Ahh, there was nothing better than Becky and Ian taking the stage to warm us up (at least in spirit) on a cold Georgia night…

The Awesomelies
1.02.2010
40 Watt Club, Athens, GA

Source:  Microtech Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 > digi-coax > Oade Mod Edirol R-44 @ 24/48 > Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Resample to 16/44.1 > LAME > mp3
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. I Object to Your Room
2. The Check Deposit
3. Grids of California
4. You Said It
5. What’s It Gonna Take
6. Like You’re Awesome
7. We Do All the Best Stuff
8. banter
9. We Win

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

Nuci’s Space was completely packed on the first night of AthFest, driven by highly anticipated appearances by Circulatory System, Liz Durrett, and Modern Skirts.   Here’s the Circulatory set–not the best quality recording, but still worthy of a listen.  Deviating from the experimental nature of previous shows I’ve witnessed, there is a greater focus on actual song structures in this set.  The shift results in material more accessible to the casual listener, which will help to attract audiences when the band hits the road this fall in support of the forthcoming Signal Morning.

Circulatory System
6.26.2009
Nuci’s Space, Athens, GA

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
2. Yesterday’s World
3. Signal Morning
4. The Frozen Lake >
5. Woodpecker Greeting Worker Ant >
6. A Peek
7. Overjoyed
8. Until Moon Medium Hears the Message
9. The Spinning Continuous

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

While still maintaining a healthy roster of around ten members, Dark Meat has scaled back both the lineup and volume on this tour.  But a sacrifice of excess for the sake of cohesion was definitely to their advantage.  While I do miss the confetti, leaf blowers, and marching sousaphones, musically this set was superior to most Dark Meat shows I saw last fall.

Dark Meat
4.01.2009
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 > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Oh To Find Her Gone
2. Future Galaxies
3. Freedom Ritual
4. unknown
5. No One Was There
6. unknown
7. When the Shelter Came
8. Changes Will Come
9. Three Eyes Open

FLAC files and other audio formats are available at the Live Music Archive.

(Photo by Mike White.)

I finally witnessed a proper pair of Nana Grizol shows last weekend, opening for The Music Tapes.  Catching NG live has been on my todo list since August, when I pretty much missed the entirety of their PopFest performance.  This particular show had a very small crowd due to a pair of circumstances:

1. The show was only booked 10 days in advance
2. Nobody takes their significant other out to a concert on Valentine’s Day

As such, the band took this opportunity to play a very un-pressured set, filled with banter, musical teases, and plenty of new material.  (In fact, only three of the tracks here are on the band’s debut album.)  The new songs are great, but don’t overlook their released material on 2008’s Love It, Love It (link below).

Nana Grizol
2.14.2009
Chyro Arts Venue, Scottsdale, AZ

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

Setlist:
1. In My Life (tease)
2. Circles ‘Round the Moon
3. Galaxies
4. Voices Echo Down Thee Halls (For Jared)
5. Motion in the Ocean
6. Ginsburg
7. (new song)
8. Black Box
9. Cynicism

FLAC files and other audio formats are available at the Live Music Archive.

Purchase the debut Nana Grizol album:
2008 – Love It, Love It (Orange Twin | Digital Download)

Holiday plans can throw a wrench into band bookings, but Night Driving in Small Towns found a way to use the absence to two band members to their advantage on the weekend before Christmas.  Instead of canceling the shows, remaining members decided to approach these shows as the “NDIST Acoustic Trio”.  Composed of Andrea Rogers (vocals), Colby Wright (mandolin), and Daniel Gonzalez (acoustic guitar), this incarnation of the band treated Atlanta fans to stripped down versions of NDIST favorites.

Here are recordings of the two performances.  Apologies for the buzz in the Kavarna set–it was coming through both the PA and the board feed, and couldn’t easily be eliminated without damaging the audio quality.

Night Driving in Small Towns
12.19.2008
Kavarna, Decatur, GA

Source:  Mix [Microtch Gefell M300’s > Lunatec V3 (opti-mod) > Nomad JB3] + [SBD > Apogee Mini-Me > M-Audio Microtrack II] > WAV > Mixing in Adobe Audition 3.0 > CDWave > Flac16
Taped by:  Lance Stack

Setlist:
1. Red Rover
2. Young
3. Cast Your Love Around
4. Close Encounters
5. unknown
6. Four Years Ago Today
7. Reasons To Love You
8. Waking Up
9. Take Me As I Am

A zipfile of the mp3s can be obtained here.
FLAC files are availabe via bittorrent here.

Night Driving in Small Towns
12.18.2008
East Atlanta Icehouse, Atlanta, GA

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

Setlist:
1. Young
2. Close Encounters
3. unknown
4. Reasons To Love You
5. Take Me As I Am
6. Red Rover
7. Cast Your Love Around

A zipfile of the mp3s can be obtained here.
FLAC files are availabe via bittorrent here.