Drew Gardner at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 11, 2024

Drew Gardner returned to the Milwaukee Psych Fest with a solo set of material performed with three members of Garcia Peoples -- guitarist Tom Malach, bassist Andy Cush, and drummer Cesar Arakaki.

   

As expected, the four sections of this jam are filled with virtuoso performances. It's not always easy to be on point and on fire at 5:30 in the afternoon, but the quartet definitely held everyone's attention as the sky slowly began to darken outside the venue.

Buy Drew's latest solo album here.

   

Recording information:

DREW GARDNER

2024-05-11

Milwaukee Psych Fest

Drew Gardner: guitar

Tom Malach: guitar

Andy Cush: bass

Cesar Arakaki: drums

Setlist:

01 Rabbit Ears > Garden Eels > Conch Shell > Marie Sharp’s 

Total time = 41:27

microphones: Line Audio OM1 omni pair in A-B

additional source: Soundboard feed

software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (223 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (128 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

BCMC (Cooper Crain and Bill Mackay) at Acme Records and Music Emporium in Milwaukee on October 21, 2023

One of the contenders for the top of my AOTY list last year was the stunning debut of BCMC, a duo comprised of Chicago-based musicians Cooper Crain and Bill Mackay. In October I traveled to Iowa City to see them at the wonderful Trumpet Blossom (recording posted here) and then a few days later made my way back to Milwaukee to see them again at Acme Records.

   

  

The combination of Crain's Kosmiche-inspired keyboards and Mackay's understated guitar virtuosity is a real winner. I hope they team up again for a follow up to Foreign Smokes.

  

Buy their album here.

  

Recording information:

BCMC
2023-10-21
Milwaukee, WI at Acme Records


Cooper Crain: keyboards
Bill Mackay: guitar

Setlist:
01 Sunset Saturn
02 The Swarm
03 Unknown
04 Ripple in High Tide
05 Unknown

Total time = 54:01

microphones: Line Audio OM1 omni pair in A-B at stage lip
additional source: mono SBD
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/48
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (187 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (123 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Chris Forsyth at Judson and Moore in Chicago on April 8, 2023

During the week of April 7-12, 2023 I was fortunate to be able to see Chris Forsyth and Garcia Peoples perform four times on their co-headlining tour -- twice in Chicago and once each in Milwaukee and Madison. These will all eventually wind up on the blog so please keep an eye out for them.

  

For this tour, Chris was promoting his wonderful album Evolution Here We Come. The band was comprised of bassist Doug McCombs (Tortoise), drummer Ryan Jewell, and guitarist Tom Malach (also a member of Garcia Peoples). Forsyth has explored different methods to help keep tour costs down, and one ingenious method he has come up with is to share band members with his co-headliner (this was especially apparent when he toured with Meg Baird -- both used the same backing band).

   

On this date, Forsyth performed a cover by the band Television -- which I am sure has special significance for Chris, who at one time studied with Richard Lloyd. He also asked amazing guitarist Bill Mackay to accompany the band for the final two songs.

Buy multiple copies of his most recent album here.

Recording information:

CHRIS FORSYTH
2023-04-08
Chicago, IL
Judson and Moore Distillery

Chris Forsyth: guitar and voice
Tom Malach: guitar
Bill Mackay: guitar (tracks 4 and 5 only)
Doug McCombs: bass
Ryan Jewell: drums

Setlist:
01 Dreaming in the Non-Dream (16:22)
02 Heaven for a Few (8:08)
03 Friction [Television cover] (5:26)
04 Long Beach Idyll (10:25)
05 Robot Energy Machine (15:20)

Total time = 55:41

microphone: Beyerdynamic MC930 pair in ORTF
additional source: mono SBD feed
recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (328 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (214 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

The International Disassociation of Aaron Dooley at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 11, 2024

We present another jazz gem from the recent Milwaukee Psych Fest -- this time featuring Denver-based bassist Aaron Dooley's band The International Dissociation of Aaron Dooley.

  

Gavin Susalski's reverb-drenched trumpet was definitely bringing Electric Period Miles energy to this performance and it was great hearing this delightful music outside at the Cooperage.

Purchase several copies of their latest album here.

Recording information:

THE INTERNATIONAL DISASSOCIATION OF AARON DOOLEY

2024-05-11

Milwaukee Psych Fest

Aaron Dooley: bass 

Aesop Adams: guitar 

Gavin Susalski: trumpet

Eric Welty: drums 

Setlist:

01 Frequent Flyers (8:34)

02 Shifting Planes (12:59)

03 Utiwaah (16:47)

Total time = 38:20

Source: SBD + Line Audio CM3 pair in X-Y

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/48

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Special thanks to Max Nemer for an excellent SBD feed and Andrew Shelp for curating and organizing this wonderful festival.

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (206 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (97 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Emergency Group at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 11, 2024

First up in our coverage of the 2024 Milwaukee Psych Fest is this set from Emergency Group, a Brooklyn-based jazz quartet whose work is sometimes compared to the so-called "Electric Period" of Miles Davis. They focus on improvised pieces over more composed works and present a delightfully light-handed groove with a healthy dose of impressive solos.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

EMERGENCY GROUP
2024-05-11
Milwaukee Psych Fest

Jonathan Byerley: guitar
Robert Boston: keyboards
Dave Mandl: bass
Andreas Brade: drums

Setlist:
01 Improvisation > Mind Screen > Improvisation

Total Time = 33:26

Source: SBD + Line Audio CM3 pair in X-Y
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/48
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Thanks to Max Nemer for live sound and Andrew Shelp for curating and organizing this wonderful festival.

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (179 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (98 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible