Call it a Sound Business Practice.
Tapers. You know, those guys you see at concerts who are constantly fussing about with their mic stands, checking their recording levels, making sure their mics are aimed in the right direction, checking their cable connections every five minutes. The kind of guys who know how to capture the energy of a live concert, so you can relive the magic, years after the band members have all gone into careers in real estate or micro-management.
In other words, the kind of folks who can help you record your band in a live setting - inexpensively and efficiently, so you can share the excitement of the moment with your fans.
I'm J. Free, and I've been obsessed with the live recording process for nearly three decades. What began as a hobby interest - to capture those once-in-a-lifetime shows that people would be talking about for years to come - developed into a serious interest in how to improve the quality of the live recording process itself. My ultimate goal has been to bring what I've learned from studio recording into various live environments, and create high-quality live recordings that can be engineered with a minimalist set-up.
Numerous bands across the U.S. - including Minneapolis, Tampa, and now Portland - have allowed me to record them over the years, and by doing so, have helped me learn more about the equipment I've worked with, and helped me refine my recording process. Some of these bands who I owe a big thanks to, include:
Jesus Lizard, Pavement, Guided By Voices, Cows, Built To Spill, Walt Mink, Low, Pegboy, Babes In Toyland, Happy Apple, 12 Rods, Nation Of Ulysses, The Nicotines, Polara, Spritualized, Legendary Pink Dots, Thoughtcloud, STNNNG, Plate-O-Shrimp, Wookiefoot, Matisyahu, We're From Japan!, Colt Vista, Floating Glass Balls, Sam Cooper, Mecca Normal, Blue Cranes, and many, many more!
Examples of my earlier recording work can be found on the Twin Cities' Shuffler CD compilation (a track by Nova Mob), the 2003 release by Murderapolis, Learning To Be Arrogant, a handful of live tracks for the Venison 4-CD box set released in 2000, a couple of 7" single B-sides, recorded during the infamous "speed sessions" of 1995, for the Tampa-based band Dumbwaiters, a live album in 2001 by The Hundred Flowers, recorded live at The Fireside Bowl in Chicago; a Plate-O-Shrimp track on a 2005 split single with The Unstuck, a track on the second Pushrods EP in 2004, and even a couple of Guided By Voices tracks - two on the 2003 box set Hardcore UFOs, and one on The Bootlegs: Commemorating 35 Years at First Avenue. And that's just to name a few!
I've also released a few titles on my own non-profit label, One Ugly Puppy Productions - a six-track live EP in 2002 called Moldy Shrimp, combining the talents of Steve "Moldy" Moldenhauer and Plate-O-Shrimp; and a full-length live benefit compilation in 2004, For The Love Of Moldy - featuring tracks from Arcwelder, The Mighty Mofos, Kontrol Panel, The Clams, Red Vendetta, Baby Grant Johnson, and The Squabs, among others, recorded in the Seventh Street Entry. In the summer of 2005, I recorded a full-length "live in the bedroom" CD, for a project I played guitar in, Demolition Factor.
Other post-millenium projects have included:
• a 4-track album recorded live at Dusty's in Minneapolis, from a benefit/memorial performance for Liz Klaers, featuring her favorite group - The Tinkers
• a full-length live recording of Twin Cities organist John Wall, from a special legacy concert performance
• a live compilation from a benefit fundraiser at The Uptown Bar + Grill in Minneapolis, for the victims of Hurricane Katrina; featuring live performances by the Black Thorns, The Bullets, Countach, Red Desert
Although this began as a hobby, it has also provided a means to create inexpensive, quality recordings. This can be useful for bands who may want to put out their own independent release, a demo, or even a tour CD.
Sonic Archives can provide you with an affordable, high-quality live recording that captures the energy of your performance. Services range from a basic analog or digital transfer, a fully-produced, tracked and edited master, to a case of finished CDs - packaged and complete with artwork, labels and inserts, and ready for distribution. Why not think about a simple and fun way to get your music heard, that won't cost you ton of money, and doesn't involve selling your soul?
Check out some of the G E A R used by Sonic Archives over the years.
Official R E L E A S E S my audio recordings have appeared on.
Outside P R O J E C T S which feature my audio recordings.
Please contact me via e-mail for a general list of rates and services.