nyctaper Recordings

[photo courtesy of Dianna]

On Friday night, I got to “pal around” with all-around nice guy John Vanderslice at the opening of the new music club at the downtown 92Y Tribeca. Following an excellent opening set from cutting edge comedian Michael Showalter, John played an enjoyable hour-long solo set that included three new songs from his anticipated March 2009 release. John was equally gregarious in his interactions with the audience and in the performance of his intelligent songs. He is set to finish recording his album and will return to touring when the new release hits in March. We will be there then.

This recording was captured with the gracious permission and assistance of the artist who introduced me to the soundboard tech and permitted a digital patch into the mixing desk. The recording is a professional quality capture of an outstanding artist. Enjoy!

The NYCTaper recording of John Vanderslice at Mercury Lounge in March 2008 is still available [here].

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

John Vanderslice
2008-10-18
92Y Tribeca
New York, NY USA

Digital Soundboard Recording

Soundboard > XLR > Apogee Mini-Me > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge (level boost, set fades, downsample, dither) > CD Wave (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2008-10-21

Setlist:
[Total time 1:00:29]
01 [introduction/banter]
02 Trance Manual
03 White Dove
04 Time To Go
05 [banter]
06 Angela
07 [banter]
08 Numbered Lithograph
09 [banter]
10 Too Much Time [new song]
11 White Plains
12 [banter]
13 Greyhound
14 Letter To The East Coast
15 Romanian Names [new song]
16 [banter]
17 Pale Horse
18 [banter]
19 Dear Sarah Shu
20 [encore break/banter]
21 Keep The Dream Alive
22 The Snow Leopard [new song]
23 [banter]
24 Nikki Oh Nikki

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

[photo courtesy of Nate — More Excellent Photos from this Show here]

We had such a good time when we saw Love Is All twice in June [recording] and [review], that we decided to repeat the experience in almost identical fashion — an intimate show at a tiny venue combined with a larger affair. When Love Is All opened for Of Montreal at Roseland on Friday last, the crowd was only about half full, but from our balcony view we could see about 20 rows of people pogo-jumping to their infectious proto-punk-pop. The setlist was similar to the June show, but as Love Is All is releasing a new album A Hundred Things Keep Me up at Night in November, a couple of new songs were performed.

Five days later, Love Is All played a secret ToddP show at the tiny Monster Island (pictured above). Similar to their Cake Shop show in June, this was an incredible show as the sweaty band and fans packed together with a celebratory energy and intimacy. We were fortunate to have arrived early to set up and had a nice chat with Marcus (drummer) who was so supportive of our work and our previous recording of the band. NYCTaper even got a Love Is All t-shirt for free! Thanks to Marcus, Love Is All, and ToddP for access and permission.

These two recordings are as different as the experiences. The Roseland recording is a full soundstage capture with rich bass and full instrument presence. It was captured from the same location as the Of Montreal recording, and is marred briefly only by a few bursts of static from the stage microphones early in “Wishing Well” and at a few points afterwards. For the Monster Island recording, we set up in the middle of the crowded room about 20 feet from the main speakers. The result is an intimate up-close feel with perhaps a bit less presence than the Roseland show. We are extremely pleased with both recordings and feel that each accurately represents the unique shows that this excellent band performed. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (ROSELAND HERE) (MONSTER ISLAND HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC (ROSELAND HERE) (MONSTER ISLAND HERE).

Love Is All
2008-10-10
Roseland Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Balcony Rail
Dead Center

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 16bit 44.1kHz wav files > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, slight EQ) > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2008-10-18

Setlist:
[Total Time 36:23]
01 [introduction]
02 Wishing Well
03 Give it Back
04 Talk Talk Talk Talk
05 Ageing Had Never Been His Friend
06 Last Choice
07 Seasick
08 Turn The Radio Off
09 Scary Business
10 Busy Doing Nothing
11 I Ran (Flock of Seagulls)
12 Make Out Fall Out Make Up

************************************

Love Is All
2008-10-15
Monster Island
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Center of the Room
20 Feet From Stage

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 16bit 44.1kHz wav files > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, slight EQ) > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2008-10-18

Setlist:
[Total Time 32:17]
01 Wishing Well
02 Give it Back
03 Talk Talk Talk Talk
04 Ageing Had Never Been His Friend
05 Last Choice
06 Seasick
07 New Beginnings
08 Busy Doing Nothing
09 I Ran (Flock of Seagulls)
10 Make Out Fall Out Make Up

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Love Is All, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and pre-order their album A Hundred Things Keep Me up at Night [HERE].

The most rewarding aspect of operating this blog is watching the growth and success of the bands that we have profiled. In May, when The Loom impressed the heck out of us at the NYCTaper Anniversary concert, we believed it was only a matter of time before they hit. And like clockwork, this year The Loom have gathered an impressive list of credentials — a Jezebel profile, a performance at the Montreal Pop Festival, their first tour, a RCRD-LBL profile, a Hooves On The Turf profile, a full week of CMJ Shows, and of course the release of their terrific new EP At Last Light. So when The Loom accepted our invitation to appear at our CMJ show (in 5 days!) we were thrilled. The Loom will appear at the NYCTaper CMJ Showcase on Thursday October 23 at Cake Shop at 3:30pm (schedule change).

In the meantime, we had a chance to attend and capture The Loom‘s performance at Glasslands Gallery last week. As we had not seen the band since late May, we were pleasantly surprised by the seamless transition of two new members, the band’s obvious growth in their live sound, and the appearance of two new strong numbers. This capture is the same as the Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson recording, and while heavily mixed with vocals, is nevertheless a clear recording of this excellent band. Enjoy!

The Loom CMJ Schedule:
Oct 22 2008 8:00 CMJ – The Bell House
Oct 23 2008 3:30 CMJ – Cake Shop – NYCTaper Showcase
Oct 24 2008 8:00 CMJ – Original Sessions Art House

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Loom
2008-10-08
Glasslands Gallery
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard/Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Front of Board Neumann KM-150s > Edirol UA-5 (Oade Digimod) > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge (set fades, downsample) > CD Wave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2008-10-18

Setlist:
[total time 40:10]
01 All Your Famous Friends
02 New Blood for Old Hearts
03 Of Vegas and Vanity
04 [banter]
05 Patience for Books
06 Wings
07 Montreal
08 Song for the Winter Sun
09 Red Devil
10 Song of Faint Praise

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Loom, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their EP At Last Light from The Loom Store [HERE] or digitally from their MySpace page.

[photo credit]

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson returned to NYC from a month long-tour across the country in support of his newest self-titled CD last Wednesday. Miles performed an intimate show at Glasslands, and his tight and well-received set included some new numbers from an album tentatively titled “Summer of Fear”, which he will begin recording soon in anticipation of an early 2009 release.

We recorded this set in “matrix” fashion, mixing a soundboard feed with our Neumann microphones mounted on the railing in front of the stage. Although the vocals are a bit too heavy in the mix, the sound quality is clear and this is a fine capture of an excellent concert. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
2008-10-08
Glasslands Gallery
Brooklyn, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Soundboard/Audience Matrix

Soundboard + Front of Board Neumann KM-150s > Edirol UA-5 (Oade Digimod) > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge (set fades, downsample) > CD Wave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2008-10-15

Setlist:
[total time 49:48]
01 There Will Be Mud
02 Woodfriend
03 Shingles
04 Summer of Fear
05
06
07 Night Moves (Bob Seger)
08 Boneindian

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, visit his MySpace page, and purchase his new Self-Titled CD from the Say Hey Records website [HERE].

Bearsuit‘s US debut was worth the wait. Ironically on Columbus Day, eighteen months after an incident where Bearsuit was prevented by immigration authorities from performing at SXSW 2007, the Brits’ performance last night at Cake Shop was clear evidence why Bearsuit was one of the late John Peel’s favorite bands. The co-ed caped serenaders eased through forty minutes of their best quirky, intelligent and hook-heavy brit-pop and left the crazy crowd begging for an encore that never came. But as Lisa pointed out to the crowd before the last number, Bearsuit will return for more NYC dates later this month. In fact, Bearsuit will perform at the NYCTaper CMJ Showcase at Cake Shop on Thursday October 23.

We recorded this concert from our standard location at Cake Shop — with the DPA microphones attached to the front wall about 10 feet from the PA speakers. The result is a recording of great intimacy and clarity. Enjoy!

There is an excellent review of this concert on the Soundbites Blog [here].

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Bearsuit
2008-10-13
Cake Shop
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Upfront
10 Feet from the 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
2008-10-14

Setlist:
[Total time 39:04]
01 Jupiter Force (Recruitment Video)
02 Foxy Boxer
03 [equipment interlude]
04 Dinosaur Heart
05 More Soul Than A Wigan Casino
06 Hey Charlie Hey Chuck
07 Muscle Belt
08 Pushover
09 Shh Get Out
10 Rodent Disco
11 [stage announcements]
12 Chargr!
13 Welcome Bearsuit Space Hotel

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Bearsuit, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their Official Releases, including their latest CD OH:IO at the Fantastic Plastic website [HERE].

[photo courtesy of You Ain’t No Picasso – View all of Matt’s amazing photos HERE]

We are a few days behind the news cycle on this show. If you’re an Of Montreal fan, by now you have read about the concert at Roseland on Friday night, and its extraordinary and thoroughly original stage show. Suffice to say, we have never seen a concert where a song was performed on top of a white horse, or where the lead singer sang several numbers dressed as the Pope (in red), or where the lead singer was dropped realistically from an old style hangman’s noose.

Musically, this was by far the longest Of Montreal show we have seen, and outlasted last year’s Roseland show by more than forty minutes. While the setlist drew heavily from Skeletal Lamping, there were an equal number of selections from the previous three albums and one memorable cover — 24 songs in total.

After last year’s difficult time at Roseland, we made a persistent effort to arrange all the recording permissions in advance for this show. Thanks to Michael the Of Montreal road manager, The Late B.P. Helium, and the Roseland crew, this recording outing was perfect in all respects. We captured this concert from the front and center of the balcony railing. While the distance from the stage was greater than last year, we are extremely pleased with the soundstage and depth of this recording. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

of Montreal
2008-10-10
Roseland Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Balcony Rail
Dead Center

Neumann KM-150’s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 16bit 44.1kHz wav files > Soundforge (set fades, slight level adjustments, slight EQ) > CD Wave 1.95 (tracking) > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2008-10-11

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:47:25]
01 Introduction
02 Id Engager
03 So Begins Our Alabee
04 Triphallus, To Punctuate!
05 She’s a Rejecter
06 For Our Elegant Caste
07 Touched Something’s Hollow
08 An Eluardian Instance
09 Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse
10 Gallery Piece
11 Wraith Pinned To The Mist (And Other Games)
12 Women’s Studies Victims
13 St. Exquisite Confessions
14 Eros’ Entropic Tundra
15 Nonpareil Of Favor
16 October is Eternal
17 Wicked Wisdom
18 Disconnect the Dots / Knight Rider
19 And I’ve Seen A Bloody Shadow
20 Plastis Wafers
21 Beware Our Nubile Miscreants
22 Mingusings
23 A Sentence Of Sorts In Kongsvinger
24 [encore break]
25 Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)*
26 Gronlandic Edit

*with Andrew VanWyngarden (MGMT)

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 stereoactivenyc]

Of all the bands scheduled to appear at the NYCTaper CMJ Showcase, Naked Hearts are the artist with whom we are least familiar. Initially, the band contacted us about a gig at Death by Audio, and we also read a recent review at the Ear Farm blog. After we sampled the excellent tracks at their MySpace page (“Cat and Mouse” is a hit waiting to happen), the CMJ invitation was offered.

On Monday night at Mercury Lounge, we experienced Naked Hearts for the first time live and the end result is that NYCTaper is very lucky to have this band perform at our Showcase. Naked Hearts can’t miss. The combination of neat melodic hooks, sweet harmonies, and musical dexterity are on obvious display at the live show, and the trio presents a confident and relaxed presence on stage that belies the “newness” of the band.

We recorded this set from our standard location at Mercury Lounge. The sound mix was quite good and the crowd was very attentive — one of the least “chatty” crowds we have encountered recently. The recording is therefore quite excellent and captures this outstanding new band in a very positive light. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Naked Hearts
2008-10-06
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Front of Board

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
2008-10-08

Setlist:
[Total time 25:46]
01 Like I Do
02 Mass Hysteria
03 Only For You
04 Cat and Mouse
05 One False Move
06 Crashing Horses
07 Call Me

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 come to see them perform at the NYCTaper CMJ Showcase!

[photo credit]

The last time we saw Bradford Cox, it was less than a month ago under very different circumstances. At Le Poisson Rouge in September, Bradford fronted the powerful guitar-driven five-piece Deerhunter. On Thursday night at Irving, Bradford was accompanied only by his guitar, keyboards and effects — as his solo project Atlas Sound. The thoroughly different, yet equally compelling music that Atlas Sound produced is a testament to the multiple talents of this unique performer.

We recorded this set from the exact location as the Stereolab recording. However, the unabashed high volume crowd chatter during this set was disturbing. Fortunately, throughout much of this set the volume covered the chatter, although at quiet times during this set the talking is quite audible. Otherwise, its a fine capture. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Atlas Sound
2008-10-02
Irving Plaza
New York NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Dead Center
Front of Board — 40 Feet from Stage

Neumann KM-150s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Monster XLR cables > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge 8.0 (set fades, slight level boost, resample 16/44) > CD Wave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2008-10-06

Setlist
[Total time 34:36]
01 Cold as Ice
02 April 13
03 Cold and Golden
04 On Guard
05 The Abandoned Closet
06 Another Bedroom
07 Logos

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Atlas Sound, visit the MySpace page, visit Bradford’s blog, and purchase the official releases from the Kranky Records site [HERE].

[photo credit]

As we reported the day after this show, Kri­a Brekkan‘s set at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah on September 16 was primarily a beautiful performance with a few equipment-related bumps along the road. Similar to her 2007 performance in a church, the crowd was quiet and reverent and the performer responded with a set of intricacy and poignancy.

We recorded from up close to the stage, about 20 feet from the left PA speaker. While the PA system was a basic mobile unit, this is a fine capture. Although there are some ambient noises (shutterbug clicks, chair squeaks, door closings), the crowd was mostly quiet and the sound signal is clear. Enjoy!

Kria Brekkan performs again on Tuesday October 7, at Santos Party House.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Kri­a Brekkan
2008-09-16
Lutheran Church of the Messiah
Brooklyn NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Upfront
Left Side — 20 Feet from Stage

Neumann KM-150s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Monster XLR cables > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge 8.0 (set fades, slight level boost, resample 16/44) > CD Wave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2008-10-05

[Total time 35:02]
06 Tracks

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Kria Brekkan, visit her website, and purchase her Official Releases directly from her website [HERE].

[photo credit]

Stereolab is on tour to promote their August 2008 release Chemical Chords and the band is currently on a three-night run of shows at Irving Plaza. Last night’s performance was the opening night and showed no uncertainty or trepidation as early nights often do. These eighteen-year veterans worked through old and new material with grace and confidence — the setlist included only four songs from Chemical Chords. On a humorous note, the band performed “Ping Pong”, although they did not dedicate it to Meghan McCain.

We recorded this set with the gracious permission of Stereolab manager Martin Pike and we were able to set up in the perfect location in this venue and utilized our best equipment. We are extremely pleased with the quality of this recording. Enjoy!

Tickets are still available for the Saturday night (Oct 4) concert by Stereolab at Irving Plaza.

Atlas Sound was also recorded and will be posted in the next few days.

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Stereolab
2008-10-02
Irving Plaza
New York NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded from Dead Center
Front of Board — 40 Feet from Stage

Neumann KM-150s (AK-50 Hypercardiod Capsules) > Monster XLR cables > Apogee Minime > digital coaxial > M-Audio Microtrack > 24bit 48kHz wav file > Soundforge 8.0 (set fades, slight level boost, resample 16/44) > CD Wave 1.95 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced
by nyctaper
2008-10-03

Setlist
[Total time 1:32:21]
01 Percolator
02 Neon Beanbag
03 Eye of the Volcano
04 Mountain
05 Chemical Chords
06 Self Portrait With Electric Brain
07 Ping Pong
08 Double Rocker
09 Ecstatic Static
10 Lo Boob Oscillator
11 Bump
12 Silver Sands
13 John Cage Bubblegum
14 French Disko
15 Cybele’s Reverie
16 [encore break]
17 Three Women
18 The Emergency Kisses
19 Jenny Ondioline

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Stereolab, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and and purchase their Official Releases, including the new release Chemical Chords directly from the Duophonic Store [HERE].