(Photo by Sarah Law.)

I didn’t actually see this show.  But based on the recording, These United States must have been one of the 2010 Underground Music Showcase’s Friday highlights.

These United States
7.23.2010
Hi-Dive, The UMS, Denver, CO

Source:  [Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3] + [SBD > 1/4″] > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > SDHC > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Mixdown > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Nobody Can Tell
2. Susie at the Seashore
3. The Business
4. One You Believe
5. The Great Rivers
6. Just This
7. The Important Thing
8. What Do You Want with My Heart? *
9. Life&Death She&I *
10. I Want You to Keep Everything

Notes:
* = with members of Paper Bird

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

(Photo from the UMS facebook page.)

Dates for the 2011 Underground Music Showcase have been announced!  Mark your calendars for July 21-24.  This also means it’s time for me to start getting busy with last year’s material.  This particular performance was one of the most memorable to me–a late night Nathan & Stephen reunion and the magnificent Mayan Theatre!

Nathan and Stephen
7.23.2010
Mayan Theatre, The UMS, Denver, CO

Source:  [DPA 4060’s > DAD6001’s > Lunatec V3] + [SBD > XLR] > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > SDHC > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Mixdown > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro/linecheck
2. Like You Don’t Care
3. We Have No Water Here
4. Going Home
5. Give ‘Em Hell
6. Tip Your Glasses
7. Be Okay (You Can’t Save Her)
8. Tunnel of Love
9. Farewell Valentine (Cigarette Homecoming Queen)
10. Stand Back Up
11. Little Squares of Paper

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

With the vibes relocated to Minnesota, Vibes on Velvet performances have become understandably rare.  Megan Wise was back in Denver during The UMS, and brought out her vibes to join Tony Asnicar (guitar) and Susan Phelan (bass) in offering up a unique brand of western jazz.

Vibes on Velvet
7.22.2010
The Hornet, The UMS, Denver, CO

Source:  Oktava MK-012’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Taped by: Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Caravan
2. Shot in the Dark
3. Spookmaster
4. Gypsy Cab
5. Bus Pass
6. Luna
7. Topsy
8. Ink Mysterioso
9. Perry Mason Theme
10. Giblets
11. Bag’s Groove
12. Hit the Bricks

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

A second set from the Hornet stage at 2010’s UMS:  Sarah Slaton played mostly solo, but was joined by a few good friends for a string of intriguing covers.

Sarah Slaton
7.22.2010
The Hornet, The UMS, Denver, CO

Source:  Oktava MK-012’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Taped by: Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. intro
2. I’ve Got a Love
3. Sing Out
4. Grow Old With Me
5. Why You Fell
6. The Nothing
7. Hospital [Lydia] *
8. Time to Pretend [MGMT] **
9. The Chain [Ingrid Michaelson] **

Notes:
* = w/ Tavis Alley
** = w/ Lauren Gale and Liz on backing vocals

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

A good crowd had arrived at the Hornet when UMS 2010 started, and Chella Negro rewarded early arrivals with a great performance.  The Dead Babies of Coronado put a great country spin on songs I’d previously only seen played solo.  Those who stayed for the entire set were treated to Josh Trinidad playing trumpet on Consume.

Chella Negro
7.22.2010
The Hornet, The UMS, Denver, CO

Source:  Oktava MK-012’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Taped by: Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Orange Pearl Salon
2. unknown
3. Favorite
4. unknown
5. unknown
6. Same As It Ever Was (Truly)
7. Your Bob Dylan
8. April
9. Consume

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

(Photo by ultimate engineering badass Tim Weilert.)

Special thanks to John and Rose from KGNU, and also Airshow, for covering the bases and capturing most of Friday-night’s Hi-Dive shows at UMS last year, including this performance by The Wheel!  (I was occupied at Michelangelo’s and Rule Gallery that evening.) Both audience and board versions have been provided below…note that the board feed suffers from occasional distortion.

The Wheel
7.24.2009
Hi-Dive, Denver Post Underground Music Showcase, Denver, CO

Audience Source:  Oktava MK-012’s > Edirol R-09HR > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Taped by:  John Schaefer and Rose Brunning

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. unknown
3. Whimper and Wail
4. Boil and Fight
5. Brakeman
6. A Lamb on the Stone
7. You Should’ve Seen the Other Guy
8. Once in a Great While
9. Early Spring Till
10. Laughing
11. Pounds and Pounds

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

SBD Source:  SBD > ? > WAV > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Board Feed Provided by:  Airshow Mastering

Setlist:
1. unknown
2. unknown
3. Whimper and Wail
4. Boil and Fight
5. Brakeman
6. A Lamb on the Stone
7. You Should’ve Seen the Other Guy
8. Once in a Great While
9. Early Spring Till
10. Laughing
11. Pounds and Pounds

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

Science Partner
7.24.2010
Michelangelo’s Wine Bar, The UMS, Denver, CO

Source: DPA 4060’s  > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 @ 16/44.1 > Firewire > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Sad Clowns
2. The Golden Age
3. A Little Sound
4. Bee Is a Bee
5. Clearwater
6. Ground Fault Interruptor
7. Rule One (story)
8. Rule One
9. Put It Down (Pootie Tang)
10. banter/teases
11. Paradigm

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

(Photography braved by Lori Wolfson!)

Love it or hate it, last weekend’s Machine Gun Blues reunion at 3 Kings Tavern was one for the books.  With lighting fixtures are instrument parts still strewn throughout the venue the next morning, I’m just happy my gear survived the ordeal!   (p.s. Can anyone identify tracks 4, 7, and 9?)

Machine Gun Blues
7.24.2010
3 Kings Tavern, The UMS, Denver, CO

Source:  [Oktava MK-012’s > Shure A15AS > Apogee Mini-Me] + [SBD > 1/4″] > Oade Mod Edirol R44 @ 24/48 > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Mixdown > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. (Sid Pink intro)
2. We Fucked It All Up
3. An Inconvenient Song
4. unknown
5. A Rabbit Named Bunny Stratton
6. Rock Song No. 1
7. unknown
8. unknown (take #1)
9. unknown (take #2)
10. Wanna Be My Baby
11. (chaos #1)
12. 20th Century Boy
(Encore)
13. (chaos #2)
14. I Wanna Be Sexy

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

Here’s another great songwriter-in-the-round showcase from last year’s UMS.

Robyn Aasmundstad, Dan Craig, and Jessica Sonner
7.26.2009
South Broadway Christian Church, Denver, CO
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase

Source:  Oktava MK-012’s (card capsules) > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > Adobe Audition > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. unknown (Robyn)
2. Solid Ground (Dan)
3. Most Beautiful Thing (Jessica)
4. unknown (Robyn)
5. unknown (Dan)
6. Best You Can/The Bicycle Song (Jessica)
7. Bird Song (Robyn)
8. unknown (Dan)
9. Best Kinda Way (Jessica)
10. Love Song (Robyn)
11. Sunday Morning (Dan)
12. Rescue Me (Jessica)

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

(Photo taken by Tim Weilert.)

Directly following their opening set for Josh Ritter, Langhorne Slim hurried over to the Hi-Dive to headline night one of The UMS.

Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles
7.23.2009
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

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

Setlist:
1. Honey Pie
2. Back to the Wild
3. Restless
4. Mary > Cut It Down
5. Diamonds and Gold
6. In the Midnight
7. Blown Your Mind
8. The Electric Love Letter
9. For a Little While
10. I Love You, But Goodbye
11. Hello Sunshine
12. unknown
13. Rebel Side Of Heaven

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

With this year’s Underground Music Showcase only a few days out, this is a great time to post a few more sets from last year.  (Previously posted UMS recordings can be found here.)  Today’s set features a rowdy performance by Megafaun on the final night of the festival.  We should have all been exhausted by Sunday night, but based on the crowd reaction, Denver wasn’t about to stop partying!

Megafaun
7.26.2009
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase
Hi-Dive, Denver, CO

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R-44 @ 24/48 > Adobe Audition 3.0 > Resample to 16/44.1 > CDWave
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Kaufman’s Ballad
2. Beloved Binge
3. The Process
4. The Fade
5. Columns
6. Guns

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

The experimental jazz musings of Aenka were the perfect refuge against Sunday’s afternoon drizzle, and the weariness that we all succumb to on the final day of a festival…

Aenka
7.26.2009
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase
TS Board Shop Stage, Denver, CO

Source:  Oktava MK-012’s (card capsules) > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > Adobe Audition > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Track #1
2. Track #2
3. Track #3
4. Track #4

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

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.

Dressy Bessy
7.25.2009
Outdoor Stage, Denver Post Underground Music Showcase, Denver, CO

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

Setlist:
1. intro
2. Stop Foolin’
3. Just Once More
4. Sindy Says
5. Shoot, I Love You
6. Simple Girlz
7. Girl, You Shout!
8. Ten Million Stars
9. She Likes It
10. Who’d Stop the Rain
11. In Your Headphones
12. Side 2
13. Call It Even Later
14. It Happens All The Time
15. Better Luck
16. Electrified

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

Some of the best songwriting Denver has to offer!

Joe Sampson and Nathaniel Rateliff
7.25.2009
Fancy Tiger, Denver, CO
Denver Post Underground Music Showcase

Source:  Oktava MK-012’s (card capsules) > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3 > Firewire > Adobe Audition > CDWave > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Track 01
2. Carolina Clouds
3. Track 03
4. Track 04
5. Breakdown
6. Ears Burn
7. Track 07
8. Track 08
9. Track 09
10. Track 10
11. Track 11

Notes:
Minor wind noise was generated by fans circulating air throughout the room.

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