2007

As you can probably tell, we love live music here at Hidden Track. But sometimes just seeing the music isn’t enough; we feel a nagging need to download the audio and video of shows we’ve either seen or wish that we saw as soon as we can.

Our favorite moments as music fans come when we stumble across recordings we didn’t think existed, or of shows we attended but had completely forgotten about. Just this week I had several “Holy Fuck!” moments when I came across three shows I never thought I’d see or hear. I’ll tell you all about them, and Paul McCartney’s “secret” show at the Highline, as we go Grousing The Aisles…

Steely Dan w/ Michael McDonald 08/12/2006 PROSHOT (DVD):

Nearly every shed in America these days has those screens that show video of the concert to people with bad views. Most of the footage from these screens either doesn’t get recorded or gets stashed in the archives of the venue or the performer. Once in a while, though, video from one of these concerts leaks onto the ‘net. The latest of these leaks comes from last summer’s Steely Dan tour, which featured special guest and longtime HT idol Michael McDonald.

The Dan was feelin’ it this night, rolling through magnificent performances of hits such as Hey 19, Green Earrings, and Josie. Mikey Mac adds his husky vocals to the last seven songs of the set, including the kickass My Old School closer. The Steely Dan Orchestra backing band is made up of extremely talented musicians. Keith Carlock is a revelation on the drums — at times there is so much going on that you wonder whether there are two drummers behind the kit. Backup vocalists Carolyn Leonhart-Escoffery and Cindy Mizelle both look and sing beautifully.

The quality of this footage is unbelievably good, allowing a nice look at the ladies as they sing their hearts out during Dirty Work. The crispy soundboard feed that supplies the audio is also top notch, and worth the download by itself. I can honestly say that in my four years of collecting live concert DVDs, this puppy may take the cake as the best in my collection. It’s that good.

Read on for some more great downloads of Bustle, Macca and the Other Elvis…

Our main man Danfun‘s been a busy boy lately…let’s check in with our favorite photographer after last night’s big-time, small-venue White Stripes show.

The lyrics to the White Stripes song Little Room never felt as meaningful as they did last night. The Irving Fillmore Plaza packed in what seemed like an MSG-sized crowd to see the White Stripes’ first local concert since 2005.

The band opened with When I Hear My Name and didn’t stop rocking for two straight hours, rocking out well past midnight. Although Jack did have a little technical trouble during Dead Leaves, that didn’t slow the duo down. At this point, I’m not sure anything can slow these guys down. Read on after the jump for more photos and thoughts from the show…

Mr. Girl Talk Goes to Washington: Gregg Gillis sat down for a lunch meeting with Congressman Mike Doyle to discuss the copyright issues that have made it difficult for Girl Talk to sell

No, it ain’t the Bubble Boy, it’s The Boy in the Bubble. And since this is a live show from Africa in 1987, there’s some fantastically cheesy production to appreciate in addition

Somebody booked their mid-September flight to Austin, Tejas today, and that somebody is…Estelle Getty. Okay, it’s not that golden girl, it’s this one…it’s me. I’m an excitable boy, and my emotional

If it ain’t broke, ya know? Self-proclaimed indie-jam rockers moe. today announced it will return to Manhattan on New Year’s Eve and set up camp at Radio City Music Hall for

As preachers of improvisational rock, we try to prescribe patience to all those who wish to be converted (most people want nothing to do with this church). It’s patience that makes a group