Jon Mueller at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee on May 19, 2025

Drummer Jon Mueller has been part of various groups including Pele, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Volcano Choir (with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver fame) as well as Death Blues. Mueller has appeared on over 100 album releases, including several on the Table of the Elements and Important Records labels.

   

He opened for Takaat at the Cactus Club back in May, producing a hypnotic solo drum set that appropriately held the audience in a trance-like state throughout. It was a demonstration of sheer stamina and quite impressive in its hard-edged aesthetics.

As the promotional material for one of his past tours describes it: "Jon Mueller's Afterlife Cartoons are solo acoustic percussion performances that use repetitive tom patterns and subtle shifts in grid-like pulsing to instigate overtones, phasing, and choir-like acoustic phenomena that transform the work from mere drum solo to the sonic illusion of a small orchestra. Rhythmic minimalism, contemporary phrasing, and energetic sustain drive Mueller's improvisations into a space somewhere between modern electronic music and primal drumming, inspiring audiences toward movement and contemplation."

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

JON MUELLER


2025-05-19
Milwaukee, WI
Cactus Club

Jon Mueller: drums

Setlist:
01 solo drum performance (38:53)

Total time = 38:53

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
Additional source: excellent soundboard feed from Alex
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (225 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (100 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

here is a video of Jon's performance at Elastic Arts in Chicago in 2022:

Sam Prekop at the Empty Bottle in Chicago on January 5, 2025

While recording a live album for Ryley Walker at the Empty Bottle in Chicago in January 2025, I was able to tape a short set from one of the opening acts -- Sam Prekop on modular synths.

Sam is perhaps best known as a member (along with John McEntire and Archer Prewitt) of the Chicago band Sea and Cake. His recent solo work has been focused on electronics. This was a fascinating set-long piece with constantly evolving textures.

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:   

SAM PREKOP

2025-01-05

Chicago, IL

Empty Bottle

Sam Prekop: modular synthesizers

Tracklist:

01 Untitled (29:39)

Total time = 29:39

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in NOS

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (174 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (88 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Plastic Crimewave Syndicate at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on May 5, 2023

Here is another recording from the wonderful 2023 edition of the Milwaukee Psych Fest. This tape features Plastic Crimewave Syndicate, a Chicago group featuring guitarist and vocalist Steve Krakow which has been active since at least the mid-1990s. For this outside stage show at the Cooperage in Milwauke, Steve was accompanied by Andrew Kettering on bass and Jose Bernal on drums.

It was a cool and sometimes windy outdoor set (as can be seen in the photos below) but the music kept the appreciative crowd warm. I was fortunate to receive an excellent soundboard feed from audio engineering wizard Max Nemer which was augmented by my trusty Beyerdynamic MC 930 cardioids wrapped in windscreens.

Purchase their most recent album here.

Recording information:

PLASTIC CRIMEWAVE SYNDICATE

2023-05-05

Milwaukee Psych Fest

Outside Stage

Steven Krakow: guitar, keyboards, and voice

Andrew Kettering: bass

Jose Bernal: drums

Tracklist:

01 Cog In A Wheel (6:23)

02 No Place (8:44)

03 Pierce the Veil (Jasper's Last Freak)(8:32)

04 The Killer Skies (9:17)

05 Bound To Seek (4:43)

Total time = 37:39

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC 930 in NOS

Additional source: Soundboard feed from Max Nemer

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (231 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (128 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

a short video from a show in Chicago a few months prior to this festival:

Heat On at the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee on July 8, 2025

Chicago-based drummer Lily Finnegan's quartet Heat On featuring Ed Wilkerson and Fred Jackson on saxes as well as Nick Macri on bass came through Milwaukee last week to perform at the venerable Jazz Gallery. They were on a short tour to celebrate the release of their first album on Cuneiform Records.

The set contained all original compositions by Finnegan. These solid pieces were bought to life with Chicago free jazz legends Wilkerson and Jackson out front, but they were very capably supported by the strong foundation of Macri and Finnegan. It was a wonderful meeting of junior and senior Chicago musicians. 

Finnegan and Macri return to Milwaukee at the end of July as part of a showcase performance of Ken Vandermark's Edition XL at the Jazz Estate. Hopefully this blog will be able to record that night, but local music lovers should always keep in mind that despite efforts to preserve our precious musical culture, experiencing live music performances in real time will always be where it's at.

Buy their album here.

Recording information:

HEAT ON

2025-07-08

Milwaukee, WI

The Jazz Gallery

Ed Wilkerson: tenor sax and didgeridoo 

Fred Jackson: alto sax and "little instruments"

Nick Macri: bass

Lily Finnegan: drums and compositions

Tracklist:

01 RSJ 

02 Green Milk

03 Inverted Spoon

04 Beltline

05 The Great

Total time = 69:17

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in NOS in front row

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (518 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (196 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

a video of the first set courtesy of our friends at BRAG Milwaukee:

Takaat at Cactus Club in Milwaukee on May 19, 2025

Since I first posted my recording of Mdou Moctar at Acme Records in 2018, his star has risen to the point where he is no longer a cult favorite guitarist from Niger and is now selling out large venues in the US and abroad. The rest of his band is now touring the US on their own, in support of a new album release.

  

The word "takaat" apparently means "noise" in the Taureg language, and this band is appropriately a lot more noisy and raucous on their own than with Moctar. The energy was very high at the Cactus Club for this short set, and I look forward to seeing these musicians again.

Purchase their new album here.

Recording information:

TAKAAT
2025-05-19
Milwaukee, WI
Cactus Club

Ahmoudou Madassane: Guitar, Vocals
Mikey Coltun: Bass
Souleymane Ibrahim: Drums

Tracklist:
01 Unknown
02 Unknown
03 Unknown
04 Unknown

Total time = 44:10

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

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

Thanks to Alex for excellent FOH sound and soundboard patch

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (318 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (124 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

 video of the band in Allston, MA a few weeks before this show:

Isolation Tank Ensemble at MKE Ultra in Milwaukee on June 24, 2025

Isolation Tank Ensemble is a Louisville-based instrumental progressive rock band who came though Milwaukee on a week-long midwest tour a few weeks ago. 

They describe they sound as "trash prog" which I think is meant to eliminate any comparisons to gentle prog groups like Yes. Rather I think of them as long-lost cousins to 1972-74 King Crimson. A lot of the titles seem to reference water, as does their name, of course.

I first encountered the band at a music festival last year at Club Garibaldi -- an offshoot of Minneapolis' Caterwaul Festival. They were one of the highlights of that festival, so I made sure to catch up with them on this tour.

This time the group came to a fairly new venue in Milwaukee, the artist-run venue known as MKE Ultra -- whose name is a play on the infamous series of CIA experiments in the 1960s known by its code name MKUltra. This is an extremely charming venue that I hope to visit many times in the future. Locals should check out their website and take a chance on a show.

Purchase their new album here.

Recording information:

ISOLATION TANK ENSEMBLE
2025-06-24
Milwaukee, WI 

MKE Ultra

Mateo Barnett: mandolin
Andrew Allen: guitar
Kirstyn Blandy: violin
Matthew Clayton: keyboards
Richard Herrell: bass
Lamar Cornett: drums

Tracklist:

01 The Oceans Wake (8:09)
02 March Of The War Mage (6:34)
03 Challenger Deep (5:08)
04 Changeling (6:00)
05 Cavaliere del Deserto (3:40)
06 Unfathomable (4:52)
07 Hark! (7:07)

Total time = 41:30

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 pair in NOS about 6 feet in front of band
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (288 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (141 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

check them out in this live recording from 2022:

FACS at Cactus Club in Milwaukee on June 14, 2025

FACS started in 2017 following the dissolution of Chicago art-punk band Disappears. Since then they have released six studio albums and one single as part of the Sub Pop Singles Club, plus several live releases.  

Defining a band's sound using familiar touchstones is a dubious practice at best, and almost comical when applied to FACS. They've been described as dreamy krautrock shoegaze, experimental post-punk, psychedelic post-rock, and so forth. They write strong songs with stunning arrangements and perform them with an honest intensity. "When You Say" was one of my favorite songs last year, with its catchy chorus, insistent rhythms and weird buzzy low frequency drone.

A special bonus at this show was a brief poetry performance by Chicagoan Thax Douglas.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

FACS
2025-06-14
Milwaukee, WI
Cactus Club

Brian Case: guitar, vocals, and keyboards
Jonathan Van Herik: bass
Noah Leger: drums

Setlist:
01 Two Poems by Thax Douglas (1:22)
02 When You Say (5:54)
03 A Room (3:05)
04 North American Endless (3:49)
05 Voices (5:15)
06 Wish Defense (4:03)
07 Strawberry Cough (5:26)
08 Desire Path (2:16)
09 Take Me to Your Heart (5:52)
10 You Future (3:59)
11 Sometimes Only (6:14)

Total time = 47:16

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

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (329 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (141 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Elkhorn at the Thawed Out Fest in Chicago on April 26, 2025

The wonderful Thawed Out Fest in Chicago was a one day exploration of many different genres and styles of music with one thing in common -- extremely high levels of musicianship. I was able to attend the entire festival as well as record each performance thanks to having two sets of recording gear (one for the inside stage and one for the outside stage) and two fully cooperating FOH sound engineers. Stayed tuned for more sets from this absolutely spectacular day of music.

   

It was a joy, of course, to be able to catch guitarists Jesse Sheppard and Drew Gardner perform with guest drummer Charles Rumback on the outdoor stage. Elkhorn was the first band to release and widely distribute one of my live recordings in physical form, so they will always have my heartfelt gratitude as well as my respect. 

This performance was a sprawling, dreamy, multi-part psychedelic journey. I'm happy with the sonic results and hope you will enjoy it as much as I have in the past few months.

Recording information:

ELKHORN

2025-04-26

Chicago, IL

Thawed Out Fest

Jesse Sheppard: acoustic guitar

Drew Gardner: electric guitar, zither

Charles Rumback: drums

Tracklist:

01 Space — Charles’ Jam — The Bull — Space — Sol — Redhook Ramble (25:12)

02 Space — Equinox — Forlorn Hope (15:53)

Total time =  41:05

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 pair in NOS

Additional Source: mono soundboard feed

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (226 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (101 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible