nyctaper Recordings

[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!

Download and stream the Complete show [HERE].

https://archive.org/details/mbar2008-10-08.matrix.nyctaper

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].

https://archive.org/download/bearsuit2008-10-13.dpanyctaper/bearsuit.jpg

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].

Download and stream the complete show [HERE].

https://archive.org/details/bearsuit2008-10-13.dpanyctaper

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!

Download and stream the complete show [HERE].

https://archive.org/details/ofMontreal2008-10-10.Neumanns.nyctaper

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!

Download and stream the complete show [HERE].

https://archive.org/details/NakedHearts2008-10-06.fob.neumanns.nyctaper

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!

Download and stream the complete show [HERE].

https://archive.org/details/AtlasSound2008-10-02.fob.neumanns.nyctaper

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.

Download and stream the complete show [HERE].

https://archive.org/details/KriaBrekkan2008-09-16.neumanns.nyctaper

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.

Download and stream the complete show [HERE].

https://archive.org/details/Stereolab2008-10-02.fob.neumanns.nyctaper

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].

[photo credit]

The Meat Puppets were simply one of the most unlikely but ultimately rewarding redemption stories of the entire year of 2007 in music. When we saw them perform at Knitting Factory in August of 2007, the band was tight, focused and performed a powerful set. The challenge for this band in 2008 has been to maintain that level of proficiency.

At Terminal 5 on Friday night, the Meat Puppets had the unenviable task of opening for two outstanding bands with strong fan bases and also had to begin their set at 7:30. Despite the restrictions, the band continued the momentum from last year and added something old and new — a reckless and devil-may-care energy to their music. The result was a set of standard Pups with some nice surprises and twists mixed in. While Johnny Cash’s “Tennessee Stud” was an inspired cover choice performed well, a cover of the Beatles “Tomorrow Never Knows” was a misstep that ended abruptly. “Up On the Sun” and its extended jam continues to be one of the set highlights, but the harder and faster version of “Lake of Fire” seemed somewhat unfocused. Overall though, the Meat Puppets remain one of the best resurrection stories in modern music, and if the band continues to perform energetic sets without allowing the recklessness to fuel discord, they may remain a vital unit for years.

We recorded the set from the same location as the two previous recordings. However, given that the venue was only half full for this performance, the recording has virtually no crowd noise and excellent clarity. Enjoy!

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

Meat Puppets
2008-09-26
Terminal 5
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Audience Recording
Recorded from Floor – Dead Center 100 Feet from Stage

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 16/44) > CD Wave 1.75 > Flac Frontend (level 7, align sector boundaries) > flac

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2008-09-30

Setlist:
[total time 56:48]
01 Buckaroo
02 Sam
03 Up On The Sun
04 Snow
05 Touchdown King
06 Lost
07 The Whistling Song
08 Bali Hai
09 Coming Down
10 Look At The Rain
11 Oh, Me
12 Tennessee Stud (Johnny Cash)
13 Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles)*
14 Lake of Fire

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Meat Puppets, visit their website, and purchase their Official Releases directly from the Anodyne Records website [HERE].