Odds and Sods for Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Eric Slick performing with yet another band, Sound of Urchin at the Fire in Philadelphia on Friday, October 26, 2007

"Eric slick played "Spirit of the Radio" with the boys. He "winged" the shit out of the song, truly awesome!!" Photo and comment from the Ween forum board

Happy Mischief Day.

Or is that an oxymoron.

So it's been a couple of crazy days at Casa Slick - in fact, Gary is on his way to the airport with Eric right now at 6:00 a.m. - Eric's got a gig with Delicious (yes, I know, add one more band to Eric's resume) this Sunday in Asheville, North Carolina at Stella Blue.

I kind of picked a bad time to stop blogging for a few days as I just found out I'm nominated for The 2007 Web Blog Awards - Best Diarist -- and thanks to the fabulous Jon Swift for nominating me (by the way, Jon is not his real name and he's someone famous - I think I have figured out who but I'm not saying) anyway, whether I'll make the finalist cut this year (to be announced this Wednesday) I do not know...if I'd had advance warning I'd have posted me doing some lap dances, etc.

Not. And I'm not in an especially festive mood, either...in fact, quite the opposite.

So the weekend started off great - I got a lot of writing in on Friday while waiting for Eric to come home from touring with Project Object - he was supposed to be back from Cincinnati on Thursday night but it was just too long a drive so he stayed overnight at keyboard player Eric Svalgard's house in Wilmington. Then, Eric, Julie and I went out to dinner with my friend Donna and her two daughters who are Eric and Julie's age, both vegetarians, and one of daughters goes to Drexel with Julie; her other daughter works there. So we all had that and much more in common and we had a blast, though naturally I was the village idiot and drank over my limit - that is, I had two beers, not one, and it was Chimay, which I swear is grain alcohol disguised as beer. Poor Eric, though...he was literally home for the first time in three weeks after spending hours and hours on the road and I basically dragged him right out the door for pizza with my pals. We ate at the fabulous Mama Palma's at 23rd and Spruce Streets because they have awesome vegetarian pizza combinations and also vegan pizza with soy cheese, especially cool as Donna's daughter Dana is also a vegan. But I didn't have to worry about Eric being tired - right after dinner he went to a classical Renaissance concert with his pal, Rich, then he headed over to the Fire where he sat in on a song with Sound of Urchin. Hence the above photo, the link for which was sent to me by my cool friend Joe...and you should click the link to his blog because he's got some neat stuff in there - and he even turned me onto a New York City hotel I didn't know about called The Pod which sounds like fun and right up my alley - Julie and I do a NY overnight trip every year during the holidays (and yeah, yeah, I've blogged them all, including my famous Oh My God I think I accidentally just ate a dog panic attack of 2004 and last year's stay at the Hotel of Horrors - see December archives for every year I've had the blog and there's a classic Slick Christmas tale in each...at the moment I'm thinking I should turn them into a holiday novella after a quick re-read and a sobby walk down memory lane).

Getting back to Eric, he then headed back to Wilmington, Delaware for the night because he's now teaching drums while on tour hiatus at Wilmington School of Rock.

He came home from a day of teaching Saturday, jumped into a costume, and then played a Halloween gig at the Black Lodge in Philadelphia and arrived back here sometime in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

I woke up pretty early Sunday morning and he's sitting on the sofa and so is Julie and I could tell right away that something was very wrong. My mother radar was on high alert just looking at their expressions -- and yes, the news was horrific. I don't want to get too personal here but they sadly informed me that someone from Rock School had passed away suddenly over the weekend - this was not only a good friend to Eric, she was also his student and also someone Gary taught/mentored when he was assistant music director at the Rock School Beatle show in 2005 and she was one of his best kids. So our family is heartbroken and while I am sad that Eric is on his way to Asheville now and won't be able to attend the wake/funeral, in a way I'm relieved because I don't care how old my kids are...I try and do anything and everything to shield them from pain, impossible as that might be. Of course the truth is, Eric really wanted to go to her memorial service, so I'm in pain for him in that regard, anyway, as I know how devastated he is and wishes he could be there. There's a very moving tribute on the School of Rock forum board for anyone interested though I have to warn you in advance, it's gut wrenching though yet another example of the extreme closeness and almost other worldly love of the Rock School family.

Then I read a note posted at Zoetrope Studios yesterday that an extremely talented young writer I knew who was battling cancer the last couple of years had passed away this weekend, leaving a daughter and a brokenhearted best friend of many years - another writer from Zoetrope I really love -- so I've basically spent the past forty-eight hours asking myself WHAT THE FUCK.

And why? Why, why, why?

I have no answers. Just the usual advice to myself. Love my family - appreciate every second, every minute I am with Gary, Julie, Eric, and Monty dog...and ugh, cliche coming but it fits...don't sweat the small stuff because it just doesn't matter and I am completely unable to tolerate anyone who does.

Here's to better days ahead...

Later,
xo

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later...

Eric Slick gets "pantied" while on stage with Project Object earlier this week in Wisconsin at Shank Hall, which, by the way, was a fictitious venue in Spinal Tap that actually became reality

So as you know, I put up a partial listing of Adrian Belew Power Trio tour dates in my post below - here's the official Jam Base and Pollstar ticket sites so you can buy your tickets directly.

Later,
xo

Adrian Belew Power Trio Dates! Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Philadelphia show!

Project Object performing Zomby Woof with Eric Slick on drums, featuring guest star and what a coincidence -- Adrian Belew engineer/vocalist extraordinaire, Biff Blumfumgangne on violin in Madison, Wisconsin on October 23, 2007.

Oh my god, that rocks. Anyway..

Hey hey hey - here's the first of the confirmed Adrian Belew Power Trio tour dates for 2008 -- and note to those of you in Philadelphia, tickets go on sale tomorrow right here!


Eric Slick, Adrian Belew, and Julie Slick, September, 2007

02/19/08 The Triple Door
Seattle, Washington

02/20/08 Aladdin Theater
Portland, Oregon

02/22/08 The Crystal Bay Club Casino
Crystal Bay, Nevada

02/23/08 Slim's
San Francisco, California

02/24/08 The Coach House
San Juan Cap., California

02/26/08 Belly Up Tavern
Solana Beach, California

02/28/08 Rhythm Room
Phoenix, Arizona

02/29/08 Santa Fe Brewing Company
Santa Fe, New Mexico

03/08/08 Tralfamadore Music Hall
Buffalo, New York

03/12/08 World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

03/13/08 B.B. King's Blues Club
New York, New York

03/14/08 Sunoco Performance Theater
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Project Object on Tour: Tonight in Cincinnati! (and Kozmic Dreams)

Picture of Eric Slick taken (in Michigan on October 18 either prior or subsequent to his show there) by one of the world's coolest photographers and oh god, she also has the most incredible MySpace site called Kozmic Dreams

Yo, Kozmic - if you are reading this, please send me the full size photo of Eric I posted above - I absolutely love it.

So tonight is the last night of Project Object's tour in Cincinnati (I finally learned how to spell that city) at the Poison Room. I'm sad it's over but I miss my son! (Though of course he's only home for four days before he takes off on tour again...what a life...do you think he'll swap with me?)

From the Zappa forum board:

"project object last night in Milwaukee was awesome. its unreal to have napi do his thing less than ten feet in front of you. the selections from one size fits all and roxy were like taking a trip back through time.

project object is great to see. they really keep the spirit of frank alive. i always have more fun at their shows than the zappa plays zappa shows (not that the zappa plays zappa shows are bad, i love them). project object have a fun and zaniness similar to frank's shows that zpz lacks a bit. the zft should stop shunning these guys and start working with them in keeping frank's music regularly performed EVERYWHERE. im sure there is one point that the fans, project object, and the zft would agree on: we want to hear more of frank's music l-i-v-e. with frank went the official source, so the slandering of those who are doing their part to keep frank's legacy alive is just wrong, on many, many levels."

I know Eric had some pals at the show in Madison last night, one of which is his good friend Biff Blumfumgangne, who had plans to join the band on stage with his violin for what...King King? I dunno but that's what I'm guessing.

Where are all my blogging Project Object fans? Ha ha - I'm spoiled because usually when Eric tours with Project Object or the Adrian Belew Power Trio, I come downstairs in the morning to all kinds of reviews but it's been sparse this time around...what, does Gail Zappa own the media now like the rest of the Republicans? Though I must admit, the only place I'm finding blurbs the last couple of days is in fact the Zappa forum board, so maybe not.

Here's another brief You Tube clip, this time featuring percussionist wizard Joshua Oxford though Eric is certainly prominent as well:



Cool, huh.

In other news...

Yesterday while I was out playing ball with the dog my cell phone rang and it was one of the producers from Hollywood to talk some more about the film/television rights for Three Days in New York City and its naughty little sequel, Another Bite of the Apple, and there I am, trying to have an intelligent conversation while Monty kept nudging me to throw him the ball.



So while I'm trying to collect myself, the producer then proceeds to throw out the name of yet another actress for the role of Elizabeth -- this is someone who once dated Eric Clapton and after I picked my jaw off the ground, how did I respond? I proceeded to pester him about the theme song for the soundtrack because, speaking of tracks, I have a one track mind. The hell with focusing solely my career, I want Adrian and Julie and Eric to do the music.

Hey, if nothing else, I've always had my priorities straight. Play ball with the dog, think about my kids, and talk to Hollywood about film options -- and in that order.

Sadly, though, now that we're talking finances, I had to refer him to my agent so no more fun phone calls I'm guessing.

When I got back indoors, Julie was cooking some vegetarian rice and bean dish that smelled like armpits that were out in the desert for three weeks without deodorant but it ended up being delicious -- but just you wait until she wakes up this morning, she's in big trouble. She used my shower last night - the detachable spray hose, that is -- before she got into bed for the evening and she forgot to adjust the setting back to shower. As a result, I woke up at dawn today to write, got in the tub, turned on the water, and got a full spray of ice water in my face courtesy of the hose. This is the second time it happened this month and I.AM.PISSED. She is going to be officially put on notice that the next time this happens, I am marching into her bedroom with said hose and spraying her awake with a frigid blast and we'll see how she likes it. Okay, so the hose won't reach into her bedroom. But that's what paper cups are for.

Oh, I'm kidding. You all know I love Julie so much it hurts, and I'm thrilled she's dividing her time between our house and her boyfriend's these days while said boyfriend tours with his own band. But I'm surprised that my tortured screams of MOTHERF**KER in the shower this morning, which is a mere ten feet or so from her bedroom, didn't wake her up, let alone the whole neighborhood....though I did hear Gary giggling. (Nah, that's a lie...in fact, Saint Gary actually climbed out of bed to help me even though he was 99% asleep because I was so freaked out I couldn't fix the damn thing and continued to be sprayed non-stop until he came to my rescue)

Anyway, that's about it for me right now -- I have a book to write -- but indulge me while I post another link to the flash I have published over at Tuesday Shorts because I love, love, love that site and whole premise.

Later,
xo

Project Object on Tour: Tonight in Madison!

Eric Slick at World Cafe Live October 14, 2007 (photo bt Gary Slick)

So tonight is the second to the last show on the Project Object Fall Surge Tour, and it takes place at the fabulous Majestic Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. What a beautiful venue that is - and I see Robert Fripp will be performing there in three weeks as well...you gotta love the synchronicity.

Tomorrow the tour wraps up in Cincinnati, and well, more on that later, I guess...I'm still searching around for reviews/articles on the Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago shows but haven't found any yet -- if anything pops up this afternoon or evening I will be back and post them.

In writing news, I had a flash (a story under 100 words) accepted today over Tuesday Shorts and I'm way psyched about it, especially as this is my second appearance there and I'm in esteemed company - some of the other notable authors published include Todd Zuniga, Jim Tomlinson...wait...what am I doing with those guys? (And err...Todd...in case you find this via a Google vanity search...and don't be shy, we all do them...where are the archives for Opium Magazine prior to 2007? I had a hard drive crash and lost two stories you published in 2004 and 2005 or is that 2005 and 2006...anyway...I'm dying to get them back as I have no other copies anywhere)

And err...note to my stalker: Coming to me from other writers' websites doesn't work though I'm impressed at the one you visited yesterday before clicking on his link to me - I would have thought his writing is way above your comprehension -- anyway, just to let you know, I am aware that you are here. I'm flattered, I guess, that you still want to drop in on me daily though as we all know, I'm simply irresistible so I know it's a hard habit to break har har but okay, as long as you don't use my name or habitually steal my "contacts", feel free to lurk and you can even have a virtual glass of champagne with me when I announce any upcoming big news. Cool? Cool!

Later,
xo

Project Object on Tour: Tonight in Milwaukee!

Andre Cholmondeley doing a wicked guitar solo with Eric Slick on drums, Napoleon Murphy Brock on sax/vocals, Dave Johnsen on bass, Eric Svalgard on keyboards and Josh Oxford on percussion, Lancaster, PA -- October 15, 2007

So tonight Project Object performs at Shank Hall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and here's an article that appears today in The Daily Page:

"Project/Object
Out of Town
Frank Zappa tribute

When: 10/22/07 @ 8:00pm
Cost: $16
Call: 255-4646
Web: ticketmaster

More Information:
Project/Object with Napoleon Murphy Brock Performing the Music Of Frank Zappa

Napoleon Murphy Brock, lead vocalist and instrumentalist with Frank Zappa for more than a decade, will tour once again with Project/Object, the mothers of reinvention.

Napoleon Murphy Brock is a singer, saxophonist and flautist who is best known for his work with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and 80s, including the albums One Size Fits All, Roxy and Elsewhere, and Bongo Fury. His own most memorable vocal accomplishments are illustrated on Village of the Sun, Inca Roads and Florentine Pogen. His numerous performances include the role of the "Evil Prince" on Zappa's Thing-Fish album. He has also performed with George Duke, Captain Beefheart and others.

As the lead singer and sax player with Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa last year, Napoleon Murphy Brock toured all over the World and received foremost praise from fans and critics alike.

The lineup is rounded out by Project/Object founder Andre Cholmondeley (nee Chumley) on guitar and vocals; wunderkind Eric Slick on drums who is also Adrian Belew's touring drummer; Dave Johnsen, who also performs with the Mahavishnu Project, on bass; and incredible keyboardist Eric Svalgard"

From the Zappa forum board:

"I enjoyed the hell out of the show in Troy, NY...

...This was my first time seeing Eric Slick and you can be damn sure I'll try to see any band he is in when they come to the area. I hope Belew will get over there. Bravo to all of P/O. This was the 5th or 6th time I've seen you guys and thought this was the best playing, sound clarity and setlist that I've heard yet. Everybody just played so well from Eric's enthusiasm and accuracy (and bombast from that little kit!) to other Eric playing some really sweet notes and timbres from the keys to Dave TEARING IT UP on Apostrophe to some really fine singin' and playin' from Andre to HOLY FUCK the percussionist was so damn fine! That Napoleon was remarkable goes without saying (which is in and of itself remarkable).

I've been listening to FZ even more than usual since the show, you guys really set me on fire. I'll be seeing ZPZ in Kingston in a couple of weeks (my 3rd show for them) and can't wait for that either. It'll be my first time hearing Ray White live and I can't wait to hear Scheila and Joe tear it up in particular. It's a fine time to be an FZ fan."
*******
Yeah, so if you are in or near Milwaukee tonight, as I keep telling you, this is an amazing band and should not be missed.

So in typical Eric fashion, after the tour ends at the Poison Room in Cincinnati on Wednesday night, he's driving home and will be back in Philadelphia late Thursday, October 25. He'll be here for a couple of days but then on Tuesday, October 30 he flies to Asheville to do a series of shows with a new band he's involved with, Delicious, from November 1-4; then he heads down to Nashville right after his last show with them for a week long rehearsal with Adrian Belew - Julie's flying down on November 6 -- they'll both be there until the evening of November 11 -- do you think that along with rehearsing, they will be autographing copies of Side Four Live? Ha ha - this is my fantasy, not something I've been told -- but since it's also my blog, indulge me. But one thing I do know - the week of rehearsals is for new material gearing up for the entire month of touring they'll be doing February-March 2008 as well as for a new studio CD.

Speaking of The Adrian Belew Power Trio, someone put up a new You Tube last night of the band performing Big Electric Cat in Jacksonville, Florida this past August and it's pretty cool:



So I think that's it for now - I am slinking away from cyberworld and spending the day writing but should anything momentous occur I will be back.

Oh...and if anyone has any footage of Uncle Remus or I'm So Cute from this fabulous Project Object tour or can take some for me tonight, tomorrow, or the final show Wednesday and post it on You Tube, I will be forever in your debt.

Later,
xo

Project Object on Tour: Tonight in Chicago!

Eric Slick with Project Object at the Chameleon, Lancaster, PA Monday, October 15, 2007

Okay, I am seriously wishing I'd arranged to spend this weekend in Chicago, where Project Object will be performing both Friday and Saturday evenings at Martyrs. The reviews keep coming in, each one more fantastic than the next.

And oh my god, Eric has been great about blogging this tour - he has another new entry right here.

in his latest post, Eric refers to a fan in Troy, New York wearing a "special" t-shirt - I'm taking the liberty of posting a photo because it's too cool for words and because I love Eric's face in this pic:



From the Zappa Forum Board:

"I've been to 3 ZPZ shows, and I must honestly say the Project/Object show Friday in NYC was more entertaining than all three.

The whole band was great, but I was most enthralled with Eric Slick and Andre's playing.

Slick was making faces the whole time, and really enjoying himself while he laid a rock-solid foundation to the songs.

Andre was ATTACKING the guitar during his solos, and if i remember correctly his filthy habits solo had my jaw to the floor. He doesn't hold back, and takes chances.

Just as important as the accuracy with which these guys play is the FUN that they have. Much more loose than ZPZ, and they seem to have many more of those "inspired instances" when either the band is totally clicking together, or someone is creating a totally unique and amazing solo.

Someone definitely recorded this show, and I really can't wait until it shows up somewhere on the internet.

ZPZ still rules too"

"My video of the ridiculous performance of Apostrophe on Monday evening." (and how cool, this person also included another Montana video from the Chameleon as well, so I'll post them both)

Apostrophe:



Montana:




Okay, abbreviated post today but I'm still waiting for reviews from the Cleveland and Detroit shows last night and Wednesday so as soon as they pop up, I will come back on line (which I am trying to avoid while writing my new book) and edit this.

I'm ripping through chapters of "Bitten to the Core" and may actually have a first draft within weeks. Ah, it's so easy once the main character is already fully formed via my two previous books...and even easier when a new, wicked plot idea just kind of fell into my lap and encouragement/incentive came from Hollywood...

Later,
xo

Project Object on Tour: Tonight in Cleveland -- and they've been SPANNERED!

Eric Slick at the World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA on October 14, 2007 - photo by Gary Slick

So what a thrill to wake up this morning to a review from the infamous and spectacular UK 'zine Spannered -- one of their reporters caught Project Object's recent show in New York City, and if this doesn't make you want to see the band in Cleveland tonight, I don't know what else I can do!

Live at The Lion's Den, New York, 12 October 2007
By Martin Longley
Napoleon Murphy Brock & Project/Object In New York

There are two meaningful Frank Zappa cover bands operating In the UK, each of them excellent in their differing ways. But, as you might expect, The Muffin Men and Zappatistas have their equivalent outfits over in the States, and surely the best of these must be Project/Object, formed in New Jersey, back at the beginning of the 1990s. Whereas Liverpool's Muffin Men have toured regularly with original Mothers Of Invention drummer Jimmy Carl Black (the Zappatistas keep themselves to themselves), Project/Object have magnified this tendency through collaborations with around a dozen Zappa alumni. Their latest spate of dates find them accompanied by singer, saxophonist and flautist Napoleon Murphy Brock, whose key period with Zappa was in the middle 1970s.

Brock has been appearing on the Zappa Plays Zappa tour, fronted by Frank's offspring Dweezil. Project/Object's core five-piece line-up is customarily augmented by other guest players, as was the case for this barnstormer showing at The Lion's Den in Greenwich Village. Andre Cholmondeley plays the FZ role, but isn't tempted into direct reproduction on either the guitaring or vocal fronts. Conversely, the rest of the band have no trouble negotiating the complex high-speed chases of Zappa's pieces, turning in a wondrous glut of authentic mimicry, playing as if the music is freshly inked, so vital is their delivery.

I can't believe the scene as I walk into The Lion's Den. It's the archetypal rock joint, and the band have only been onstage for fifteen minutes, but the crowd is already deep in their grip, a motley bunch in terms of ages, sexes and clans, getting off on the convoluted headbang serialism like it's pop music, which ultimately it is, and Zappa kinda perversely hoped it would end up so. Folks are dancing to the avant garde, and if you've just arrived from a John Cage gig around the corner in Washington Square, this is going to be one of your weirdest evenings ever.

I can't believe this fucking band! Clever contortions, but brutally performed, noodly twists, but heeled in the testes, authentic Zappa reproducing, but including fresh improvisation, and the man's solos, delivered on a fucking electric mandolin, fer chrissakes! Well, on a few numbers, anyway. Cholmodeley takes most of the FZ solos on conventional guitar. Moog maniac Eric Svalgard stares into the face of oblivion, and drummer Eric Slick is the absolute foundation here, a powerhouse of accelerated intricacy. And Napoleon Murphy Brock? He's not around for every number, rationing his appearances out, but when he's there he's singing his high soul croon, or blowing fruitily R'n'B horn, or cool flute jazz-waft.

The Sheik Yerbouti album is clearly a favourite, with tasty versions of Broken Hearts Are For Assholes, Jones Crusher and (best of all) City Of Tiny Lites. Unlike the UK combos, Project/Object are more concerned with Zappa's later, more commercial period. There's not much in the way of early Mothers material here, or even the extended jazzier instrumentals that the Zappatistas enjoy so much. So, there's a neat reading of Tinseltown Rebellion, for instance. But, then it's back to the '70s, for I'm The Slime and Brock's finest moment, Inca Roads. The band play two sets, and the crowd throw themselves deeper and deeper into the music. There's a perfect co-existence of sheer absurdist fun and extreme acrobatic improvisation, and rarely do the four spheres of these, the band and the audience coincide so completely into a beautiful grave-robbing frenzy that's at once nostalgic and supremely of-the-moment.
*****
And here are some wonderful photos taken in Troy, New York on October 11, 2007, sent to me by "Lerch", who also left me a comment on my blog which said:

"I saw Project Object on 10/11/2007 in Troy NY, and it was my first time seeing Eric Play. I had been reading your blog occasionally through my RSS aggregator for a while, and when I mentioned to Eric that I read his mom's blog he said, "NO WAY." What a nice guy and a great player. I've seen P.O. several times and I think this was my favorite show.

I posted on Eric's blog but know you like the pictures so here is a link to the photos from the show! Enjoy and thanks for the great writing; I really enjoy your blog and am delighted to post some pictures and tell you hello!"

Cool! Thanks, Lerch - I really appreciate that.

And there are yet more comments on the Zappa forum board, which are of wicked, wicked pleasure to me:

"Attended the P/O show at World Cafe Live in Philly on Sun night. AWESOME show, very impressed with the musicianship rendered with this line up. I really missed Ike this time but I must say Napolean Murphy Brock filled the task more than adequately. Andre Cholmondeley blew me away on lead guitar, slick was born with hands like a hammer, percussion insane, young guitarist (sorry forgot your name) made a presence and will be our next generation Zappa all star.

Picked up a great CD, Napolean Murphy Brock featuring Gregarious Movement and loved every minute of it on the ride home to NJ. Thanks for the great music Napolean! I look foreward to the next show, long live P/O and the music of Eff Zee."
*****
"I saw Project/Object in Lancaster last night... greatest experience of my life. Too bad there was a poor amount of people who showed up, being a Monday night, but that kind of made it even better for me as a first time live Zappa encounter, as it was so intimate. I got my picture taken with Napoleon, spoke with Andre for a while at the very end (I was the last one out of the club, the 4 security guys were getting pissed at me), and talked to the lovely merchant for a long time also.. bought $45 worth of things. Nap's CD Balls, Cosmik Debris encyclopedia, and the white P/O shirt with Nap and Frank.

I also received a set list from Andre, I'll scan that soon and some photos, video links, etc. Wonderful evening. The concert was about 2 hrs 45 mins in length... 9:30 - 12:30, with a break around 11. I took at least an hour of video. I don't know what else to say. I was astounded. Support these great men and go to the concerts in your area. I know I will see them every time they're here, no matter what. I even regret not going to the World Cafe, as that's not too far for me, and I hear it was an epic night."
*****
In other news, the Adrian Belew Power Trio tour is confirmed and it's a biggie: February 19 through March 16, 2008 and that's just step one in global domination 2008. I will post the venues and cities as soon as I officially have them in my hot little hand but from the original tour schedule I saw a couple weeks ago, it looks like it's a major cross-country deal so a lot of you are going to be very, very happy -- especially those fans on the west coast and those of you in places like Colorado -- but I'd better zip my lip until Adrian and/or Pollstar put up the dates/venues.

I think that's it for now -- stay tuned for some cool news on the writing front!

Later,
xo

Project Object on Tour: Tonight in Wilkes-Barre, PA (and some thoughts about the internet)

Photo of Eric Slick by Gary Slick at the World Cafe on October 14, 2007

Oh man, the show Sunday night at WCL was so freaking fantastic I have no words. If you are anywhere in the Wilkes-Barre, PA area, you absolutely must catch them tonight at the River Street Jazz Cafe. They are so fucking awesome it's ridiculous...and really, there's not much more I can say but courtesy of Gary, I do have photos...some are from World Cafe Live Sunday night and others from Asbury Park Saturday evening:

Percussionist Joshua Oxford with Eric Slick


Keyboardist/mandolin player Jordan Shapiro


Sax player Elliott Levin, Eric Slick, and Dave Dreiwitz - the new Crescent Moon?


The amazing and incredible Napoleon Murphy Brock


One of the best male (ha!) bassists in the universe, Dave Johnsen


Keyboard wizard Eric Svalgard


One of my favorite people in the universe and now one of my favorite guitarists as well, Andre Cholmondeley


Elliott and Dave - who knew Dave could also play trumpet? He rocks!


And here are the obligatory fan reviews:

From the (tee hee again) Zappa forum board

"An awesome show... A few highlights for me were...

The 3 minute bass solo by Dave Johnson during City of Tiny Lights (eat your heart out Dweezil!!), the drum and percussion duet during Don;t You Ever Wash That when Josh and Eric switched percussion set..

And of course Eric singing I'm So Cute was so Bozzioish it was ridiculous... and Ed Palermo's appearance for the encore of Peaches.. And of course everything Napi played was fabulous...even took a couple of ripping solos.. And Andre was amazing...man there were flames shooting out of his fingers at times.. Smile

I think the highest praise I can give is that you hardly even noticed that Ike wasn't there... The boys played like they had something to prove, and boy did they ever..
Andre, we await impatiently for the next tour and your next appearance in the NYC area..."

From the Ween forum board:

"Great fucking show last night. I love that room. Best Crescent Moon set I've ever seen. They had Elliot sit in with them on sax."

"Show was great except I missed all of Crescent Moons set except the last tune (Hammer to the Skull).

Left early to assure work was not missed. I was there physically but totally out of it all day. Def. will be checking P/O again. Slicks parents were there both nights and were fucking awesome folks."

"...I can't say enough about Eric Slick. His playing with P/O was so amazing I shit myself. His sister is a monster on the bass as well.....a family that plays together....stays together."

"... slick is just.... TOO slick!!"


********

I agree. Eric Slick is too slick for words. He is one of the kindest, generous, most humble and talented people you'll ever want to meet. And some of you have been asking me via email "Why is he taking drum lessons?"

Err...the same reason I constantly attend writing workshops. Because you need to keep expanding your horizons so that you never get stale or stagnate. It's why when I'm not writing myself, I'm reading books by others, in all genres. Eric has the chance to study with one of the top drum professors at Berklee School of Music in Boston. You know what he's actually doing? Taking a twelve hour Greyhound bus ride by himself every chance he gets in between touring at great time and expense just for this privilege.

And good grief, for the last time, he is not the 5th "Beatle" in King Crimson. As Adrian succinctly said in his blog: ERIC IS MINE. No offense to Robert Fripp, but I kinda wish he'd spill the beans already because some of the speculation has not been all that nice and in all fairness, enough time has passed and the natives are getting restless ha ha.

And now some serious words from your sponsor.

When I first started this blog, I had no idea where I was going with it but fortuitously enough, I began it at the end of October, 2004, just as Nanowrimo, or National Writing Month, was about to begin. Nanowrimo is an event I try to participate in every year, in which the goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in thirty days during the month of November. Believe it or not, I have written four novels using Nanowrimo as a springboard, though naturally what I wrote in thirty days was edited and rewritten many times before they were actually finished novels. And so I used the blog back then as a vehicle to post daily chapters during November, 2004 which I have since removed.

So then the blog sort of evolved into a daily personal diary (and I had to laugh at one of my stalkers who typed on another writing site to which I belong "I am a literary writer - I do not read personal blogs" but my site meter tells me WAY differently...sometimes she spends hours a day here, reading even my comment section over and over again and will even use my blog to further her own interests...i.e., if someone interviews or reviews me, she copies the link and then writes to that person, asking them to review or interview her...only problem is, she's a terrible writer and I don't want guilt by association so now I know to let these people know in advance that once their piece on me is published, they will probably be hearing from her and damn if it isn't true...they write back to me every time and say "How did you know that, Robin - are you psychic?" Nah, I just know human nature har har.)

When I was lucky enough to get a book deal for Three Days in New York City, I then used the blog as promo/advertising for my writing. And I still do...it's a very cool and useful tool to have - just ask Neil Gaiman. (More on him later though not a lot - just the fact that he's friendly with Harlan Ellison and oh boy wait until you see what I link below about Harlan). In fact, Neil stopped by here a couple of years ago and left a comment and I still haven't recovered...but in addition to Neil, I've met several other interesting writers and personalities and we've sporadically emailed back and forth about our books...it's been truly wonderful. You know why? Because this is the internet, not the real world...and our "friendships" end here. In the real world, we have our families...and on a daily basis we deal with the mundane...as well as great joy and horrifying grief just like everyone else. These are things we want to share with the people whom we love in the real world but not necessarily the internet because really, other than what I type here, what do you actually know about me? Let me answer that for you.

Absolutely nothing.

You may think you do, but trust me, you do not.

I only write here what I want you to know...and if you insist on reading secret messages into what I've written or have done a psychological profile on me based on that, you are wasting your time.

Getting back to my blog...

So then Julie and Eric landed their dream gig with Adrian Belew and Eric also with Project Object, Crescent Moon...and countless others. When that happened, this blog became a labor of love for me to promote my kids as well, and I met many fans who comment here and email me and it's fabulous, it really is.

But the bottom line is, and I've tried to say this many times nicely...the reason I gravitated to the internet in the first place is that I am not a social person. Yeah, I have been lucky enough to meet a few writers on line at places like Zoetrope Studios with whom I did click with in the real world -- Susan Henderson, Ellen Meister, Maryanne Stahl,, Jordan Rosenfeld, Kimberly Wetherell, Myfanwy Collins, and many from the Back Space writing community come to mind but the truth of the matter is, I have recently been receiving emails which are way upsetting because they are making me feel like I am somehow hurting people I don't even know because I don't want to connect with them in the real world either by telephone or in person...even though I have tried to tell them it's not them, it's me...just ask my husband, if not for the kids and the fact that I'm a writer and need to earn a living, I would probably never even leave my house unless it's to eat in a good restaurant or travel someplace cool.

I love my house. And I love my family. My needs are very basic, and I guess I'm extremely lucky because I'm happy in my own skin and don't need others around me.

I am also not a therapist.

I understand we all have problems - I have problems of my own - but I can't solve yours and if you must know, when internet strangers tell me their problems, I want to distance myself from them even further because I simply do not have the means or time to help them -- hey, I'm damaged myself -- but despite this, I feel terrible guilt instead of saying to myself "This is the internet, Robin...you don't even have to sign on. Why are you worrying about strangers?"

I use AOL. It got to the point where as soon as I signed on, I would be gang-banged instant messaged. I was only signing on to check my mail in between writing, but instead ended up wasting hours IMing because I felt guilty. Again.

As a result, I've completely stopped instant messaging and don't even sign on to AOL; I've disconnected all of my other instant messaging tools and was shocked to learn that because I have a gmail account anyone can chat with me there so now I don't even stay signed on to that during the day.

Which leaves the blog. I love my blog. I hope it goes on forever and the archives remain even after I've left this planet. Please feel free to visit all day long if you want - I love that you enjoy reading about Julie and Eric and Adrian and even me.

But it has to stop there.

I notice that Neil Gaiman doesn't have a comments section on his blog and now I know why. I enjoy my comments, though - 99% of the time they are lovely and fun and I also enjoy commenting at places like LitPark, so I really don't want to have to disconnect my comments section as well.

Please don't force me to take that step. Read, enjoy, comment in a positive manner about music and writing...tell me a joke...whatever...but remember, this is the internet, and this is a dangerous place...this is a dangerous place (a prize goes to the first person who comments who knows where I got that phrase from).

Remember when I mentioned Harlan Ellison above? Read this, and now you will understand why the internet has lost its appeal for me and why I am rethinking how open I am on line. It's one of the most chilling and fascinating articles on how we are misconstrued on the internet I've ever read, and the fact that someone as famous as Harlan got involved...holy cow.

The Life and Death of Jesse James

Later,
xo

Project Object on Tour: Tonight in Philadelphia!

Eric Slick on drums with Project Object performing "Apostrophe" in New York on October 11, 2007.

And I could not help but notice Eric has a new, very touching post up over at his blog today.

ETA #2 (as "threatened" below): Wow. Just found this review from Joe at the Full Catastrophe and click on the link to see a great Eric photo collage - thanks, Joe!:

Project Awesome

"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture."

What can I say about last night's Project Object show at Asbury Lanes that will properly and comprehensively convey all my thoughts? I can throw out a slew of complementary adjectives...awesome, incredible, mind-blowing, inspirational, invigorating, exceptional. But what does any of that mean to anyone who wasn't actually present in the room to experience it themselves?

It's best to describe a live concert not by the reaction of one, but of the many in attendance. So as I scanned the room throughout the evening, I saw a majority of smiling faces, dancing feet, bopping heads, tapping toes, and just an all-encompassing sense of giddiness and joy.

Calling Project Object a Zappa cover band is way too limiting. They are a group of consummate musicians who play their hearts out. Just watching them perform, you quickly understand that this isn't just about playing music, it's about being passionate about playing music.

I'll admit, the reason I was drawn to this concert in the first place was because of a 20-year-young drummer named Eric Slick. I'd seen him play several times prior in bands that are in some way related to Ween. Bands like Crescent Moon and Chris Harford & The Band of Changes. I would have loved to have seen him play with Adrian Belew, and hopefully I will on the next go around. I'd seen him at the Paul Green School of Rock Music Festival in Asbury Park. Basically, if Eric "the kid" Slick is on drums, I'll go to the show.

On a side note, I also got to talk to Eric's dad, Gary. He's the one that "looks like Jerry Garcia." He's totally cool, it was like I was talking to someone I've known forever, even though we'd only met, briefly, once before during the School of Rock mayhem last summer. We talked about Prog rock bands, Philadelphia neighborhoods, the beaches of Germany, and cheese steaks."

ETA: This just in from the Ween forum board, and I'm sure I'll be adding these "ETAs" all day long today:

"Wow.....just wow.

Me, my friend Jen and Mighty Joe spent most of the show standing on the side of the stage watching the rhythm section . I've seen Eric Slick play on numerous occasions, nothing compared to last night. Holy shit...that kid is one of the best drummers I've ever seen. In Glen terms...."He's Josh Freese good". I've never been a huge Zappa fan but I can appreciate musicianship in any form and they had it. I will gladly punch the Pope in the face or beat a nun with a shovel to get the opportunity to see these guys again. "

So yay! Tonight's the big night - Project Object and Crescent Moon, also with Eric on drums, at the World Cafe Live! Doors at 6:00 p.m. - and they have a decent dinner menu - show starts at 7:30 p.m. I really hope to see a lot of you there and even though I have now officially outed myself as completely anti-social har har, please come up, introduce yourselves, and say hi. But after that, please give me my space and let me just enjoy the music. I can't handle talking while my son is on stage, I just want to soak it all in and enjoy because watching my offspring play their music is my most favorite thing in the world. Okay? Okay!

From the (tee-hee) Frank Zappa forum board:

"Whoa! Incredible show last night in New York. This band is the real deal. Do not hesitate to get out and see 'em if you have the chance. They are all honorary alumni if ya ask me. They exude Frank Zappa from every pore, as if Frank was standing in the wings, pushing them to extremes. And they do it all with such ease it's almost disturbing.

Svalgard was a wildman, a bionic Tommy Mars, but with more charm and less sleaze. Totally blew me away. A real highlight of the show. New guy Joshua Edwards on percussion is a total fucking greaser and would have fit nicely into the original MOI. He told me he has been studying Zappa music for 4 years. You'd think he would be filling your gas tank...the guy didn't miss a trick. Dave Johnson on bass is deceptively brilliant, grounding the band. He serves the music perfectly, in total control (and he has a cute wife, t' boot).

Eric Slick is now my favorite drummer of all time. What more can I say? Ya gotta see him perform. His style reminds me a bit of the young Robert Wyatt. The ultimate Zappa player.

Jordan Shapiro guested and played some great rock mandolin. It wasn't kitschy or anything like that. Sounded great and pleasant on the ears.

Napoleon was a charmer, as always. He was on stage for about half the show (?).
And...Andre, now the sole guitar player, let it rip. Totally balls out Zappa, just the way I like it. And he even played WATERMELON (with Jerry Cucurullo sitting in on drums). Yowza!

Edit: oh yeah, P/O attracts young, beautiful girls who actually seem to know every twist and turn of Frank's music. Where were these girls when I was a young, single fella? No Fair!"
*****

"DITTO! Cool! Slick is the Man."
*****

"Don't even git me started about eric slick...my no. 1 fave too...i mentioned this in another thread already but check out this month's drumhead mag for a nice article about him and his amazing bass-playin' sister, julie slick!"
*****

"Overall the best show i've seen and i've seen a few, Belew thrice, Claypool thrice, Primus, Rush, Dream Theater, Medeski Martin & Wood, Buckethead etc.

Eric was noticeably great and i'm looking forward to seeing him again with Adrian Belew in march. Dave was incredible on bass, and Eric was entertaining as all hell on keyboards. Jordan was alright, and Napolean ruled. Andre was the man, got to say a few things to him."
********

So if that doesn't put you in the mood to head out to the World Cafe tonight, I don't know what else I can say.

Yesterday was a totally amazing fun day in my other life as Robin Slick, writer. The incredibly fabulous Stella Price joined me as a panelist where I moderated a Networking/Promo panel for writers on behalf of Philadelphia Stories. At first, we...or maybe it's just me...were totally intimidated by the huge, packed room full of academics. So it made my soul rise to see everyone furiously scribbling down everything Stella and I had to say...because really, the average literary author thinks once they are published, they just have to sit back and wait for the praise and the sales.

Err...no.

Ha ha - Stella and I set them straight and we had everyone laughing. One very scholarly fellow, after I told the group just how important the internet was for book sales, raised his hand and said "Isn't this counterproductive? You are using the internet instead of reading books which is exactly what we as authors don't want...people on line instead of buying our novels."

Err...no.

Again, my girl Stella gave concrete examples of how misguided he was in his thinking and I did as well...he was actually a very nice, attractive fellow who ended up taking our promo stuff with him at the end and I'm pretty sure we've got him on our team now.

Yay, Stella! Yay, me!

Anyhoo...next we headed to Robin's Bookstore for a signing/chat about our books where we were joined by another one of my favorite authors, Bianca D'Arc -- I love Bianca -- met her last year for the first time and we just clicked and have many similar opinions and interests -- Cat Johnson, Philippa Grey-Gerou, Marie Collins...and oh god, I'm sorry...there were a few other writers present and I did not get their names. We had a blast and then headed over to my new favorite Mexican/Cuban restaurant, Mixto, for copious amounts of food and alcohol.

Yeah, I know, I said I'm an anti-social loner but once I force myself to leave the house and hang out with my writer/musician pals, I always end up having a blast. The trick is to do it selectively and maybe once monthly...no more or I'd need meds.

Heh. Just kidding.

Or not.

See you tonight!

Later,
xo