Sundelles. On Friday and Saturday, they will perform at Don Pedros with two different bills. The Saturday show also has the excellent Wild Yaks on the bill.

The new album from Ted Leo and the Pharmacists is called Brutalist Bricks and today it was released on Matador Records. Last night Ted performed “The Mighty Sparrow” on Jimmy Fallon and it was quite excellent — see it above. Tonight, Ted and the Pharmacists are playing a CD release show at The Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, which is billed as a karaoke show. Tonight is also the first night of a tour that will bring Ted back to NYC on April 9, where the band will play at Irving Plaza with Obits and Screaming Females also on the bill. NYCTaper will be there to record the show on April 9.

[photo by nyctaper]

When we recorded The Antlers and Holly Miranda at the intimate Maxwell’s back in October it was a very special evening. Aside from the collaboration of the two bands in an astounding cover of Pink Floyd, each band produced excellent sets of their own. Several months later, both artists are moving up to greater heights.

Today it was announced that The Antlers will be the opening band for several of the East Coast tour dates with The National. Those shows included a night at Radio City Music Hall on June 16. It was also announced today that Holly Miranda, on the heels of her new album release, will headline at Bowery Ballroom on May 26.