Circuit des Yeux at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on April 16, 2025

Vocalist Haley Fohr has been recording and touring under the moniker Circuit Des Yeux for the last 18 years. This past week she brought her band (including Alan Sparhawk on guitar and Andrew Scott Young on bass) to the intimate space of the back room at the Sugar Maple for a concentrated and intense show.

   

Purchase the new album here.

Recording information:

CIRCUIT DES YEUX

2025-04-16

Milwaukee, WI

The Sugar Maple

Haley Fohr: vocals

Alan Sparhawk: guitar

Andrew Scott Young: bass

Drew Christopherson: drums

Tracklist:

01 Skeleton Key (2:45)

02 Anthem of Me (3:08)

03 Megaloner (4:42)

04 Canopy of Eden (4:17)

05 Truth (5:08)

06 Double Dare (5:09)

07 Dogma (9:42)

08 Cathexis (3:42)

09 It Takes My Pain Away (5:35)

10 Black Fly (9:39)

Total time = 53:47

microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF

additional source: mono soundboard

recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (281 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (157 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Gustavo Cortiñas Quartet at the Milwaukee Jazz Gallery on April 13, 2025

On April 13th, the Jazz Gallery hosted an album release concert by the Gustavo Cortiñas Quartet from Chicago, featuring jazz luminaries Mark Feldman on violin, saxophonist Jon Irabagon, and guitarist Dave Miller, with Cortiñas on drums. The new album, The Crisis Knows No Borders, contains compositions by Cortiñas addressing climate change and its eventual effects on all humans regardless of geographic location.

It was exciting to have such an impressive group on the Gallery's small but storied stage, and I felt that this recording came out quite well.

Purchase their album here.

    

Recording information:

GUSTAVO CORTINAS QUARTET

2025-04-13

Milwaukee, WI

The Jazz Gallery

Jon Irabagon: saxophone

Mark Feldman: violin

Dave Miller: guitar

Gustavo Cortinas: drums 

Tracklist:

01 The Basic Economic Farsity (13:31)

02 The Growth Imperative (9:42)

03 Oil and Water Don't Mix (8:43)

04 Skepticism (13:54)

05 Sea Levels Rising (10:28)

06 The Crisis Knows No Borders (4:20)

07 Your Right Under The Sun (6:29)

08 The Man of Flesh and Bone (6:29)

Total time = 73:36

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 pair in ORTF in front row; Shure SM58 in front of drums

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (455 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (191 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

a video of the concert:

Sunwatchers at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on April 12, 2019

I've been going through my files and looking for shows that I had inexplicably not posted yet and found this amazing set by the New York band Sunwatchers at the 2019 Milwaukee Psych Fest. It was an afternoon slot, but the band was in full glory here featuring some exquisite playing from many songs featured on their at-the-time new LP.

     

Recording information:

SUNWATCHERS
2019-04-12
Milwaukee, WI
The Cooperage
Milwaukee Psych Festival

Peter Kerlin: bass
Jim McHugh: guitar
Jeff Tobias: saxophone and keyboards
Jason Robira: drums

Tracklist:
01 New Dad Blues (5:47)
02 Beautiful Crystals (7:50)
03 Sunwatchers vs. Tooth Decay (5:58)
04 Love Paste --> Brown Ice (7:51)
05 Strollin' Coma Blues (10:40)

Total time = 38:06

microphones: stereo pair of Audio-technica AT853
preamp: Church UBB
recorder: Roland R-07 at 16/44
software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

A recording by fellow taper and friend of the blog Joel Berk from the following day in Chicago is available here.

Purchase their most recent album here.

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (241 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (97 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

a video excerpt of a live performance from the following month in Genoa, Italy:

Ra Bishop at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on April 6, 2025

Ra Bishop is the name of a Chicago group co-led by trombonist Jeb Bishop and percussionist Avreeayl Ra, which also features Ed Wilkerson, jr on tenor sax, clarinets, and didgeridoo, and Erez Dessel on piano. They have released a new album and this incredible concert was part of a pair of shows commemorating the release.

  this photo which shows Mr Dessel  is by Keith Berg

The front room of the Sugar Maple was an excellent venue to really hear the different instruments -- sometimes in the much smaller back room everything can get drowned out by a powerful drummer.

Purchase their new album here.

Recording information:

  

RA BISHOP

2025-04-06

Milwaukee, WI

Sugar Maple

Ed Wilkerson: tenor sax, bass clarinet, clarinet 

Jeb Bishop: trombone

Erez Dessel: piano

Avreeayl Ra: drums

Tracklist:

01 First Improvisation (36:26)

02 Second Improvisation (12:52)

03 Third Improvisation (17:22)

Total time = 66:40

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF in front row

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (377 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (197 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

concert video from a few days prior at Constellation in Chicago:

   

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BASIC at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee on December 13, 2024

BASIC is a trio featuring Chris Forsyth on guitar, Doug McCombs on bass and guitar, and Mikel Patrick Avery on drums and triggered samples. They came to Milwaukee back in December with a concert that featured songs from their first album as well as an at-the-time unreleased EP. 

Chris donated the recording of one of these tracks to a benefit album for musicians who lost their homes in the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, and also asked me to hold off on posting this recording until their EP was released. Now that the EP is out and their recent tour is complete, Chris has given the go ahead to post -- and everyone can now hear what I have been enjoying at home for the past four months. 

Buy their most recent release here.

Recording information:

BASIC
2024-12-13
Milwaukee, WI
The Cactus Club

Chris Forsyth: guitar
Doug McCombs: guitar
Mikel Patrick Avery: percussion

Tracklist:
01 For Stars of the Air (10:09)
02 Nerve Time (7:02)
03 Positive Halfway (8:18)
04 Changes, Changing (10:43)
05 Dream City (9:41)
06 Tension Envelope (16:06)

Total time = 61:59

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
Additional source: mono SBD feed
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Thanks to amazing FOH engineer Alex for the soundboard feed

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (401 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (222 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Chad M Clark solo guitar at the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee on January 25, 2025

A few weeks back I was able to catch a triple header of improvised and experimental music at Milwaukee's venerable Jazz Gallery. The final performance for that evening was guitarist Chad M Clark improvising on guitar in front of a video projection by Chicago avantgarde vocalist Carol Genetti. 

The 22-minute set was inventive and highly textured. It went by too quickly -- I'm looking forward to catching him later in the month at Woodland Pattern with keyboardist James Baker.

Chad's website bio does an excellent job of summarizing his approach to music and his career so far:

Chad M. Clark (b. 1973) is a Chicago-based guitarist. Immersed in the instrument’s physical properties, his palette is a measure of size, encompassing both finite and infinite magnitudes.

From the narrow rasps of strings stretched taut to the creaking breath of the wood itself, the ways in which particular vibrational phenomena contour the subjective experience of time and space permeates Clark’s practice.

He has performed with many improvising musicians, including Tim Daisy, Weasel Walter, Mark Feldman, Bill Harris, Damon Smith, Jim Baker, Viv Corringham, Norman Long, Carol Genetti, Jack Wright, and Keefe Jackson. His latest record with drummer and guitarist Weasel Walter, Sublimation Incantation, came out on February 15th 2024.

Buy his most recent CD here.

Recording information:

CHAD M CLARK
2025-01-25 

Milwaukee, WI 

Jazz Gallery 

Chad M Clark: guitar 

Setlist: 

01 Untitled Improvisation (22:04) 

Total time = 22:04 

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF 

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96 

Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

A recording of this performance has been officially released and may be purchased here

Sebastian Strinning at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on October 11, 2024

Thirty-nine year old Sebastian Strinning is a saxophonist with roots in Switzerland and Sweden. He also has connections to Chicago, however, having been awarded a residency in the Windy City in 2017. Last year he further cemented his Chicago ties with a duo album with percussionist Tim Daisy.

In October he came to Milwaukee twice with different ensembles. For this first Cream City show, the band featured fellow saxophonist Keefe Jackson, bassist Jason Roebke, and drummer Julian Kirshner. There was quite a bit of spirited improvisation on offer over the 46-minute set.

Buy his most recent album here.

Recording information:

SEBASTIAN STRINNING

2024-10-11

Milwaukee at the Sugar Maple

Sebastian Strinning: reeds

Keefe Jackson: reeds

Jason Roebke: bass

Julian Kirshner: drums

Setlist

01 First Improvisation (24:02)

02 Second Improvisation (12:13)

03 Third Improvisation (10:41)

Total time = 46:56

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (280 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (179 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Sunburned Hand of the Man at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on April 13, 2019

Sunburned Hand of the Man is a large collective of improvising musicians formed about 30 years ago in Boston. They have released a staggering 200 albums, most of which are available on their Bandcamp website. The band frequently incorporates friends and guest musicians, so that the list of past members of the band is preposterously long.

    

Given the breadth of their catalog, it is pretty much impossible to properly categorize their music, which I think is wonderful. On this day in April at the Psych Fest, they performed an evocative 37-minute piece which was apparently largely improvised and featured lyrics centered around the topic of Death.

The 2019 Milwaukee Psych Fest was the first I taped in an open manner. At that point I was running back and forth between the indoor stage and outdoor set (where this set happened). I missed a lot that way, and for later Psych Fests I utilized two setups so as not to miss anything.

Check out their massive and wonderful catalog here.

Recording information:

SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN
2019-04-13
The Cooperage
Milwaukee Psych Fest

Setlist:
01 Untitled (37:11)

Total time = 37:11

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF on stand
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6 at 24/96
Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (152 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (103 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Kikagaku Moyo and Angel Bat David at the Empty Bottle in Chicago on November 20, 2021

After Kikagaku Moyo finished their headlining set on the second night of a two night residency at the Empty Bottle in Chicago back in November 2021, they had a surprise for the audience: a 30-minute jam session with opener Angel Bat David.

The combination of Japanese psychedelic rock and Chicago free jazz was a delight, exploring riffs and textures without overextending themselves or degenerating into aimless noodling. Angel kept them moving throughout with her ecstatic chanting and clarinet playing.

Recording information:

KIKAGAKU MOYO
ANGEL BAT DAWID
2021-11-20
Chicago, IL
The Empty Bottle

Go Kurosawa: drums
Tomo Katsurada: guitar
Kotsu Guy: bass
Daoud Popal: guitar
Ryu Kurosawa: sitar
Angel Bat Dawid: voice and clarinet

Xristian Espinoza: sax

Setlist:
01 Chicago jam (30:32)

Total tine = 30:32

This is a matrix recording
Source 1: Beyerdynamic MC 930 stereo pair (ORTF)
Source 2: mono soundboard feed from Eric Lemke
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre 6 at 24/48
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

Tremendous thanks to sound engineer Eric Lemke for going far out of his way to be of assistance in capturing this live recording, and to the band for allowing live recording of their performances.

https://kikagakumoyo.com
https://kikagakumoyoggb.bandcamp.com

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (186 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (88 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Wooden Wand (James Toth) at Acme Records in Milwaukee on October 10, 2024

James Jackson Toth is a busy person. A member of One Eleven Heavy and James and the Giants as well as the person behind the moniker Wooden Wand, he has also found the time to write about music for NPR, Stereogum, The Wire, Aquarium Drunkard, The Quietus, and others.

His music ranges from avant garde experimentation to dreamy "New Weird America" gothic Americana. A recent collection of cover versions of his songs shows the breadth of the people who admire his songs, with contributions from Meg Baird, Ryley Walker, William Tyler, Marisa Anderson and Zachary Cale as well as Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore.

   

    

    

This evening he was alone on stage at Acme Records for a short set with just an acoustic guitar, opening for Universal Light. It was a delight and I can only hope he will return to Milwaukee soon for a longer exploration of his body of work.

Buy his most recent album here.

Recording information:

   

WOODEN WAND

2024-10-10

Milwaukee, WI

Acme Records

James Toth: guitar and voice

Setlist:

01 The Mountain (4:39)

02 Sacrificial (3:51)

03 Collateral Damage (4:09)

04 Spitting at the Cameras (3:16)

05 Days This Long (2:31)

06 Oasis vs Blur (4:34)

07 Outsider Blues (5:08)

Total time = 28:08

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF at stage lip

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (164 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (158 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible