nyctaper Recordings

[photo by Joe Perez courtesy of Impose Magazine]

Nodzzz come with good references. The band is signed to one of our favorite independent labels, What’s Your Rupture. And this week, Nodzzz was the “band of the week” at the Pop Tarts blog. On Friday night at Market Hotel, the band was second on the bill and ripped through their set much like they do on the new self-titled l.p. — 9 songs in 18 minutes. Nodzzz packs more power-garage-pop goodness into each two-minute number than most bands can muster in two hours.

We recorded this set from the same location as Wavves, and without the chatterers that appeared later, this set sounds quite excellent. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Nodzzz
2009-02-06
Market Hotel
Brooklyn NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded 30 feet from Right PA

Neumann KM-150 (AK-50 Hypercardiods) > Monster Cable > Apogee Mini-Me > Digital Coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 24bit 48kHz wav > Soundforge (set fades, level adjustments, downsample) > CD Wave > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2009-02-08

Setlist:
[total time 18:58]
01 Is She There
02 Controlled Karaoke
03 We Are The Only Animals
04 Losing My Accent
05 [new song]
06 In the City (Contact High)
07 True Life
08 [new song]
09 [new song]

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Nodzzz, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new self-titled l.p. at the What’s Your Rupture website, purchase digital downloads from links at the What’s Your Rupture site and at the Nodzzz blog.

[photo by Joe Perez courtesy of Impose Magazine]

Web hype is such a mixed blessing. In the intervening months since ToddP booked last night’s show at the Market Hotel, Wavves has “hit it’ big on the web, with features on all the major blogs, including Gorilla vs. Bear, Pitchfork and even Spin. Indeed, Pitchfork.tv was there to record Wavves last night.

The result of the rapid hype was the disconcerting swelling of a capacity see-and-be-seen crowd for just that one twenty-minute set by Wavves — many of whom chatted loudly during the quiet first song, and filtered out immediately after the duo stopped playing. Wavves (and Nathan) are indeed quite good, as last night’s set was a fine live garage-rock style presentation of Nathan’s excellent bedroom-lo-fi recordings. But really we would prefer to see them perform when not being bumped into by industry-types rushing to the front lines. Fortunately, Nathan seems like a good-natured and level-headed kid who should survive the inevitable backlash and the days when he is no longer the “next big thing”. We wish him luck.

We recorded this set from a prime location approximately 30 feet in a direct line to the PA speakers. The system has been upgraded slightly since our last visit to the Market, and as a result we are quite pleased with the quality of this capture. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Wavves
2009-02-06
Market Hotel
Brooklyn NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded 30 feet from Right PA

Neumann KM-150 (AK-50 Hypercardiods) > Monster Cable > Apogee Mini-Me > Digital Coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 24bit 48kHz wav > Soundforge (set fades, level adjustments, downsample) > CD Wave > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2009-02-07

Setlist:
[total time 20:28]
01 Weed Demon
02 California Goth
03 Rainbow Everywhere
04 So Bored
05 [tuning]
06 Sun Opens My Eyes
07 [equipment problem]
08 Wavves

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Wavves, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their available releases through links at the Wavves MySpace page. The new CD will be released by Fat Possum Records in March.

[photo by Matt Wolhtman]

What Laura Says is an excellent quintet from Tempe Arizona who write and perform ambitious cross-genre pop songs. The band signed to the Terpsikhore Collective label after they caught the ear of The Annuals and released their debut self-titled album last August. On Wednesday last, What Laura Says opened the night at Bowery Ballroom with an outstanding forty-minute set that conjured up influences from Sunflower/Surf’s Up-era Beach Boys to Zappa to 70’s Prog to the Flying Burrito Brothers. We were particularly moved by the melodic changes and creative energy of the second number, “Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried”. What Laura Says are currently on a lengthy tour with The Annuals that will carry them across the country for the next six weeks, before they finish with a week at SXSW.

We recorded this set from the identical location as The Annuals and Jessica Lea Mayfield recordings and the sound quality is superb. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

What Laura Says
2009-01-28
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Balcony Rail
Next to Soundboard

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, downsample) > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2009-02-05

Setlist:
[Total Time 38:01]
01 Fashionably Moral
02 Couldn’t Lose Myself If I Tried
03 1000 Faces
04 [new song?]
05 Waves
06 Done What’s Right
07 Illustrated Manual

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT What Laura Says, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new CD directly from the Terpsikore Collective site
[HERE].

NYCTaper Live
Radio23.org
Show #3
Sunday
February 1, 2009
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Listen:
http://radio23.org/listen.html

NYCTaper on the web:
https://www.nyctaper.com

Segment 1: [MP3 Download]
01 Confessor
02 Brother
03 Carry Around – The Annuals 2009-01-28
04 Kiss Me Again – Jessica Lea Mayfield 2009-01-28
05 Military Madness – Woods 2009-01-30 [coming soon]
06 Harvest Moon – The Antlers 2009-01-22

Segment 2: [MP3 Download]
01 Winters Love
02 Comfy in Nautica – Animal Collective 2009-01-21
03 One – Govt Mule 2008-12-28
04 Close My Eyes – Matisyahu 2008-12-22

Segment 3: [MP3 Download]
01 Ny Batteri – Sigur Ros 2008-09-18
02 Marmalade Fires – mum 2008-04-23
03 Heysatan – Sigur Ros 2008-09-18
04 Oh, How the Boat Drifts – mum 2008-04-22
05 Ammeli (Birthday) – Sugarcubes 2006-11-17

Segment 4: [MP3 Download]
01 Uncontrollable Urge – Devo 2008-06-26
02 Daniel Goodings – Fever Marlene 2008-06-05
03 Uncalibrated – Bridges and Powerlines 2008-06-21
04 Moonage Daydream – Of Montreal 2007-03-09
05 Juicy – Rafter 2008-11-21
06 Firecracker People – Hotel Lights 2008-08-19

MP3 Downloads are available for each of the four segments individually, rather than the entire show as a zip file.

[TXT File Download]

[photo by Amanda Hatfield]

We were prepared, based on our research and on the positive reviews for her new album With Blasphemy So Heartfelt, to enjoy Jessica Lea Mayfield‘s set opening for the Annuals at the Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday last. What we were not prepared to hear was such an “old soul” authentic voice projected from the body of a nineteen-year old young woman. The juxtaposition of the small, young waifish singer and the Lucinda Williams-like voice of experience creates a compelling can’t-look-away quality to Jessica Lea’s live performance. The quality of the songwriting follows suit, so that when the americana-style quartet completed their set, the Bowery crowd was heard to call for an encore. We were disappointed that Jessica Lea could not return, but we anticipate that she will headline and perform longer sets in the very near future.

We recorded this set from the identical location as the Annuals recording. You may hear the sound of a loose cymbal on the drum kit vibrating at times, but otherwise this is an outstanding recording. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Jessica Lea Mayfield
2009-01-28
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Balcony Rail
Next to Soundboard

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, downsample) > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2009-02-02

Setlist:
[Total Time 37:51]
01 Kiss Me Again
02 I’m Not Lonely Anymore
03 Bible Days
04 Hold You Close
05 When I Go Crazy
06 Greater Heights
07 We’ve Never Lied
08 You’re The One That I Love Best
09 I Can’t Lie To You, Love
10 For Today

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Jessica Lea Mayfield, visit her website, visit her MySpace page, and purchase her new CD With Blasphemy So Heartfelt and other merch from the store at her website [HERE].

[photo by Ear Farm music blog]

Last Thursday, The Antlers started the Naked Hearts CD release party at Cake Shop with a tight forty-minute set of primarily songs from Hospice and one interesting cover. The strong closing version of “Two” from Hospice was particularly compelling, as was their shoegaze-style version of the Neil Young song “Harvest Moon“.

Hospice will be released on March 3, 2009. The CD release party will take place on March 5, 2009 at Union Hall and will feature a complete performance of the album from start to finish. The Antlers have promised “a whole mess of special guests” for this event. The Antlers return to the road for an extensive tour throughout March which will find them in Austin for SXSW.

We recorded this performance from the same location as the Naked Hearts recording. Although the vocals are too low in the recordings, we still feel its a fine listen of an excellent band. Enjoy!

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

Antlers
2009-01-22
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
2009-01-31

Setlist:
[total time 42:04]
01 Bear
02 Atrophy
03 Harvest Moon (Neil Young)
04 Shiva
05 East River
06 Two

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Antlers, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new CD Hospice when it is released on March 3.

The Naked Hearts released their new EP this month and Thursday last (Jan 22), it was time to celebrate. In the venue where they garnered positive attention at CMJ, at Cake Shop Naked Hearts performed a set that featured five of the six songs on the new release These Knees. We were particularly pleased to hear “No One Nothing” for the first time live where the song’s hooks and melodic guitar work translated well.

Naked Hearts have completed their East Coast tour to support the EP, and return to live performance next weekend (Feb 6) at Death By Audio. They will also perform at Glasslands on March 1 before returning to the road for some Midwest dates.

We recorded this set from our upfront location at this venue. The sound quality is not quite what we anticipated, as the vocals are perhaps a bit too light and there is some noise in the drums. Nevertheless, its a fine performance by a fine band! Enjoy.

The Antlers and Air Waves (permission pending) were also recorded and will be posted in nyctaper in the near future.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Naked Hearts
2009-01-22
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
2009-01-24

Setlist:
[total time 28:42]
01 Like I Do
02 Mass Hysteria
03 No One Nothing
04 Cat and Mouse
05 One False Move
06 Call Me
07 Only For You

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Naked Hearts, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new EP These Knees from InSound (vinyl and download card) or Other Music (mp3).

[from Annuals MySpace – photo by Brian Vetter]

Annuals are on tour in support of their new CD Such Fun. On Wednesday at Bowery Ballroom, Annuals played an energetic eighty-minute set that drew equally from their two full-lengths and four EPs. The highlights included the new single “Confessor”, “Brother” and as the first encore “Carry Around”. While the band maintains a youthful and exuberant energy on stage, Adam Baker‘s lyrics exhibit a wisdom beyond his years. That kind of maturity has enabled Annuals to move beyond the blog-buzz and its inevitable backlash, and produce an excellent new CD and tour.

We recorded from our standard balcony location in this venue and the sound is excellent. The vocals were mixed too low for the first couple of songs, but the balance improved thereafter and ultimately we are pleased with the high quality of this recording. Enjoy!

Jessica Lea Mayfield and What Laura Says were also recorded and will be posted on nyctaper pending artist approval.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Annuals
2009-01-28
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Balcony Rail
Next to Soundboard

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 24bit 48kHz wav files > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, downsample) > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2009-01-30

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:20:45]
01 [drum intro]
02 Hot Night Hounds
03 Always Do
04 Confessor
05 Down The Mountain
06 Sway
07 Hardwood Floor
08 Fair
09 Complete or Completing
10 Chase You Off
11 Springtime
12 Around Your Neck
13 Sore
14 Brother
15 Wake
16 [encore break]
17 Carry Around
18 Hair Don’t Grow

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Annuals, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new CD Such Fun from the links at their website and MySpace page.

[photo courtesy of Edan at thepiratehat]

The first time that I saw These Are Powers live was about a year ago, early in the morning in a smokey venue with a cranky old sound system. I absolutely hated them. It never occurred to me that I might just be wrong about them, and that maybe the only thing that was really cranky and old that night was me. Several months later, I read a series of glowing reviews of These Are Powers performance at Siren Festival and had some reservations. Perhaps I should give them a “second chance”.

Friday night at Bell House, the performance by These Are Powers was truly a revelation. We were not distracted by negative conditions and simply concentrated on the band. We got it. These Are Powers create a textured beat and layer it with bass, keyboard effects and processed vocals. The influences are as diverse as German techno, Remain in Light and late-era Butthole Surfers. The band also seems to have a wicked sense of humor, which juxtaposes nicely with the sometime dark elements of the music.

The set included material from the upcoming release from These Are Powers entitled All Aboard Future. The release party for this new CD will take place on February 13, 2009 at Secret Project Robot in Brooklyn. These Are Powers will also perform this Friday January 30 at the DanBro space in Brooklyn in a ToddP event that features NYC bands and Baltimore bands in a “competition”.

We recorded this set from the same location as the Ponytail recording and the sound is excellent.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

These Are Powers
2009-01-23
Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded Next to Soundboard

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
2009-01-26

Setlist:
[Total time 34:14]
01 Cockles
02 Double Double Yolk
03 Chipping Ice
04 Adams Turtle
05 Life of Birds
06 Easy Answers
07 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 from the Dead Oceans site [HERE].

[photo courtesy of Jonny Leather]

Its almost unfair to offer this show as simply an audio recording. A huge aspect of the experience of a live Ponytail performance is the visualization of the unique quartet feeding off the manic energy of the crowd. Last night at a packed Bell House, as lead singer Molly Siegel gyrated to the beat, the entire front half of the audience followed in sync. Her yips and yelps provided the fourth layer of a soundscape that begins with a feverish beat and two frantic lead guitars. We had not seen Ponytail since their Mercury gig in July, but were impressed at their level of maturity in the last six months — which is remarkable considering that nyctaper selected their June ATJ performance at one of the top ten shows of the year.

We recorded this set inside of the roped-off and elevated soundboard area. We offer many thanks to Bell House for their courtesy and the band for their permission. The sound quality of this recording is superb. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Ponytail
2009-01-23
Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded Next to Soundboard

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
2009-01-24

Setlist:
[Total time 46:09]
01 7 Souls
02 Beg Waves
03 Late For School
04 Untitled [new song]
05 Music Tunes
06 Bermuda Triangle
07 Die Allman Bruder
08 Celebrate the Body Electric (It Came From an Angel)
09 [encore break]
10 Small Wevs

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Ponytail, visit their myspace page, and purchase their official releases [HERE] and [HERE].