Concert Archive: Man Offers 10,000 Live Recordings Free Online
A music enthusiast from Chicago is sharing his extensive collection of live concert recordings online. Aadam Jacobs, now 59, started this journey in 1989 after attending a Nirvana concert. Using a tape recorder, he captured the performance and began a lifelong hobby.
From Hobbyist to Icon
Jacobs’ fascination with live music propelled him to record multiple concerts each week. Initially, he faced challenges from club owners who disapproved of his taping activity. However, his persistence led to his acceptance within the Chicago music scene. Dubbed the “taper guy,” he gained entry to many venues without charge.
A Massive Collection of Live Recordings
Over the past four decades, Jacobs has amassed a remarkable archive, documenting more than 10,000 concert performances. His collection is diverse, spanning genres such as rock, hip-hop, punk, and alternative music.
Collaboration for Digitization
Recently, volunteers in the U.S. and Europe have joined forces to digitize and catalog Jacobs’ collection. This effort involves methodically transferring the analog tapes to digital format. Each month, volunteer Brian Emerick collects around 20 boxes filled with tapes for this purpose.
- Each box contains 50 to 100 tapes.
- The digital files are then mixed and mastered by other volunteers.
- Finalized recordings are uploaded to Jacobs’ Internet Archive for public access.
Diverse Music from Iconic Artists
The artistic range of the archive is commendable. Some notable artists featured in the collection include:
- Phish
- Sonic Youth
- R.E.M.
- The Cure
- Pixies
This significant undertaking not only preserves live music history but also makes it available for free. Music lovers can now relive the magic of live performances through Jacobs’ extensive archive at Filmogaz.com.
