FEATURED RECORDING

North Mississippi Allstar February 26, 2010 Highline Ballroom New York, NY Taped and Transferred by T.J. Samulis

Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Disco Biscuits - 12/27/08 - Nokia Theatre - NYC





Since 2001, I have seen at least one show of the Disco Biscuit's holiday run. It's become a holiday tradition just similar to watching bowl games or going to the Mummer's parade on New Year's day for some. It has no doubt brought more highlights for me than any college bowl game ever will. Having the opportunity to only see one show this year, I was hoping this would end up being "that show" fans talk about for years to come (i.e. 12/30/01). Although it's yet to be determined, I'm sure this show will at least be involved in the discussion.

On the eve of Allen Aucion's three year anniversary with the band on drums, the Disco Biscuits were entering night two of their five night residency at the Nokia Theatre in the heart of Times Square. They have kept the touring to a minimum this fall wrapping up with an annual excursion to Jamaica to co headline Caribbean Holidaze. It was apparent from their playing, especially that of guitarist Jon Gutwillig, whatever they were doing with their time off was working. I could tell just from the small amount I heard from the recordings they were playing with a new sense of direction.

The show started with a jam that displayed this direction. Unlike some extended opening jams the Biscuits play that ease themselves into an evening, this one had a purpose. It acted as a springboard into Orch Theme, a perfect example of the newest evolution of the Biscuits sound. This particular version is the best I've ever seen live. The PA was literally crackling from the sheer volume marking the beginning of what would become a non-stop first set dance party.

Orch Theme melded it's way into Tricycle, an obscure original which has only been played four known times. Tricycle re-emerged in April of 2008 for the first time since 2000. I don't think it's an understatement to call this version a monster. The buildup into Tricycle was worth the price of admission and the reason I come to see this band.

The transition into 42 didn't release any of the built up tension of this set. I'm not a huge fan of 42, but it was played in a great spot for this set. The chorus served as slight relief of the already peaking tension. This relief was brief as the band slammed back into Orch Theme before returning to 42. A new song I think is called Uber Glue gave us a chance to finally catch our breath before set break. Without a doubt I can say this was the best set I've seen the Biscuits perform all year.



The second set begun with some pure funk: A cover of P-Funk's "Standing of the Verge of Getting It On" featuring an extended funk intro and Philadelphia native Two Face who provided the lyrical part. The cover was downright fun with the band dressed in typical Funkadelic attire, but was also done very well. It was only fitting for the Biscuits to allow Two Face to showcase one of his own songs with the band accompanying him. Tamarin Alley, another newer original, followed and continued with the rap theme with Marc Brownstein (bassist) on vocals this time. I can see the potential with this song, but tonight it was nothing ground breaking.

The second set was rounded off with some Biscuit staples: Reactor, Dribble, Spraypaint, Shimmy and Bernstein & Chasnoff. Both the drop after the chorus of Mindless Dribble and the jam in Bernstein and Chasnoff are the only real parts that stand out in my mind as noteworthy. The final segment of this set was had it's moments and was highly enjoyable, but really yields in comparison to the first set.

The band did tease us by playing a little of Trooper McCue prior to the encore, but I doubt they were serious about playing it. The song hasn't been played since 2004 and never with Allen behind the kit, although it's one I wish they would bring back. A standalone Digital Buddha ended the night. There's never anything wrong with that in my book.

Top to bottom the show was wonderful and fulfilled my bisco holiday craving, but the first set still has me wanting to go back for one more show before '09. If any of the remaining shows this year are comparable to this night, then fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a great ride!

Download or Listen at the LMA

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

T.J.'s Recordings of 2008

01/25/08 RAQ - Mexicali Blues (NJ) Listen
01/26/08 Natural Breakdown - Mexicali Blues (NJ)
01/26/08 RAQ - Mexicali Blues (NJ) Listen
01/29/08 Alvin Youngblood Heart - Highline Ballroom (NY)
01/29/08 North Mississippi Allstars - Highlint Ballroom (NY) Listen
02/01/08 moe. - Electric Factory (PA) Listen
02/02/08 moe. - Electric Factory (PA) Listen
02/17/08 Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - World Cafe Live (PA)
02/17/08 Will Hoge - World Cafe Live (PA)
02/28/08 The Disco Biscuits - Starland Ballroom (NJ) Listen
03/01/08 The Disco Biscuits - Starland Ballroom (NJ) Listen
03/06/08 moe. - Sherman Theater (PA) Listen
03/07/08 moe. - Palace Theatre (NY) Listen
03/08/08 moe. - Calvin Theatre (MA)
03/27/08 The Whigs - The Fillmore at TLA
03/27/08 Drive-By Truckers - The Fillmore at TLA Listen
03/30/08 Ratdog - Tower Theater (PA)
04/12/08 The Disco Biscuits - Nokia Theatre (NY) Listen
04/17/08 Rue Melo - Starland Ballroom (NJ)
04/17/08 Umphrey's Mcgee - Starland Ballroom (NJ) Listen
04/30/08 Tim Bluhm - World Cafe Live (PA)
04/30/08 The Brakes - World Cafe Live (PA)
04/30/08 Jackie Greene - World Cafe Live (PA)
05/08/08 Moonalice - World Cafe Live (PA) Listen
05/08/08 Tea Leaf Green - World Cafe Live (PA) Listen
05/14/08 Pieta Brown - World Cafe Live (PA)
05/14/08 The Wood Brothers - World Cafe Live (PA)
05/24/08 Grimace Federation - Festival Pier (PA)
05/24/08 Josh Ritter - Festival Pier (PA)
05/24/08 Bassnectar - Festival Pier (PA)
05/24/08a The Disco Biscuits - Festival Pier (PA) Listen
05/24/08b The Disco Biscuits - Electric Factory (PA) Listen
06/08/08 moe. - Borgata Music Box (NJ) Listen
06/16/08 moe. - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
06/24/08 Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Madison Square Garden (NY)
06/24/08 Pearl Jam - Madison Square Garden (NY)
06/25/08 Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Madison Square Garden (NY)
06/25/08 Pearl Jam - Madison Square Garden (NY)
07/01/08 The Black Crowes - The Fillmore at TLA (PA)
07/02/08 The Black Crowes - The Fillmore at TLA (PA)
07/03/08 The Black Crowes - The Fillmore at TLA (PA)
07/04/08 moe. - The Stone Pony (NJ)
07/05/08 moe. - The Stone Pony (NJ)
07/19/08 Still 19 - St. Teresa's (NJ)
08/03/08 Grimace Federation - The Fillmore at TLA (PA)
08/03/08 Mike Gordon - The Fillmore at TLA (PA)
08/29/08 U-Melt - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/29/08 American Babies - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/29/08 Sparrow Quartet - moe.down (NY)
08/29/08 moe. - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/30/08 Swampadelica - moe.down (NY)
08/30/08 Benevento-Russo Duo - moe.down (NY)
08/30/08 The PMG - moe.down (NY)
08/30/08 Fishbone - moe.down (NY)
08/30/08 The Brew - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/30/08 Yonder Mountain String Band - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/30/08 moe. - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/31/08 Lynch - moe.down (NY)
08/31/08 Cornmeal - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/31/08 The Presidents of USA - moe.down (NY)
08/31/08 The Bridge- moe.down (NY) Listen
08/31/08 Levon Helm - moe.down (NY)
08/31/08 The Macpodz - moe.down (NY)
08/31/08 moe. - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/17/08 Marc Broussard - World Cafe Live (PA) Listen
10/16/08 Hill Country Revue - World Cafe Live (PA) Listen
10/16/08 JJ Grey & Mofro - World Cafe Live (PA)
11/08/08 The Hold Steady - Electric Factory (PA)
11/08/08 Drive-By Truckers - Electric Factory (PA) Listen
12/06/08 Ha Ha The Moose - Sullivan Hall (NY) Listen
12/12/08 Everest - Wachovia Spectrum (PA)
12/12/08 Wilco - Wachovia Spectrum (PA)
12/12/08 Neil Young - Wachovia Spectrum (PA)
12/27/08 The Disco Biscuits - Nokia Theatre (NY) Listen

T.J.'s Recordings of 2007

01/11/07 The New Originals - The Trocadero (PA)
01/27/07 Bodega - The North Star Bar (PA)
01/27/07 U-Melt - The North Star Bar (PA) Listen
02/01/07 Papa Mali - Theatre of Living Arts (PA) Listen
02/01/07 Galactic - Theatre of Living Arts (PA)
02/03/07 Mogels Brew - The Khyber (PA)
02/03/07 The Codetalkers - The Khyber (PA) Listen
02/10/07 moe. - Electric Factory (PA)
02/11/07 The New Originals - The Trocadero (PA)
02/17/07 The Disco Biscuits - Starland Ballroom (NJ)
02/28/07 Tea Leaf Green - Irvine Auditorium (PA)
02/28/07 Lotus - Irvine Auditorium (PA)
03/23/07 Tea Leaf Green - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
03/23/07 Little Feat - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
03/23/07 moe. - Herb Brooks Arena (NY) Listen
03/24/07 The Slip - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
03/24/07 Brazilian Girls - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
03/24/07 The Disco Biscuits - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
03/24/07 moe. - Herb Brooks Arena (NY) Listen
04/12/07 Liz Longley - Milkboy Cafe (PA)
04/12/07 The Brakes - Milkboy Cafe (PA) Listen
04/18/07 Moonshine Still - Penn's Peak (PA) Listen
04/18/07 Umphrey's Mcgee - Penn's Peak (PA) Listen
05/02/07 moe. - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
05/03/07 moe. - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
05/04/07 Gordon Stone Band - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
05/04/07 moe. - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
05/05/07 moe. - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
05/06/07 moe. - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
05/24/07 The Disco Biscuits - Highline Ballroom (NY)
05/26/07 Bustle In Your Hedgerow - Great Plaza at Penn's Landing (PA) Listen
05/26/07 Lotus - Great Plaza at Penn's Landing (PA) Listen
05/26/07 Cyress Hill - Great Plaza at Penn's Landing (PA)
05/26/07 The Disco Biscuits - Great Plaza at Penn's Landing (PA)
05/27/07 The Disco Biscuits - Electric Factory (PA)
06/16/07 Bonerama - Palombaro Club (PA)
06/16/07 The Radiators - Palombaro Club (PA)
06/20/07 Multu - Haddon Lake Park (NJ)
06/20/07 The Wood Brothers - Haddon Lake Park (NJ)
07/07/07 MJ Project - Buena Vista Campground (NJ)
07/07/07 Hoots & Hellmouth - Buena Vista Campground (NJ)
07/07/07 Bohemian Sunrise - Buena Vista Campground (NJ)
07/17/07 Widespread Panic - Tower Theatre (PA)
07/21/07 Still 19 - St. Teresa's (PA)
07/25/07 Ween - Community Park North (NJ) Listen
08/15/07 Umphrey's Mcgee - McCarren Pool Park (NY) Listen
08/15/07 The Disco Biscuits - McCarren Pool Park (NY) Listen
08/31/07 Al and The Transamericans - moe.down (NY) Listen
08/31/07 The Roots - moe.down (NY)
08/31/07 moe. - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/01/07 Meat Puppets - moe.down (NY)
09/01/07 State Radio - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/01/07 Perry Ferrell's Satellite Party - moe.down (NY)
09/01/07 moe. - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/02/07 Amos Lee - moe.down (NY)
09/02/07 Strangefolk - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/02/07 Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood - moe.down (NY)
09/02/07 moe. - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/12/07 Tea Leaf Green - World Cafe Live (PA)
09/29/07 moe. - Chevrolet Theatre (CT) Listen
10/11/07 The PMG - Rams Head Live (MD)
10/11/07 moe. - Rams Head Live (MD) Listen
10/20/07 Umphrey's Mcgee - Nokia Theatre (NY) Listen
10/27/07 The Disco Biscuits - F.M. Kirby Center (PA)
11/05/07 Blues Traveler - The Paradise Rock Club (MA) Listen
11/24/07 RAQ - Highline Ballroom (NY) Listen
12/01/07 The Brakes - The Fillmore at TLA (PA) Listen
12/01/07 Grace Potter & The Nocturals - The Fillmore @ TLA (PA) Listen
12/15/07 Good Man Fiske - Whiskey Tango (PA)
12/27/07 The Disco Biscuits - The Fillmore @ TLA (PA) Listen
12/29/07 Fyre Dept. w/ Smif-N-Wessun - Hammerstein Ballroom (NY)
12/29/07 Ott - Hammerstein Ballroom (NY)
12/29/07 The Disco Biscuits - Hammerstein Ballroom (NY) Listen
12/30/07 moe. - The Fillmore @ Irving Plaza (NY)Listen

T.J.'s Recordings of 2006

01/07/06 Where's Willis - East Side Studios (PA)
01/19/06 moe. - Orpheum Theater (MA)
01/20/06 Grace Potter & The Nocturals - Electric Factory (PA)
01/20/06 moe. - Electric Factory (PA)
01/21/06 moe. - Electric Factory (PA)
01/22/06 moe. - Landmark Theater (NY)
02/16/06 Grace Potter & The Nocturals - World Cafe Live (PA)
02/22/06 The Disco Biscuits - Rams Head Live (MD)
02/26/06 Where's Willis - East Side Studios (PA)
03/01/06 Benevento-Russo Duo - Irvine Auditorium (PA)
03/01/06 Soulive - Irvine Auditorium (PA)
03/11/06 The Combonation - Harry Williams Building (NJ)
03/17/06 Soulive - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
03/17/06 moe. - Herb Brooks Arena (NY) Listen
03/18/06a moe. - Whiteface Mountain (NY)
03/18/06 Everyone Orchestra - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
03/18/06b moe. - Herb Brooks Arena (NY)
06/09/06 The Breakfast - Festival Pier (PA)
06/09/06 North Mississippi Allstars - Festival Pier (PA)
06/09/06 moe. - Festival Pier (PA) Listen
06/13/06 moe. - Central Park Rumsey Playfield (NY) Listen
06/23/06 Where's Willis - Yeat's Pub (PA)
07/29/06 Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Festival Pier (PA)
07/29/06 The Black Crowes - Festival Pier (PA)
08/18/06 Where's Willis - East Side Studios (PA)
09/01/06 Grace Potter & The Nocturals - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/01/06 McConnell, Fishman, Zimmon, Slomoff & O'Dea - moe.down (NY)
09/01/06 moe. - moe.down (NY)
09/02/06 Umphrey's Mcgee - moe.down (NY) Listen
09/02/06 moe. - moe.down (NY)
09/03/06 Ziggy Marley - moe.down (NY)
09/03/06 Ramble Dove - moe.down (NY)
09/03/06 moe. - moe.down (NY)
09/12/06 The Wood Brothers - World Cafe Live (PA)
09/12/06 Grace Potter & The Nocturals - World Cafe Live (PA)
10/07/06 Umphrey's Mcgee - Electric Factory (PA) Listen
10/14/06 moe. - Palace Theatre (NY)
10/20/06 moe. - Palace Theatre (NY)
10/21/06 U-Melt - Starland Ballroom (NJ) Listen
10/21/06 moe. - Starland Ballroom (NJ)
10/22/06 Assembly of Dust - Rams Head Live (MD) Listen
10/22/06 moe. - Rams Head Live (MD)
11/22/06 Codename - World Cafe Live (PA) Listen
11/22/06 Lotus - World Cafe Live (PA) Listen
11/25/06 The Disco Biscuits - Hammerstein Ballroom (NY)
12/02/06 Umphrey's Mcgee - Nokia Theatre (NY) Listen
12/16/06 Benzos - Theatre of Living Arts (PA)
12/16/06 The New Deal - Theatre of Living Arts (PA) Listen
12/28/06 The Disco Biscuits - Sonar (MD) Listen
12/29/06 The Disco Biscuits - Theatre of Living Arts (PA) Listen
12/30/06 moe. - Irving Plaza (NY)
12/31/06 moe. - Radio City Music Hall (NY)

T.J.'s Recordings of 2005

02/10/05 moe. and Friends - Roseland Ballroom (NY)
02/11/05 moe. - Orpheum (MA)
02/12/05 moe. - Orpheum (MA)
02/13/05 moe. - Scranton Cultural Center (PA)
02/24/05 JFJO - NxNW (PA)
03/24/05 The Disco Biscuits - Starland Ballroom (NJ)
04/20/05 Gov't Mule - Starland Ballroom (NJ)
05/12/05 MMW - Electric Factory (PA)
05/27/05 RAQ - Summercamp (IL)
05/27/05 moe. - Summercamp (IL)
05/27/05 Umphrey's Mcgee - Summercamp (IL)
05/28/05 Michael Franti & Spearhead - Summercamp (IL)
05/28/05 Umphrey's Mcgee - Summercamp (IL)
05/28/05 moe. - Summercamp (IL)
05/29/05 Vic Wooten - Summercamp (IL)
05/29/05 moe. - Summercamp (IL)
07/03/05 The Combonation - The Backyard Stage (NJ)
07/23/05 The Disco Biscuits - The Stone Pony (NJ)
08/03/05 The Breakfast - Rocks Off Boat Cruise (NY)
08/18/05 moe. - Revolution Hall (NY)
08/23/05 moe. - PNC Bank Arts Center (NJ)
08/23/05 Allman Brother's Band - PNC Bank Arts Center (NJ)
08/24/05 Umphrey's Mcgee - The Stone Pony (NJ)
09/02/05 Keller Williams - moe.down (NY)
09/02/05 moe. @ moe.down (NY)
09/03/05 North Mississippi Allstars - moe.down (NY)
09/03/05 MMW - moe.down (NY)
09/03/05 moe. - moe.down (NY)
09/04/05 Tea Leaf Green - moe.down (NY)
09/04/05 The Violent Fems - moe.down (NY)
09/04/05 moe. - moe.down (NY)
09/29/05 The Black Crowes - Tower Theatre (PA)
10/22/05 Where's Willis - Surreal Sound (PA)
11/12/05 Where's Willis - Surreal Sound (PA)
11/17/05 Galactic - TLA (PA)
11/25/05 moe. - Roseland Ballroom (NY)
11/26/05 moe. - Roeland Ballroom (NY)
12/08/05 Phil & Friends - House of Blues (NJ) Listen
12/28/05 The Brakes - Tower Theatre (PA)
12/28/05 The Disco Biscuits - Tower Theatre (PA) Listen
12/29/05 The Disco Biscuits - Tower Theatre (PA)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Greetings!

Thanks for checking out my blog! This space was created as a place for me to share my live concert recordings and write some reviews. You'll be able to stream or download these recordings all in one spot. In the upcoming weeks I'd like to post a full list of all the shows I've taped to serve as my own personal archive.

I've been recording live music since February 2005 and have compiled a vast collection of music over this time. While most of shows I like to attend can be considered rock concerts, I'd find it hard to classify them as one specific genre. So turn those speakers up LOUD, kickback and enjoy! I hope you like listening and reading about them just as much as I did recording them.

For now, I've posted my Winter Warmer: 2008. It's a collection of some of my favorite moments of 2007 that I compiled around this time last year. It was initially intended to be burnt onto CD; hence why it's only 79 minutes. It was pretty hard to squeeze a years worth of music into one CD, but in the end I was happy with the collection. With this year coming to a close I should have 2009's installment ready soon!

Here's the complete track list:

01. Widespread Panic - Ain't Life Grand - Tower Theater - 07/17/07
02. Grace Potter and The Nocturnals - Big White Gate - The Fillmore @ TLA - 12/01/07
03. The Brakes featuring Scott Tournet - Born Under A Bad Sign - The Fillmore @ TLA - 12/01/07
04. Amos Lee - Listen - moe.down 8 - 09/02/07
05. The Roots - Long Time - moe.down 8 - 08/31/07
06. Blues Traveler - What's For Breakfast - Paradise Rock Club - 11/05/07
07. Meat Puppets - Plateau - moe.down 8 - 09/01/07
08. moe. featuring Perry Ferrell - Ocean Size - moe.down 8 - 09/01/07
09. RAQ - Shirly Be A Drooler > Beauregard - Highine Ballroom - 11/24/07
10. Umphrey's Mcgee - Uncommon > Glory > Uncommon - Nokia Theatre - 10/20/07
11. The Wood Brothers - Luckiest Man - Haddon Lake Park - 06/20/07
12. The Radiators featuring Mark Mullins- Papaya - Palombaro Club - 06/16/07
13. The Disco Biscuits - Joy To The World > Bernstein and Chasnoff - The Fillmore @ TLA - 12/29/06


FREE service provided by MusicWebTown.com

Album photo taken by Matt Casey

If the streaming audio isn't working, please follow this link to listen