nyctaper Recordings

[photo and setlist help courtesy of Music Snobbery]

After two years of a complete cycle through the hype machine, the Vivian Girls have arrived on the other side alive, energetic and full of new ideas. At Bowery on Monday, the Vivs performed three strong songs from their anticipated September follow-up to last year’s acclaimed self-titled debut. The new “Out for the Sun” saw the Vivians stretch out and speed up a lengthy instrumental segment that was a fine harbinger of things to come. The band finished the set with a raucous nine-minute version of “Damaged” that left the stage in a cloud of noise and cacophony. The crowd hooted its approval at a band that continues to mature and cover new ground.

This set was recorded from the prime location in this venue, and acidjack has captured by far the best live recording of this band to date. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Vivian Girls
2009-05-11
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Front of Board Center
30 Feet from Stage

SP-CMC-8 (Audio Technica U853 Cardiod Capsules)> SP-SB-8 > Edirol R-09HR > 24bit 48kHz wav > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, downsample) > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded by acidjack
Produced by nyctaper
2009-05-13

Setlist:
[Total Time 42:13]
01 All the Time
02 Surfin’ Away
03 Walking Alone At Night
04 The End
05 Such A Joke
06 Never See Me Again
07 [banter]
08 When I Get Home
09 Out for the Sun
10 Second Date
11 Wild Eyes
12 Can’t Get Over You
13 Tell the World
14 Damaged

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 first thing that needs to be said about the entire National take-down from earlier this week is that the band themselves had nothing to do with the removal. In fact, in the discussions and negotiations to work out a solution to repost the recording, the support of The National and their representatives for the idea of a reposting of the recording was perhaps the tipping point in amicable solution of this entire situation. We are doubly indebted to this band for the initial performance and their openness and desire to allow the fans to hear the music.

Adam from Beggar’s Group ended up being a nice guy with a perfectly reasonable reason for the initial take-down — looking out for the band and the charity project. He was also reasonable enough to revisit the idea, discuss it with many people internally, and ultimately work out a solution.

The solution is simple — the desire of everyone involved to benefit the charity. In that regard, this recording is being offered for download with one very simple condition. If you download the recording, you contribute to the cause. If you email nyctaper for access to this recording (or if you downloaded from the original post), we expect that you will have either purchased the CD, contributed to the cause, or will contribute.

While we are relying on people’s goodwill in this endeavor and not strictly enforcing the condition of contribution, it would benefit all involved if readers would voluntarily email some proof of their contribution when requesting access to the files. On a selfish note, this kind of concrete proof of the positive contributions of nyctaper readers would also benefit the site in future situations of this nature — it would be great to have statistical evidence that nyctaper matters.

Read this very thorough review of the show.

DONATE TO RED HOT, THE ORGANIZATION BEHIND THE ENTIRE DARK WAS THE NIGHT PROJECT, HERE:
RED HOT STORE

-or-

OR CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO ANY ONE OF THE RED HOT CHARITIES HERE:
RED HOT SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

-or-

PURCHASE THE DARK WAS THE NIGHT BENEFIT CD HERE:
DARK WAS THE NIGHT

Email nyctaper with a request for the download location of the mp3 and/or FLAC files. Please include some indication of your support with the email request (voluntary).

The National
2009-05-03
Radio City Music Hall
Dark Was the Night Benefit Concert
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Row E, Center Orchestra

SP-CMC-8 (Audio Technica U853 Cardiod Capsules)> SP-SB-8 > Edirol R-09HR > 24bit 48kHz wav > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, downsample > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded by acidjack
Produced by nyctaper
2009-05-05

Setlist:
[Total Time 26:11]
01 Slow Show
02 England
03 So Far Around The Bend
04 Vanderlylle Cry Baby
Bonus:
05 Big Red Machine (Matt + Bon Iver)

Be extra charitable and purchase the official releases from The National’s Merch store directly.

[photo courtesy of self-titled mag – more here]

In the spirit of Mogwai performing significantly different setlists on each night of this three-show run at the Music Hall, we now offer our readers a completely different listening experience. The recording of the 29th offered below has received some excellent reviews on the web, but this capture of the April 28 show is a different animal entirely. Acidjack recorded this set from almost directly in front of the PA (with earplugs!) with the DPA 4061 ommi’s. The result is an intense in-your-face recording which offers the listener an alternative take on a Mogwai concert. Enjoy!

Download the MP3 and FLAC files and stream the entire show on the Live Music Archive [HERE]

Mogwai
2009-04-28
The Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Up Front
10 Feet from Stacks

DPA 4061> CoreSound Battery Box > Edirol R-09HR > 24bit 48kHz wav > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, downsample > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded by acidjack
Produced by nyctaper
2009-05-04

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:33:58]
01 Yes! I Am A Long Way From Home
02 Hunted By A Freak
03 Scotland’s Shame
04 Cody
05 Summer
06 Small Children in the Background
07 Friend of the Night
08 Autorock
09 I’m Jim Morrison, I’m Dead
10 I Love You, I’m Going to Blow Up Your School
11 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong
12 We’re No Here
13 [encore break]
14 Like Herod
15 Batcat

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Mogwai, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their official releases from The Store at their website [HERE].

[photo courtesy of Music Snobbery]

We were first introduced to the music of Motel Motel when they headlined one of Jonny Leather’s excellent charity concerts. We heard the mp3s, but could not attend the show and filed the band under the “need to see live” category. Sunday night’s Music Snobbery Anniversary show presented that opportunity and what a revelation this band provided. Motel Motel has roots in South Carolina, but currently reside in Brooklyn. Their music has elements of Americana, country, indie rock and folk — but the complex multi-layered songs have melody and time changes reminiscent of early 70s prog. At Maxwell’s, the band played a 45 minute set with six songs, each of which was an impressive display of songwriting and musicianship. Its natural to focus on lead singer Eric Engel, but the proficient play of each of the members of the band are equally impressive. Expect to see more of Motel Motel on nyctaper in the future.

We recorded this set with the same equipment and location at the Crystal Stilts set. However, as this was the first set of the night, we set the digital gain of the soundboard feed too high and their was substantial brickwalling in the soundboard channels. We did not use the line feed in the final mix, and relied solely on the two channels from the room mix. Fortunately, the Neumann’s captured an exceptionally nice recording and this is quite an excellent listen nonetheless. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Motel Motel
2009-04-26
Maxwell’s
Hoboken, NJ USA

Digital Master Audience Recording

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

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2009-04-30

Setlist:
[Total Time 42:23]
01 [introduction]
02 Courage
03 Panda
04 River
05 Forest
06 Coffee
07 Cowboy

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Motel Motel, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new CD New Denver from the links at their MySpace page [HERE].

[photo courtesy of Music Snobbery]

Chris at the Music Snobbery blog has a reputation for booking major acts at his anniversary show, and this year was no different. On Sunday night, Crystal Stilts headlined the show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken — their previous appearance on nyctaper was a headlining gig at Music Hall of Williamsburg, a venue about five times larger than Maxwell’s. This intimate set was a pleasure to behold. The band was energetic and the interactions with the crowd were hilarious — particularly Kyle’s references to his New Jersey roots. The set contains a furious “Love is a Wave” opener, another version of The Gun Club classic “Mother of Earth”, and a new song tentatively called “12 String”. After some humorous give and take with the crowd, the band was prodded to perform two encores, closing with a wild take of the Velvet Underground.

We recorded this set with the Neumann microphones in the standard location at this venue — front and center of the soundboard booth — mixed with a XLR feed from the board into the R-44. The four channel mix was perfected in post-production and we are quite happy to offer an professional quality recording of this outstanding set. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Crystal Stilts
2009-04-26
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
2009-04-28

Setlist:
[Total Time 45:02]
01 [introduction]
02 Love is a Wave
03 Through The Floor
04 Mother Of Earth (Gun Club)
05 Crystal Stilts
06 The Dazzled
07 SinKing
08 [banter]
09 Sycamore Tree
10 12 String
11 Sugar Baby
12 For The Love Of Ivy (Gun Club)
13 [encore break]
14 Converging in the Quiet
15 Temptation Inside Your Heart (Velvets)

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Crystal Stilts, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their latest album Alight of Night from links at their MySpace page, including at Insound [here] and purchase their new single “Love Is a Wave” at InSound [here].

[photo by Jay Blakesberg – courtesy of Jambase]

It was almost exactly fifteen years since we last taped the Grateful Dead at Nassau Coliseum in March of 1994, and more than 30 years since our first Dead show at Nassau in January of 1979. After the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, all of the various incarnations of this band have always felt somewhat empty and hollow. The 2009 version of the band was fueled initially by a benefit concert for Barack Obama at Penn State University. Apparently moved by the event, this particular 6-piece line-up (four original members, with Warren Haynes and Jeff Chimenti) began this tour in mid April with a series of inspired and extremely well received performances.

With this background, we captured a fine performance by The Dead on Friday night that frankly could stand up to many of the shows we saw in the early 1990’s. Warren is a huge presence — providing world class guitar work and vocals that echo Pigpen, Garcia, and even Brent Mydland. The highlights of the long show included the first set traditional pairing of Lost Sailor / Saint of Circumstance, a sweet three-song acoustic set, and an epic Dark Star.

We recorded from the front center rail on the official taper’s section with the four microphones and the R-44. This is a capture of outstanding depth and soundstage and we are proud of the results. Enjoy!

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

Stream the Entire Show via Archive.org:

The Dead
2009-04-24
Nassau Coliseum
Uniondale, NY USA

Four-Track Digital Master Recording
Recorded from First Row Center of the
Official Taper’s Section

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 2008-04-25

Setlist:
Set 1
[Total Time 1:11:05]
01 Jack Straw
02 Brown Eyed Women
03 Its All Over Now, Baby Blue
04 Easy Wind
05 Death Don’t Have No Mercy
06 Don’t Ease Me In
07 Lost Sailor
08 Saint of Circumstance

Set 2
Acoustic:
[Total Time 22:44]
01 When I Paint My Masterpiece
02 Peggy-O (Fennario)
03 Looks Like Rain
Electric:
[Total Time 1:22:06]
01 Alabama Getaway
02 Dark Star
03 Drums
04 Space
05 Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
06 Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad
07 [encore break]
08 [donor rap]
09 Touch of Grey

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Dead, visit their website, and purchase his official releases from the Dead Net Store [HERE].

[photo by Edan at thepiratehat]

Our first exposure to the music of Rafter — at Cake Shop in November — was such a positive experience that we vowed to see him again when we could. Unfortunately, our attempt to attend and record his January show was frustrated by scheduling problems, and the San Diego native has not returned to NYC since. Our colleague at houtaper had better luck at SXSW as he captured Rafter’s entertaining set in the afternoon sun and heat at Ms. Bea’s during one of the remarkable bills presented by ToddP at this year’s Austin festival.

Houtaper recorded this set from up close with a high-end set of DPA microphones, and the sound is crystal clear. There is some chatter in between songs, and some slight wind noise, but otherwise this is really a superb recording. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Rafter
Friday March 20, 2009 – 2:30 pm
Ms Bea’s
Austin, TX

Taper: prof_peabody
Location: 15 feet from the stage, 3 feet high, near center
Source: DPA4023 -> Aerco MP2 -> R-09HR (24/48)
Transfer: USB -> Wavelab 5 edits (dither with UV22HR) -> CDWAVE -> FLAC

Setlist
[total time 42:34]
01 [introduction]
02 Magic
03 Thunderclap
04 Where Did You Go?
05 Fruit
06 Sampler Song
07 Noise
08 Salt
09 No Fucking Around
10 ZZZPenchant
11 Sweat
12 Sassy

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Rafter, visit his MySpace page, and purchase his official releases from the Asthmatic Kitty Records website [HERE].

[photo courtesy of p.z.hine – more here]

Of Montreal returned to NYC this week for three shows, exactly five months since their last appearance at Music Hall and over seven months since the infamous Roseland show. The Fall shows were part of the extravagant Skeletal Lamping tour, and while this week’s performances included the always-entertaining stage extras, the setlist was less concentrated on Skeletal and included much of 2007’s Hissing Fauna. This tour has also featured two new songs, one titled “Coquet, Coquet” and the other tentatively called “Like A Tourist” — the latter performed on this particular night.

Acidjack recorded from the sweet spot in this venue with the appropriate equipment for the location and the crowd. The result is a fine recording and an excellent listen to this outstanding band. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Of Montreal
2009-04-15
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from FOB
Dead Center 30 Feet from PA

Audio Technica U-853 Hypercardiods > AT adapter > SP-CMC-8 bodies > SPSB-8 > Edirol R-09HR > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge (set fades, level boost, downsample) > CDWave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded by acidjack
Produced by nyctaper
2009-04-19

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:27:15]
01 Introduction
02 Nonpareil Of Favor
03 Beware Our Nubile Miscreants
04 Like A Tourist
05 And I’ve Seen A Bloody Shadow
06 Plastis Wafers
07 Wraith Pinned To The Mist (And Other Games)
08 Women’s Studies Victims
09 St. Exquisite Confessions
10 For Our Elegant Caste
11 Gronlandic Edit
12 Sink The Seine
13 Cato As a Pun
14 Labyrinthian Pomp
15 She’s a Rejecter
16 October is Eternal
17 Faberge Falls For Shuggie
18 Mingusings
19 Id Engager
20 [encore break/banter]
21 The Party’s Crashing Us
22 Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse
23 A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Of Montreal, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new CD Skeletal Lamping at the Polyvinyl website [HERE].

[photo courtesy of fretsman from The Bluff]

At Highline Ballroom on Thursday last, The North Mississippi AllStars performed a mammoth two-and-a-half hour set of their outstanding blues-rock that was truly a family affair in more ways than one. The trio was joined on stage by a revolving group of guests from openers Hill Country Revue, that culminated in an appearance by long-time collaborator Robert Randolph. As Hill Country Revue also contains two members of NMAS, the entire night was essentially a four-hour smorgasbord of country, boogie, blues and honky tonk.

We recorded this set from directly in front of the soundboard, centered between the two main PA speakers. The four-track R-44 was utilized again, but this time to its maximum value. We positioned the Neumanns directly at the stacks and spread the DPAs in a 110 degree placement to capture a full round spectrum of sound available at this venue. We are extremely pleased with the outcome. Enjoy!

This show is now available to download as FLAC or MP3 at archive.org [HERE].

North Mississippi AllStars
2009-04-09
Highline Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Four-Track Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front of Board Center

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
2008-04-18

Setlist:
[Total Time 2:17:50]
01 Brooks Run to the Ocean
02 Sugartown
03 Shake
04 I’d Love to be a Hippy
05 I’m in Jail
06 No Mo
07 Mean Ol Wind Died Down
08 Po Black Maddie/Skinny Woman/Po Black Maddie/Drums
09 Shake Em on Down
10 Ghetto
11 Goin Home Part One
12 Lonesome Road
13 Moonshine
14 Boogie (with Robert Randolph)
15 Jam (with Robert Randolph)
16 Mississippi Boweevil (with Robert Randolph)
17 Joyful Sounds (with Robert Randolph)
18 Meet Me in the City
19 Snake Drive
20 [encore break]
21 Stay All Night
22 Keep The Devil Down
23 Freedom Highway

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT North Mississippi AllStars, visit their website, and purchase their available releases through The Store at their website [HERE].