You may have noticed some downtime on the blog this week, in part due to the Underground Music Showcase and subsequent road to recovery.  Things may be slow for awhile, as I’ll be in CA next week and then GA the following week for Athens PopFest.  With luck we’ll get a few UMS sets up here or on Reverb before I head out, along with some other recent sets (Dualistics, Lumineers, 200 Million Years).  If not, expect plenty of shows to be posted after I return!

Curious about what I captured during the UMS this weekend?  Here’s the full list:

1. Chella Negro
2. Sarah Slaton
3. Vibes on Velvet
4. Halden Wofford and the Hi-Beams
5. Dovekins
6. Jeremy Messersmith
7. Shapes Stars Make!
8. Ian Cooke Band (7/22)
9. Paper Bird
10. Hot White
11. The Swayback
12. The Omens
13. Kingdom of Magic
14. The Springdale Quartet
15. Voladores
16. Caleb Slade
17. Wentworth Kersey
18. Yarn Forest
19. Pollination Population
20. Origami Hands
21. Lilly Scott
22. Le Divorce
23. Remma
24. Dust on the Breakers
25. The Centennial
26. The Knew
27. These United States
28. Houses
29. Jonathan and Bpro
30. Natural Selection
31. Dances With White Girls
32. Ramaya Soskin
33. Nathan and Stephen
34. Ryan Brasher of Eleanor
35. Dustin Reid
36. Abe Abraham
37. Andy Thomas
38. Jay J. Matott
39. Lee Penn Sky
40. Yuzo Nieto
41. Science Partner
42. Only Thunder
43. The Yes We Cans
44. Mark Mallman
45. Wire Faces
46. Maraca 5-0
47. UMS Burlesque
48. Murder Ranks
49. Murder Pinchers
50. Machine Gun Blues
51. Night Owl
52. Story of the Sea
53. Jim McTurnan
54. Ume
55. Porlolo
56. The Beaten Sea
57. Gregory Alan Isakov
58. Munly & The Lupercalians
59. Rumanian Buck
60. The Widow’s Bane
61. Rob Drabkin
62. Joe Sampson
63. Ukulele Loki
64. Magic Cyclops (7/23)
65. Magic Cyclops (7/24)
66. Sunshine
67. The Horace van Vaughan
68. Sonnenblume
69. Tjutjuna
70. Bad Weather California
71. Rosalie
72. Treeverb
73. Woodsman
74. A. Tom Collins
75. Ian Cooke (7/25)
76. Dana Falconberry (7/25)
77. Recess
78. Roger Green
79. Tyler Potts
80. Tim Pourbaix
81. Glowing House
82. Constellations of Cars
83. Snake Rattle Rattle Snake (7/25)
84. Gangcharger
85. A Shoreline Dream
86. Laura Brehm
87. The Pirate Signal (7/25)
88. Rob Drabkin
89. Nathaniel Rateliff
90. The Autumn Film

I took a breather from taping at the UMS on Friday night, but thankfully John and Rose from KGNU held down the fort by running mics at the Hi-Dive.  Airshow Mastering was also on-site and kind enough to pass on a board feed.  Combing the two sources led to some quite listenable results…thanks to all involved that weekend!

Houses
7.24.2009
Hi-Dive, Denver Post Underground Music Showcase, Denver, CO

Source:  Mix [Oktava MK-012's > Edirol R-09HR] + [SBD > ? > WAV] > Mixdown in Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > LAME > mp3

Audience Taped by:  John Schaefer and Rose Brunning
Board Feed Taped by:   Airshow Mastering
Mixed by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Circles and Squares
3. Rainy Day Parade
4. untitled (Hangman’s Noose)
5. Be The Woman
6. Fairweather
7. We’ll See The Sun
8. We’re Alright *

Notes:
* = cuts to SBD-only one minute into the track

FLAC files are available at COTapers.org.
A zipfile of mp3s is available here.

After missing both of Joseph Pope III‘s appearances at the UMS, I finally had a chance to see him opening at the Houses CD Release last weekend.  Great stuff!

Joseph Pope III
8.07.2009
Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  Mix [Microtech Gefell M300's > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax] + [SBD > 1/4"] > Oade Mod Edirol R-44 @ 24/48 > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Track #1 (w/ Nathaniel Rateliff)
2. Track #2 (w/ Nathaniel Rateliff)
3. Track #3
4. Track #4
5. Track #5 (Dust on the Breakers cover)
6. Track #6
7. Track #7
8. Track #8 (w/ Julie Davis)

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

If you attend many shows in Denver, chances are you’ve seen Maria Kohler at some point.  She’s graced the stage with many well-known acts, including Widowers, Houses, Harpoontang, and New Denver Orchestra.  In recent months, Maria has been stepping out as a songwriter in her own right, appearing solo in opening slots or open mics throughout town.  At the Open Air Denver festival in June, Maria took the stage backed by Chris Grunwald on acoustic guitar.

Maria Kohler
6.14.2009
Skyline Park, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300′s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro/soundcheck
2. unknown
3. How to Hatch a Plan
4. unknown
5. unknown
6. unknown (Chris on vocals)
7. unknown

Notes:
- Chris Grunwald on guitar.
- Open Air Denver Festival

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

(Photo by Brian Carney.)

Here’s Houses on the March equinox, opening for Everything Absent or Distorted and d.biddle.

Houses
3.20.2009
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300′s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Crossing the North Sea
2. Fair Weather
3. We’re Alright
4. Rainy Day Parade
5. Circles and Squares
6. Red Feather
7. untitled (Hangman’s Noose)

A zipfile of mp3s is available here.
FLAC files are available on dime.

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.

I was quite surprised when Andy annouced between songs at the Meadowlark that this was the second time Houses had performed for a crowd.  For a band that had only taken the stage once prior to Friday night, the buzz is already spreading among Denver music fans.  After seeing the show, it’s easy to understand why.

Judging by the crowd response, Houses promise to be a great addition to the local scene.  Their set showcases a number of catchy indie pop singalongs (reminiscent of Hearts of Palm), mellow jangles, dark jams, and straight-up rockers such as the “Good-Times Bad-Times” influenced “Red Feather”.

Houses have two shows left on the books for this year.  Don’t miss ‘em!

• 11/28/2008 – Meadowlark
• 12/13/2008 – Larimer Lounge

Houses
11.06.2008
The Meadowlark, Denver, CO

Source:  DPA 4060s (Core-Sound HEBs) > battery box > Lunatec V3 > M-Audio Microtrack 2 > CF > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. We’re Alright
3. Fair Weather
4. Rainy Day Parade
5. Crossing the North Sea
6. California Dreams
7. Circles and Squares
8. Matthew’s Groove
9. Red Feather

(A megaupload link to the full show can be found here.)