John Mackie at Eagle Inn, 25 January 2014

09 March 2014 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , , ,

 

John Mackie - Eagle Inn

still from manchestertaper’s video recording

After releasing his single 9.5 grams a few months previous, we caught up with John Mackie at the newly refurbished Eagle Inn in Salford. The hollowed out terrace made an appropriate host for the evening, put on by Your Manchester, and provided the laid back atmosphere you could only expect from a gig in a living room.

Mackie began his set accompanied by only his acoustic and the occasional melancholy harmonica, with John admitting that the majority of his songs come from troubled times. Strong vocals and honest lyrics give a personal depth and familiarity, while the Fab Radio DJ maintains a cool and confident stage presence.

After a well fitting cover of Johnny Cash’s Man in Black, he is joined by a more upbeat line up of Dave Smythe, Karl Hand and Paul Griffin on bass, electric guitar and cajon. The Glasgow born artist mixes elements of folk, pop and blues, and despite his Scottish roots, gives a heavy nod to his Manchester influences.

Whether playing solo or backed by a band, Mackie gives a performance to hush even the most enthusiastic of audiences.

Stream “Do I Wait?:

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Download complete show in MP3 format (click here)

Download complete show in FLAC format (click here)

Setlist:

Take it or Leave it
Disappear
Do I Wait
Blue Eyes
Man in Black
9 ½ grams
Roadrunner
Lost & Found
Faces
Holy Water

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the artist by buying their records and attending their gigs. John Mackie hosts a weekly show on Manchester’s Fab Radio International and his Soundcloud is here.

Danny George Wilson at Castle Hotel, 6th September 2012

29 August 2013 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , , , , ,

 

Danny George Wilson - Castle Hotel

photo by manchestertaper

It’s been a bit quiet on the website front for us over recent months but rest assured that the Manchestertaper team have been beavering away, amassing many hours of quality live music which is just crying out to be shared…

We begin with a dip into the vaults: can it really be nearly 12 months since Danny & the Champions of the World’s Danny George Wilson played a blinding solo gig for House of Cards Promotions at the Castle? Ably supported by Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou (whose set we hope to share with you soon) and Manchester’s own Mog Stanley, Wilson played a taut, intense set that served to strip back the Danny and the Champions material and allow his tersely beautiful lyricism to shine.

Some dashes of gruff Antipodean humour and a singalong of Dancing in the Dark lightened the mood somewhat but could not detract from the scorched, highly personal songs at the core of this performance. Most of those in attendance were clearly fanatics, familiar with every word. Hopefully this recording will win some converts to a distinctive and arresting talent.

Thanks, as always, to Mike and Kellie and all at the Castle for another great gig.

Stream “Old Soul”:

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Download complete show in MP3 format (click here)

Download complete show in FLAC format (click here)

Setlist:

Restless Feet
Follow the River > Dancing in the Dark
Beauty in this Town
Track 40’s Gone
Old Soul
Henry the Van
Every Beat of my Heart
Red Tree Song
The Truest Kind
Still Believe
These Days

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the band by buying their records and attending their gigs. Danny & the Champions of the World’s official website is here and their current album can be purchased here.

Richard Hawley at Academy 1, 26 September 2012

21 October 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , , ,

 

Richard Hawley - Manchester Academy

photo by manchestertaper

Richard Hawley needs no introduction here. The Longpigs, Pulp, high profile session duties and career-reinvigorating production work are mere asides to his majestic solo work.

Seventh album “Standing at the Sky’s Edge” sees Hawley immerse himself in intoxicating, swirling psychedelia, something of a detour from the classicism of his first releases and the glacial poise of 2009’s astonishing Truelove’s Gutter. We knew his Academy set would lean heavily on the latest LP and Richard and his dependably fantastic band did not disappoint. We were treated to expansive performances of most of the new material plus a smattering of older songs, although nothing pre-dating 2005’s breakthrough Coles Corner.

Not much more to say really. It’s Richard Hawley and the best live band in the UK: if you can’t find something to love here, you probably just don’t like music.

A few photos from the gig are on our Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchestertaper/

Stream “Standing at the Sky’s Edge”:

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Download complete show in MP3 format (click here)

Download complete show in FLAC format (click here)

Setlist:

Standing at the Sky’s Edge
Don’t Stare at the Sun
Hotel Room
Tonight, the Streets are Ours
Seek It
Soldier On
Leave Your Body Behind You
Before
Open Up Your Door
Remorse Code
Time Will Bring You Winter
Lady Solitude
The Ocean

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the band by buying their records and attending their gigs.  Richard Hawley’s official website is here and his current album can be purchased here.

Richmond Fontaine at Bury Met 3 May 2012

10 May 2012 by · Write a comment · Categories: manchestertaper · Tags: , , ,
photo (c) Roger Liptrot

Richmond Fontaine: we love them. Everybody loves them. A collection of beautifully simpatico musicians fronted by a songwriter/novelist who apparently has a hotline to the very soul of America: what’s not to like?

With Willy Vlautin’s third novel winning rave reviews and literary prizes across the board and his first being eyed up by movie producers, one wonders how long Richmond Fontaine will be playing the intimate shows in which they excel. That being the case, there was no way we were going to miss this show: Willy and guitarist Dan Eccles playing as a duo and topping an amazing bill that also saw sets from Richard Buckner and Peter Bruntnell.

The band’s current album remains 2011’s The High Country: an ambitious, desolate collection of songs which was effectively a Vlautin novel set to music. After a highly acclaimed tour that saw the full band perform the entire LP in order every night, this short series of duo dates must come as light relief to the two guitarists. Not that the songs stray far from Willy’s trademark tales of hope glimmering in the shards of lives shattered by bad luck and worse decisions.

Eccles and Vlautin played a great career-spanning set in front of the partisan audience and ended the night by bringing the two support acts back to the stage for an eclectic trio of covers. The sound in the venue (once known as the Derby Hall, and scene of the legendary Joy Division riot, as if we needed to remind you) was immaculate and I think our board & mics recording captures it beautifully. It’s not a typical RF show by any means, but we’ve got plenty of those in the Manchestertaper vaults – let us know if you’d like us to post more of this fantastic band.

This show was a Mr Kite Benefit and we would respectfully request that you visit his site and consider making a donation to one of his good causes after downloading the recording. Special thanks go to Rich, Mr Kite and Terry, Nathan & all at the Met for a great gig and helping us make this recording.

Stream “Always on the Ride”:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Download complete show in mp3 format (click here)

Download complete show in FLAC format (click here)

Setlist:

We Used to Think the Freeway Sounded Like a River
The Boyfriends
Lost in the Trees
Postcard from California
Don’t Go Back There
I Fell into Painting Houses in Phoenix, Arizona
Ruby & Lou
Let Me Dream of the High Country
Postcard Written With a Broken Hand
43
Always on the Ride
The Kid From Belmont
Incident at Conklin Creek
Postcard Postmarked Phoenix, AZ
Lonnie
Making it Back
You Can Move Back Here
Still Looking For You
I Can’t Hold Myself in Line
Candy-O

If you download and enjoy this music we would fully expect you to support the artist by buying their records and attending their gigs. Richmond Fontaine’s official website is here and their releases can be purchased from record shops of quality and distinction such as Piccadilly Records.