[photo courtesy of Camey Scott]

I love these break-out Bowery nights. We first got to know Holly Miranda back in October, when we recorded her set opening for the Antlers, and I then got drunk with both bands after the show. Holly’s obvious and immense talents are perhaps eclipsed only by her personality — she is genuinely a fun and nice person. It was an extra treat when the nyctaper recording of Holly’s Pink Floyd cover from that night went viral on the web. Following the February release of her new album The Magician’s Private Library on XL Recordings, the world at large caught on, critical praise and new fans followed. At the conclusion of her first major headlining tour, Holly returned home last night to a packed Bowery Ballroom and delivered a performance of stunning quality and depth. The strong Magician’s material we expected, along with the promised horn section and special guests (Kyp Malone). What we did not expect were two eclectic covers, including her jaw-dropping take on the Etta James classic “I’d Rather Go Blind”. It doesn’t get much better than that, and to have it happen at her Bowery break-out is even more rewarding.

We recorded this set with the Neumann microphones at the balcony rail. The sound mix at Bowery on this night was quite exceptional, and we are quite pleased with the excellent quality of this recording. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Holly Miranda
2010-05-26
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

Digital Master Recording
Recorded at Balcony Rail

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

Recorded and Produced by nyctaper
2010-05-27

Setlist:
[Total Time 1:08:40]
01 No One Just Is
02 Waves
03 Mark My Words [new song]
04 No One Can See Me Like You Do (Yoko Ono)
05 High Tide
06 Forest Green, Oh Forest Green
07 Everytime I Go To Sleep
08 Joints
09 I’d Rather Go Blind (Etta James)
10 Slow Burn Treason
11 Sleep on Fire
12 [banter]
13 Pelican Rapids
14 [encore break]
15 Singular Acceptance
16 Secret Identity
17 Hymnal

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Holly Miranda, visit her website, visit her blog, and purchase The Magician’s Private Library directly from the Beggar’s Group website [HERE].

[Photos of The Secret History’s performance last year at NYC Popfest 2009 courtesy of F Yang at chromewaves.net]

Despite some hefty competition from the season finale of a certain fan-beloved TV show, real indiepop fans knew that the only place to be this past Sunday was sharing the cozy and welcoming Littlefield with luminaries of the genre from across the U.S. and Sweden at an all-day event. The Secret History, the penultimate act of the night and the only NYC-based band on the bill, were probably the strongest of the fourth and final night of the NYC Popfest 2010.

I recorded this set with the DPA mics and a top-quality soundboard feed. This recording emphasizes the soundboard feed a bit more to bring out the strength of the vocals. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE].

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Secret History
2010-05-23
NYC Popfest 2010
Littlefield
Brooklyn, NY

An acidjack master recording
Recorded and produced for nyctaper.com by acidjack

Equipment: Stereo soundboard feed + DPA 4021>Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) (24/44.1)
Position: ROC, to left side of SBD cage, mics at 8′ pointed at stacks
Mastering: 2x24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, set fades, tracking, amplify channels)>FLAC Level 8

Tracks
01 intro
02 Johnny Anorak
03 banter
04 Our Lady of Stalingrad
05 Its Not the End of the World, Jonah
06 God Save The Runaways
07 banter
08 Love Theme
09 Johnny Nightmare
10 Our Lady of Pompeii
11 Count Backwards
12 Sister Rose

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Secret History, visit their website, and purchase their official releases from their site [HERE].

[photo by nyctaper]

Neil Halstead is such a modest and unassuming fellow, that I was not even sure it was him setting up to play at the Truck America Festival earlier this month. As we set up the nyctaper DPA microphones as the stage mics for guitar and violin for his set, Neil was quietly tuning his guitar. He began his set in a similar fashion, mumbling hello before the first number. The moment the music began, it was as if a switch was turned on and his immense talent shone through. As a key figure in the influential 90’s band Slowdive and later with the excellent Mojave3, Neil Halstead’s solo work is almost a third career, and his two albums stand up to the best of his early bands’ catalog. His Truck set drew from those two releases and included some new numbers, before Neil was joined by Joe Bennett on violin for a couple of Mojave3 songs. While the crowded tent was eerily quiet during his set, at times the only sound was the voice of Neil’s young son calling out to his dad — which was entirely appropriate given the family nature of the excellent Truck America Festival.

We recorded this same in the same location and with the same equipment as the Gary Louris set and the sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

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

Neil Halstead
2010-05-01
Truck America Festival
Big Indian, NY 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
2010-05-23

Setlist: (setlist help requested)
[Total Time 49:17]
01 Driving With Bert
02
03 Queen Bee
04
05 See You On Rooftops
06
07 [banter]
08
09 Yer Feet
10
11 Some Kinda Angel
12
13
14 [banter]
15 Sometimes The Wheels

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Neil Halstead, visit his website, visit his MySpace page, and purchase his latest album from the Brushfire Records website [HERE].

[Photo courtesy of lowerwestside]

It was refreshing, for once, to see an exciting, emerging American band that wasn’t from Brooklyn.  The electronic rock duo Phantogram hail from the rural college town of Saratoga Springs, NY – so far from Brooklyn it might as well be in Virginia.  But geography aside, Phantogram’s sound is very of the moment, a smooth, approachable style they call “street beat, psych pop.”  The closest reference, by far, would be the also-booming UK band The xx, who have been reviving some of the better elements of the mid-90s sound once known as “trip-hop” without letting the style devolve into a bunch of faceless Starbucks jams.  Phantogram’s style occupies a solid middle ground between the somber and the bombastic, with songs that are instantly memorable.

For Phantogram, this show represented a crucial milestone familiar to every New York band: their first sellout of the Bowery Ballroom.  Playing live can be a challenge for a band whose sound relies so heavily on pre-programmed loops and sampled beats, as the “press play” aspect can make the show feel less immediate and exciting, but Phantogram solved that problem with Josh Carter’s live guitars and Sarah Barthel’s spot-on lead vocals.  The generosity and gratitude of the band was evident, as they repeatedly thanked the audience for their support.  Selling out Bowery, clearly, will not be the end of this duo’s journey.  I just hope they don’t feel too much pressure to move to Brooklyn.

I recorded this set from the balcony with the hypercardiod microphones at eye level with the sound staff, and the omnidirectional microphones taped to the soundboard cage, providing a clear and balanced blend of sound.  Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE].

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Phantogram
2010-05-19
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY  USA

Equipment: Beyerdynamic MC950+DPA 4061>Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) (24/44.1)
Position: MC950s LOC at SBD cage, pointed at stacks, 4061s in boundary mounts, 2? split
Mastering: 2×24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, EQ, set fades, tracking, amplify)>FLAC Level 8

Tracks [51:48]
01 As Far As I Can See
02 Let Me Go
03 Mouthful of Diamonds
04 Running From the Cops
05 You Are the Ocean
06 Make A Fist
07 Turn It Off
08 When I’m Small
09 [encore break]
10 All Dried Up
11 Futuristic Casket

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Phantogram, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their excellent album Eyelid Movies from Barsuk Records [HERE].

[photos taken for nyctaper by David Andrako — click photos for higher resolution]

Although Dinosaur Feathers have appeared twice on nyctaper in the last six months, it had been last summer since I personally had last seen them live. In the intervening months, the band released their new album Fantasy Memorial, which has gathered a ton of glowing press (and one painfully overwritten pan by a low-rent pitchfork wannabe with issues). With the positive momentum behind them, Dinosaur Feathers went on a successful tour, booked high profile gigs (Sasquatch Festival and summer Pier shows included) and generally are playing with a ton of confidence. We were delighted to have beat the rush and booked them months ago for our anniversary show at Pianos this past Saturday. The three band members spent the entire show in the room, chatted with friends and cheered on the other bands — their success has not changed them from the friendly folks we met last year. The set was, by the band’s own account, one of the best shows they’ve played in a while. Greg and Duck were as one in unison on the harmonies, and new-ish bassist Ryan adds a palpable kinetic stage energy. The songs were primarily new album material, with one debut EP track and one new song included. The venue was packed when Dinosaur Feathers performed — you can literally hear the buzz of the room in between songs — and a large part of the success of our third anniversary show can be attributed to this band.

This set was recorded with a feed from the board mixed with two Neumann room mics and the sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files (HERE)

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Dinosaur Feathers
2010-05-15
NYCTaper 3rd Anniversary Concert
Pianos
New York, NY 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
2010-05-20

Setlist:
[Total Time 36:56]
01 I Ni Sogoma
02 Family Waves
03 Teenage Whore
04 Our Good Mother
05 Parallel July
06 Silhouette [new song]
07 Vendela Vida
08 Fantasy Memorial

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Dinosaur Feathers, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their new album Fantasy Memorial from the BUY link at their website [HERE].

[Excellent photos taken for nyctaper by David Andrako]

Since it posted its inaugural recording back in 2007, nyctaper.com has tried to expose its readers to the latest music from well-known artists as well as promote newer bands that are worthy of attention.  The NYCTaper 3rd Anniversary Concert, held this year at the intimate Pianos in Manhattan, was particularly dedicated to honoring that second (and arguably more important) mission.  At a venue already legendary for exposing soon-to-be stars, four of our favorite bands took the stage and gave performances that matched or exceeded their strongest efforts to date.  Our headliner, ArpLine, has been playing nonstop in 2010, and their tightly-composed sets have continued to win over fans.  Combining technological prowess with stellar hooks and a focused delivery, ArpLine performances sound and feel big. This set, despite clocking in at a venue-mandated 36 minutes (the DJ party started at 1), did not disappoint, as the band kicked things off with their Village Voice-approved single, “Fold Up Like A Piece of Paper,” and wrapped up the night with my favorite of their songs, the rhythmic, head-bobbing “Parts Unknown.”  As this was my first full year as a contributor to the site, and one of the first bands that I weighed in for us to feature, I would like to extend my sincere personal thanks to ArpLine and their management not only for playing our show, but for their music.  And, of course, to the founder of nyctaper for making this all possible.  Most of all, I would like to thank our readers for their encouragement as well as criticism.

The sets of the other three acts, Dinosaur Feathers, Uninhabitable Mansions, and Natureboy, will be posted soon.   We recorded each of these sets with the Neumann hypercardiod microphones and a stereo soundboard feed provided by our hosts at Pianos.  The sound quality is excellent.  Enjoy!

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE].  Listen to “Parts Unknown” [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

ArpLine
2010-05-15
Pianos
New York, NY  USA

Equipment: Soundboard + Neumann KM150>Edirol R-44 (Oade Concert Mod) (24/48)
Position: Mics at ~7′, pointed at stacks from right corner of room
Mastering: 2×24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, set fades, downsample, amplify channels)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Setlist [Time 36:44]
01 Speed (Rush Ah)
02 Fold Up Like A Piece of Paper
03 Make It Rain
04 Sound and Versions
05 Amplify
06 Weekend in the Colonies
07 Rope
08 Parts Unknown

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT ArpLine, visit their website, and purchase their excellent debut album Travel Book, when it is released this fall (the band’s Bandcamp site is no more as the album will be officially released then).