[photo by David Schwentker]
In case you live under a rock, Steve Gunn is a pretty big deal in the independent music world. Along with working with Kurt Vile, he’s released a sprawl of killer records, from his duo work with John Truscinski, to his collaborations with Hiss Golden Messenger, Mike Cooper and the Black Twig Pickers, to his work with GHQ, to his singer/songwriter solo work. There is no version of Steve Gunn that isn’t great, that isn’t able to worm its way into your brain and stick there, and maybe make you think in the process.
Like Bardo Pond, Gunn is another artist that Three Lobed Recordings has been aligned with for a long time, and the fact that Steve would take the stage twice at the Three Lobed Sweet Sixteen Spectacular, in celebration of the label’s sixteenth anniversary, says what you need to know about his commitment right back. If (as it would seem) Gunn will prove to be one of the Three Lobed alumni with the greatest popular appeal, it won’t be because he’s abandoned the spirited, inventive and challenging style of playing that early fans have always cherished. The proof of that lies in this single set from King’s, as Steve closed out the morning portion of the day with just three long songs. Sure, “Old Strange” is a bit easier to hum along to than GHQ’s “Four Trees,” but it’s still fifteen freaking minutes long, as played here, with the lyrics and the chorus almost afterthoughts amidst the guitar work that almost makes you forget there’s just one of him up there. That doesn’t discount one of Gunn’s other most-loved and longest epics, “The Lurker (Extended),” which graced the Not the Spaces You Know, But Between Them boxed set on Three Lobed, and arrived in stunning form here. He closed with “Mr. Franklin,” another relatively uncommon number in his current tour repertoire, and readied himself for the second half of this day, when he would join John Truscinski for their first duo set in several years (that recording coming soon).
You owe it to yourself to hear where Steve is going next — preorder Eyes on the Lines here, and check out the new single “Conditions Wild” on YouTube.
I recorded this set in the same manner as the other recordings from the day, with Schoeps MK22 open cardiod microphones onstage, MBHO microphones in the audience, and a multichannel soundboard feed from Justin Perrachon. The sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!
Download the complete show: [MP3/FLAC]
Stream the complete show:
Steve Gunn
2016-03-26
Three Lobed Sweet Sixteen Spectacular
King’s
Raleigh, NC USA
Exclusive download hosted at nyctaper.com
Recorded and produced by acidjack
2x Soundboard channels (engineer: Justin Perrachon) + MBHO 603a/KA200N (FOB, DFC, PAS) + Schoeps MK22 (onstage, ORTF, DFC)>KC5>CMC6>Aeta PSP3 >> Zoom F8>6x24bit/48kHz WAV>Adobe Audition CS 5.5 (align, mix down, compression)>Izotope Ozone 5 (EQ, effects)>Audacity 2.0.3 (track, amplify, balance, downsample, dither)>FLAC ( level 8 )
Tracks
01 [intro-Cory Rayborn and Steve Gunn]
02 Old Strange
03 [banter/tuning]
04 The Lurker (Extended)
05 [banter/tuning2]
06 Mr. Franklin
SUPPORT Steve Gunn: Website | Three Lobed Recordings | Paradise of Bachelors | Pre-Order the New Album
Magnificent! Thanks for recording and making this available.
This is a great recording, and an excellent performance. Thanks a lot!