The Royal Artic Institute is a perfect band name for a mid-February show in (slightly) upstate New York. Outside it was wet and cold but inside the drinks were flowing, the spirits were high, and the music was outstanding. Another perfect night at Tubby’s.
The NYC based band has over 50 years of combined touring and recording experience including stints with certified legends like Arthur Lee and Roky Erickson. The musical experience is palpable; they float though compositions shifting feel and sound and carrying the listener through the journey. This is a fun one for headphones and a dark room.
The Royal Arctic Institute plays “cinematic instrumental post-jazz” or, as they put it on their band camp page, “post-everything.” Pidgeon holing their sound defeats the point. These are expansive, imaginative soundscapes made for dreaming. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
I recorded this from my usual spot by the soundboard with my MBHO’s and board feed from Tubby’s FOH engineer Sam. The sound and performance are excellent. Enjoy!
The final night of Mikaela Davis’s residency took place during one of Tubby’s semi regular Dead nights. These events started simply; just a dude with a couple decks playing some Dead tapes. They have since evolved into not to be missed parties complete with all the things you would expect at this type of event. There were tapes. There was a “lot” scene. There was spinning. There was Drums > Space.
The first set of originals was comprised of mostly older songs not often played including “Do You Wanna Be Mine” from 2018’s “Delivery”. The set also features a brand-new tune, “Left Hand Path,” about a D&D Vampirate. Let’s get weird.
The Dead set opened strong with a super upbeat version of the Garcia classic “Cats Under the Stars” and jumped straight into “Shakedown Street” which had the spinners spinning. On more than one occasion I felt a dreadlock swing against my arm in wild, envelope filter induced ecstasy. The meat of this set was the transition out of “Crazy Fingers” into “Drums” that contained the most exciting and free playing of the evening.
Mikaela and the band have decided to bring this tour on the road for a, mostly, East Coast run beginning in March, and I highly suggest you hit a show. This was some of the best Dead adjacent music I’ve heard post Jerry. This is much more than another Dead cover band. They have brought authenticity, innovation, and fresh air to a vital part of the American songbook.
I recorded this from my usual spot by the soundboard with MBHO’s and board feed from Tubby’s FOH engineer Sam. Enjoy!
This was night 3 of her 3 show residency at Tubby’s. Each night was a set of originals and a set of Dead music. Tonights Dead set featured songs from 1973-1989
Our live experiences with the Fiery Furnaces date back to the earliest days of this website. It would be fair to say that this band was in part responsible for the growth of the site circa 2007-2008, as we recorded them all around the area, from multiple times at Maxwell’s, Mercury, Bowery, and Music Hall, to singular shows at Sound Fix Records on Bedford (RIP), Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, LPR, Southpaw (RIP), East River Park Bandshell (RIP), and Hiro Ballroom (RIP). We recorded them so often that we ended up getting credited as an “engineer” for the Fiery Furnaces live album Remember, which used some of our recordings. The attraction was natural for we live music fans — the band never played any of their shows or songs the same way twice, they consistently invited superb musicians to join them on tours, and the music was always challenging and cerebral. We couldn’t get enough of them.
But in 2011, the band’s core siblings Eleanor and Matt Friedberger decided to take a hiatus. I expected a few years of time away, a solo album or two and then a return. I didn’t expect the break to take a decade, but in 2020 the reunion was finally announced and well, you know what happened then.
Last November at Brooklyn Steel, the wait was over. Fiery Furnaces were back for a “hometown” show at long last. To be honest, I didn’t really know what entirely to expect. The two stalwarts of the band from last decade (Jason Loewenstein and Bob D’Amico) were not joining in the reunion, and of the new band members, we only were familiar with the most excellent Emily Lee (Shearwater, and others). But what I did expect was a new take on classic material, and likely the new single from 2020 (“Down At The So And So And Somewhere”). And in that respect, this show was entirely what I had hoped to see. The setlist contained a healthy dose from all of the band’s releases, of course segued with unexpected twists and turns — but always anchored by Eleanor’s meticulously delivered tongue-twisters and turns of phrase. Matt’s keyboard rack was liberally employed throughout and jibed perfectly with Emily electric piano — check out the interplay in a tasty “Benton Harbor Blues”, and the rocking “Ex-Guru”. The entire ninety-minute set worked like that, with no lulls, plenty of highlights, and no dip in energy throughout. It was great to have Fiery Furnaces back, even if for just one night. We hope it isn’t another decade before they return.
I recorded this set with the Neumann hypers set up at the Soundboard and mixed with a board feed. We are extremely happy with the results, and are pleased to offer this high quality download. Enjoy!
Setlist: [Total Time 1:22:52] 01 Leaky Tunnel 02 Single Again 03 Two Fat Feet 04 I’m Going Away 05 Benton Harbor Blues 06 [checklist] 07 My Dog Was Lost but Now He’s Found 08 The Garfield El 09 Chief Inspector Blancheflower 10 I’m in No Mood 11 Don’t Dance Her Down 12 The Vietnamese Telephone Ministry 13 Down At The So And So And Somewhere 14 Duplexes of the Dead 15 Automatic Husband 16 Ex-Guru 17 Quay Cur 18 Tropical Ice-Land 19 [encore break] 20 Here Comes the Summer 21 My Egyptian Grammar 22 Chris Michaels
Back in April 2020 when we didn’t know when or if we were going to see live music again, Joan Shelley releasedLive at the Bomhard, the hometown tour finale recorded live in 2019 with the Best Hands Band and a special appearance by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. It was both a comfort to all of us stuck at home and a reminder of what we were missing out on.
I have to admit I was only mildly familiar with Joan Shelley before that Bandcamp Friday release, but felt compelled that day to support as many musicians as I could to make sure music would still be there when we returned to normalcy. The added draw of hearing new, live music meant Live at the Bomhard would be in constant rotation ever since. These songs all became familiar in their live and studio arrangements as I added her records to my collection.
This past June, Shelley released her latest album, The Spur, a collection of songs that sound like they are grappling with comfort and safety—songs like “Home,” “Forever Blues,” and “Fawn.” And here I’ve finally gotten to see Joan Shelley live in person. Live music did return after all, though it must be added not without its difficulties.
Whether you’ve heard these songs on Live at the Bomhard, or the studio versions on The Spur, Shelley’s set at The Colony in Woodstock added new textures and arrangements with her current touring band of Nathan Salsburg, Jim Elkington, and Nick Macri, all who played on The Spur and other Joan Shelley albums. Between songs Shelley and her band are affable and engaging with their story telling and the added context for these songs. On a cold night in Woodstock at the beginning of Fall, it sure felt warm inside.
Joan Shelley
2022-09-23
The Colony
Woodstock, NY
Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
Soundboard + MBHO KA500/603A (DIN) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC
Tracks [1:10:45]
01. Stay All Night
02. Forever Blues
03. [Fawn intro]
04. Fawn
05. If the Storms Never Come
06. [Fall in the mountains]
07. Home
08. [Favorite room in the world]
09. The Fading
10. [Storms]
11. Like the Thunder
12. Wild Indifference
13. [The Spur intro]
14. The Spur
15. Completely
16. Stay on My Shore
17. [The last show of all time]
18. Why Not Live Here
19. Coming Down For You
20. [The merch table]
21. When the Light is Dying
22. Not Over by Half
The band:
Joan Shelley
Nathan Salsburg
James Elkington
Nick Macri
Really I can’t think of a music festival I’ve been to that was as inviting and relaxed as Deep in the Valley. The very first band of the day, local Kingston quartet Dominick and the Family Band, perfectly inaugurated the day’s good vibes and laid back atmosphere with their hazy country-rock. Festival goers newly arriving paused setting up their chairs to take in the sounds as they played songs off last year’s aptly-titled tape, Body Wave Heat Whatever, plus the new songs “Heather” and “Backwards.” But they saved the best for last, blasting off with a heady, ten-minute version of “Lights Out.” If you didn’t know any better you’d think these guys were headlining the festival. I highly recommend heading over to Bandcamp to grab their tape (as well as bandleader Dominick Anfiteatro’s solo stuff). I’m sure there will be opportunities to catch these locals again in the Hudson Valley. I’ll be there for sure!
Dominick and the Family Band
2022-08-20
Deep in the Valley
From the Ground Brewery
Red Hook, NY
Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
Soundboard + MBHO KA200N/603A (DIN, stage lip) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC
Tracks [34:06]
01. I Wanna Get High
02. Blue Morning Light
03. Just Smoke
04. Their Aim
05. Heather
06. Backwards
07. Lights Out
They didn’t kick off the festival but kicking off our coverage of Deep in the Valley is this astounding set from Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders. We’re big fans of course of his other band, Dire Wolves, but this is the first time we’ve gotten to see him with the Heavy Lidders. The group includes Elkhorn-ers Drew Gardner on guitar and Jesse Shepherd on bass, Scott Verrastro of Kohoutek on drums, and a guest appearance from Ashley Paul on saxophone. Opening with the loose, Tolkien-referencing “Bombadil Bop” couldn’t have been more appropriate for the pastoral setting as folks got up out of their chairs to boogie, while others sought umbrellas as the midday heat came out in full force. The band slides further into the literary references with “Beowulf’s Trip” from the ‘Lidders recent self-titled LP featuring the same lineup that we saw at Deep in the Valley. (Heads take note: that record also boasts appearances from Marissa Nadler on the Dead’s “Black Peter,” Rosali Middleman, PG Six, and Ryan Jewell. Wow!) After playing her own solo set, Ashley Paul joined in on saxophone for “Hidden Treasure.” She and Jeffrey Alexander collaborated remotely last year and released a super limited 7″—nice to see them jamming in person. Finally the band choogles into their deepest grooves of the day with Willie Dixon’s classic “Spoonful,” which they also put out on Elixer of Life. Their set was truly a physical manifestation of the good vibes and collaborative atmosphere at Deep in the Valley and I hope you enjoy this as much as we all did—get into it below!
Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders
2022-08-20
Deep in the Valley
From the Ground Brewery
Red Hook, NY
Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com
Soundboard + MBHO KA200N/603A (DIN, stage lip) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC
Tracks [49:29]
01. Bombadil Bop
02. Beowulf's Trip
03. Hidden Treasure
04. Spoonful [Willie Dixon]
Jeffrey Alexander - guitar, vocal
Drew Gardner - guitar
Jesse Sheppard - bass
Scott Verrastro - drums
with - Ashley Paul - saxophone on 3
The immediate first impression of Weak Signal is “this dude’s guitar tone is going to tear my face off.” You could stop at that and have a decent idea of what the band is about but thanks to our own EricPH Weak Signal is now on the internet archive giving us several excellent live options to examine. Close consideration of these recordings reveal more than a monstrous guitar tone; beautiful and expressive song writing, excellent harmonies and one of the most engaging rhythm sections operating today.
The rhythm section, Tran on drums and Sasha on bass, present the aural equivalent of a train coming down the tracks a bit too fast. It feels out of control, like it could crash at any time but then pulls safely to its destination right on schedule. It’s that possibility of collapse and the thrill of evading it that makes this band so exciting to listen to. In many ways it reminds me of the great early Kinks rhythm section of Mick Avory and Peter Quaife.
This was the first show with the full band together in six months and features songs from all their records as well as a live debut of a new tune called “Don’t Want No Problems.” Weak Signal has several upcoming dates including two nights opening for Pavement! Go see them, you won’t regret it.
I recorded this from the soundboard with my MBHO mics and a mono board feed from the FOH engineer Kyle. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!
Much has changed in Kingston since the start of Covid. Many of the long-standing hubs of the community (RIP BSP, Boitson’s, Tony’s) sit empty while revitalization and housing prices march onward. Tubby’s, thankfully, has not only weathered the storm, but seems to be steadily gaining steam.
At its core Tubby’s is a local hang. On any given evening it may be the gathering spot for local members of the LGBTQ+ community, Simpsons fans, Deadheads, Goths or just folks looking for a cold beer after work. This beautiful Spring evening was a double bill with Mountain Movers and Wet Tuna, a night for the heads.
Mountain Movers have appeared on this website several times over the years, and I am happy to add another recording to the list. The New Haven CT quartet pulled from their entire catalog including several tracks from their excellent 2021 release “World What World”. The set ended with a particularly transportive 10-minute workout of “Unknown Hours” exploring all the corners of noise, psychedelia, atmosphere, and Rock they are known for.
I recorded this set from my normal spot atop the riser next to the soundboard with my MBHO mics and a mono board feed from Tubby’s FOH engineer Brian. I am quite happy with the results!
SAVAK released their last LP, Rotting Teeth in the Horse’s Mouth, on April 10, 2020. To say that was a weird time would be an understatement. I vividly recall exploring my former neighborhoods of Ditmas Park and Midwood, frequently soundtracked by that new LP in those early days.
Now it’s two years later and… here we are. SAVAK’s latest record, Human Error / Human Delight arrives on Friday and I even got to see them play live for the first time in probably three years. Too long! But like those early days, SAVAK’s set from last Friday is a much needed salve. There’s nothing quite like live music and SAVAK’s energy is infectious as ever. This was my first chance to hear some of the new songs, like the standout album-opener “No Blues No Jazz,” “Dealers,” “Cold Ocean,” and a riotous, closing “Set Apart.” SAVAK steer full-throttle towards delight!
SAVAK have a few upcoming dates around NYC, including one at The P.I.T. on May 12, plus opening slots for Jawbox (!) in July and June of 44 (!!) in October, both at Le Poisson Rouge.
I recorded this set with the mics clamped to the soundboard booth, combined with a board feed from FOH Will. I mixed those down and then Sohrab provided some additional mastering. The results are excellent. Enjoy!
In what is perhaps the most NYCTaper-friendly tour announcement ever, last week it was revealed that Ryley Walker and Tonstartssbandht will co-headline a six-date Northeast tour in March that will arrive in New York at Bowery Ballroom on St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve already purchased the Bowery tickets, but we’ve had some serious discussions about doing multiple dates on this tour, with the mostly likely being the Portland Maine and Providence Rhode Island dates on the weekend after the Thursday night in New York. We shall see, but suffice to say its an exciting tour that should not be missed by us, or by anyone serious about good music.
But the Bowery will not be the first post-pandemic show in New York for our old friends Andy and Edwin White. In late October, they toured for Petunia, the band’s first proper album in three years and played a sold-out show at our own Market Hotel. I can not properly express how thoroughly renewing it was for us to see one of our favorite bands and favorite people play live again. Nevermind that the crowd also included a bunch of old friends, this night was just magic from start to finish. The band’s set concentrated primarily on the new album material, and flowed as their sets always do, in remarkable continuity. The energy was peak throughout and hit a crescendo during the set-closing “Sorcerer“, ending a wonderful night in truly excellent fashion. We expect more of these peaks on the tour in March.
I recorded this set with the installed Neumann hypercards blended with an excellent board feed mixed by Osaro. We are very pleased with the sound quality of this capture. Enjoy!
Setlist: [Total Time 1:01:57] 01 Falloff 02 Opening 03 What Has Happened 04 Hey Bad > 05 Breathe – Susie – Last Train Home 06 All of My Children 07 Magic Pig 08 Smilehenge 09 Sorcerer
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