In anticipation of Ruby Isle’s appearance at the Hi-Dive this week, here’s a set I captured last month in Athens.  The resurgence of Kindercore this summer was big news, and Ruby Isle is one of the first acts to join the new roster.  Of course, you may consider their addition to the roster a given, considering that band member Dan Geller is also a co-founder of the label… :)

Ruby Isle’s debut album, Night Shot, was just released this month.  If you can’t make it to one of the Colorado shows (Thursday in Denver, Friday in Ft. Collins), the disc is also available for order online.

Ruby Isle
8.15.2008
Athens Popfest
40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Lunatec V3 >
Firewire > WAV > Adobe Audition > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Hey Hey Hey
3. So Damn High
4. Blow Up
5. One Trip
6. How It Hurts
7. Night Shot
8. Into The Black
9. Atom Bombs ‘09

(Per usual, a zipfile available through megaupload.)

Dr. Dog was kind enough to let me tape this weekend at their sold-out Denver show.  I’m sure a lot of people will be wanting this one…no introduction needed!

Dr. Dog
9.27.2008
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. The Old Days
2. Hang On
3. The Way the Lazy Do
4. Army of Ancients
5. Ain’t It Strange
6. The Girl
7. The Breeze
8. Fool’s Life
9. From
10. The Ark
11. My Friend
12. 100 Years
13. My Old Ways
14. The Beach
15. The Rabbit, The Bat, and The Reindeer
16. Worst Trip
(Encore)
17. Easy Beat
18. Die, Die, Die
19. Oh No
20. “Fuck It”

Notes:
- Some PA/bass distortion was present in the later part of the show.
- Members of Delta Spirit were on stage for 2-3 songs.
- Sold out show.

(MP3s of the full show are available via megaupload.)
(FLAC files are available on dime.)

Denver-based art collective Win Wear presented ‘The Swell” last night, hosted by the Object and Thought Gallery.  “The Swell” being their latest in a string of unique events focusing on a convergence of visual, audible, and culinary arts, Win Wear is all about collaboration.

Artists Erin Reid and Brandon Weaver contributed five paintings each for the event.  Using the artwork as inspiration, musicians Scott Beck and Mark Shusterman spent the last few weeks developing musical compositions to accompany the art showing.  As the night’s first “set”, Scott and Mark performed this new material live amidst the gallery decor.  For the second “set”, Erin (unable to attend in person) provided a half-finished canvas, and Brandon proceeded to complete Erin’s expressive abstract piece with a set of pastels.  The musicians (joined by David Mead on clarinet) provided a backdrop of loose, experimental jazz to aid Brandon in his work.

Also on board for the night was Andre DiMattia, who contributed an amazing ensemble of food to the evening’s creativity.

The next Win Wear installment, to be entitled “The Wind”, is currently in the works.  No dates are finalized yet, but keep your eyes peeled!

The Swell
9.26.2008
Object and Thought Gallery, Denver, CO

Source:  DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) > battery box > Lunatec V3 > M-Audio Microtrack 2 >
CF > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
(Musical set inspired by Brandon and Erin’s art)
1. intro
2. Untitled I
3. Untitled II
4. Untitled III
5. Untitled IV
6. Untitled V
(Collaborative Improv.)
7. intro
8. Part I
9. Part II
10. Part III
11. Part IV

Lineup:
Scott Beck – percussion
Mark Shusterman – Fender Rhodes
David Mead – alto clarinet
Brandon Weaver – art
Erin Reid – art
Andre DiMattia – dinner!
Maggie Gulasey – dessert!

(Download the sets as a single zipfile via megaupload.)

Here’s the second night of A Weather’s Colorado jaunt, where they opened for Point Juncture WA at the Hi-Dive.  The previous night’s set in Colorado Springs is available in a previous post.

A Weather
9.15.2008
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. Screw Up Your Courage
2. Spiders, Snakes
3. Pinky Toe
4. “Happiness”
5. Oh My Stars
6. “Lay Me Down”
7. In This Light

(Here’s a zipfile of the full show via megaupload.)

A Weather = Another spectacular Portland band I stumbled across this month.  Normally performing as a 5-piece, they trimmed down for touring, hitting the road as a trio consisting of Aaron Gerber, Sarah Winchester, and Lou Thomas.  Taking a minimalist approach can be risky, but with A Weather the sparse arrangements work without a hitch, proving an intimate listening experience, even in a cavernous room like the Black Sheep.  Be sure to check out their debut album, “Cove”, which is certain to find a place amongst my best-of-2008 list.  :)

A Weather
9.14.2008
The Black Sheep, Colorado Springs, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. Screw Up Your Courage
2. Spiders, Snakes
3. Shirley Road Shirley
4. Oh My Stars
5. In This Light
6. “Lay Me Down”

(Here’s a zipfile of the full show via megaupload.)

Considering the number of bands that come out of Portland, it’s no surprise that some great talent can be overlooked from time to time.  One of my Oregon favorites, Point Juncture, WA, has passed under the radar for far too long.  They’ve been on the road in support of their brand new release, Heart of Elk, and managed two stops in Colorado this month.  Here’s the Denver set, with the Colorado Springs recording to follow soon…

Point Juncture, WA
9.15.2008
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Seven
3. Sioux Arrow
4. ?
5. Kings Part II
6. The Kings Were Good
7. ?
8. Once Tasted Ever Wanted
9. Viking Mission to Mars

(And here’s the full show as a single zipfile.)

Davey Wrathgaber has been on tour with The Visitations this month, and he stopped by Denver for a fun show with local favorites Fissure Mystic, The Pseudo Dates, and Mike Marchant at the Lion’s Lair.  This tour was supposed to be in support of their new CD, “The Conundrum Tree”, but the release date was pushed back to 10/14/08.  You can pre-order the album from Orange Twin, and check out this live show while you’re waiting for it to arrive!

The Visitations
9.05.2008
Lion’s Lair, Denver, CO

Source:  DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) > battery box > M-Audio Microtrack 2 >
CF > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. Bony Maurine
2. The Conundrum Tree
3. Fresh Dog
4. There Was Sunshine
5. The Disappointing Pugilist
6. You Can Sing A Silly Song
7. The Brown Clown
8. Jonathan Asshole
9. Ms. Brown’s Robot
10. Television

(Here’s the full show as a single zipfile.)

Here’s the South San Gabriel set from the Hi-Dive Tuesday night.  I’d seen Centro-Matic several times, but quickly discovered I like this project even more.  Against expectations for them to rely on material from “Dual Hawks” (released in June), SSG managed to cover their full catalog.  It was great to see so many people coming down early, filling up the room before The Broken West and Centro-Matic hit the stage.

South San Gabriel
9.09.2008
The Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. Emma Jane
2. Glacial Slurs
3. Smelling Medicinal
4. St. Augustine
5. Trust To Lose
6. I Feel Too Young To Die
7. From This I Will Awake

(Full zipfile availabe via megaupload.)
(FLAC files available on dime.)

Denver was lucky enough to have The Broken West kick off their tour this week at the Hi-Dive, in support of Centro-Matic.  Tuesday night’s performance just happened to align with the release of their sophomore effort, “Now or Heaven”, available through Merge Records.  Check out both the new album and this fine live performance, and then go catch them in person this month:

9/13 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar
9/15 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
9/16 Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
9/17 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
9/21 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
9/22 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
9/23 New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
9/24 Washington, DC @ Rock n Roll Hotel
9/25 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
9/26 Mt Pleasant, SC @ Village Tavern
9/28 Nashville, TN @ The Basement
9/29 Memphis, TN @ HI Tone
9/30 Denton, TX @ Dan’s Silverleaf
10/1 Austin, TX @ Mohawk

The Broken West
9.09.2008
The Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. So It Goes
2. On The Bubble
3. Gwen, Now and Then
4. Auctioneer
5. You Can Build an Island
6. House of Lies
7. Ambuscade
8. Perfect Games
9. The Smartest Man Alive
10. Terror For Two
11. Brass Ring
12. Down in the Valley

(Full show as a zipfile via megaupload.)
(FLAC files are available on dime.)

(Photo by Marc Espowood)

To keep the flow of PopFest material going, you’ll probably see less commentary of the sets.  Here’s another from Wednesday night,  Athens’ own Spring Tigers!

Spring Tigers
8.13.2008
Athens Popfest
Little Kings Shuffle Club, Athens, GA

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 >
Firewire > CoolEdit Pro > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack (inthistube [at] gmail.com)

Setlist:
1. intro
2. New Improved Formula
3. unknown
4. unknown
5. unknown
6. unknown
7. Hyboria
8. Car Song
9. Beep Beep

(Link to a zip of the full set.)