Posts Tagged ‘ acidjack ’

Widowspeak: March 3, 2011 Glasslands – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

March 10, 2011
By

Brooklyn’s Widowspeak could be considered a Pacific Northwest import of sorts – vocalist/guitarist Molly Hamilton and drummer Michael Stasiak hail from Tacoma, Washington (guitarist Robert Thomas is from Chicago) and the rain-washed influence of that region suffuses both their sound and their songwriting.  Stylistically, you hear it in their guitar playing, which picks up the jangly, rangy sound of some of the early K Records acts like Beat Happening, and in the band’s unforced delivery.  There is a mellow, wistful air to Widowspeak that is uncommon to hungry young East Coast bands; rather than blaring “hear me NOW!” their approach is more akin to, “don’t worry, we know you’ll get it eventually.”  Which is to say that, in a scene thoroughly embracing the 90s at the moment, Widowspeak are firmly more in the SubPop than the shoegaze camp.  Hamilton’s vocals are sure to garner their fair share of favorable comparisons – one reviewer compared Hamilton’s distant, ghostly moan to Mazzy Star, but I prefer to think of her as a successor to Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power.  Her vocals talents were on full display this past Thursday night at Glasslands, where the band gave us a taste of some of the material they hope to release this summer on their forthcoming full length on Captured Tracks.  The band gave us a tight, well-rehearsed and set with few digressions, with a mix that emphasized Hamilton’s vocals.  Their current 7″ single (also available on Captured Tracks) “Harsh Realm” is both a knowing reference to an old joke (this link is worth reading) about grunge slang, as well as a paean to Hamilton and Stasiak’s roots, and that song also closed out this eight-song set.  Another highlight was the band’s sincere rendition of Chris Isaak’s classic, “Wicked Game”, which went perfectly with the band’s style and sound.

I recorded this set with the DPA microphones and a soundboard feed by Derek of Glasslands.  The sound quality is excellent.  Enjoy!

Stream “Harsh Realm”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/W3030Widowspeak0211/09 Harsh Realm.mp3]

Stream “Wicked Game”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/W3030Widowspeak0211/07 Wicked Game.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Widowspeak
2011-03-03
Glasslands
Brooklyn, NY  USA

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

Equipment: DPA 4021+Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod]
Position: ROC, balcony, ~ORTF
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, adjust levels, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Burnout
02 Yellow Light
03 Brainfreeze
04 banter
05 Nightcrawlers
06 Ghost Boy
07 Wicked Game [Chris Isaak]
08 Pines
09 Harsh Realm

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Widowspeak, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their forthcoming LP and the “Harsh Realm” 7″ from Captured Tracks.

Mr. Dream: March 4, 2011 Glasslands – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

March 7, 2011
By


[Photo by Johnny Fried Chicken Boy and acidjack]

The Brooklyn band Mr. Dream gives the lie to the adage about writers, and critics in particular: That those who cannot actually do something become critics instead. In Mr. Dream’s particular case, the former Pitchfork writers Nick Sylvester and Adam Moerder joined with bassist Matt Morello to make the kind of rock music that made them become critics in the first place. Which is to say, rock music from the days when independent rock music wasn’t just the go-to tuneage for car commercials – when it was more often brash, loud, angular – and let’s be honest, had some fucking balls.

This show at Glasslands (and presented by PopGun Booking, who have been putting up one killer lineup after another at the venue recently) celebrated the release of the band’s first full-length, the 33-minute adrenaline burst Trash Hit. The record’s most evident influences are a who’s-who of critical favorites – early Pixies, Nirvana, Shellac, Fugazi, and a decent-sized portion of the SST canon. Stylistically, Mr. Dream’s songs embrace empty air in the manner most often associated with the legendary engineer Steve Albini – with each instrument clearly separated and clear, giving the music a dry, spare, propulsive quality. Joined by current Pitchfork contributor Matt LeMay (who produced three of the songs on Trash Hit) to bolster their guitar assault, the band hurtled through a half-hour of mostly Trash Hit songs whose intensity never flagged. The first notes of “Knuckle Sandwich” kicked in before the house music had even been turned off, and the show was balls-out from there. The musical erudition of the players shows through in their songs, which wear their influences well without being overwhelmed by them; the title track, “Trash Hit”, for example, could have held its own with the Pixies in their Surfer Rosa days. By the time they left the stage after “Unfinished Business,” Mr. Dream didn’t need an encore – they had cemented themselves as yet another band to watch in 2011. The band will be joining Sleigh Bells and CSS for their East Coast tour, with dates in DC, Philly and Boston, and a May 11 show at Webster Hall in NYC (tickets here).

I recorded this set with the DPA microphones mounted on the balcony, combined with an outstanding house mix from the Glasslands engineers. The quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “Trash Hit”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/M3400MrDream2011/05 Trash Hit.mp3]

Stream “Unfinished Business”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/M3400MrDream2011/12 Unfinished Business.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete Show in FLAC [HERE].

Mr. Dream
2011-03-04
Glasslands
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: DPA 4021+Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod]
Position: ROC, balcony, ~ORTF
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (guitar-enhancing compression on soundboard track, smooth peaks, mixdown, adjust levels, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 30:20]
01 Knuckle Sandwich
02 Crime
03 Scarred For Life
04 Holy Name
05 Trash Hit
06 [banter]
07 Winners
08 Knick Knack
09 Croquet
10 King Klutz
11 [banter]
12 Unfinished Business

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Mr. Dream, visit their MySpace page, and purchase Trash Hit from Amazon or your favorite record store.

Tennis: March 2, 2011 Bowery Ballroom – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

March 4, 2011
By


[Photos courtesy of Geoffrey Dicker for According to G]

Just eight months into its existence, Tennis is a success story. Many bands toil in obscurity for years hoping to break it big (in the NYC scene at least) by headlining Bowery Ballroom; Tennis have already accomplished that feat with a full-on sellout as the icing. This unlikely story of a band born out of husband and wife Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore taking a seven-month sailing trip down the Atlantic coast, and deciding to turn it into a record, has resonated big-time in the indie world. People are paying attention undoubtedly because the nautical, retro conceit of their debut album, Cape Dory, is so unusual, but the band has got the songs to keep people interested. The band’s breezy sound, equal parts girl group and surf rock, is easy to like, an effortless-sounding sort of country club indiepop that the kids can get into, but is probably safe for the parents, too.

Tennis’ live performance is confident and unselfconscious as well (one advantage of being in a band with your spouse, perhaps). Moore introduced many songs by name, some with a bit of charming backstory. Of the new song, “Robin”: “Patrick doesn’t like me to say what it’s about – it’s too cute-seeming – but it’s about a baby bird that we saved last month.” Like the hilariously retro album cover for Cape Dory (Moore in a tight aqua jumpsuit with the band’s name etched in a hair metal font above her), Tennis are nothing if not cute. Although the show was notably brief at almost exactly 42 minutes, the band packed in a lot of music, including their signature number “Marathon” featuring Katy Goodman, lately of the excellent La Sera (whose opening set was also recorded and to be posted soon) and more famously of the Vivian Girls, and Molly Hamilton of the stellar new band Widowspeak on backing vocals. With spring and summer approaching, Tennis should be a fixture on indie fans’ playlists for the next few seasons (and of course, should be a staple on any sailing trips they may be taking).

I recorded this set from our usual spot in the venue with a combination of the Microtech-Gefell hypercardioid microphones and DPA omnidirectional microphones for room ambiance. Although there is some audible buzzing from the PA between songs (caused by the band’s instruments) the sound is crystal clear and a great listen. Enjoy!

Stream “South Carolina”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/T2300Tennis0211/17 South Carolina.mp3]

Stream “Marathon”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/T2300Tennis0211/14 Marathon.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Tennis
2011-03-02
Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY USA

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

Equipment: Microtech-Gefell M210+DPA 4061>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: LOC, at soundboard, mics on extension arm at eye level with sound staff, 210s pointed at stacks, 4061s mounted on a 1.5ft split
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, downsample, set fades, limit peaks, amplify and balance)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 43:48]
01 Seafarer
02 Take Me Somewhere
03 banter
04 Cape Dory
05 banter
06 Robin
07 banter
08 Baltimore
09 Bimini Bay
10 banter
11 Long Boat Pass
12 [unknown]
13 banter
14 Marathon [with Katy from La Sera and Molly from Widowspeak]
15 Pigeon
16 Waterbirds
17 South Carolina
18 banter
19 Hard Times

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Tennis, visit their bandcamp page, and purchase Cape Dory directly from Fat Possum Records here.

Buke and Gass: January 29, 2011 Bell House – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

March 2, 2011
By


[photo by Amanda Hatfield]

Buke and Gass (that’s pronounced byeewk and gayse, in case you were wondering) are the exciting new Brooklyn duo of Arone Dyer, on vocals and the buke (a self-modified six-string ukelele) and Aron Sanchez on the gass (a guitar-bass hybrid), all of it blown through homemade amps. The band uses this unorthodox instrumentation to make similarly unorthodox and unexpected rock music, with rapidly shifting tempos and lyrics that range from the lovelorn to the whimsical. The effect, in the live setting, is magical, as you wonder, first, how the hell they are making this music with these instruments and, second, where Dyer perfected her vocal delivery, which has a plaintive punk edge tempered with sweetness. This 35-minute performance at the Bell House saw the band play the bulk of their 2010 record, Riposte (voted one of NPR’s 50 Favorite Albums of 2010), and left the crowd (already packing the venue in anticipation of Mission of Burma’s set (which we also recorded)) wanting more. The band just wrapped up a once-in-a-lifetime show on February 15 with Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson at The Stone, and they should have many more exciting moments in their future.

I recorded this set in the same manner as the Mission of Burma recording. Although there is some audible hiss caused by the analog preamp used, the sound quality is nonetheless quite good. Enjoy!

Stream “Sleep Gets Your Ghost”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/B0129BukeGass2011/b&g2011-01-29bellhouse_acidjack-3.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Buke & Gass
2011-01-29
Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: DPA 4021>Oade M248>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: ROC, at soundboard, mics at 9ft pointed at stacks
Mastering: 24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (set fades, tracking, EQ, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Medicina
02 Medulla Oblongata
03 Sleep Gets Your Ghost
04 Naked Cities
05 [unknown]
06 Revel In Contempt
07 Page Break
08 Your Face Left Before You
09 Red Hood Came Home

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Buke and Gass, visit their website, and purchase Riposte directly from Brasslands records here or at your favorite retailer.

Futurebirds: February 26, 2011 Union Pool – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

March 1, 2011
By

All Southern rock is drinking music to some extent, and that was certainly the case this past Saturday night at Union Pool in Brooklyn as Athens, GA’s Futurebirds played to a packed, rowdy house. The band came on the scene in 2009 with a self-titled debut EP that showed significant promise, following that up in 2010 with their full-length debut, Hampton’s Lullaby and a visit to SXSW. Keeping company with bands like Drive-By Truckers (as well as Brooklyn favorites Motel Motel), Futurebirds play music that incorporates classic country elements but reaches a broader audience, partly on the strength of their songwriting, but also by signaling that they are more than simple nostaglists. Futurebirds songs serve up heavy doses of pedal steel and banjo (see “Johny Utah” for example) but they also reference the broader songwriting of artists like Neil Young and even the psychedelic scene for which their hometown of Athens is rightly famous. This show came on the heels of what was no doubt a wild Friday night at Mercury Lounge, and the band seemed ready for another big weekend night, giving us a high-energy hour of singalong-worthy songs from the album and the EP, as well as an exuberant cover of Stevie Nick’s “Wild Heart.” The last two songs of the main set were the longer, slower-building “Ski Chalet” which flowed right into the all-out rocker “Yur Not Ded.” In relative rarity for a Union Pool show, the band seemed to actually respond to the howls for an encore (one didn’t seem planned) with the rocker “Americle.”

I recorded this set with a soundboard feed from the Union Pool engineer coupled with the Schoeps microphones on the balcony. Because the acoustics of the room can be challenging, the recording leans more heavily on the soundboard feed, which was nicely balanced. All files are tagged for easy importing into iTunes. Enjoy!

Stream “Dirty D”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F2602Futurebirds0211/07 Dirty D.mp3]

Stream “Wild Heart”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F2602Futurebirds0211/10 Wild Heart.mp3]

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

Follow acidjack on Twitter

Futurebirds
2011-02-26
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: Soundboard+Schoeps CMC6/Mk41>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: LOC, on balcony, pointed at stacks
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown, downsample, set fades, tracking, light compression, smooth peaks, amplify and balance)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time: 1:04:02]
01 Battle For Rome
02 banter
03 Johnny Utah
04 banter
05 APO
06 banter
07 Dirty D
08 Sam Jones
09 banter
10 Wild Heart [Stevie Nicks]
11 banter
12 The Dog
13 Red Top Girl
14 Ski Chalet
15 Yur Not Ded
16 encore break
17 Americle

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Futurebirds, visit their Facebook page, and purchase Hampton’s Lullaby directly from Autumn Tone records (on CD or in any download format) here.

Nada Surf: December 14, 2010 Rock Shop – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

February 18, 2011
By


[Photos by acidjack]

We had the pleasure of seeing Nada Surf play two very different types of special shows in 2010. First, there was their The Weight Is A Gift full-album runthrough that we recorded at the Bell House in March. And, at the end of the year, this very special not-quite-acoustic show at The Rock Shop to benefit Little Kids Rock, a worthy charity that provides free musical instruments and music instruction to public schools. True to form, the 90s veterans were relaxed and cheerful as they played to an enthusiastic group of fans jammed into The Rock Shop’s jewel box of a showroom. The show ended up being “not-quite” acoustic as the band opted for electric guitars in some cases due to problems with their acoustics, but the arrangements still reflected the more intimate nature of this show. Joined by Doug Gillard of Guided By Voices, the stripped-down arrangements suited the band, bringing frontman Matthew Caws’ sweet, distinctive vocals to the forefront, especially his knack for delivering a hooky chorus (for example, on this outstanding rendition of “Blonde on Blonde”).

I admit that I sometimes have to remind myself that Nada Surf is a New York band, so preternaturally sunny is their sound. But that is part of the beauty of this band, whose staying power has resulted from talent and songwriting rather than trend-mining. The band’s airy demeanor also proved to be an excellent antidote to both the freezing weather and the nascent depression of the holiday season. These well-crafted, approachable songs may seem better suited to a road trip singalong than to a tiny bar in Gowanus in midwinter, sure – but they felt damn good on this night.

Watch for a new record from Nada Surf in 2011, which will follow their 2010 cover album, If I Had A Hi-Fi.

I recorded this set from our usual spot at Rock Shop with a soundboard feed and the DPA microphones. The results are outstanding. Enjoy!

Stream “Blonde on Blonde”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/N2306NadaSurf0210/16 Blonde on Blonde.mp3]

Stream “Electrocution”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/N2306NadaSurf0210/11 Electrocution.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Nada Surf
2010-12-14
Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: Soundboard+DPA 4021>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: LOC, in front of soundboard, 8′, PAS
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (compress/limit segments of board feed, mixdown, set fades, light EQ to audience track, tracking, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

01 intro
02 Weightless
03 Happy Kid
05 Whose Authority
06 banter
07 Killian’s Red
08 Love Goes On [Go-Betweens]
09 What Is Your Secret
10 Enjoy The Silence [Depeche Mode]
11 banter
12 Electrocution
13 banter
14 80 Windows
15 banter
16 Do It Again
17 Blonde on Blonde
18 Always Love
19 banter
20 The Way You Wear Your Head
21 Paper Boats
22 See These Bones

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Nada Surf, visit their website, and purchase their official releases from the band’s official store here.

NYCTaper Upcoming Schedule: The Hope of Spring

February 12, 2011
By

taper-larger-e1414026230872

After a heavy month of January which saw our continued capture of some excellent concerts, we ended the month with our first live streaming show — hopefully the first of many to come. Recently there have been a bulk of new announced shows, so its time to update the schedule. What a list. I hope we can do it all!

[Below is the updated schedule. We expect to attend and record these events. However, circumstances will prevent some of these from being done, and others will be added in the meantime.]

If you want nyctaper to record your band, a band you represent, a show you’re promoting, or even your favorite band in the world, get me on the list and make sure everyone who needs to approve of the recording gives permission. Also, remember I’m doing this all for free — the recordings, the post-production, the reviews, the links, etc. — so treat me fairly.

Schedule:

Screaming Females:
February 12, 2011 Music Hall of Williamsburg (permission pending)

Drive-By Truckers:
February 15, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Akron/Family:
February 17, 2011 Knitting Factory, Brooklyn

Yellow Ostrich:
February 24, 2011 Pianos NYC

Tennis:
March 3, 2011 Bell House Brooklyn

Middle Brother / Dawes / Deer Tick:
March 4, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Akron/Family:
March 5, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Parts and Labor:
March 8, 2011 Monster Island Basement Brooklyn

Crass (Steve Ignorant):
March 10, 2011 Santos Party House NYC

Nicole Atkins:
March 11, 2011 Maxwell’s Hoboken NJ

Rural Alberta Advantage / The Loom:
March 12, 2011 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Godspeed You! Black Emperor:
March 14, 2011 Terminal 5 NYC

Harvey Milk:
March 13, 14 or 15 2011 Union Pool Brooklyn

Godspeed You! Black Emperor:
March 16, 2011 Masonic Temple NYC

Godspeed You! Black Emperor:
March 17, 2011 St. Paul’s Church NYC

British Sea Power:
March 21, 2011 Maxwell’s Hoboken NJ

Elephant 6 Tour:
March 22, 2011 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

J Mascis:
March 25, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

The Mountain Goats:
March 28, 29 and 30, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Jessica Lea Mayfield:
April 1, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Obits:
April 2, 2011 Bell House Brooklyn

Destroyer / The War On Drugs:
April 3, 2011 Webster Hall NYC

Black Angels:
April 8, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Sebadoh:
April 9 and 10, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Acid Mothers Temple:
April 12, 2011 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Wye Oak:
April 14, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

O’Death:
April 15, 2011 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Sharon Van Etten:
April 16, 2011 Music Hall of Williamsburg

Mogwai:
April 21 and 22, 2011 Webster Hall NYC

Jason Isbell:
April 22, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Buffalo Tom:
April 28, 2011 Bowery Ballroom NYC

Joy Formidable:
April 29, 2011 Webster Hall NYC

Of Montreal:
April 30, 2011 Webster Hall NYC

The Feelies:
May 12, 2011 Bell House Brooklyn

John Vanderslice:
May 13, 2011 The Rock Shop Brooklyn

Tune-Yards:
May 21, 2011 Music Hall of Williamsburg

NYCTaper 4th Anniversary Show (bands TBA):
May 26, 2011 Knitting Factory Brooklyn

Northside Festival:
June 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2011 Various Venues TBA

The Hold Steady: January 31, 2011 Music Hall of Williamsburg – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

February 3, 2011
By


[The Hold Steady at Music Hall on January 30. Photos courtesy of Joshua Sarner and Prefix Magazine]

Eight years ago to the day, The Hold Steady took the stage at Music Hall of Williamsburg – then a much-less-luxurious venue called Northsix in a similarly less luxurious (or luxury-condo-fied) Williamsburg – for their first gig. To hear Craig Finn tell it, that the band celebrated their eighth anniversary in the same spot was a happy coincidence. Whether by coincidence or calculation, I suspect that first Music Hall show had a good bit in common with this one. “What’s up, Brooklyn? We’re The Hold Steady, and we’re gonna have a really good time tonight!” was Finn’s opening proclamation, and I would bet his first opening ever was much the same. Because, although their songwriting has grown more expansive, along with their critical acclaim and the size of their fanbase, The Hold Steady has always been one of the world’s greatest bar bands. The band’s appeal is democratic and uncomplicated: penetrating lyrics you can understand (that are also good enough to wow rock critics); crowd-participating, fist-pumping anthems; outstanding musicianship; and a frontman in Finn who appears to be having the best time of anybody there. This second show of two nights at Music Hall was all about momentum. Breaks between songs were almost non-existent; ditto crowd banter. Finn & Co. worked so hard through this nearly 100-minute set, it could have been a Springsteen show. In terms of the setlist, the band’s latest, Heaven Is Whenever, was well-represented along with Stay Positive, but so was the band’s first record, the less-noticed Frenchkiss Records release, Almost Killed Me, including on a beautifully paced encore that began with the pensive “Positive Jam”, followed by “Southtown Girls” (from Boys and Girls in America) and concluding with an extended version of “Most People Are DJs”. Although it was a Monday night, the crowd was fired up and slam dancing, about as sweaty as Finn himself. I would like to think that whoever attended that first Hold Steady gig would have done the same. If not, they should have: The Hold Steady are a hard-working rock band that is damned hard to deny. Show me someone else who can put on this kind of show – and get this kind of response – on a Monday, and I’ll show you rock royalty.

I recorded this set from about halfway to the stage from the left balcony. The mics were aimed directly at the left stack to maximize direct sound, and the results speak for themselves. Check out the streaming songs below, and enjoy!

Stream “Stevie Nix”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/H6589HoldSteady1192/17 Stevie Nix.mp3]

Stream “Positive Jam”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/H6589HoldSteady1192/22 Positive Jam.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

The Hold Steady
2011-01-31
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: Microtech-Gefell MG210>Naiant littlebox>Sony PCM-M10 (24/44.1)
Position: Left balcony, pointed at left stack
Mastering: 24bit/44.1kHz WAV>Audacity (set fades, tracking, flac)

Tracks [Total Time 1:35:17]
01 Intro
02 Ask Her For Adderall
03 The Swish
04 Magazines
05 Rock Problems
06 Hurricane J
07 Cattle and the Creeping Things
08 Barfruit Blues
09 The Sweet Part of the City
10 Same Kooks
11 Sequestered in Memphis
12 Barely Breathing
13 Lord, I’m Discouraged
14 Constructive Summer
15 Chips Ahoy!
16 Stuck Between Stations
17 Stevie Nix
18 First Night
19 Ascension Blues
20 Slapped Actress
21 [encore break]
22 Positive Jam
23 Southtown Girls
24 Most People Are DJs

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT The Hold Steady, visit their website, and purchase their official releases from the links at their website [HERE].

Suuns: January 25, 2011 Rock Shop – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Song

February 2, 2011
By


[Photo by Eloy Anzola. Visit his website here]

Montreal’s Suuns are one ambitious, exciting band. If you punched up any random 30-second clips of tracks from their debut LP, Zeroes QC, you could encounter any number of distinct musical ideas. You might find the Zeppelin-on-acid riffs that are the foundation of “Armed for Peace,” or the brooding, addiction-nightmare hiss of the vocals over a spare beat on “Up Past the Nursery,” or even the slowed-down dubstep beat on “Pie IX”. The point being, Suuns make angular, twisted art rock without a single stylistic straightjacket. From the get-go, this brash set at Rock Shop set a dark mood; the opening number “Skyscraper” blistered us with its marshal, repetitive drumbeat and bassline, clanging keyboard riff and frontman Ben Shemie’s seething, ravaged vocal. Whether during the tightly-wound intro to “Pie IX” or the door-blowing assault of the set’s closer, the eight-minute “Sweet Nothing,” Suuns held our attention with their controlled intensity. They are a challenging band in the best of ways, unconcerned with pop convention or pandering. And although it is true that they can veer dizzyingly between tempos, styles and structures, their talent is equal to their ideas.

I recorded this set from our usual location in this outstanding venue, with the Schoeps microphones and a soundboard feed from the Rock Shop’s team. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Armed for Peace”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/S0125Suuns0211/05 Armed for Peace.mp3]

Stream “Pie IX”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/S0125Suuns0211/08 Pie IX.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE]

Download the Complete show in FLAC [HERE].

Suuns
2011-01-25
Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY USA

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

Equipment: Schoeps CMC6/mk41+Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: At soundboard, LOC, mics pointed at stacks at 8.5′
Mastering: 2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ audience source, mixdown, set fades, tracking, smooth peaks, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Skyscraper
02 Arena
03 Up Past the Nursery
04 [new]
05 Armed for Peace
06 Gaze
07 [banter]
08 Pie IX
09 Sweet Nothing

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Suuns, visit their MySpace page, and purchase Zeroes QC from Secretly Canadian records here.

Mission of Burma: January 29, 2011 The Bell House – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

January 30, 2011
By

The inimitable Mission of Burma have graced us with their presence a lot recently – first, back in December at Maxwell’s for one of the Yo La Tengo Hanukkah shows, then Maxwell’s again this past Friday.  But according to fans who saw all three, this bigger show at The Bell House was the king of them all.  It is not uncommon for legendary bands of Mission of Burma’s generation to get by on autopilot, playing the old songs everyone wants to hear in a lower-energy, lamer fashion that is just good enough to sell tickets.  But true the ethos they have maintained throughout their decades-long career, Mission of Burma have managed their comeback with integrity and grit.  Along with timeless punk classics, the band has moved forward to produce vital new material that holds up well to the rest of their catalog.  This show found the band playing four songs from their 2009 LP, The Sound, the Speed the Light, but after that, it was back to the old days for this amazing and, at 80+ minutes, lengthy, set. With the legendary producer Bob Weston behind the board running the band’s sound and tape loops, the sound was dialed-in and, per Bob’s custom, ear-splittingly loud.  Whether you were a new fan coming to see what the fuss was all about, or a longtime fan, you were not leaving this show disappointed – especially not after MOB closed the set with the song that started it all, “Academy Fight Song.”

I recorded this set from our usual spot in the venue by the soundboard with the DPA microphones and a hand-built analog preamp to bring a warm, classic sound.  The results are excellent.  Enjoy!

Stream “Academy Fight Song”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/M4509MissionofBurma2239/28 Academy Fight Song.mp3]

Stream “Trem Two”:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/M4509MissionofBurma2239/09 Trem Two.mp3]

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

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Mission of Burma
2011-01-29
The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

Equipment: DPA 4021>Oade M248>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod] (24/48)
Position: Center, clamp to soundboard booth, micas at 9ft, DIN
Mastering: 24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (EQ, set fades, tracking, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 1:22:12]
01 intro
02 Forget What You Know
03 7’s
04 1001 Pleasant Dreams
05 2wice
06 Blunder
07 [banter]
08 SSL 83
09 Trem Two
10 Mica
11 [banter]
12 He Is, She Is
13 Part the Sea
14 [banter]
15 Just Waves
16 Feed
17 1, 2, 3 Partyy!
18 Fame and Fortune
19 Spider’s Web
20 That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate
21 encore break
22 Red
23 That’s When I Reach for My Revolver
24 Class War
25 encore break 2
26 Secrets
27 banter
28 Academy Fight Song

If you download this recording from NYCTaper, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Mission of Burma, visit their website, and purchase their official releases directly from the Store at their website [HERE].

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