Horse Lords at Art and Literature Lab in Madison, WI on July 12, 2026

Hailing originally from Baltimore and now having moved to Germany, Horse Lords recently embarked on their 2026 Summer tour of the United States following the recent release of their sixth studio album, Demand To Be Taken to Heaven Alive.

This quartet combines Just Intonation tunings with West African rhythms, and the high energy result is intoxicating and exciting. 

According to the Wikipedia article on the subject, "Just intonation is the tuning of a musical interval without beats. The result is an acoustically pure sound that resonates within the harmonic series. The simplest relationship between pitches in this series can be expressed as small whole number ratios. Musicians around the world instinctively perform in just intonation."

Purchase their music here.

Recording information:

HORSE LORDS

2026-07-12

Madison, WI

Arts and Literature Laboratory 

Andrew Bernstein: saxophone, drums, electronics

Max Eilbacher: bass, electronics

Owen Gardner: guitar

Sam Haberman: drums

Setlist:

01 Brain of the Firm (6:26)

02 Against Gravity - After the Last Sky (13:27)

03 Zero Degree Machine (7:41)

04 Mess Mend (4:00)

05 First Galactic Utopia (5:36)

06 Law of Movement (8:28)

07 Fanfare for Effective Freedom (8:14)

08 Bending the Lash (8:24)

Total time = 62:16

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF in front row

Additional source: mono soundboard feed (sax and bass only)

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii

Software: Audacity. Fission, xAct

https://horselords.bandcamp.com/

https://artlitlab.org/

audio downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (449MB)

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320 kbps mp3 files (330 MB)

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Their live set in Los Angeles two years ago filmed by the great Daniel Kirby:

Garcia Peoples with Mike Bones at the Bur Oak in Madison on October 17, 2021

In October 2021, Garcia Peoples came to the Bur Oak in Madison to perform with Weak Signal opening. For their final piece they invited the legendary guitarist of Weak Signal, Mike Bones, on the stage for a 20-minute jam. It's a really excellent thundering performance that I have enjoyed listening to many times since.

Unfortunately, onstage equipment issues on prompted a member of the band to request that the rest of my recording of the GP's performance be withheld from circulation, so this is what we have to enjoy.

Purchase the band's music here.

Recording information:

GARCIA PEOPLES with MIKE BONES

2021-10-17

Madison, WI

The Bur Oak

Mike Bones: guitar 

Tom Malach: guitar and voice

Danny Arakaki: guitar and voice

Andy Cush: bass

Pat Gubler keyboards

Cesar Arakaki: drums

Tracklist:

01 Mike Bones Jam (20:14)

Total time = 20:14

Recorded by Richard Hayes with permission

Microphone: Beyerdynamic MC 930 in ORTF

Additional source: mono SBD feed

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads 

(these will automatically download when you click them):

  

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (121 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (57 MB)

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Weak Signal at the Bur Oak in Madison on October 17, 2021

Weak Signal is a trio consisting from New York consisting of guitarist Mike Bones, bassist and violinist Sasha Vine, and drummer Tran Huynh. Their songs combine the grittiness of American punk and porto-punk (think Iggy Pop and Lou Reed) along with lyrics elements with a gothic, sometimes surreal atmosphere. They came to Madison in October 2021 as part of a tour with Garcia Peoples to perform at the Bur Oak.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

WEAK SIGNAL

2021-10-17

Madison, WI at the Bur Oak

Mike Bones: guitar, voice

Sasha Vine: bass, violin

Tran Huynh: drums

Setlist:

01 I Don’t Miss You (3:11)

02 Hallelujah Baby (2:35)

03 Spooky Feeling (4:26)

04 Devotion (2:42)

05 Dripping in Gold (2:51)

06 You Can’t See Me (1:48)

07 Drugs in My System (3:30)

08 Names (2:53)

09 Miami (14:19)

10 Tell Me How U Like It (2:35)

Total time = 44:05

Recorded by Richard Hayes with permission for this blog

Microphone: Beyerdynamic MC 930 in ORTF

Additional source: mono SBD feed

Recorder Sound Devices MixPre6

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (271 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (123 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 of 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)

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Kikagaku Moyo at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI on May 23, 2022

Kikagaku Moyo were a Japanese psychedelic band which was active between 2012-2022. They were known for a high degree of technical prowess using sometimes unusual instruments (such as sitar and recorder). 

For a band that started out performing in record stores in its initial US tour (including an acoustic set at Acme Records in 2016), it almost felt surreal that they were selling out large theaters and generating a buzz among music fans by the time of their farewell tour in 2022.

At this concert in Madison's Majestic Theater, the band performed for an enthusiastic crowd for almost two hours. It's sad to contemplate an end to the band's musical output, but I have to admire their determination to end the band at its peak of popularity.

Purchase their last album here.

Recording information:

  

KIKAGAKU MOYO

2022-05-23

Madison, WI at the Majestic Theater

Go Kurosawa: vocals, percussion, guitar, flute

Tomo Katsurad: vocals, guitar, percussion

Kotsu Guy: bass

Daoud Popal: guitar

Ryu Kurosawa: sitar, keyboards

Setlist:

01 Green Sugar (22:27)

02 Dancing Blue (8:21)

03 Zo no Senaka (6:50)

04 Smoke and Mirrors (9:50)

05 Entrance (3:39)

06 Dripping Sun (8:31)

07 Orange Peel (6:45)

08 Yayoi, lyayoi (7:52)

09 Kodama (5:20)

10 Streets of Calcutta - Gatherings (17:30)

11 Monaka (9:37)

Total time = 106:43

Sources: mono SBD + Beyerdynamic MC930 pair in NOS

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Tremendous thanks to Eric Lemke who provided super high quality FOH sound and access to the mixer feed

Recorded by Richard Hayes with explicit artist permission.

downloads:

 

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (546 MB)

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

320 kbps mp3 files (316 MB)

highest quality possible lossy mp3 files