Posts Tagged ‘ schoeps ’

Helmet: August 2, 2012 Webster Hall – FLAC / MP3 / Streaming

August 9, 2012

[Photos by acidjack]

Our younger readers are fortunate not to remember the Columbia House Music Club, which promised eight to ten CDs for 1 cent in exchange for signing up for a “club” that would mail you a (usually lame) CD-of-the-month at an exorbitant price, unless you mailed it back first. The club bore more than its fair share of customer complaints, and its selection was weak. But if you were a kid and didn’t have a lot of cash or access to good music stores (and you were diligent about declining that CD of the month), it wasn’t a bad way to get ahold of new music in the pre-Internet era. One thing I can thank Columbia House for is introducing me to Helmet and their standout albums Meantime and Betty, each still a tour de force of hardcore-influenced rock twenty years on.

Frontman Page Hamilton has moved on from his former bandmates, and is the only original member of the lineup, but as Johnny Fried Chicken Boy observed last October, Hamilton and his new cast of characters can still very much bring the heat. Hurtling through a Webster Hall set that included five songs from the band’s 2010 record Seeing Eye Dog (plus another from 2004’s Size Matters) with a fairly even blend of songs from their four 90s albums, Strap It On, Meantime, Betty and Aftertaste. One feature that always set Helmet apart from many hardcore and metal bands of the era was their more intelligent approach to their music, both in terms of Hamilton’s classically-informed playing and their eschewing of the macho heavy metal aesthetic of contemporaries like Pantera. Hamilton, who relocated from New York to LA at the end of the 90s, remains a gifted frontman, and songs like two of my favorites, “In the Meantime” and “Wilma’s Rainbow” were delivered with ferocity. Although this set clocked in at barely over an hour thanks to Webster’s curfew and the fact that this was a co-headlining tour with Toadies, Hamilton and the band packed in sixteen songs, and stirred up a mosh pit in the process (kind of a feat when you consider how early it was in the night, and the age of many of the fans).

Johnny Fried Chicken Boy recorded this set with four microphones in our usual balcony location. I ended up using the Schoeps MK41 source alone for this post, as both sources were a bit “muddy” in the low-mid bass region, and combining them would only have accentuated that flaw. After some time spent editing, although this is not my favorite of my recordings quality-wise, this recording should be a very good listen, if not quite up to the standard of Johnny’s Bowery Ballroom recording linked above. Enjoy!

Stream “In the Meantime”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/H1110Helmet1120/19 In the Meantime.mp3]

Stream “Wilma’s Rainbow”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/H1110Helmet1120/08 Wilma’s Rainbow.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE] | Direct Download of the FLAC files [HERE]

Follow acidjack on Twitter

Note: All of the material on this site is offered with artist permission, free to fans, at our expense. The only thing we ask is that you download the material directly from this site, rather than re-posting the direct links or the files on other sites without our permission. Please respect our request.

Helmet
2012-08-02
Webster Hall
New York, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack and Johnny Fried Chicken Boy

Schoeps MK41 (DFC, BOB, DINa)>KC5>CMC6>Sound Devices USBPre2>Edirol R-44 [OCM]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ)>Audition CS 5.5 (parallel compression)>Audacity (set fades, tracking, amplify, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 1:04:55]
01 Sinatra
02 So Long
03 Welcome To Algiers
04 Renovation
05 Exactly What You Wanted
06 White City
07 Bad Mood
08 Wilma’s Rainbow
09 [banter]
10 Miserable
11 Blacktop
12 Overrated
13 In Person
14 [banter]
15 Smart
16 Ironhead
17 Milquetoast
18 [short encore break]
19 In the Meantime

If you download this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Helmet, visit theirwebsite, visit their Facebook and MySpace pages, and purchase their official releases (including their most recent album, Seeing Eye Dog) and merchandise [HERE].

Family Band: August 1, 2012 Union Pool and April 5, 2012 Bell House – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

August 7, 2012

By acidjack

[Photo courtesy of Feast of Music]

To see pure love personified as rock n’ roll, witness Jonny Ollsin, playing guitar in the thick of the Union Pool crowd last Wednesday as he looked up at his wife, Kim Krans, singing “Grace & Lies” to close out Family Band‘s set (see blurry image below). There were no corny faces or swooning poses from either; Krans, eyes cast down toward her husband as she sang, barely acknowledged him as he played. She didn’t need to; Krans and Ollsin’s bond is their music. This “Family Band” is nothing like the Osmonds or Jackson 5, but that turns out to be the perfect name for a band led by a family for whom music is its language, love its glue.

I first came across Ollsin and Krans at a Backyard Brunch Session last year (recording [HERE]). Then, they played as a three-piece with Scott Hirsch on pedal steel, sans drums, and despite being in the blazing July heat, the band had an obvious nocturnal vibe. Krans’ dusky, haunting vocals come against a downtempo backdrop of moody guitar and pedal steel. They joked then that their style was “death prom”, and while Family Band’s sound is dark, it is also beautiful.

The band’s second album, Grace & Lies, released this week on one of my favorite Brooklyn labels, No Quarter, represents the fullest realization to date of the band’s sound. The album contains contemplative love songs like “Moonbeams” and slow burners like “Lace”, as well as more chilling fare like “Again” and “Night Song”. This show was styled as an album release party, and there is already much for Krans, Ollsin and Hirsch to celebrate, including a favorable Pitchfork review and positive notice from around the blogosphere. This set – this time with a drummer in tow – took us through much of the album, with perhaps its standout sequence coming in the middle as an extended version of “Night Song” segued into “Rest”. While Krans, an accomplished visual artist, had never written a song prior to this band, Ollsin is a lifelong musician and composer whose prior bands included the thrash bands S.T.R.E.E.T.S. and Children. Ollsin’s metal influences come through a bit in the brooding riff that anchors “Night Song”; even at its slower tempo, there is an edge to his playing that is unmistakable. As the band closed the show with that lovely rendition of “Grace & Lies”, I thought about how many “family bands”, based on lies and manipulation, have failed throughout pop music history. Ollsin and Krans’ graceful, honest effort seems sure to shatter that mold.

I recorded this set with Schoeps MK41 microphones and a customized board feed from the Union Pool house engineer Bob. As a bonus, we are also offering nyctaper’s recording of Family Band back in April at the Bell House ‘for the Brain Cave Festival, where they previewed many of these songs. Both recordings are of excellent quality. Enjoy!

Stream “Moonbeams” from Union Pool:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F0723FamilyBand0211/02 Moonbeams.mp3]

Stream “Rest” from the Brain Cave Festival:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F0723FamilyBand0211/06 Rest.mp3]

Stream “Night Song” from Union Pool:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F0723FamilyBand0211/05 Night Song.mp3]

Download the MP3 files: [Union Pool] | [Brain Cave Festival]

Download the FLAC files: [Union Pool] | [Brain Cave Festival]

Follow acidjack on Twitter

Note: All of the material on this site is offered with artist permission, free to fans, at our expense. The only thing we ask is that you download the material directly from this site, rather than re-posting the direct links or the files on other sites without our permission. Please respect our request.

Family Band
2012-08-01
Union Pool
Brooklyn, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Schoeps MK41 (DFC, DINa)>KC5>CMC6>Sound Devices USBPre2 + Soundboard >> Edirol R-44 [OCM]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audition (Compression on SBD, align)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ and effects)>Audition (parallel compression)>Audacity (set fades, tracking, amplify, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Again
02 Moonbeams
03 Ride
04 [banter]
05 Night Song>
06 Rest
07 Your Name
08 Lace
09 Grace & Lies
________________________
Family Band
2012-04-05
Brain Cave Festival
Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

Recorded by nyctaper
Produced by acidjack

Soundboard + Sennheiser MKH-8040>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audition (DR compression on soundboard, mixdown)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, effects)>Audacity (set fades, mixdown, tracking, amplify, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 [Brain Cave intro]
02 Again
03 Ride
04 Moonbeams
05 Your Name
06 Rest
07 Night Song

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Family Band, visit their website, and purchase Grace & Lies from No Quarter Records [HERE]

Lucius: July 14, 2012 Backyard Brunch Sessions – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

August 6, 2012

By hiandlo

[Photo courtesy of Backyard Brunch sessions]

acidjack reports:
“The duo of talented vocalists that make up the band Lucius joined us for the inaugural Backyard Brunch Session of the season recently, and proceeded to blow us away. Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe’s note-perfect vocals were as well matched as their outfits at this casual backyard show, which consisted primarily of their 2012 self-titled EP plus some new songs. In BBS tradition, the duo were backed by lightly-played instrumentation, but little was needed; Laessig and Wolfe’s voices are the only instruments required. Their latest work is sweet and dreamy, but never comes off as twee. The band has range as well; the new “Two Of Us” has a bit of a rootsy twang, while the new “Wildewoman” is a spare, breezy number that builds to a life-affirming climax. “Turn it Around,” the hardest rocking song from the Lucius EP, closed the set, and the semi-acoustic setup focused the crowd on the vocal, rather than robbing the song of its power. With only one full album – 2009’s Songs from the Bromley House – under their belts, Lucius are a young band, but one that is obviously full of promise.

hi and lo recorded this set with a combination of Schoeps and MBHO microphones and the weather was fortunately cooperative. Only some very minor wind gusts occurred and the overall sound is excellent. Enjoy!”

Thanks to the BBS sponsors for this show, Grady’s Cold Brew and Kings County Distillery Moonshine.

Stream “Don’t Just Sit There”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/L1407Lucius1212/lucius2012-07-14.nyctaper.t03.mp3]

Stream “Wildewoman”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/L1407Lucius1212/lucius2012-07-14.nyctaper.t06.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE] | Direct Download of the FLAC files [HERE]

Lucius
Backyard Brunch Sessions
Brooklyn, NY
2012-07-14

Recordist : hi and lo
Source 1 : MBHO KA200/603 + Schoeps MK5 (omni, mono) > Naiant PFA >> Tascam DR-680 @ 24bit / 48kHz
Edit : WaveLab V5 (mixdown/eq/gain/fades/dither/resampling)
Encoding : FLAC v1.2.1 Level 8 with TLH v2.6.0 (Build 168)

Tracklist:

01. Intro
02. Go home
03. Don’t Just Sit There
04. Genevieve
05. Two of Us
06. Wildewoman
07. Turn it Around

Running Time: 27:29

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Lucius, visit their website, and purchase their record from [HERE] or on iTunes.

Wilco: July 28, 2012 Brewery Ommegang – FLAC / MP3 / Streaming Songs

July 31, 2012

By JFCB

[Photos by acidjack and Johnny]

After catching Wilco’s excellent show at Terminal 5 earlier in the week, to say that we were excited about trekking up to the lovely Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown to see them again would be a gross understatement. It’s becoming a bit of a tradition for the entire NYCtaper crew to make it to at least one outdoor Wilco concert a year and we decided to expand our range outside of the city after the superb Central Park gigs last September (HERE and HERE). The tradition also appears to bring rain with it, but judging by the fabulous time both the band and attendees were having you wouldn’t have guessed a single drop fell that night. No doubt the exceptional Belgian-style beers the brewery serves as well as their hospitality and the gorgeous upstate surroundings bolstered our good spirits. It became evident early on that Jeff Tweedy and company were as impressed with the fans as we were with them, citing a checklist of criteria that makes for a great crowd at one point. Along with regular favorites “Heavy Metal Drummer” and “Impossible Germany” (which is always an opportunity for the impressive Nels Cline to shine on guitar), the troupe shrugged off the wet weather with an infrequent showing of “Either Way”, and brought the rare “Laminated Cat” and “What’s the World Got in Store” back into rotation. Topping the evening with two encores, including a triple-shot of songs from ‘Being There‘, it’s nights like these that keep us eager for the next show and make recording them so enjoyable.

The rain aside, between the four of us we ran no less than six pairs of microphones and were able to set up very close to center right in front of the soundboard. Having so many choices at hand, we ultimately decided to use acidjack‘s Schoeps and Johnny’s Milabs for our mix. With Wilco’s FOH engineer extraordinaire Stan Doty at the helm, the sound was exemplary and, in light of the weather conditions, our recording is really quite excellent. We hope you like what you hear as much as we did. Enjoy!

Stream “I Might”:

[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/W2238Wilco2297/WilcoMight.mp3]

Stream “Handshake Drugs”:

[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/W2238Wilco2297/Wilco_-_Handshake_Drugs.mp3]

Direct download of the complete show in MP3 [HERE]
Direct download of the complete show in FLAC [HERE]

If either of the links are no longer working, email nyctaper with a request for the download location of the files.

Follow Johnny Fried Chicken Boy on Twitter

Wilco
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Brewery Ommegang
Cooperstown, NY, USA
(opener: Lee Ranaldo)

Source: AUD > Milab VM-44 Links (cardioid) + Schoeps MK22’s [> KC5 > CMC6 > Sound Devices USBPre2] >> Edirol R-44 (WAV @ 24-bit/48kHz)
Lineage: R-44 > PC > Adobe Audition (mixdown, downsample, dither, tracking) > WAV (16-bit/44.1kHz) > TLH (check/fix SBE’s, FLAC conversion) > FLAC ( level 8 )
Recorded by: acidjack, hi and lo, nyctaper and Johnny Fried Chicken Boy
Produced by: Johnny Fried Chicken Boy

SETLIST:
[Total time: 2:07:51]
01. Dawned on Me
02. War on War
03. I Might
04. Sunken Treasure
05. Either Way
06. Hummingbird
07. Impossible Germany
08. Born Alone
09. Laminated Cat
10. [banter 1]
11. What’s the World Got in Store
12. Handshake Drugs
13. Whole Love
14. [banter 2]
15. Kamera
16. Box Full of Letters
17. I’m Always in Love
18. [banter 3]
19. Heavy Metal Drummer
20. I’m the Man Who Loves You
21. A Shot in the Arm
22. [1st encore break]
23. Poor Places
24. Art of Almost
25. Standing O
26. [2nd encore break / banter]
27. Airline to Heaven
28. [banter 4]
29. Hate It Here
30. Can’t Stand It
31. Red-Eyed and Blue
32. I Got You (At the End of the Century)
33. Outtasite (Outta Mind)

If you download this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Wilco, visit their website, visit their Facebook and MySpace pages, and purchase their official releases and merchandise [HERE].

Prairie Empire: July 14, 2012 Backyard Brunch Sessions – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

July 30, 2012

By acidjack

[Photos courtesy of Dominick Mastrangelo Photography]

If the true measure of a band’s abilities is how well they play live, you could say it is doubly a measure of their talents how well they can play acoustically in someone’s back yard on a muggy July day, with planes flying overhead and bugs threatening to choke them. Prairie Empire rose to that challenge at a recent Backyard Brunch Sessions, where they gave the audience the added bonus of new material recorded after their just-released eponymous debut album. Though weary from closing out their recent tour, lead singer Brittain Ashford and her band (or at least, part of it) were in high spirits and strong form, further honed from their time on the road. Both “Like Birds” and the brand-new “Muir Woods” gave those of us just getting acquainted with the new record even-newer material to delve into, while album tracks like “Give” have never sounded better. For a more electrified take on the band, check out our June 10th recording from Mercury Lounge, but if you are into the acoustic style, it’s also worth taking a look at the band’s recent Daytrotter session.

hi and lo recorded this set with a combination of Schoeps and MBHO microphones. Other than a few unavoidable blasts of wind and planes flying overhead, the sound is excellent!

Thanks to the BBS sponsors for this show, Grady’s Cold Brew and Kings County Distillery Moonshine.

Stream “Snow”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/P6001PrairieEmpire2012/06 Snow.mp3]

Stream “Give”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/P6001PrairieEmpire2012/09 Give.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE] | Direct Download of the FLAC files [HERE]

Prairie Empire
2012-07-14
Backyard Brunch Sessions
Brooklyn, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded by hi and lo
Produced by acidjack

Equipment: Schoeps MK21 (NOS)>NBox Cables>PFA + Schoeps MK5 (omni)>KC5>PFA + MBHO KA200/603>>Tascam DR-680
Mastering: 5x24bit/48kHz WAV>Adobe Audition CS 5.5 (mixdown, adjust levels, DR compression)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, assorted other effects)>Audacity (tracking, set fades, amplify, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 [intro]
02 Song For You
03 Tenfold
04 Like Birds
05 [banter]
06 Snow
07 Winter Came
08 [tuning/banter]
09 Give
10 Where You Are
11 Muir Woods

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Prairie Empire, visit their website, and purchase their record from Trailer Fire Records [HERE] or on iTunes.

Friend Roulette: May 6, 2012 Mercury Lounge – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

July 27, 2012

By acidjack

[photo by acidjack]

Friend Roulette are one of those complex, artsy, hard-to-categorize bands that prove their mettle live. This set is now a couple of months old, but on repeat listens, I kept coming back to it as something people needed to hear. At times, what comes off as lush, whimsical chamber pop on their available bandcamp releases comes across as a different animal live; songs like “I’m Sorry You Hit Your Head” come across heavy and dark, as frantic strings alternate with downbeat guitar riffs. Other concoctions like “Hi, Hello” – available (along with “I’m Sorry You Hit Your Head”) on a lovely 10″ vinyl EP from Goodnight Records – maintain more of their album sound, their many layers rendered expertly. As with a lot of bands with a more technical aspect to their sound, Friend Roulette rewards the dedicated listener. These songs ask you to dig deep, to pay attention.

As far as live shows in New York are concerned, a dedicated listener in this city can’t do much better than an early-side show at Mercury Lounge on a Sunday – the sound is always flawless, and the crowds are – well, let’s face it, they’re less drunk than average. Friend Roulette took the stage with absolute confidence and shined on both newer and older material from their catalog. With the band in the studio working on a full-length LP, we expect to see great things from them in the future. They have a number of other local shows on tap next month, including August 4 at Rippers (Rockaway Beach), August 5 at Cake Shop, and August 12 at Piano’s.

I recorded this set with Schoeps MK5 microphones, the classic EAA PSP2 preamp on loan from hi and lo, and a soundboard feed from the Mercury staff. The results are excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “I’m Sorry You Hit Your Head”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F5006FriendRoulette2012/04 I’m Sorry You Hit Your Head.mp3]

Stream “Hi, Hello”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F5006FriendRoulette2012/06 Hi Hello.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE] | Direct Download of the FLAC files [HERE]

Friend Roulette
2012-05-06
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Schoeps MK41>CMC6>EAA PSP-2 + Soundboard >> Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audition (mixdown)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ)>Audacity (adjust levels, set fades, tracking, amplify, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Fucked Up [omitted at artist request]
02 On Her Own Tonight [omitted at artist request]
03 Golden
04 I’m Sorry You Hit Your Head
05 Or, Berlin
06 Hi, Hello
07 Lie

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Friend Roulette, like them on Facebook, and buy/download their official releases from bandcamp and Goodnight Records.

Patterson Hood & the Downtown Rumblers: July 23, 2012 Bell House – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

July 25, 2012

By acidjack

[still from this video]

Patterson Hood must be holding back his best material. Or, at least, the solo material on display at this appearance at The Bell House wowed both Johnny Fried Chicken Boy and me to a greater level than his most recent work with his main gig, the Drive-By Truckers, has. That’s not meant as a knock on the Truckers – that band is a collaborative effort, and Hood has never been the whole equation as far as songwriting for it goes. But he has always been, at least for me, the beating heart and mascot of that band, the friendly drunk with a wink in his eye, the one who reminds you of that reliably Southern buddy you wish you had.

Hood is also the band’s great storyteller. His honest, unvarnished tales manage to be universal, even if you don’t know jack shit about moonshine and pickup trucks. His new record is called Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance, and the title track is a tribute to Patterson’s recently deceased great uncle, who raised him for much of his childhood. If you’ve seen actual heat lightning spread its electric fingers out over a black Southern sky, seemingly tousling the pines, you know what a majestic sight it is. And why it reminded Patterson of a loved one, about to be dearly departed. Because that image, like that person you love, will never leave you.

Many of his images don’t. There’s Billy Ringo, the hapless stoner who nearly dies every day, nearly falling from a window but still keeping his hand on his bong. There are the liquor store fanboys of “12:01”, hanging outside the store on Sunday at midnight, fighting off the shakes until they can get their whiskey fix. There are the torn pages from the back of a Gideon Bible, scrawled with a love song of a moment’s inspiration.

Hood is a gifted songwriter, blessed with the common touch and an uncommon amount of insight. He’s a generous writer and performer, too; even by the standards of rock n’ roll, you can tell how much he loves doing both. Only somebody with that much love puts on a nearly two hour performance of solo album material on a Monday night. This show covered much of Heat Lightning, which will be released on September 11, but also offered some of his earlier favorites like “Pollyanna” was well as notable covers, including Big Star’s “September Gurls” and Todd Rundgren’s “The Range War”. Hood and this band, christened the Downtown Rumblers, were as free spirited and lively as ever, passing a bottle of Patron around as they dug deep into Hood’s catalog at a solid, but measured pace. Hood likes to take his time to cue up his songs, to put a frame around them, if you will, and that is one of the most rewarding aspects of his live show. By the time this one wrapped, it felt like we’d spent an evening with an old friend. The show ended, appropriately, with the Eddie Hinton song “Everybody Needs Love”, and we had felt plenty of it from Patterson tonight.

This set was recorded with Schoeps MK41 microphones, whose directionality helps to reduce some of the “boomy” nature of this room, and a soundboard feed. I think you will like the results. Enjoy!

Minor assistance with the setlist would be appreciated. Also, the tag for the first track should be changed to “Depression Era”. Thanks to Patterson, the Bell House and Dave for their hospitality.

Stream “Heat Lightning Rumbles In the Distance”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/D8030DriveByTruckers3838/21 Heat Lightning Rumbles In the Distance.mp3]

Stream “September Gurls [Big Star]”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/D8030DriveByTruckers3838/11 September Gurls.mp3]

Stream “12:01”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/D8030DriveByTruckers3838/03 12_01.mp3]

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

Follow acidjack on twitter

Patterson Hood and the Downtown Rumblers
2012-07-23
Bell House
Brooklyn, NY USA

Hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Schoeps MK41>CMC6>Sound Devices USBPre2 + SBD >> Edirol R-44 [OCM]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ AUD)>Adobe Audition CS 5.5 (light DR compression on SBD, mixdown)>Izotope Ozone 5 (additional EQ)>Audacity (set fades, tracking, amplify, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks [Total Time 1:53:08]
01 Depression Era
02 Pride of the Yankees
03 12:01
04 [banter]
05 Leavin’ Time
06 Little Bonnie
07 [banter]
08 Billy Ringo
09 [banter]
10 Disappear
11 September Gurls [Big Star]
12 Old Timer’s Disease
13 (untold pretties)
14 The Range War [Todd Rundgren]
15 Betty Ford
16 Uncle Disney
17 Better Off Without
18 Pollyanna
19 After the Damage
20 Screwtopia
21 Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance
22 Come Back Little Star
23 15 Days
24 [encore break]
25 Back of a Bible
26 Everybody Needs Love [Eddie Hinton]

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Patterson Hood, visit his website, and buy his official releases in the Drive By Truckers Online Store.

Field Report: July 21, 2012 Mercury Lounge – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

July 24, 2012

By acidjack

[still from this video]

I got to around 100 concerts a year, and at those concerts, I probably see upwards of 300 bands or more. A lot of times I am less than satisfied, but I keep going, and going, and going – chasing the perfect sound. And every once awhile – just about often enough – I come a band that is jaw-droppingly great, that raises the bar for their own art form.

Christopher Porterfield of Field Report was only a few bars into “I Am Not Waiting Anymore” at this Mercury Lounge show when I knew this was one of those bands. Although it was a hot summer day, Porterfield and his Milwaukee-based bandmates took the stage in dark-colored suits, and in some cases, ties, perhaps with an eye toward the grander days of Nashville, perhaps as if to say with their clothing what was already obvious – these are serious musicians. Portfield’s rough-hewn vocals and the band’s country tinge will draw comparisons to bands like Partisan Records labelmates Deer Tick or other roots/Americana bands, but if you want to see where their real magic lies, listen more carefully or get out the lyric sheet (you can read all of Porterfield’s lyrics on their website). Porterfield brings an ample vocabulary to his verses, and an ear for the satisfying grit in individual words and passages. On paper, many of the band’s lyrics don’t scan like song lyrics at all, like this beginning to “Route 18”:

Elizabeth said last night the lake roared like the ocean; I was landlocked under the orange-white solstice moon. Imagine: imagining a place meant to conjure up another. Three degrees of hometown disconnect in my unborn daughter’s room.

or this opening to “Circle Drive”

leftside sidewalk hospital circle drive walked this way twice a day, back the other way two times they got you wrapped up in guilt like an aftermarket cancer quilt and I don’t know the names of the people on the patches and they ground you down to calcium and road salt and pressed you into piles of pills they cut with ashes

The band’s delivery is every bit as confident as Porterfield’s well-illuminated songwriting, which likely played a role in their rapid signing to Partisan (their full-length LP comes out on September 11) as well as supporting slots this summer for Counting Crows and Emmylou Harris. This set covered material from the band’s current preview EP as well as the new record, and there wasn’t a lackluster number among them. My favorite was probably the harrowing “Circle Drive”, about endurance in the face of pain, but the band’s initial push into the mainstream will probably be built on more uptempo numbers like “The Year Of I Got You Alone”, and “Chico the American”. One thing these songs are not is anthemic or upbeat; these are songs for deep contemplation, maybe a slug of whiskey or two. Every press missive about this band will mention Porterfield’s prior relationship with Bon Iver (in precursor band DeYarmond Edison), but Field Report don’t need the boldface name hype. This Mercury crowd must have felt the same way I was feeling; even on a Saturday night, the crowd remained whisper quiet during each number, to the point that Porterfield commented on how intently we listened. How couldn’t we? It’s hard to tear yourself away from something so authentic, vital and honest.

I recorded this set with my usual combination of Schoeps MK41 microphones and a soundboard feed from Kevin, the head engineer at Mercury Lounge. The house mix, even by Mercury Lounge’s high standards, was flawless, and the respectful crowd only makes the recording sound even better. Enjoy!

Field Report will continue touring the U.S. with Counting Crows into the month of August. Thanks to Partisan Records for inviting us to the show.

Stream “Chico the American”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F1270FieldReport0212/05 Chico the American.mp3]

Stream “Fergus Falls”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/F1270FieldReport0212/11 Fergus Falls.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE] | Direct Download of the FLAC files [HERE]

Follow acidjack on twitter

Field Report
2012-07-21
Mercury Lounge
New York, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Soundboard + Schoeps MK41>CMC6>Sound Devices USBPre2 >> Edirol R-44 [OCM]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audacity (mixdown)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, exciter, limiter)>Audacity (set fades, tracking, amplify, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 I Am Not Waiting Anymore
02 The Year of I Got You Alone
03 [tuning]
04 Evergreen
05 Chico the American
06 Taking Alcatraz
07 Incommunicado
08 [banter]
09 Circle Drive
10 [banter]
11 Fergus Falls
12 Route 18

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Field Report, visit their website, buy their 3-song EP on bandcamp, and like them on Facebook.

Jeff Beam: June 19, 2012 Knitting Factory – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

July 22, 2012

By acidjack

[still from this video]

I had not heard of Jeff Beam before receiving his gracious invitation to check out his recent Knitting Factory show in Brooklyn, but I am glad that I did. The Maine-based artist has been recording and self-releasing records since 2008, but his recent release, Be Your Own Mirror, is his most fully-realized creation yet. Although his record is a patchwork of found sounds, casio and other keyboards, and various similar flourishes, this live performance with a full band showed off a different side of Beam’s talents. The more stripped-down style brought Beam’s guitar skills to the forefront, which was all to the good as he jammed heavily on the opening number, “Congratulations On Your Latest Achievement”. His love of 60s psychedelia and power pop is evident on many of his songs, but Beam occasionally veers into prog and folk territory as well – one thing Beam doesn’t lack for is ideas. The set closer, “Now”, is one of the strongest tracks on the new record, and evokes the 2000 Belle and Sebastian classic, “Don’t Leave the Light On Baby”.

I recorded this set with Schoeps MK5 microphones and a soundboard feed from the Knitting Factory house engineer. The sound is excellent. Enjoy!

Stream “Now”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/J6190JeffBeam0212/07 Now.mp3]

Stream “Successful People Who Never Existed”
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/J6190JeffBeam0212/05 Successful People Who Never Existed.mp3]

Direct download of MP3 files [HERE] | Direct Download of the FLAC files [HERE]

Follow acidjack on twitter

Jeff Beam
2012-06-19
Knitting Factory
Brooklyn, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Schoeps MK5 (cardiod, slightly ROC, 7.5ft, DIN)>KCY>Z-PFA>Sound Devices USBPre2 + Soundboard>>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audition (mixdown)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ)>Audacity (set fades, tracking, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Congratulations on Your Latest Achievement
02 Whispering Poison in his Ear
03 Currently, A Currency Urgency!
04 Knock Yrself Out
05 Successful People Who Never Existed
06 Venus Flying Trapeze
07 Now

If you enjoyed this recording, PLEASE SUPPORT Jeff Beam, like him on Facebook, and buy his music directly from his bandcamp page.

Amen Dunes: June 17, 2012 Glasslands and June 24, 2012 Knitting Factory – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

July 13, 2012

By acidjack

[Photos by acidjack]

The Sacred Bones Records showcase was the last show I saw at the Northside Festival, and it was also one of the ones I anticipated the most. First, because I try to never miss a chance to see bands I like at Glasslands, and second, because it was a stellar lineup from beginning to end. Of the bands playing, Amen Dunes were one I had not seen before, but they won me over early with their hypnotic, dark sound that recalls Syd Barrett, the Velvet Underground, Suicide and 13th Floor Elevators, among others. Founder and frontman Damon McMahon has claimed that he gets nervous performing live, but you wouldn’t have known it during this confident, if too short, set. Of course, it’s unlikely that McMahon could see us any more clearly than we could see him given the huge clouds of man-made fog he played in. If nothing else, the fog gave the show even more of a narcotic vibe.

This set gave us a taste of some of McMahon’s best songs from his recent record, Through Donkey Jaw. McMahon’s songs, now produced by a three-man band, tend to be downtempo affairs, but they held this crowd rapt, especially on numbers like the opener to Donkey Jaw, “Baba Yaga”. We were fortunate enough to catch a second, slightly longer Amen Dunes show on the following Sunday at the Knitting Factory when nyctaper saw Amen Dunes opened for another of our favorite bands, the Wooden Shjips (that recording [HERE]). McMahon is one of those artists whose integrity and brilliance you recognize instantly, and we both felt that way when we caught our respective sets.

I recorded the Glasslands set with a soundboard feed and Schoeps MK5 microphones; the Knitting Factory set was similarly recorded with Sennheiser MKH-8040 microphones and a soundboard feed. Both are outstanding, with excellent house mixes. The Glasslands recording favors the soundboard more, while the Knitting Factory recording favors the sound from the Sennheiser microphones. Enjoy!

Stream “Lower Mind” from the Knitting Factory:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/A1706AmenDunes0212/02 Lower Mind.mp3]

Stream “Baba Yaga” from Glasslands:
[audio:https://www.nyctaper.com/A1706AmenDunes0212/05 Baba Yaga.mp3]

Download the MP3s: [Glasslands] | [Knitting Factory]

Download the FLACs: [Glasslands] | [Knitting Factory]

Amen Dunes
2012-06-24
Knitting Factory
Brooklyn, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded by nyctaper
Produced by acidjack

Sennheiser MKH-8040 + Soundboard>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audition CS 5.5 (mixdown)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ)>Audacity (set fades, tracking, amplify, balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Diane
02 Lower Mind
03 Swim Up Behind Me
04 Bedroom Drum
05 Not A Slave
06 Baba Yaga
07 [unknown]
_____________________________
Amen Dunes
2012-06-17
Glasslands Gallery
Brooklyn, NY USA

Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack

Soundboard + Schoeps MK5 (cardiod, DFC, DIN, 8ft)>KCY>Z-PFA>Sound Devices USBPre2>>Edirol R-44 [Oade Concert Mod]>2x24bit/48kHz WAV>Audition (mixdown, balance)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, analog effects)>Audacity (set fades, tracking, amplify and balance, downsample)>FLAC ( level 8 )

Tracks
01 Diane
02 Lower Mind
03 Swim Up Behind Me
04 Bedroom Drum
05 Baba Yaga

If you enjoyed these recordings, PLEASE SUPPORT Amen Dunes, like them on Facebook, and buy their records directly from Sacred Bones Records.

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Helmet: August 2, 2012 Webster Hall – FLAC / MP3 / Streaming

Family Band: August 1, 2012 Union Pool and April 5, 2012 Bell House – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

Lucius: July 14, 2012 Backyard Brunch Sessions – FLAC/MP3/Streaming

Wilco: July 28, 2012 Brewery Ommegang – FLAC / MP3 / Streaming Songs

Prairie Empire: July 14, 2012 Backyard Brunch Sessions – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

Friend Roulette: May 6, 2012 Mercury Lounge – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

Patterson Hood & the Downtown Rumblers: July 23, 2012 Bell House – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

Field Report: July 21, 2012 Mercury Lounge – FLAC/MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

Jeff Beam: June 19, 2012 Knitting Factory – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

Amen Dunes: June 17, 2012 Glasslands and June 24, 2012 Knitting Factory – FLAC and MP3 Downloads + Streaming Songs

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