Since the show I saw in November, Houses have been tightening the screws on their live act, settling on a lineup that appears well-equipped to serve as an outlet for primary songwriter Andy Hamilton’s proliferation of new material.  The band hit the studio this month, laying down tracks for a debut album.  Some initial output from these sessions can be found on myspace, and this recording from last night will give you a taste of their on-stage energy.

Houses
1.30.2009
The Lion’s Lair, Denver, CO

Source:  DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) > battery box > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. “The Scone Song”
2. Rainy Day Parade
3. Crossing the North Sea
4. Fair Weather
5. Your Ghost
6. We’re Alright
7. Circles and Squares

FLAC files can be downloaded via BitTorrent at cotapers.
A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.

Laminated Cat relocated from Boston to Athens over the summer, and have been infusing the southeast with their tunes ever since.  Here’s the PopFest set from August.  If you’re in the Athens area, you can experience them first hand tonight (1/30), opening for Casper and the Cookies at The Caledonia Lounge.

Laminated Cat
8.15.2008
Athens Popfest
The Caledonia Lounge, Athens, GA

Source:  DPA 4060’s > battery-box > Microtrack II > CF > WAV > Adobe Audition > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Red Devils >
3. The Driving Song
4. Fuck You Bitch Song
5. unknown >
6. Aquamarine >
7. unknown

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

(Photo taken by Daniella Maria.)

Some great bands have come out of Murfreesboro in recent years.  Among my favorites is Velcro Stars, who’s album I was turned onto when stopping at Grand Palace Records (en route to Bonnaroo).  Here’s their set from this year’s PopFest.

Velcro Stars
8.14.2008
Athens Popfest
The 40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > CoolEdit Pro > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. unknown
3. unknown
4. Lush With a Crush
5. Cascade

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Notes:
Level adjustments 45-50 seconds into first track.

Purchase the Album:
2007 – Hiroshima’s Revengs (from Grand Palace | from the band’s website)

(Photo courtesy of Cable & Tweed.)

This is another one of those super-short sets from the Saturday night run:  a taste of Peter Erchick’s Pipes You See, Pipes You Don’t.

Pipes You See, Pipes You Don’t
8.16.2008
Athens Popfest
40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > M-Audio MicroTrack II > CF > Adobe Audition > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. unknown
3. unknown
4. unknown

A zipfile of the mp3s is available via megaupload.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

The Pipe’s discography can be purchased via PayPal.

Here are a few more from PopFest, starting out with the Big Fresh set on Saturday night.

Big Fresh
8.16.2008
Athens Popfest
40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > M-Audio MicroTrack II > CF > Adobe Audition > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. Entertainment
3. Large Crowds
4. Joybomb #1 > Joybomb #2
5. unknown
6. Losing Friends to War
7. unknown
8. unknown
9. WLUV

A zipfile of the mp3s is available via megaupload.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Here’s a short solo set by Yuzo Nieto, from earlier this month.  Yuzo and many other local artists supported Jen Korte for her “CD Benefit” show.

Yuzo Nieto
1.10.2009
The Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Villa Del Mar
2. Asshole
3. Daughter of Mnemosyne
4. I Wanna Be a Gangster

A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.
FLAC files can be downloaded as a zipfile here.

Purchase the Discography:
2008 – Building Up While Falling Down (Paypal link on Yuzo’s myspace page)

Original Jayhawks frontman Mark Olson came through Denver in ‘07 in support of his excellent solo album, The Salvation Blues.  Despite the sparse turnout, this was a spectacular show.

Mark Olson
9.16.2007
The Walnut Room, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > CoolEdit Pro > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

One Disc:
1. intro
2. Winter Song
3. Over My Shoulder
4. Poor Michael’s Boat
5. National Express
6. The Salvation Blues
7. Pray For Me
8. My Carol
9. Hummingbird
10. Look into the Night
11. Sandy Denny
12. Then We Were So Young
13. Tears from Above
14. Clifton Bridge

FLAC files can be downloaded via BitTorrent here.
A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.

(Photo by Sam Scholes from SLC.)

Here’s a nice solo acoustic set from Hot IQs frontman Eli Mishkin.  On this particular occasion, he opened for John Common’s “Why Birds Fly” CD release party.

Eli Mishkin
7.28.2007
Forest Room 5, Denver, CO

Source:  Mix [SBD > RCA] + [Microtech Geffel M300's > Lunatec V3] > RME Fireface 800 > HP Notebook > Samplitude Pro 2496 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. “Take Your Time”
2. The New One
3. Wendy
4. Honk If You’re Lonely
5. King of Carrot Flowers Part 1
6. Release the Hounds
7. Getting Old
8. Duck and Cover

Zipfiles of both FLACs and mp3s can be obtained via megaupload.

Purchase the Hot IQs Discography:
2007 – Dangling Modifier (Band Website | iTunes)
2004 – The Argument Between the Brain and Feet (Band Website)

Here’s the Wetlands CD release show from the Larimer in November.

Wetlands
11.28.2008
Larimer Lounge, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. tuning/soundcheck
2. The Bluefooted
3. Naked as the Ace
4. Fed Up With Letdowns > We Packed Up and Left Town
5. The Panty Waster/Electric Guitar Cave
6. Bar Rock Obama
7. Virgin Discovery
8. Mach IIne

FLAC files can be downloaded via BitTorrent here.
A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.

In addition to the other acts I’ve posted from Friday night’s Lion’s Lair show, Fissure Mystic deafened the crowd with a few new tunes and raucous, extended takes on older material.

Fissure Mystic
1.16.2009
The Lion’s Lair, Denver, CO

Source:  DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) > battery box > Lunatec V3 (opti-mode) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. banter/soundcheck
2. unknown #1
3. unknown #2
4. unknown #3
5. Lucy Dee
6. unknown #4

FLAC files can be downloaded via BitTorrent at cotapers.
A zipfile of the mp3s is available here.