I first met Doug Shaw on May 13, 2022, when he played Tubby’s on a bill with Prison and Weak Signal. It takes something special to play solo, introspective acoustic guitar music in a room full of people there to see massive, overdriven, electric guitar music from the likes of Paul Major and Mike Bones. But that’s what this set was, captivating and transporting. He came up to me after the show and asked about getting a copy of the recording. He said he had felt really good on stage and was really happy with the performance, and that he might want to do something with it, so I gave him my email address and never heard from him again.

Eight months later, Doug was back at Tubby’s.  This time, he was opening for Garcia Peoples.  Tom introduced us, and he immediately started talking about the recording from back in May, and I promised to reach out to him again. From that point on, for the rest of the night, Doug was basically my best friend.  It was like we had spent decades hanging out in bars and venues together.

After the show, I gave him my cell phone number. I had a feeling email wasn’t present enough for him, and that the immediacy of text might be more effective. And for the next four months, we exchanged texts – a lot of texts. They were alternatively hilarious, sweet, and frustrating. He was hesitant about releasing it for reasons I didn’t fully understand. I had mixed the set back in May and found it incredibly powerful. There were vague concerns about the amount of reverb on the vocal, whether anyone would listen, and whether it was worth it.

Somewhere in here, I recognized a pattern I’ve known in other artist friends. Undeniable talent that had a hard time getting out of its own way to let people see it. I stuck with it and kept texting him. I even remixed it at least 3 different times and, full disclosure, one of the mixes had no changes, just to see if it mattered.  I don’t remember which version of what mix finally stuck, but on May 5, 2023, he released it as “Sleepy At Tubby’s”.

And then I never heard from Doug again.

In the past few days, as memories of Doug have poured in, I have come to realize that in similar situations with friends I’ve known a long time, I wouldn’t have been as persistent about seeing this recording released.  I would have prompted them a couple of times, then moved on, assuming they were “just not into it”. It saddens me to think of the things the world has been denied just because a friend didn’t try a little harder. 

It’s clear that Doug didn’t lack for people who loved him. But no one is immune to wanting to feel loved.  Maybe I should have sent a random text to say hi or see if he was going to be coming back up to Kingston to play. Maybe I should do that now, with all the people I love who I haven’t spoken to in a while.  Maybe we all should.

The recording below is the set Doug played on January 14, 2023, opening for Garcia Peoples. This is the first time anyone not in the room that night will have heard it.  I present it to all of Doug’s friends and family with love and gratitude for the art he shared with the world, and as a lasting document for future generations to discover.

Safe travels, Doug.

Download and stream for the Live Music Archive:

Doug Shaw
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY
2023-01-14

Source: MBHO 440 + SDB > MixPre3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/izotope > Audacity > FLAC (lvl8)
Recorded and produced by kliked

Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil, for the patch!

1. Requiem For Rashad
2. Harmonizer > ???
3. Cheated Death/Smoking Ghost
4. The Chalice
5. Apparitions Clear
6. Come Smoke
7. Alliance [Robert Wyatt]

RIP Doug Shaw

Opening for Garcia Peoples

Thanks to Jesse Jarnow and Andy Cush for the setlist help.

Support this excellent band:
https://highlifehighlife.bandcamp.com/album/sleepy-at-tubbys

Support the venues bringing you interesting music:
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Juma Sultan is a musician, composer, archivist, educator, and proud resident of New York’s Beautiful and Historic Hudson River Valley. He has played with the likes of Pharaoh Sanders, Archie Shepp, and, probably most famously, Jimi Hendrix during the Woodstock concert. On this night, he and his fantastic ensemble were in the back room of Tubby’s as part of Bicycle Day double bill with Owsley’s Owls.

The type of music the Aboriginal Music Society plays is often called “World-Beat Garage Jazz,” which makes sense.  Rhythms and textures from all over the globe coalesce into a beautiful groove. This feels and sounds very New York to me; a true melting pot. It sounds like a sidewalk in any neighborhood where cultures have fused. 

The set started with “Sundance” from the very limited Whispers from the Archive LP, giving us all a glimpse into the relaxed and very soulful grooves we would be spending the next hour swimming in. These are long-form pieces, with no rush to finish, and band members are given the chance to stretch their legs. The set ended with a beautiful take on Pharoah Sanders “The Creator Has a Master Plan.” The sun was shining, and this is perfect music for a beautiful spring day.

I also wanted to take a minute to recognize and hip you to Juma’s work as a taper and archivist.  He spent much of the 70’s documenting the very vibrant loft jazz scene in NYC. A portion of this archive has been released on the always excellent Emerite Records and also served as the primary source material for Michael Heller’s book “Loft Jazz: Improvising New York in the 1970’s.”

I recorded this from the usual spot at the soundboard with the Schoeps MK22s and a really nice board feed from FOH engineer Nic Panken.  Enjoy!

Download and stream from the Live Music Archive:

Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Music Society
2026-04-18
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Nic Panken, for the board patch!

Recorded and produced by kliked

1. Sundance
2. Shaking the Blues
3. Circles
4. The Dance
5. The Creator Has a Master Plan

Support this excellent artist!
https://jumasultan.org/
https://eremiterecords.bandcamp.com/album/father-of-origin

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Yr Knives are the best band you’ve never heard of. You’ve definitely heard of the players in the band, but unless you’re a Chicago-area native, you’ve probably never heard the music. They haven’t played much outside of the Chicago area and, aside from a tour-only CD at the merch desk, currently have no recorded output. But when a band like The Messthetics hand-selects a group to open an East Coast run, you should probably pay attention.

Yr Knives is essentially a supergroup made up of a few of Chicago’s best: Andrew Trim and Brian Sulpizio on guitars, Douglas McCombs on bass, and Quin Kirchner on drums. Readers of this site may recognize Quin and Brian from their work with Ryley Walker, and everyone knows Doug’s work. This project, however, is truly better than the sum of its parts.

I had never heard of these guys before this show and, honestly, didn’t even know there was going to be an opening band for The Messthetics. It’s always a good sign when venue staff start telling you the opening band is good—but when the sound guy tells you the opening band is really good, you’d better pay attention. Opening with “Double A (Start Yr Singing),” the band’s thesis became apparent: tightly orchestrated guitar parts layered over a wide-reaching, free-roaming rhythm section. Did I mention the guitars sound HUGE, too? Giant and overdriven, with interwoven parts that had people bobbing their heads immediately. The set closed with a ripping version of Sonny Sharrock’s “Many Mansions.” Unbelievable.

While speaking with the guys after the set, I was happy to learn they have a debut record finished that will be coming out on Western Vinyl later this year. I’m super excited to see what these compositions turn into with full studio treatment. Sadly, this run of shows is over, but maybe this recording will get them on your radar for the next one.

I recorded this from my normal spot in the back with the Schoeps MK22s and an excellent board feed from Tubby’s FOH engineer Wil, who had the room sounding great all night. If you listen real closely at the end of the recording, you might even hear me turn to Wil and say, “That was fucking good!”; followed by Wil replying, “Yeah, I told you it would be.” Always trust the sound guy.

Download and stream from the Live Music Archive here!

YR Knives
2025-05-04
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil Wright, for the board patch!

Recorded and produced by kliked for nyctaper.com

1. intro
2. Double A (Start Yr Singing)
3. Trimnopedie
4. Yr Water
5. These Chords
6. Fear & Trimbling
7. Stretch Bath
8. Many Mansions *

*Sonny Sharrock

Yr Knives is:
Douglas McCombs – Bass
Andrew Trim – Guitar
Quin Kirchner – Drums
Brian Sulpizio – Guitar

Support this excellent artist!
https://yrknives4u.com/

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Sure we were disappointed when our old favorites Disappears called it quits. But fortunately most of the group reformed as FACS and leaned even further into experimental impulses of Disappears. FACS sound something like a constellation of Wire fronted by Mark E Smith. I could throw out more comparisons but FACS deserve to stand on their own even from their erstwhile band.

So here we are a decade later from seeing Disappears do Low at Baby’s All Right and FACS have quite a few albums under their belt on Trouble in Mind (RIP). The latest is Wish Defense, released last year and about half of which they played for a sold-out crowd at Tubby’s last week. “North America Endless”—which, let’s take a moment for that title!—is a non-album 7” they released with a Eurythmics cover on the b-side. (I love a band committed to releasing standalone singles.) In addition to songs from the back catalog, it sounds like there some new ones in this set so I hope some more good things are coming from FACS. I promise to not wait another decade to catch them live.

I recorded this from my usual spot in the back with a pair of MBHOs set up in DIN stereo configuration, combined with a board feed from FOH Nic. The sound is excellent!

Download and stream from the Live Music Archive!

FACS
2026-02-11
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Recorded and produced by Eric PH

Soundboard (engineer: Nic) + MBHO KA200N/603A > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 2.4.2 > FLAC

Tracks [49:46]

1. Lock and Key
2. A Room
3. North American Endless
4. Returning The Gift
5. When You Say
6. Zero Year
7. Darling of Time
8. Wish Defense
9. Desire Path
10. Parallel Lives
11. Sometimes Only

Support this excellent artist!
https://wearefacs.bandcamp.com/

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Once a year, the Bajas come to Tubby’s, and every time, it’s one of the best nights of the year.

Every Bitchin’ Bajas track carries the chance of being lost forever inside its all-encompassing tones and zones. There are many reasons for this. Part of it is the illusion of time all of their compositions take on; it’s not a question of “has this been a minute or an hour?” It’s a question of “does that matter?” Another reason is the impossible pure tones that their synths ensconce the listener in. Yet another reason, and one that’s not often discussed, is the sound system.

Anyone who has seen Bitchin’ Bajas is familiar with the mad scientist’s tangle of cables and tables full of gear. What you may not realize is that they run this through their own sound system, which they carry on tour and operate live from the stage while playing. It seems like a wholly impossible task. I once asked Cooper how they manage it, and he said, “You just do it.”

I’m happy to report that the Bajas sound system is sounding better than I’ve ever heard it. After the show, Cooper mentioned that they had done significant work on it before this tour. Cracking things open and really putting in the solder time. It is incredibly loud and impossibly crystal clear. Absolutely no sound is out of place or unpleasant, with zero unintentional distortion or buzzing. When they stop playing, it’s dead quiet. The results of their modification would make Owsley proud.

This East Coast run finds them fresh off tour dates with kindred spirits Stereolab and supporting their excellent new record, “Inland Sea.” They played the entirety of the album as well as a few classics from “Baja Fresh”. They also played a new song, “Ajami,” which is currently only available on “Live! Grout?“, a tour-only 12” recorded with an entirely analog signal chain.

East Coast heads have three more tour dates to catch the Bajas before they take a short break and then head to the West Coast in February, followed by a trip to Europe in April. Don’t miss a chance to have your temporal load rearranged by this sound system!

I recorded this from my usual spot in the back with Scheops MK22s. The sound is incredible!

Download and Stream from the Live Music Archive!

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Bitchin Bajas
2025-12-09
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

1. Ajami
2. Keji Dreams
3. Jammu
4. Circles on Circles
5. Reno
6. Skylarking
7. Graut

Support this excellent artist!
https://bitchinbajas.bandcamp.com/

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Are you a punk that’s struggling to accept your interest in improvisational music? Are you a hippy who’s realizing pretty much every jam band is boring? Orcutt Shelley Miller may be just the thing for you!

Just over a year ago, EricPH beautifully captured one of the first East Coast Orcutt Shelley Miller shows. With some additional material under their belt and a new record to promote, we get to check in with them again.

This trio, to me, is the definition of a supergroup.  Bill Orcutt, Steve Shelley, and Ethan Miller have been involved in some of the most respected, creative, and daring music of the last 35 years. I’m not going to try and sell you on their past accomplishments because that would be absurd.  You know these bands, or at least you damn well should know these bands.

An interesting aspect of this project is that it isn’t just three beloved musicians playing together; the sum turns out to be greater than its parts. In power trio form, you get to see the best of what they all have to offer.  Miller’s bass lines bounce in and around Orcutt’s absolutely fire-breathing leads while Shelley somehow manages to keep the things on the tracks. Interesting side note: 30+ years into being at the bleeding edge of creative guitar playing, Bill Orcutt has finally started using pedals! There’s a lot of upside potential here!

This was a really fun night with lots of friends in attendance, so it’s no surprise that I completely forgot to take a picture.  What was a surprise was that, collectively, among the 7 of us in attendance, we only managed to get two photos. That’s a testament to how engaging the show was.

I recorded this from my usual spot in the back with a set of Schoeps MK22s. I opted not to mix in the board feed and instead focused on the live feel of the room.  This was made quite easy by Tubby’s FOH engineer Wil, doing a killer job mixing the room. The sound is excellent!

Download and stream from the Live Music Archive!

Orcutt Shelley Miller
2025-11-06
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

recorded and produced by kliked

1. A Star Is Born
2. LA Funeral
3. Unsafe At Any Speed
4. Untitled
5. Four-door Charger
6. Long Island Wedding

Support this excellent artist!
https://orcuttshelleymiller.bandcamp.com/album/orcutt-shelley-miller

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

It’s been nearly six years to the day since I last saw Minami Deutsch. That night, they were opening for Kikagaku Moyo at the wonderful—but now sadly closed—Burlington, VT venue, Arts Riot. The band’s name translates to “South Germany,” so the krautrock analogies were impossible to avoid. But what I found then, and what still holds true now, is that this is much more than Neu! worship; this is a band that has drunk deeply from all corners of German avant-psychedelia and found ways to keep its 60+ years of tradition fresh.

Regardless of subgenre, when you speak about this musical movement, it always comes back to the motorik beat and its undeniable propulsion of both the music and the listener. Try listening to this recording without significant head-nodding—I dare you. For reference, check out the moment around 3:30 on “I’ve Seen a U.F.O.” when, after a significant build-up, the band drops into the beat with intention. The collective release was palpable. A fun bonus game: listen to the crowd reactions and meltdowns when they finally bring that monster of a jam to a close.

The band was also jamming on some new material during this tour, two of which we’ve captured here. I particularly enjoyed the first of those (track 4 on this recording), which finds them deep inside the soaring dual-guitar harmonies you may remember from Agitation Free. We need more bands influenced by Agitation Free.

Reviews from everyone I know who saw this tour are the same: this was one of the best sets of the year. They have some Euro dates coming up, so hopefully our friends on the other side of the pond have a chance to catch them soon.

I recorded this from the back with Schoeps MK22s and a nice board mix from Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil. The sound is excellent!

Download and stream from the Live Music Archive!

Minami Deutsch
2025-10-01
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

Thanks to Tubyy’s FOH engineer, Wil, for the board patch!

recorded and produced by kliked

1. Futsu Ni Ikirenai
2. Grumpy Joa
3. Can’t Get There
4. Jam/New song
5. I’ve Seen a U.F.O.
6. Jam/New song
7. Tunnel

Support this excellent artist!
https://minamideutsch.bandcamp.com/

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Unfortunately, I was unable to make Bonny Doon’s set last year when they came through with John Andrews, so I made sure the calendar was clear when this date was announced. “Let There Be Music” was a big sing-along favorite in the backyard, and I was hoping Tubby’s back room would be the same.

From the start, the obvious chemistry between principal songwriters Bill Lennox and Bobby Colombo is evident. They are relaxed and confident, easily displaying the folk-fused psychedelia they have become known for. These songs are made for spending time with, for learning their nuances. They are perfect tunes for a summer evening, inside or out.

About halfway through the set, they mentioned they were working on new songs and were kind enough to play a number of them for us. While new, these are still very unmistakably Bonny Doon songs. You can even hear some well-placed claps and “yeahs!” from the crowd, with people reacting like they already knew them.  A particular highlight of this section was the introduction of Anna St. Louis, to sing on “Thunder and Lightning”.  Aside from the beautiful harmonies, Anna’s inclusion highlighted the point that this show was absolutely loaded with other musicians. Anna aside, I recall seeing members of Woods, Real Estate, and Slow Fawn, among others. 

I recorded this from the usual spot with the MK22s and board feed from Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil.  It sounds wonderful and intimate, just like ti did in the room. Enjoy!

Download and stream from the Live Music Archive!

Bonny Doon
2025-08-21
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Will, for the board patch

1. Lost My Way > Longwave
2. Crooked Creek
3. I Am Here (I Am Alive)
4. What Time Is It in Portland?
5. Feel Like Getting High*
6. Losing My Cool*
7. Forever Green*
8. Banter
9. Thunder and Lightning (with Anna St. Louis)*
10. Saw a Light
11. I See You
12. Clock Keeps Ticking
13. A Lotta Things
14. Summertime Friends

*New song

Support this excellent artist!
https://bonnydoon.bandcamp.com/album/let-there-be-music

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

I circled this date from the second it was announced. Daniel’s album “Panama ‘77” was my favorite of 2022. Lados B, from 2023, was also on my short list of favorites from the year. So seeing what this poly hybrid of psychedelic jazz, fashioned with DEEP grooves, could do in a live setting was a priority.

I’ll save you the mystery; the show was killer.

The band opened with “Traveling With” off Lados B and dug deep into material from both albums. They even gave us a glimpse of the future with a new composition Daniel is working on. The band was able to move through psychedelia, afrobeat, cumbia, fusion, and world jazz while maintaining a rare cohesion. Seeing this was like listening to someone DJ a party with the deepest rare groove and Italian library cuts you could ever imagine, which somehow felt familiar. 

While this is Daniel’s project and songs, it’s interesting to see that he seems to prioritize the musicians expressing their own personalities. At some point during the night, everyone on stage had the chance to let it rip, and the crowd responded every time. Check out the blistering version of “Sombras” for a taste.

I recorded this from the usual spot with my MBHOs and a board feed. A special shout-out to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil Wright, for an incredible mix this evening. I’ve seen a lot of shows in that room, and this is about as good as it’s ever sounded. PLAY IT LOUD!

Download and Stream from the Live Music Archive!

Daniel Villarreal
2025-03-16
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: MBHO440 + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Wil for the board patch

1. Traveling With
2. Uncanny
3. I Didn’t Expect That
4. Cali Colors
5. Baker Dozen (new song, working title)
6. Sombras
7. Ofelia
8. Sunset Cliffs
9. Parque En Seis
10. Republic
11. Yellow Rose
12. Messenger

Band:
Daniel Villarreal – Drums
Nathan Karagianis – Guitar
Cole De GeGenova – Keys
Gordon Walters – Bass
Danjuma Gaskien – Percussion

Support this excellent artist!
https://danielvillarrealmusic.com/
https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/lados-b

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

August has come and gone, and with it, more fantastic live music courtesy of our good friends at Raven Sings The Blues!

For the past several years, Andy from Raven Sings the Blues has put on an impossibly perfect one-day event at an idyllic brewery in an apple orchard called “Deep In The Valley“. The NYCTaper team has been on site each year to cover the incredible music and immaculate vibes, and we had every intention of continuing the tradition. Unfortunately, the brewery had other ideas and closed its doors this year. Not one to let a good idea go, Andy pivoted and turned the one-day event into a two-evening weekender at our beloved Tubby’s.

Silver Synthetic traveled North from their native New Orleans for a short Northeast run, which included the closing set of the “Tubby’s Weekender.” Despite only being on a 4-show run, this band seemed very road-tightened. Song structure, harmonies, playing…everything was in its correct place and the result was a phenomenal set from a band I’ve been waiting to hear since their S/T album was released in 2021.

The band wasted no time, opening with the rocking “Unchain Your Heart” from the aforementioned S/T album and followed up with the beautiful jangle of “Cool Blue Light” from their most recent album, Rosalie. The set continued in this fashion, blending old and new songs, all expertly played, along with an as-of-now unrecorded tune and even a sweet Neil Young cover!

Silver Synthetic has some dates coming up in a few weeks, including a stop at the stacked Gonerfest in Memphis. Also, Tapers, get out and do your thing! The guys mentioned that they wished more folks came out to record them.

This was recorded from my spot in the back with a set of Scheops MK22s on loan from AcidJack and a nice board mix from Tubby’s FOH engineer Wil. Enjoy!

Download and stream from the Live Music Archive!

/

Silver Synthetic
2025-08-16
Tubby’s
Kingston, NY

Source: Scheops MK22 > KCY > PFA + SDB > SD MixPre 3 > SD (24/48) > Adobe Audition/Izotope 9 > Audacity Flac (lvl8) > Mp3Tag

Thanks to Tubby’s FOH engineer, Will, for the board patch

1. Unchain Your Heart
2. Cool Blue Light
3. Age Of Infamy
4. Good Thing
5. The Door
6. Yr Gonna Be Happy
7. Red Light
8. Rosalie
9. Right Time
10. Back Home
11. Don’t Cry No Tears
12. Only Time

Support this excellent artist!
https://silversynthetic.bandcamp.com/

Support the venues bringing you interesting music!
https://www.tubbyskingston.com/music-calendar

Please support Raven Sings The Blues!
https://www.ravensingstheblues.com/