Meg Baird and Mary Lattimore at Acme Records in Milwaukee on October 17, 2019

When a certain amount of time passes after a show has been recorded, I start to find it more and more difficult to post the recording. It's a bit analogous to how I feel when I've waited too long to reply to a letter or email. I start to feel that any excuses I would like to make about the delay are inadequate.

For this show, we had a bit of a worldwide pandemic occurring a few months afterward, which put my motivation to post into the dumpster. In any event, I thought that the 5-year anniversary of the show would be a nice excuse to share this amazing performance with you.

Meg and Mary have long been favorites at Acme, and the excitement was definitely there as soon as their album as released. It's filled with really lovely madrigal-like moments juxtaposed with the avant garden or even psychedelic. When their tour was announced the show quickly sold out.

Buy their album here.

Recording information:

MEG BAIRD


MARY LATTIMORE

2019-10-17

Milwaukee,WI at Acme Records

Meg Baird: guitar and vocals

Mary Lattimore: harp and electronics

Setlist:

01 Between Two Worlds (6:37)

02 In Cedars (6:02)

03 Banter (1:03)

04 Damaged Sunset (9:09)

05 Painter of Tygers (7:14)

06 Fair Annie [Traditional] (9:51)

07 Wrecking Ball [Neil Young] (6:47)

Total time = 46:43

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 pair at stage lip

Additional source: mono soundboard

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (228 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (120 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Ryley Walker at Strange Brew in Bristol, England on September 17, 2024

I was lucky to be able to catch Ryley Walker solo on the second date of what he is saying is his last major tour. This sold out performance was at a 350-capacity coffee shop / bar / performance space in Bristol, England with nice acoustics and a delightful sound engineer named Annalisa.

Ryley performed songs from his albums Primrose Green, Golden Sings That Have Been Sung, and Course in Fable, along with lovely covers of songs by John Martyn and Anne Briggs.

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

    

RYLEY WALKER

2024-09-17

Bristol, England

Strange Brew

Ryley Walker: Acoustic guitar and voice 

Setlist:

01 Rang Dizzy (4:40)

02 Banter - I Got Into Footie (1:13)

03 The Roundabout (10:37)

04 Striking Down Your Big Premiere (4:34)

05 Age Old Tale (4:22)

06 Over the Hill (John Martyn) (2:44)

07 On the Banks of the Old Kishwaukee (6:27)

08 Banter - In America We Call Fall ‘Brit Folk Season’ (1:47)

09 Go Your Way (Anne Briggs) (4:25)

10 Primrose Green (5:35)

11 Raga (6:17)

Total time = 52:41

microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

additional source: mono SBD feed

recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

Special thanks to Annalisa for the soundboard feed

Warm thanks to Ryley for being ardently pro-taper and for always doing his best to alleviate the obstacles which music preservationists often face

https://www.strangebrewbristol.com/

https://ryleywalker.bandcamp.com/album/course-in-fable

downloads:

24bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (521 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that, using most burning software

320 kbps mp3 files (133 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Caroline Davis and Wendy Eisenberg at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on June 27, 2024

I was able to catch New York-based saxophonist Caroline Davis and guitarist Wendy Eisenberg perform at the Sugar Maple a few weeks back. They were touring in support of their recent album Accept When which was released on the Astral Spirits label in April.

The album has some inspired lyrics (including one song about an evening Carl Jung spent at a haunted house) and complex, pleasing melodies. This was a thrilling evening and I hope the pair have plans to record another album.

Purchase their album here.

Recording information:

CAROLINE DAVIS and WENDY EISENBERG

2024-06-27 

Milwaukee at the Sugar Maple

Caroline Davis: alto sax, synthesizers, voice

Wendy Eisenberg: guitar and voice

Setlist:

01 Attention (5:24)

02 Shall We Dance (2:54)

03 Flounced (5:00)

04 Accept When (6:23)

05 Sequins (4:49)

06 Ultra Detached (4:15)

07 All The Glory (6:23)

08 Concrete (7:04)

Total time = 42:21

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 pair in front row plus Shure SM58 on ground in front of guitar amp

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (185 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (114 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Meg Baird at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee on November 2, 2022

During the last week of October and first week of November 2022, Meg Baird and Chris Forsyth toured the east coast and midwest with a unique concept: they shared the same rhythm section consisting of Doug McCombs on bass and Ryan Jewell on drums. Meg's band also featured Charlie Saufley (a fellow member of the band Heron Oblivion) on guitar.

 

Purchase Meg's most recent album here.

   
You can hear and download Chris' performance from that same evening here.

   
Recording information:

   

MEG BAIRD

2022-11-02

Milwaukee, WI at Cactus Club

Meg Baird: vocals, guitar, keyboards

Charlie Saufley: guitar

Doug McCombs: bass

Ryan Jewell: drums

Chris Forsyth: guitar on Track 9

Setlist:

01 Ashes, Ashes (6:05)

02 Mosquito Hawks (3:21)

03 Back to You (4:40)

04 Star Hill Song (6:15)

05 Twelve Saints (5:45)

06 Manfield and Cyclops (6:28)

07 Ship Captains (5:25)

08 Unknown (5:42)

09 Will You Follow Me Home (8:15)

microphone: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

additional source: soundboard feed from Alex

recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Total time = 51:56

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (331 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (226 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Pan American at Acme Records and Music Emporium in Milwaukee on December 8, 2021

Mark Nelson was the guitarist and vocalist for the pioneering post-rock drone band Labradford, which was active between 1993-2001.

   

Under the moniker Pan American, he has released 13 ambient and experimental albums — mostly on Chicago’s wonderful Kranky Records.

  

  

In December of 2021 he came to Milwaukee’s Acme Records to perform a short opening set for Mary Lattimore. This was a very lovely and meditative guitar soundscape performed on a candle-lit stage that perfectly set the mood for Lattimore’s harp performance.

Purchase Pan American's latest album here.

Recording information:

PAN AMERICAN

2021-12-08

Milwaukee, WI

Acme Records and Music Emporium

Mark Nelson: guitar and electronics

Tracklist:

01 untitled composition (42:40)

Total time = 42:40

Sources: mono soundboard feed and a pair of Beyerdynamic MC930 mics in NOS configuration at stage lip

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (151 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (100 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Tired Eyes at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee on June 28, 2024

 Alan Sparhawk brought his Neil Young cover project to Milwaukee a few weeks ago for a marathon 26-song concert. In his band were Rich and Glen Mattson as well as Kraig Johnson. 

Over the course of over two hours, the band played many hits such as "Cinnamon Girl" and "Hey Hey My My," but also delved into lesser known songs such as "Look Out Joe" and "Tired Eyes." Their approach was respectful but lacked the somewhat annoying tendency of so-called "tribute bands" to mimic the mannerisms and appearance of their subject. The focus of the night was music and not spectacle.

Alan and the boys were clearly enjoying themselves however, and it was a delight to see Haley Fohr sing one song (and then spend the rest of the second set dancing near me).

Purchase Alan's latest album here.

Recording information:

TIRED EYES
2024-06-28
Milwaukee, WI at Cactus Club

Alan Sparhawk: guitar and voice
Rich Mattson: guitar and voice
Kraig Johnson: bass and voice
Glen Mattson: drums
Haley Fohr: vocals on track 13

Setlist:
01 Look Out Joe (3:43)
02 Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere (1:55)
03 Ohio (3:15)
04 Winterlong (3:21)
05 Down by the River (8:15)
06 Revolution Blues (4:15)
07 Albuquerque (3:48)
08 Don’t Cry No Tears (3:02)
09 Words (8:18)
10 Cinnamon Girl (3:33)
11 Razor Love (6:07)
12 Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown (3:19)
13 Comes A Time (3:11)
14 Powderfinger (5:31)
15 Out on the Weekend (4:55)
16 Cowgirl in the Sand (7:16)
17 The Loner (4:43)
18 Motion Pictures (4:46)
19 Mr Soul -> Roll Another Number (7:24)
20 Barstool Blues (3:14)
21 Rapid Transit (4:32)
22 Cortez the Killer (8:22)
23 Tired Eyes 5:28)
24 On the Beach (5:28)
25 Hey Hey My My (4:56)
25 Tonight’s the Night (6:20)

Total time = 131:53

microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
additional source: Soundboard mix by Alex
recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (843 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (364 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Dinosaur jr at The Majestic Theater in Madison, WI on September 28, 2022

 I found myself on the guest list at the Majestic Theater in Madison in September 2022 via the good graces of Ryley Walker, who had asked me to tape his band. That night they were opening for Dinosaur jr as part of a national tour. I stuck around for the headliners and was rewarded with a loud and raucous concert.

Lou Barlow, J Mascis, and Murph first came together in 1984 as "Dinosaur" (later changing their name for legal reasons) and were one of a handful old exciting bands appearing on the SST records label. The original lineup reformed in 2007 and have been on a tear ever since.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

DINOSAUR JR
2022-09-28
Madison, WI at Majestic Theater

J Mascis: guitar, vocals
Lou Barlow: bass, vocals
Murph: drums

Setlist:
01 The Lung (5:40)
02 I Ain’t (3:49)
03 Garden (3:36)
04 Little Fury Things (3:12)
05 Out There (5:40)
06 Crumble (4:11)
07 I Expect It Always (3:36)
08 To Be Waiting (4:10)
09 I Met the Stones (4:00)
10 The Wagon (4:54)
11 Been There All the Time (3:36)
12 Start Choppin (5:15)
13 Feel the Pain (4:15)
14 Mountain Man (4:30)
15 Freak Scene (3:34)
16 Gargoyle (9:24)
17 Raisins (4:00)
18 Just Like Heaven [The Cure] (3:18)

Total time = 80:40

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 pair in ORTF
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (518 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (235 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible