November 6, 2009

Mix Magazine Article, Vince Martin

Well hello again! More news to report... I am featured in this month’s Mix Magazine! You can read the entire piece HERE.

In other news, I performed last Sunday with one of my favorite folk singers, Vince Martin. I’ve posted a video of the performance for your viewing pleasure (with the great Scott Metzger accompanying me on gee-tar). Vince recorded one of the great lost folk-rock albums of the 60s entitled If The Jasmine Don’t Get You...The Bay Breeze Will, released on Capitol in 1969. He also frequently performed and recorded with the legendary Fred Neil. In the video, you’ll hear us performing “Yonder Comes The Sun,” off Jasmine (my favorite Vince number), and “Cindy Oh Cindy,” Vince’s hit single from 1957. The performance was filmed for an upcoming documentary on Vince’s life entitled Vagabondo! Be on the lookout....

April 8, 2009

Welcome to the new jesselauter.com!

This is the homepage of Jesse Lauter, an up-and-coming musician and producer/engineer, who has worked with the likes of James Blood Ulmer, Smokey Hormel, Ingrid Michaelson, and The Low Anthem. Bare with us while we adjust, combust, and get down right ridiculous...

April 16, 2009

The Miamis have finally arrived to your record player!

After 35 years, CBGB legends, The Miamis,  have gotten their much anticipated first release. The record is currently being sold independently at www.themiamis.net. Jesse was instrumental in making this “reissue” happen, convincing the band’s frontman Tom Wynbrandt to release the shelved tapes and  eventually going on to produce and remaster the album. Blondie’s Debbie Harry says, “At last we get to hear The Miamis again...”

April 21, 2009

The Woes, Heaven Knows, sees the light of day!

The Woes, NYC’s finest post-apocalyptic country-blues band, celebrate the release of Heaven Knows today with a concert at Brooklyn’s Union Hall. The record, which was produced and engineered by Jesse, began production in late 2007 and wrapped up in winter 2008. The album is beautiful (select tracks  of which you can hear on the Discography page). The album art is out of this world. Buy a record while supplies last! And be sure to catch The Woes live in a city near you. They embark on a mini-tour with Elvis Perkins starting in mid-May. www.myspace.com/thewoes

April 27, 2009

The Miamis Release Party = Great Success (now buy the album)!!

Pictures have finally arrived from The Miamis CD Release party held on April 16th at Soho’s Eli Klein Gallery (thanks Chef Frank Celenza). A few icons from the early NYC punk scene came out to pay tribute to one of CBGB’s most beloved bands, The Miamis, and to honor their first commercial release (produced by Jesse). Lenny Kaye from the Patti Smith Group dropped in to say hello (pictured to the left with producer Nick Sansano and Jesse), as did Richard Hell and rock-photographer Bob Gruen (pictured with Jesse to the right). Four out of five of the original Miamis reunited at the party (pictured center), making it a memorable night for all in attendance. Be sure to pick up the album at www.themiamis.net. You can also listen to a couple tracks on the Discography page...

May 7, 2009

Next Up: Alana Amram & The Rough Gems

We’re very excited to announce that Jesse will be producing NYC country-rock-goddess Alana Amram and her band The Rough Gems this summer. Alana is one of the most exciting figures in New York’s “Concrete Country” scene. Check her out at www.myspace.com/alanaamram... 

May 12, 2009

Ingrid Michaelson single on iTunes; Grey’s Anatomy

“Turn to Stone,” the first single from Ingrid Michaelson’s upcoming LP, is now available on iTunes (preview/purchase here) and was recently featured on Grey’s Anatomy. Jesse engineered on this track with producer Dan Romer at the helm. Pictures from the sessions are up in the Gallery...

June 9, 2009

The Low Anthem record re-released nationwide on Nonesuch! Four-stars in Mojo and Uncut!! NPR!!! PS: NEW YORK TIMES and RS...

After months of anticipation, The Low Anthem’s Oh My God, Charlie Darwin has been released nationwide today via Nonesuch Records. Jesse produced and engineered this neo-folk album (recorded in “the ghostly stillness of a Block Island, Rhode Island winter”), as well as lending his musical talents to the recordings from time from time. OMGCD is available in most record stores across the nation (a vinyl version is coming in a few weeks). The re-release features new artwork, a new track order, and (for all you audiophiles out there) remastering by the legendary Bob Ludwig.

The reviews are also rolling in. We’ve received four stars from the UK’s top music rags, Mojo and Uncut. Uncut has honored the record with its coveted “Album of the Month.” Read the review HERE. Also, Mojo says OMGCD “may well be the second best cabin-in-winter indie album ever made...” Find out the first best HERE. Additionally, the opening track “Charlie Darwin” is being featured this week on NPR’s “All Songs Considered”...

Post-Script: We were placed at the top of this weeks Critic’s List in the New York Times. You can read Jon Pareles’ review HERE. We also got three stars in Rolling Stone. Read that HERE.

Congrats to the band and thanks to everyone who supported me throughout the making of this record...

- Jesse

June 12, 2009

Ladies & Gentlemen: Nobody Can Dance...

From the dewey depths of Westchester County, New York, comes a band that funks, rocks, and just plain kicks ass. That band is Nobody Can Dance. NCD has been playing the NYC club circuit for some years and went into the studio with Jesse last winter, not to cut an album, but a series of singles! The first of these singles is the power-rocker “Anarchy,” available for your listening pleasure below. The uber-talented Brian Taylor mixed and Alan Silverman (The Kinks, Judy Collins) mastered. And the wonderful photos above were taken by Sasha Arutyunova. Enjoy and get ready for more face-melting from NCD...

August 3, 2009

Audiophile Audition: Four Stars for The Low Anthem’s New Album and Its “Exquisite Acoustics”

So there have been plenty of Low Anthem reviews out there (and most of them favorable, fortunately), but I was pretty happy to see a review from Audiophile Audition comment on the engineering of Oh My God, Charlie Dawin with reviewer Doug Simpson citing the album’s “exquisite acoustics.” You can read the complete review HERE. Also stumbled upon another review from Jazz.com giving the album’s instrumental track “Music Box” (a personal fav) a 100/100. Read that review HERE.

August 8, 2009

The Woes...on YouTube!

The Woes are undoubtedly one of the most riveting live bands around and you would know if you caught them opening for Elvis Perkins or Langhorne Slim this past spring. According to Elvis Perkins, “they are the type of troupe that can make a man tremble in the wings and pretend it’s not happening.” Now, you can finally experience The Woes’ experience with the wonder of YouToob. The above videos of “Let Me Ride” (from the band’s forthcoming EP) and the staple “Quiet Faith” were the encores from the band’s April 21st record release for Heaven Knows (produced and engineered by Jesse). Directed by Andrew White, Jesse produced, recorded and mixed these very slick vids. You can also enjoy performances of “The Other Guys” HERE and “For Nothing” HERE. Be sure to support The Woes and see them the next time the circus comes to town... www.myspace.com/thewoes....

August 22, 2009

The Miamis and Jesse on 101.9 RXP with Matt Pinfield & Leslie Fram this Monday Morning! 9 AM!

This coming Monday at 9 AM, Jesse and Tom Wynbrandt from The Miamis will be on 101.9 RXP’s morning show with Matt Pinfield and Leslie Fram to talk about the recent Miamis reissue, produced and mastered by Jesse. You don’t have to live in NYC to tune in. Just click HERE and you can stream the show over the world-wide-interweb! The segment starts at 9 AM sharp so be sure to set your alarm clocks and turn your dial to 101.9 FM. And if you haven’t bought The Miamis album, be sure to go HERE... There are a couple song samples streaming on the Discograohy page...

August 26, 2009

Ingrid Michaelson’s Everybody in stores now...

Howdy Ladies and Gents! Ingrid Michaelson’s new LP Everbody is out nationwide this week. Jesse was an additional engineer on this album, giving producer Dan Romer a helping hand behind the console. The album was recorded at NYC’s Shelter Island Studios (check out some of Jesse’s studio snaps HERE) and Dan Romer’s home studio in Brooklyn. You can stream the record HERE, but be sure to buy it, and try to catch Ingrid on her upcoming fall tour...

October 8, 2009

Featured in the new issue of Tape-Op Magazine!

Howdy! Some cool news to share: I’m featured in the current issue of Tape-Op Magazine (Issue #73), my first magazine feature article (and in my favorite recording magazine nonetheless)! In the article, I discuss the production of The Low Anthem’s Oh My God, Charlie Darwin and reveal some of my recording secrets. Unfortunately, a web-based version of the article is currently unavailable but we hope to have a link up soon. But do it the old-fashioned way and pick up the magazine at your newsstand today (fascinating articles about Al Kooper and Snuff Garrett to boot)!

October 9, 2009

Producer Panel with Tony Visconti, Bob Power, Nick Sansano!

Hey guys! Today I spoke at the 127th Audio Engineers Society Convention in New York City on a panel with famed producers Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T. Rex), Bob Power (D’Angelo, The Roots), and Nick Sansano (Sonic Youth, Public Enemy). The panel was entitled “Producing Across Generations: New Challenges, New Solutions,” addressing how record producers are expected to derive participatory income when retail is dying. The conversation was heated and well-spirited, tackling a broad range of business issues. Wise perspectives interjected with my “youthful perspective.” Twas an honor to share the podium with these gifted men (heros of mine, really). Wish you could’ve been there. Hopefully I’ll get some snaps that I’ll post for yer viewin pleasure...

October 26, 2009

Recording with Elvis Perkins

Howdy folks. Just finished recording and mixing a track with the dignified Elvis Perkins. The song is called “Keep Me In Your Heart,” and it is a revamped Chilean folk song (“Teneme En Tu Corazon”) that will be featured on a Valentines Day compilation record for a major coffee-selling corporation. The recording and mix was done with the great Sean O’Brien by my side and features members of The Woes. I will remind you all when the track is available but in the meantime get Elvis’ new EP entitled The Doomsday EP. It is honestly one of the best records of the year...

November 9, 2009

Oh My God...

January 28, 2010

New Decade, New Musical Madness: Elvis Perkins, new Low Anthem, David Letterman

Dear Internet,

Happy new year! It’s been awile since I’ve written to (in?) you and there is much to tell...

The track I recorded for Elvis Perkins is available on Starbucks’ Sweetheart 2010 Valentines Day compilation. The song we tracked is a cover of a Violeta Parra Chilean folk song “loosely translated” into an American 50s swing. You can purchase the record at your local Starbucks or HERE.  Spoon and The Avett Brothers are among the other featured on this comp.

The reason for my absence is because I have been recording The Low Anthem’s follow-up to Oh My God, Charlie Darwin. We staked out for 40 days and 40 nights in an abandoned pasta sauce factory in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (I setup the studio) and proceeded to record 40+ songs. Above is some footage from the factory on a night where we received a special visit from a bat. All in all, the album is about done and should be available sometime in the middle of 2010.

The band also performed on the Late Show with David Letterman while we were tracking the record. If you missed the performance, you can watch it HERE.  

Alright Internet. I’ll write again soon. JL

February 12, 2010

Mixing Marco Benevento

Ahoy hoy! Thought y’all might like to I’ve spent the past couple days mixing tracks for one of the coolest musicians around, Marco Benevento. Marco is a brilliant pianist and sound sculptor based out of Brooklyn. He has made a name for himself on the “jam scene” by touring with the likes of Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon from Phish, but his music lives in a whole other realm. Marco rigs grand pianos with tons of effects (supported by Moogs, Optigans, Mellotrons, Fun Machines...), creating a sound that resides in the past and future. An amalgam of electronica, jazz, and balls-to-the-wall rock...

The album called Between Needles & Nightfall was recorded in a matter of days with one my favorite producer/engineers, Bryce Goggin. Marco’s melodies and cosmic noodlin’ was supported by the bad-ass beats of Andrew Barr (The Slip) and the low-end sensationalisms of Reed Mathis (Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey). I feel truly blessed to have been asked to be a part of this project.

The record is due on May 11. In the meantime, check out Marco’s older material HERE...

March 21, 2010

R.I.P Alex Chilton

May 28, 2010

Marco, Woes, Diamond Doves...

First things first. BUY THE NEW MARCO BENEVENTO ALBUM BETWEEN THE NEEDLES AND NIGHTFALL. I mixed two tracks on this masterpiece, “It Came From You” and “Between The Needles.” Marco is a wizard. Just accept it. You can buy the album HERE. You can also check out the two tracks I mixed on the DISCOGRAPHY PAGE....

Above is a lovely video of The Woes recent performance at the famed Brooklyn Bowl. I’m actually playing organ on this number (and I make a cameo somewhere in the middle). Check out this blistering rendition of “Sunset” and go see The Woes live. They head out for tour in June. You can check out the tourdates on their MYSPACE...

In other news, I just got back from Providence, Rhode Island tracking Diamond Doves, the new side project from Brigham, Wyndham, and Nick from Elvis Perkins in Dearland, along with Mike Irwin (The Woes) on trumpet and organ and the lovely Odetta Hartmann on fiddle. The tracks sound great and the band is going to be out and about playing shows. Keep an eye out. I will post tracks here as soon as they ready to share...

July 10, 2010

MARIUS! DIAMOND DOVES! and almost finally... ALANA AMRAM!

This is a reason why to love the internet. Some months back, I received an email message from a man named Hans Marius Weihe Ziska from a place I never heard of called the Faroe Islands. He asked me to mix his band’s EP. Turns out this was not a scam and the Faroe Islands (pictured above right) do in fact exist in the middle of the North Atlantic Gulf Stream (stranded between Scotland and Iceland) and this band Marius was in fact quite great! So now here we are-- a record complete. All communication through the world wide web (and we are all more knowledgeable about North Atlantic geography). The EP, entitled Masses, is quite great (yes, he sings in English) and I’m very proud of my work. You can stream the whole EP on my Discography page AND you can buy it on iTunes... Support Marius and maybe we should all take a vacation to the Faroe Islands...together?

As posted earlier, I’ve begun to work with a new band called Diamond Doves. And there are fresh tracks up for your listening pleasure on their Myspace, so get to it and listen HERE...   Long live Diamond Doves! Try to catch ‘em live. Who knows? You might see me playing with them...

I am also super stoked because I am almost done with the long-anticipated Alana Amram & The Rough Gems LP, Painted Lady! Big announcement in the coming weeks when the record is done...psychedelic album art and all...

And lastly, a friendly reminder to SUPPORT RECORDED MUSIC and BUY Marco Benevento’s new album Between the Needles & Nightfall. The above video is a short and sweet “making of” featuring one of the tracks I mixed... You can buy the album HERE.

Til Then, Keep Cool  (((((((JL)))))))

August 8, 2010

Newport Folk 2010

Twas a fine, fine day... Support this wonderful festival in the great state of Rhode Island and come next year...

August 12, 2010

R.I.P. Richie Hayward

My favorite rock drummer from one of my favorite rock bands has passed. Take the Rock’n’ Roll Doctor’s advice, and listen to Little Feat...

November 10, 2010

Alana Amram & The Rough Gems Painted Lady and The Woes The Bird & The Bear EP!

Hey chitlins. Been awhile. Exciting news! A couple records I’ve been cookin’ in the proverbial kitchen are complete. Bon Appetite! The first I’d like to highlight is Alana Amram & The Rough Gems debut LP Painted Lady. Alana is a country-rocker from Brooklyn who goes far and beyond the Lucindas and Emmylous of this world. She really does her own thing and her songs are simply classic. Sure she’s Americana, but she’s also psychedelic, punk, a prophet, and a billionaire. I produced, recorded, and mixed this whole record and I am very proud of what I can now share with you. There are several samples on the DISCOGRAPHY PAGE and you can download/purchase the entire album on ALANA’S WEBSITE. The record features members of Dungen, Vetiver, and our friends Scott Metzger and Marco Benevento. LONG LIVE THE ROUGH GEMS!

Next on the burner is a new record from The Woes entitled The Bird & The Bear EP. I co-produced this puppy with the great Sean O’Brien (Dawes. Chief). It’s a truly wonderful document that captures the Brooklyn band’s neo-ragtime, country-soul sound and features some serious rump-shakers and tear-jerkers. The band is making the EP available for digital download and vinyl only (woohoo!), so you can download the record from THE WOES WEBSITE or wait patiently for the vinyl release in December, just in time for the holidays. In the meantime, sample a few songs on the DISCOGRAPHY PAGE. HAIL, HAIL THE WOES!  

‘Til next time...Support Independent Music...There’s plenty more to come...

(((((JL)))))

February 20, 2011

Low Anthem Unleases Smart Flesh to Praise and Roses; Diamond Doves Bring The Bangers

It’s been a little over a year since I spent 40 days and 40 nights in a frigid, abandoned pasta-sauce factory in Central Falls, Rhode Island (outside Providence), recording the follow-up to The Low Anthem’s Oh My God, Charlie Darwin. These troubadours have done it again with Smart Flesh, creating a haunting and moving document that conjures a roots spirit that resides in a time and place, past, present and future. The record has received four stars in Rolling Stone, Uncut, Mojo, and The New York Times ran a feature on the band in the Sunday Arts section. Please READ THE ARTICLE HERE. It’s an excellent depiction of the band and does a pretty splendid job of capturing this memorable recording experience. I recorded a little over 50 (yes 50) songs for this record, and mixed a few more, but only 11 made the cut (along with three others in a Deluxe Edition). As with Charlie Darwin, the record is e available through Nonesuch Records and you can PURCHASE THE RECORD HERE. Also a video for your viewing pleasure below of the pasta-sauce factory experience set to the record’s first single “Ghost Woman Blues” (look out for yours truly):

In other news, I just finished producing/engineering/mixing three cuts for the mighty Diamond Doves! The songs “Club Night,” “Is There Any Hope,” and “Hey Lady” are available for purchase on iTunes. DOWNLOAD YOUR COPIES HERE! Plenty more to come from the Doves... And look out for them on tour this March and April with The Felice Brothers! Rock Lobster!

March 25, 2011

SXSW; Producer Panel, Davis, and Hob-Nobbing!

Twas March Madness again last week in Texas. The SXSW Music & Arts Festival dawned on the funkiest little town in North America. It was a Stress by Stress Fest (or a Shit by Shit Show), but I had a blast.... I was very lucky to be invited to moderate a panel entitled “Producing in the 21st Century.” In turn, I invited Larry Crane (Tape Op Magazine, Elliot Smith), Dan Romer (Ingrid Michaelson), Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog), and Jeff Curtin (Vampire Weekend) to come speak. The conversation was truly special and GUESS WHAT? You can listen to the whole thing HERE! Hopefully, you will find the hourlong discussion informative. Many thanks to my guests and all those in attendance.

On top of the panel and mixing sound for The Greenhornes (Patrick and Jack of The Raconteurs), I also got to meet some heroes of mine. Above to the left is Del McCoury and me (photo taken by none other than Danny Clinch) and above to the right is me with Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones, the frickin’ piano solo in “Jessica” by The Allman Brothers) and Ian McLagan (The Faces), two of the great rock pianists.

Below, I’ve posted two clips I filmed of Surprise Me Mr. Davis at the festival. The band is comprised of Andrew, Brad, and Marc of The Slip, Nathan Moore, and Marco Benevento. I have been very lucky to work on SMMD’s next record, to be released at the end of the Mayan calender... Well, who knows when the world will hear these juicy tapes. But in the meantime, enjoy these insane jams....God Bless Mr. Davis!

What a week... I hope to have photos up from the panel soon. Next year in Tejas!

April 5, 2011

Alela Diane & Wild Divine

Last September, I spent a few weeks in the fine city of Los Angeles, recording a wonderful artist named Alela Diane, under the tutelage of legendary producer Scott Litt (REM, Nirvana). Alela is a world-class singer-songwriter, who plays a brand of modern folk that invokes Laurel Canyon, Cosmic Country, and the British folk-rock of Fairport Convention and Pentangle. I’m happy to tell you that the fruits of our labor, entitled Alela Diane & Wild Divine, are now available to the general public, and you can purchase the album HERE. The record is quite delicious. Fun for all ages. Some of my proudest work. Enjoi it!

May 24, 2011

Chris Shaw Tape-Op Article!

Last year, I had the honor of interviewing Chris Shaw for Tape-Op Magazine. You may or may not know his name, but you’ve probably heard his work. From Public Enemy to Weezer’s Blue Album to Dylan’s Love & Theft and Modern Times to Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born, the man is a monster producer/engineer/mixer to say the least. I’m proud to say our conversation has been published in this month’s Tape-Op. Be sure to pick it up and you can even read some “bonus material” HERE on the Tape Op website. Subscribe to Tape-Op! It’s free!

October 19, 2011

Bobby Long, The Backing Singer EP

Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of recording Bobby Long, an up-and-coming singer-songwriter from Wigan, England (near Manchester). Bobby plays a style of folk that hearkens to Leonard Cohen, Bill Fay, and Nick Drake... lonesome at its core but full of grace, majesty, and some serious pickin’. We tracked six songs in one afternoon at Middle Collegiate Church in the East Village. Then we had The Secret Sisters, Cat Pierce from The Pierces, and Dawn Landes add vocals, and what came of it was The Backing Singer EP. Unfortunately, you can only get a copy of it exclusively at his shows (I don’t even have a copy!) but hopefully that will change soon. But yes, something special to look out for (you can read a pretty sweet review HERE) and please check out Bobby and his last album A Winter’s Tale. Cheerio Guvna!

December 20, 2011

Have Fun With Snake Wagon Out Today FOR FREE, with ESPN’s Peter Gammons, The Barr Brothers

While recording The Low Anthem’s Smart Flesh, we took two days off to focus on Snake Wagon, the irreverent songs of TLA bassist/drummer Jeff Prystowsky. The fruits of our labor are available to you today, appropriately on the first day of Chanukah! The album is quite hilarious, poking fun at subjects ranging from religion, Boston singer-songwriters, and pedophilia. The ten-song record features some crafty musicianship from the entire Low Anthem enclave, as well as Andrew and Brad Barr of The Barr Brothers/The Slip/Surprise Me Mr. Davis (I also get to sing quite a bit on it). But maybe the coolest thing about Have Fun With Snakewagon is that it includes one of my proudest recording moments, an album “half-time report” from none other than ESPN Baseball analyst, Peter Gammons. How were we able to pull that off? Wouldn’t you like to know... You can listen to Have Fun With Snake Wagon and download the entire album for free HERE. Special thanks to Alan Silverman for a fine mastering job. GIVE IT ALL AWAY!