Tweedy - Powerstation, 25 March 2016

Photo credit: 13th Floor

I'm a huge Wilco fan and had given up on the Tweedy band making it to this part of the world once Wilco released their new record. But Bluesfest this year had a great lineup including what might be the last shows for this band. Unfortunately Sunday on an Easter long weekend is usually pretty quiet in Auckland and the Powerstation was only about half full. Those that were there got a typically great Tweedy show. Previous shows on the tour had featured some special guests for a closing Bowie number, but (despite there being a few Finns in attendance) that didn't happen. Instead we got Jeff's youngest son Sammy making his live debut on a cover of Big Star's Thirteen. The kid looks a lot like his Dad and has one hell of a voice. Other highlights were Diamond Light, World Away and One Wing.

Like I said, a great show and hopefully the promoter isn't put off by the small attendance, I'm sure a day or two either side would have been very different. The quality of the recording is really good, helped by the fact that the crowd, while being very engaged, weren't too talkative even during the very quiet acoustic set.

Hazel
Fake Fur Coat
Diamond Light
Flowering
Summer Noon
World Away
New Moon
High As Hello
Wait For Love
Love Like a Wire
Low Key
Nobody Dies Anymore
Via Chicago
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
One Wing
New Madrid
Remember the Mountain Bed
Hummingbird
Please Tell My Brother
Born Alone
Jesus etc
I'm the Man Who Loves You
A Shot in the Arm
Thirteen (Sammy Tweedy on vocals)
Please Don't Let Me Be So Understood
Only the Lord Knows
The Losing End
California Stars
Queen Bitch

WAV

MP3

Aldous Harding - Whammy Bar, Auckland, 6 & 7 March 2016

Aldous Harding is about to head to England to record her second album, so we might not see her for a while. But before that she did a short NZ tour, finishing with a headline set, followed by an opening slot for US Girls.

The first night was recorded by Radio NZ. I wasn't there but there was a power cut through the CBD that ended the show early. Strangely, there's no sign of that in the recording, which makes me think the recording might be a mix of dates.

I recorded the second night, which ended up being longer than the first given the lack of an interruption. Both nights had pretty similar sets, with a few songs from her first album and a handful of songs that'll feature on her upcoming record. The absolute highlight is Horizon, which she closed with both nights. There's also an amateur, but extremely good video that's been coupled with RNZ's audio. Check it out:

6 March 2016

Swell Does the Skull
Beast
I'm So Sorry
Elation
Hunter
Party
What If Birds Aren't Singing They're Screaming
Horizon

7 March 2016

Swell Does the Skull
Beast
I'm So Sorry
Elation

Party
What If Birds Aren't Singing They're Screaming
Stop Your Tears
Horizon

Thom Yorke - Bridge School 2002

Another old Bridge School show from my old trading days. I'd remembered this as a soundboard recording, but it's clearly just a very high quality audience recording. There are only a couple of points where you can tell though, so clearly the quality is high.

This is all pre-solo/Atoms for Peace stuff, so it's all Radiohead songs and a cover. He plays a bunch of songs that (I don't think) had been released at the time, and the Bridge Benefit crowd tends to be a bit older, but very open to new stuff. He does a good job of winning them over, and generally both sets are really good.

26 October 2002

Everything in its Right Place
I Might Be Wrong
Sail to the Moon
Like Spinning Plates
There, There
Pyramid Song
Lucky
After the Gold Rush

Street Spirit
Morning Bell
Nice Dream
I Might Be Wrong
Sail to the Moon
Like Spinning Plates
True Love Waits
Paranoid Android

https://mega.nz/#F!kMdinR4C!miDk9VxbXHMet7GGFjbGvQ

Jenny Lewis - The Forum, 19 & 20 July 2015

Sooooo, a few weeks after saying there was a bunch of stuff on the way I'm finally putting some of it up. Here's both of Jenny Lewis' sets opening for Ryan Adams. I was a bit annoyed she didn't end up doing a headline show in Melbourne, even more so after seeing these two sets, because she's amazing. The new songs are great, a few choice cuts from here previous albums, and a couple of Rilo Kiley tracks; her voice is amazing, the band are all phenomenal. Hopefully she'll be back soon (Laneway?).

The recording quality of the first night isn't as good as the second (which sounds great), so if you didn't attend these and just want the best sounding of the two go for that one.

FYI - I recorded both Ryan Adams sets and will put them up soon, but there are other recordings circulating if you're desperate.

Night 1

Silver Lining
Head Underwater
The Moneymaker
The Next Messiah
Just One of the Guys
Rise Up with Fists!!
She's Not Me
Portions for Foxes
Acid Tongue

Night 2

Silver Lining
Head Underwater
The Moneymaker
The Next Messiah
Withs Arms Outstretched
Just One of the Guys
You Are What You Love
She's Not Me
Portions for Foxes
A Better Son/Daughter
Acid Tongue

Soundgarden - Festival Hall, 24 February 2015

Soundgarden's last headlining show in Melbourne was ruined by the awful sound at Sidney Myer. And while Festival Hall isn't the greatest of venues (by a long stretch), the sound was good and the band put on a great show.

Without an opening act and a scheduled set of nearly three hours, I was hoping that the band might be planning on doing something interesting. In the end they came on stage 45 minutes late, but when the eventually made it they were on fire. The set featured a lot of Superunknown songs, with a few from all their other albums thrown into the mix.

The recording is really good, there's a tiny bit of noise from people around me and from when I've moved as people walk back and forth from the bar, but other than that this sounds great.

Flower
Kickstand
Outshined
Attrition
Room a Thousand Years Wide
Jesus Christ Pose
Like Suicide
Superunknown
Mailman
Black Hole Sun
Spoonman
Hunted Down
Ty Cobb
Fell on Black Days
My Wave
The Day I Tried to Live
Been Away Too Long
Pretty Noose
Birth Ritual
A Thousand Days Before
Rusty Cage

Limo Wreck
Slaves & Bulldozers

FLAC

MP3

First Aid Kit - Palais Theatre, 6 March 2015

It was a bit surprising that First Aid Kit announced another Melbourne show less than a year after they did two shows at the HiFi, and that the new show would be at the Palais. While the show wasn't sold out, it was full enough. I recorded the opening band's set, but they really didn't grab me at the time or on second listen, so I haven't bothered to post them. If anyone really wants it just send me a message.

First Aid Kit on the other hand were great. They don't mix their setlists up much, so people who attended their last show only heard a couple of different things. Having said that the songs they play are great and they always sing amazingly well.

The two girls in front of me titter away a little bit, but other than that (which is pretty minor really) this is a really great sounding recording, with short snippets of Friday by Rebecca Black and Chandelier by Sia thrown in as bonuses.

The Lion's Roar
Stay Gold
Blue
King of the World
In the Hearts of Men
Waitress Song
Shattered & Hollow
Ghost Town
My Silver Lining
Love Interuption
Master Pretender
Wolf

Cedar Lane
Heaven Knows
Emmylou

https://mega.co.nz/#F!kRNG1LZY!J3D0ewhfO1unXUwl8Dediw

Belle & Sebastian - Palais Theatre, 1 February 2015

Belle & Sebastian are a reliably great band, so no real surprise that this was a great show. Last tour they played the Forum, so it's a big jump to the Palais, but the show seemed to have sold pretty well. The band kicked off with two songs from their new album, which is always a ballsy opening move. The new tracks are good, but incredibly upbeat, which was a bit weird in a seated venue (with notoriously officious policies). After that most of the songs were fairly low tempo, until Stuart announced that anyone who wanted to dance should follow him, as he walked through the aisles. A large group ended up following him up to the stage for the Boy with the Arab Strap (one even having a go at singing a verse, despite not actually knowing the lyrics).

My only complaint was that it would have been nicer to have a slightly longer show. 90 minutes is really the minimum length for a headlining show, and B&S have a large enough (and good enough) back catalog to play at least a few more songs.

Nobody's Empire
The Party Line
Seeing Other People
Expectations
Beautiful
Allie
Perfect Couplles
The Fox in the Snow
Wrapped Up in Books
The Power of Three
Electronic Renaissance
Dirty Dream #2
A Summer Wasting
The Boy with the Arab Strap
Legal Man
Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying

Funny Little Frog
Me and the Major

FLAC

MP3

Jen Cloher (with Courtney Barnett) - Yarra Hotel, 18 December 2014

Originally billed as a Jen Cloher solo show, Courtney Barnett was later added to the bill. Given their combined profile I was pretty surprised that the Yarra Hotel wasn't packed (although it was billed as a sell out, so maybe they wanted to keep it friendly). Those that were there got to see a great show. Jen Cloher's played a mix of songs from her career, including some new songs that bode well for her new album. Most of the set was played with Courtney Barnett on electric guitar and some vocals, but the set was very much focussed around Jen Cloher, who really is an underrated talent.

The sound on the recording is really great. Given the size of the crowd and the nature of the show, there's a little bit of talking, but nothing obtrusive. There's also a little bit of technical trouble during the last song as one of the girls from Broads stands on Jen's pedal. Neither of these really detract from a great show and a very good recording.

Rain
Fear is Like a Forest
Everything is Free
Numbers*
David Bowie Eyes*
Kamikaze Origami*
Needs*
Mount Beauty*
Toothless Tiger*
Stone Age Brain*
Hold My Hand*

Running for the Feeling
Save Me From What I Want (w/ Broads)

* = with Courtney Barnett

FLAC

MP3

Aldous Harding - Melbourne Folk Club, 1 October 2014

Lots of folks won't have heard of Aldous Harding, but you should. Her opening set for Tiny Ruins  (which I didn't tape) was literally stunning (really, literally, after her last song people just sat there for a minute amazed by what they'd just seen).

This set is from late last year (so hopefully another tour isn't far away). The whole show is great, and the sound is really good, but her thing seems to be finishing with a a capella song, and both times I've seen her do it it's been amazing (the first time was Roy Orbison's Cryin'). This time it's a staggering cover of Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien. I guess the only word of warning I'd give is that her voice might not be for everyone (think Joanna Newsom). But really, I find it hard to imagine many music fans that won't at least like parts of this.

Stop Your Tears
Hunter
Been Smoking Too Long
Swell Does the Skull
Beast
Small Bones of Courage
The Trees They Do Grow High (w/ Marlon Williams)
Merriweather (w/ Marlon Williams)
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

FLAC

MP3

Nick Cave - The Plenary, 16 December 2014

A Nick Cave solo tour seems to look a lot like a tour with the Bad Seeds, not that I'm complaining. Having never seen him before I'm happy for whatever I can get. And we ended up getting a pretty great show. The set leant fairly heavily on material from Push the Sky Away, but the new songs fitted in nicely alongside the classics, which is an indication of how good Push the Sky Away is.

The Plenary is a weird venue, as Cave noted, it's better suited to motivational seminars. During the first song a large portion of the crowd rushed the stage, which pretty much defeated the purpose of paying for an A ticket, although no one seemed to mind. The crowd at the front used the opportunity to engage with Cave a lot, particularly during the songs where he prowled the front of the stage. This resulted in a lot of off microphone conversations, which weren't as exciting for those at the back as they were for those involved. Nonetheless, this was a great show. The sound is really good, a tiny bit of noise from people near me ocassionally, but not much. I'd highly recommend this for anyone wanting to listen to a show from the tour (I also recorded the second night, it's good, but a bit shorter and the sound is slightly less up front).

We Real Cool
The Weeping Song
Red Right Hand
Sad Waters
Higgs Boson Blues
Mermaids
The Ship Song
From Her to Eternity
God is in the House
Love Letter
Water's Edge
Black Hair
Lay Me Low
Into My Arms
The Mercy Seat
Jubilee St

We No Who U R
Up Jumped the Devil
Breathless
Jack the Ripper
Babe, You Turn Me On
The Lyre of Orpheus

FLAC

MP3

War on Drugs - The HiFi, 11 December 2014

Final post of 2014 had to be the War on Drugs. This was the first show announced, so it was at a smaller venue than the others and seemed to have more of the hardcore fans in attendance. The performance of the band was a lot better than the first show, as was the sound. Granduciel seemed to be enjoying himself a lot as well, even throwing in a Bill Fay cover that wasn't on the setlist (nitpicking: I would have preferred to hear one of the Bob Dylan covers they played at a couple of other shows on the tour).

Unfortunately, things went a little down hill for the encore. Quite a few people in the crowd started to leave, so the audience was a bit thinner by the time the band returned. Granduciel asked for requests and people yelled various things, presumably he didn't hear anything he wanted to play so suggested Comin' Through which was on the setlist, but someone booed, which annoyed him and they didn't play it. I think the boo was just because it wasn't the song the person had yelled for, but it didn't go down well. They played a few songs, but after Brothers (which was the last song on the setlist), Granduciel said thanks, threw his guitar down on the amp and walked off.

It was a bit of a disappointing end to a great show, but the set is still very worth listening to, and the sound quality is really good.

In Reverse
An Ocean in Between the Waves
Arms Like Boulders
Under the Pressure
Baby Missiles
Disappearing
Burning
I Hear You Calling
Buenos Aires Beach
Red Eyes
Eyes to the Wind
Lost in the Dream

The Animator
Come to the City
Black Water Falls
Brothers

https://mega.co.nz/#F!dUdAwAga!N0oHA6908yZnEBiG0vOv8w

Adam McGrath

Here are two solo shows by the lead singer of a band you've never heard of. I don't even really know why I put this up, since I suspect I'm the only person that will enjoy these (actually, lots of people should enjoy Adam McGrath/The Eastern, but they just don't seem to get the exposure - these were free shows, and by the end of it, people that had just come for a drink were fans, I really really don't know why he/they aren't bigger).

These shows featured a bunch of covers, plus some Eastern songs. I don't know what they all were, so a couple of these are marked as unknown. Leave a comment if you can help.

Post Office Hotel, 5 June 2014

Gasometer, 2 June 2014

If you like these, he mentioned there would be a full band tour 'in spring'. They're currently doing a big European tour, so maybe on their way back?

Melody Pool - Melbourne Folk Club, 30 April 2014

Another Melody Pool show. This recording is a bit better than the other one, but the show is shorter so the choice is yours (or you could get both). Unfortunately, Melody was a bit under the weather (she said she'd driven down from the Hunter Valley the day before). Her voice is generally great, but it cracks once or twice.

This was a show at the Melbourne Folk Club, anyone that hasn't been there yet should check it out. Free to become a member, and members get $18 tickets and a free beer. Plus some pretty great shows at a time of year there isn't much else on.

Also, Melody Pool has just announced a co-headlining tour with Marlon Williams. It's pretty big, so whereever you are there's probably a show near you. Check em out!

Open Book
Xavier
On the Morrow
All the Love
Royal Queen (Mary)
Richard
Spellbound Ties
Henry
Old Enough
Mariachi Wind

How Much?

https://mega.co.nz/#F!lZ0AgbaT!cNN2HEWfhW1IgApgYFUpiQ

Where to start...

When I started doing this I wanted some way of rating shows to give people an idea of whether they were worth downloading. I ended up giving everything a rating from 0 to 10. But really that's a pretty crap system - nothing gets a rating of less than 7, the ratings change over time (some of the early shows were rated particularly harshly), and it probably doesn't mean a hell of a lot to people. So from now on I won't be rating things. If I think it's a really good recording I'll give it a 'Highly Recommended' label (basically this will mean I think it's worth listening to if you weren't there/aren't a crazy fan that will listen to anything). I've already gone back and done this for all the old shows.

That will also help anyone that turns up here and doesn't know where to start. They might also want to check out the soundboard recordings, so I've added links to both of those in a new box up on the right.

Nine Inch Nails - Rod Laver Arena, 14 March 2014

I think a different recording of this is already circulating, but I'm pretty happy with the sound of this one. For me, NIN were the most impressive of the two bands, although whoever played last (NIN this night) seemed to get a much better response from the crowd.

If anyone wants any of the other sets, the QOTSA one will be up later this week and the second night sets hopefully won't be too much further behind.

Copy of A
Survivalism
Terrible Lie
March of the Pigs
Piggy
The Frail
The Wretched
The Warning
Come Back Haunted
All Time Low
The Big Come Down
Gave Up
Ice Age
BBB
Wish
The Hand That Feeds
Head Like a Hole
Hurt

https://mega.co.nz/#F!cBVXCLKA!F2qTj36ycwY6xxB4eD7zpg

Johhny Marr - Corner Hotel, 4 January 2014

I saw Johnny Marr way back at 7 Worlds Collide in 2009. He was good, but only sang two songs, so it was hard to make too much of it. And although I like the Smiths, I'm hardly a massive fan. But I figured that he was someone to see at least once, so I trundled along to this show. It ended up being really good, the two key things I was concerned about (the quality of his voice and the calibre of his solo material) turned out not be issues at all. Even though he played 10 songs off his new solo album, The Messenger, none of them were weak, which is pretty impressive really. Plus of course there were a bunch of Smiths songs, all done really well.

The audio quality here is really good, consistent with the best I've done. Hopefully this one doesn't get missed because of how much stuff is going up at the moment

The Right Thing Right
Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
Upstarts
Sun and Moon
The Crack Up
Panic
New Town Velocity
The Messenger
Lockdown
Say Demesne
Generate! Generate!
Bigmouth Strikes Again
Word Starts Attack
I Want the Heartbeat
How Soon is Now?

Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
The Hop
I Fought the Law
Getting Away with It
There is a Light That Never Goes Out

https://mega.co.nz/#F!0c0hAAKA!WPTS2s0ZZCsIO6J46cBoTQ

Tool - 28 April 2013, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

I was a bit worried about this show - I'd missed out on their sold out Big Day Out sideshow, and heard some really bad things about it (and the whole tour). On the other hand, the setlist for the first night in Melbourne looked really good, and Tool are on the long list of bands that I'd like to see at least once. So the afternoon of the show I bought a ticket. The show ended up being really good (apparently night one wasn't that great, so looks like I was pretty lucky).

Maynard James Keenan didn't say much, but apparently that is pretty much par for the course. Without an album to tour the set focussed on Aenima, which suited me as a big fan of that album. For hard core fans, Opiate made a relatively rare appearance. So overall, they did a good job of ensuring there was something for everyone. The twelve minute 'intermission' that was really only an excuse to pretend they didn't do an encore was a bit too cute for mine, plus I would have preferred that time be used for an extra song.

I'm pretty pleased with the sound quality of this one; unlike some of the stuff I record, I've actually given this a few listens, because both the performance and the audio justify it.

https://mega.co.nz/#F!8RUV1Q6Q!XJnVLSiuog5BjmKkXm5_QA

War on Drugs - 13 November 2012, Northcote Social Club

I’ve already raved about the greatness that is the War on Drugs, so I won’t repeat that (actually that’s a promise I can’t keep - . But I did mention that the only letdown at their Harvest set was the fact the crowd wasn’t that into it. That wasn’t a problem at the Northcote Social Club – the band had sold out the venue (I’ve never seen it so full) and the crowd were strangely intense and focussed. The band repaid this with a set drawing from both their albums, and finishing up with a 12 minute version of A Needle in Your Eye #16 (sometimes drawing out songs like this can just result in a boring meandering, but the band are pretty adept at hypnotic jamming when the mood takes them). Some people might have been disappointed by the fact there wasn’t an encore, but the two songs listed for the encore ended up being played in the main set, and really, the band probably couldn’t have done much to top the way they ended their set anyway.

There’s a little bit of distortion in the recording, but not much (the band were really really loud). Likewise, there’s a tiny bit of talking through bits of it, but not much. This was an amazing show; I’m hoping they make a return trip next year.

Brothers

Your Love is Calling My Name

The Animator

Come to the City

Comin’ Through

Best Night

Taking the Farm

I Was There

Baby Missiles

Black Water Falls

Buenos Aires Beach

Arms Like Boulders

A Needle in Your Eye #16 

http://www.mediafire.com/?e4obajqbca08m

Radiohead - 16 November 2012, Rod Laver Arena

I had meant to put this up a bit quicker, but there was a bit of noise on the recording that I tried to fix. That ocassional talking is the main reason I've rated this night lower than the following one - really they were both great in different ways, but the recording of this isn't as good as night 2.

For me, this show started off a bit slow, and I didn't really get into it until Myxomatosis. Thom's voice is also a bit flat on ocassion, but warms up as the show goes on. The obvious highlight is Karma Police, given that its a 'hit' (as much as Radiohead has hits) and was unexpected, but there are a bunch of songs that are at least as good.

Lastly, I can't help but mention the person liked Feral a lot more than they should. Its either funny or disgusting depending on your perspective.

http://www.mediafire.com/?6dbd6wvbbqozd

Radiohead - 17 November 2012, Rod Laver Arena

Final night of the world tour, and while the band didn't play anything completely leftfield, there were lots of songs that have only made infrequent appearances on this years setlists. Unlike last night, Rod Laver filled up on time and the band only came out five minutes late (also like last night there was quite a lot of room in general admission, which must really annoy everyone that missed out on tickets). It's hard for me to judge the quality of some parts of this, because the visuals are almost a show in and of themselves (I'm not sure whether You and Whose Army? was amazing, or if it's just the memory of the somewhat creepy super extreme Thom Yorke closeup).

The sound for this is really good (a bit better than the first night because I did a better job setting levels and had less talking around me). I've also started converting a few tracks to mono where someone on one side is talking a lot (the Beck recording from Harvest has someone talking almost throughout and I think this trick might save it).

The only thing left to say is that hopefully we don't have to wait eight more years (or nearly 15 if you're in New Zealand!) for another tour (they must nearly have a full album of songs ready with The Daily Mail, Staircase, Supercollider, Ful Stop, Identikit, and These Are My Twisted Words (if they wanted to go back to an older unreleased-on-an-album track)).

Lotus Flower
Bloom
There There
The Daily Mail
Myomatosis
The Gloaming
Seperator
Kid A
How to Disappear Completely
Nude
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Ful Stop
You and Whose Army?
Paranoid Android
Feral
Bodysnatchers

Exit Music (for a Film)
These Are My Twisted Words
Pyramid Song
Planet Telex
Idioteque

Give Up the Ghost
Reckoner
True Love Waits/Everything in it's Right Place

http://www.mediafire.com/?t3d0wpu4wp0yy