Apes - Corner Hotel, 14 November 2014

Second night I skipped Kevin Devine since he didn't really grab me, but made sure to catch Apes again. These guys are a really great new band, sounding a little bit like the Stooges.

They played an identical set, but when you haven't even released an album, you can't really blame them for not mixing things up. All the songs are really good, but the single Pull the Trigger sounds like something that could generate some radio play and grow their fan base (but I say that about lots of bands so what do I know). These guys are definitely worth checking out.

Seven
Bones
Black Lung
Got Some
Strange Tastes
Goin On
Pull the Trigger
Helluva Time

https://mega.co.nz/#F!1F8gnJbS!7JXTo9yE7682cOQLrTVciQ

Manchester Orchestra - Corner Hotel, 13 November 2014

Unfortunately my old recorder has been havingsome problems, so I've had to replace it. This was the first show with the new unit, and although it's not quite as convenient as the last one, the sound quality is better and it has some features that should prevent some of the bad recordings I got in the past.

Manchester Orchestra put on a pretty good triple bill with Kevin Devine and local band Apes (I'll put those sets up soon). The show itself was slightly odd. The set was amazing and the band seemed to be enjoying it. But they totally lost the crowd for the encore. It probably hurt that they didn't really play any 'hits' and the songs with Kevin Devine were pretty slow. People ended up just leaving, and those that stayed started talking a lot, which comes through in the recording. This is still a good set, but the encore stops me from recommending it more strongly.

Top Notch
Shake It Out
Pensacola
Every Stone
The Ocean
100 Dollars
I Can Barely Breathe
I've Got Friends
Colly Strings
Everything to Nothing
Cope
Simple Math
I Can Feel a Hot One

Wolves at Night
42
You're a Mirror I Cannot Avoid
Pyotr (aborted)
Where Have You Been?
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

https://mega.co.nz/#F!JQNyXYDY!_4WjicRmMV4bkAIpPO0pAA

Soundgarden - Live on Letterman 2012

No news on whether Soundgarden will play sideshows while they're here for Soundwave (and if they do hopefully they avoid Sidney Myer Music Bowl). For those going, here's a promotional show on Letterman from the release of the new album.

Worse Dreams
By Crooked Steps
Incessant Mace
Beyond the Wheel
Taree
A Thousand Days Before
Eyelid's Mouth
Non-State Actor
Fell on Black Days
Rowing


https://mega.co.nz/#F!dMEUUQhJ!Cs9zBog2G5wItm26iayCuw

The Waterboys - Live at the BBC

So occassionally life it gets in the way and this blog goes dead for a while. But I'm back now. I've added the promised FLAC links to the Bob Dylan post, and by way of apology I now present one of the best things you'll hear all  year.

The Waterboys are an amazing band, with a sound that has changed quite a lot over the years. This pulls together their various sessions for the BBC, all in fantastic sound quality. The set mixes some of their well known hits, with lesser known tracks, some well chosen covers. For hardcore fans it's interesting to hear early versions of some tracks that went on to have quite different lyrics (check out This is the Sea). More casual fans should listen to some of their 'Big Music' - Don't Bang the Drum, Medicine Bow, Be My Enemy and This is the Sea.

They've just announced a new album and world tour. Last time they came their Hamer Hall show didn't sell that well, but hopefully that doesn't put them off from coming back and playing a slightly smaller venue.

The Three Day Man
I Will Not Follow
A Girl Called Johnny
All the Things She Gave Me
Savage Earth Heart
A Pagan Place
License to Kill
Red Army Blues
Passenger
Ways of Men
Trumpets
Old England
Sweet Thing
Medicine Bow
Born to be Together
Higher in Time
Spirit/When the Ship Comes In
Don't Bang the Drum
Medicine Bow
A Pagan Place
In Search of a Rose
Sharon's Tune
When Will We Be Married
And a Bang on the Ear
Something That is Gone
Glastonbury Song
When Ye Go Away
Open
Figherman's Blues
Vampire Man
Bring 'Em All In
Lonesome Old Wind

https://mega.co.nz/#F!QJF2AJxR!HvTUiFfPlnpJpBQvLhtxPQ

Bob Dylan - Palais Theatre 20 & 21 August 2014

I guess this was a while ago now and there are probably a couple of alternative recordings, but in case not, here are my recordings of two of Dylan's four shows in Melbourne. These were Dylan shows eight and nine. Lots of people seemed to love them, but my view was a bit more mixed. His voice is certainly a lot better than it has been in the past and playing a piano is a lot nicer than the organ he's used in recent tours (plus he played well). On the other hand, having the same setlist every single night was a bit dull and the band seemed to be a bit flat (I think because there were few fast paced numbers).

Both the recordings are really good quality. There's a few artifacts from bumping up the volume, but these won't be noticable for most people in most situations. I've also put up link to both shows as MP3s and as FLAC for anyone that prefers uncompressed audio.

20 August 2014 (MP3)

20 August 2014 (FLAC)

21 August 2014 (MP3)

21 August 2014 (FLAC)

The Chills - Recent RNZ Recordings

I put up a link to an old Chills recording a while back. Here's some more recent stuff. There's the portion of a 2009 show that was broadcast on Radio New Zealand, plus a discussion on Hone Tuwhare with Martin Phillips and David Kilgour (including a song from each), and finally an interview and solo performance from earlier this year.

https://mega.co.nz/#F!5INTmCrT!BpObvSxXGy1Mcx1qSAX2Xw

Free Albums (or EPs) - Brass Tactics

 

I quite liked my idea of putting up free albums and was surprised by how many good ones there were. But like lots of things it kinda fell of the radar a bit. Here's an EP that David Byrne and St Vincent put out after their tour together. 

It's got an outtake from the album, two remixes and two live tracks. Worth the download just for the recording of Road to Nowhere.

https://mega.co.nz/#F!xEUzmCwK!SX95HV0XF7kp8X3IvTp5Wg 

Counting Crows - Sydney Opera House, 10 April 2013

The Sydney Opera House has been recording some shows and streaming them via youtube. This is a bit old, but it's a good show. I only really know the hits, but the other songs they play are really good. I missed their Melbourne show because I was touring round following Wilco. Based on this show, if they make a return visit I'll definitely be attending.

https://mega.co.nz/#F!tJ9DQCxC!dh96DhrLr1Uc50_8EoBpZg