Mountain Movers at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 6, 2023

As we gradually get closer and closer to this year's Psych Fest, I wanted to share another recording from last year's festival -- this one from New Haven, CT quartet Mountain Movers. 

Their music features a delightful mix of psychedelia and noisy improv, fueled often by guitarist Kryssi Battalene's lead guitar and Rick Omonte's loping, plunging baselines. In a festival with more than 30 bands, their set stood out as refreshing and very enjoyable.

Purchase their latest album here.

Recording information:

MOUNTAIN MOVERS
2023-05-06
The Cooperage
Milwaukee Psych Fest

Dan Greene: guitar and vocals
Rick Omonte: bass
Kryssi Battalene: lead guitar
Ross Menze: drums

Tracklist:
01 The Sun Shines on the Moon
02 My Holy Shrine
03 Then the Moon
04 Way Back to the world
05 Flock of Swans
06 Five More Hours to the Hotel

Total time = 33:53

Sources: mono soundboard + Line Audio CM3 pair on stand in X-Y next to the mixer
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xACT

https://themountainmovers.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/milwaukeepsychfest/?hl=en

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 83 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Handsome Family at Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on October 6, 2023

There were a few years between 2019-2021 where I was wondering if we would ever be able to see the Handsome Family tour again. There were several tours cancelled because of Covid and the couple of times I asked the band about the chance of a tour, the answers were disconcertingly vague -- as they had to be given the uncertain nature of the pandemic.

Luckily the husband and wife songwriting team of Brett and Rennie Sparks finally were able to book and complete a EU/UK tour in the Fall of 2022. I took this tour as an opportunity to follow them around for a little bit in England, catching their shows in Brighton, Birmingham, Exeter, and Oxford (the first two were recorded by me from the audience). Because they were debuting new and unreleased songs on that tour, I chose not to share those recordings at the time. We'll be seeing the Brighton and Birmingham shows on the blog soon.

Since then the Handsome Family has released the new album, Hollow, and travelled through the midwest in October with a memorable show at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

The sound system at the Old Town School is incredibly clear, which is reflected in this audience capture. There was plenty of the usual banter here, often with references to Chicago (the Sparks lived and performed in the world's coolest city for several years).

Buy their new album here.

Recording information:

Handsome Family
2023-10-06
Chicago, IL
Old Town School of Folk Music

Brett Sparks: guitar, vocals
Rennie Sparks: banjo, bass, vocals
Alex MacMahon: guitar, baritone guitar, pedal steel
Jason Toth: drums

Tracklist:
01 Banter (7:36)
02 Bottomless Hole (3:48)
03 Banter - Amanda Palmer Added A Verse (0:56)
04 So Much Wine (4:22)
05 Banter - A Song About Maggots (0:58)
06 The Loneliness of Magnets (3:58)
07 Banter - Big Block of Wood (1:12)
08 The King of Everything (3:34)
09 Banter - There’s An Honor Among Musicians (0:38)
10 My Sister’s Tiny Hands (4:04)
11 Banter - Colonel Mustard (1:46)
12 Weightless Again (4:08)
13 Banter - Naperville (3:30)
14 Joseph (3:43)
15 Banter - We Tried to Make 8-tracks (1:28)
16 Back in My Day (5:43)
17 Shady Lake (3:42)
18 Banter- The Commish (0:51)
19 Far From Any Road (4:22)
20 Banter - I Lost Mine at the Dogs (2:47)
21 24-Hour Store (4:35)
22 Banter - A Punishment for High School Students (1:58)
23 Frogs (4:41)
24 Banter - If You Cut An Arm Off (0:56)
25 The Octopus (3:34)
26 Banter - I Have A Harmonium at Home (0:55)
27 Two Black Shoes (6:38)
28 Banter - That Was a Pretty Long Set (0:59)
29 The Saint of Illinois (3:35)
30 Banter - Everyone Is Happy Now, Sort Of (1:33)
31 Good Night (4:27)

Total time = 96:57

Microphones: Audio-technica AT853 omni stereo pair
Preamplifier: Church CA9200
Recorder: Roland R-07
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

24bit, 48kHz FLAC files (998 MB)

These are high resolution lossless audio files -- better than CD quality

320 kbps mp3 files 225 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Mary Lattimore at Acme Records and Music Emporium in Milwaukee on December 8, 2021

I was going to follow up my recent recording of Jeremiah Chiu at Acme Records back in October with Mary Lattimore's headlining show, but wanted to first share an earlier recording of her -- one from an incredible concert at Acme back in December 2021.

Harpist Mary Lattimore is a perennial favorite of the crowds at Acme Records for an excellent reason -- her compositions are exquisitely beautiful. One thing I enjoy about watching her perform live is seeing her process the sounds. She will use a combination of effects and a looping pedal, manipulating the box with her left hand as she plucks with her right. I would have liked to be able to get some short video clips of the performance, but the stage was extremely dark at this show.

Buy her most recent album here.

Recording information:

MARY LATTIMORE
2021-12-08 

Milwaukee, WI
Acme Records and Music Emporium

Mary Lattimore: harp, effects

Setlist:
01 For Scott Kelley, Returned to Earth (9:13)
02 On the Day You Saw a Dead Whale (7:53)
03 Don’t Look (6:06)
04 Wawa By the Ocean (10:31)
05 Silver Ladders (4:50)
06 Otis Walks Into the Woods (7:22)

Total time = 45:55

Source: 1) mono soundboard 2) Beyerdynamic MC930 stereo pair in NOS at stage lip
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre 6 at 24/48
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (211 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files 105 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Jeremiah Chiu at Acme Records and Music Emporium on October 26, 2023

 Jeremiah Chiu is an electronic composer currently living in Los Angeles. He recently appeared at Acme records as opening support for Mary Lattimore. For this concert he performed with several synthesizers and also the slightly battered spinet piano which lives on stage at the record store.

This show took place less than a month after the release after the release of "In Electric Time," his most recent album on the wonderful Chicago-based label International Anthem recorded at the Vintage Synthesizer Museum in Los Angeles.

I was absolutely captivated by Jeremiah's improvised performance and I am so grateful that he allowed me to share it here. 

Buy his most recent album here.

Recording information:

JEREMIAH CHIU
2023-10-26
Milwaukee, WI at Acme Records

Jeremiah Chiu: synthesizers, piano

Tracklist:
01 Untitled improvisation (37:09)

Total time = 37:09

Source: mono soundboard and pair of Line Audio CM3 mics in NOS at stage lip
Recorder:: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with artist permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (181 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (90 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

David Lord at the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee on March 17, 2024

David Lord came to Milwaukee a few weeks ago to perform at the Jazz Gallery as opening support for the group Hanami.

He has recorded three excellent albums of jazz guitar at cult recording studio Big Ego, both solo and with such players as Jeff Parker, Chris Schlarb, and Chad Taylor. He composes intricate, thoughtful, and concentrated pieces which repay repeated listening quite well.

All the pieces he played in this 37-minute set were named after various kinds of mushrooms.

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

DAVID LORD
2024-03-17
Milwaukee, WI at the Jazz Gallery

David Lord: guitar

Setlist:
01 Cloud Rust / Clouded Yellow / Swallowtail / Spot Puffin
02 Old Man of the Woods
03 Pale Orange Chantelle
04 Wolf's Milk Slime Mold
05 Tapering Russula
06 Fiery Agaric
07 Brush Footed Butterfly
08 Elemental Orb
09 Mossy Maze Polypore
10 Club Foot
11 Two Tone Brain Fungus / Mushroom Weeds
12 The Forest Butterfly
13 The Darkening Armillaria
14 Luminous Chanterelle
15 Giant Puffball

Total time = 37:14

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 pair in NOS in front row + Shure SM58 on floor in front of guitar amp
Recorder: Sound Device MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (120 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (87 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

William Tyler at Cactus Club in Milwaukee on January 24, 2024

William Tyler arrived at the Cactus Club with his band The Impossible Truth ready to shake the walls with full band versions of his catalog. He was in support of his recent live album 'Secret Stratosphere' which was released last year featuring the same band.

Along with a representative sampling of Tyler's past work, the band performed an excellent and creative version of Kraftwerk's "Radioactivity."

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

WILLIAM TYLER
2024-01-24
Milwaukee at the Cactus Club

William Tyler: guitar
Luke Schneider: pedal steel guitar
Jack Lawrence: bass
Brian Kotzur: drums

Setlist:
01 We Can’t Go Home Again (8:32)
02 Gone Clear (6:50)
03 I’m Going To Live Forever If It Kills Me (5:02)
04 Highway Anxiety (6:36)
05 Radioactivity [Kraftwerk] (8:39)
06 Whole New Dude (14:18)
07 Area 601 (13:35)

Total time = 62:31

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in NOS
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (363 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (208 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

BCMC (Bill MacKay and Cooper Crain) at the Trumpet Blossom Cafe in Iowa City on October 19, 2023

The prospect of the pairing of Bill Mackay and brilliant keyboardist Cooper Crain (Bitchin' Bajas and Cave) had a lot of expectations to live up to -- and their debut album last year fulfilled them all. It was one of my albums of the year for 2023 and I strongly recommend purchasing it if you haven't already.

  

Combining virtuosity with a Krautrock-inspired ambient mood, their music is simultaneously hypnotic, relaxing, and invigorating.

  

  

I was happy to drive to Iowa City to catch them on their Midwest tour at the Trumpet Blossom, a cool vegan cafe in a very pleasant Big Ten college town. The acoustics were perfect and I was able to blend a high quality soundboard feed with a pair of Beyerdynamic cardioid mics to create a an appropriately spacey soundscape.

Buy their album here.

Recording details:

BCMC
2023-10-19
Iowa City, IA at the Trumpet Blossom Cafe

Bill MacKay: guitars
Cooper Crain: synthesizers

Tracklist:
01 Foreign Smokes (8:01)
02 The Swarm (9:05)
03 Ripple at High Tide (8:27)
04 Sunset Saturn (4:59)
05 Unknown (8:18)
06 Unknown (9:12)

Total time = 48:02

Sources: mono SBD + Beyerdynamic MC930 in NOS
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (209 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (110 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible