The Adrian Belew Power Trio Does the Who/Led Zep...circa 1970s (Part I)

Okay, my family came through. They not only took two cameras and their laptops, this time they remembered the cable so that they could send me photos as they happen. Now this first pic is pretty normal -- Julie Slick, Adrian Belew, and Eric Slick, wowing the crowd at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio


I love how Adrian smiles...think he enjoys this band? (I have it on good authority that he's having the best time of his life...whoa...when you think about the musicians with whom he's played, that is really kind of humbling)


And Eric is having a blast, too (because this is what he lives for...)


Press conference/autograph time -- can I tell you how surreal it is for me to see this?


But after the show, someone's wacky rock star side starts to come out...


And you can tell Julie is having some pretty strange thoughts...


Oh man, thank God I wasn't there - I'd have been having a heart attack and trust me, wait until you see the next set of photos I'll put up in a separate post..


Now at this point, Eric still has his wits about him (and I can read his mind "Wtf is she doing?????), and Gary seems to be merely amused...but pretty soon Julie's insanity becomes contagious and wait until you see what they do once inside their hotel room...

Part II to follow along with reviews and some more tales from the road...

Later,
xo

A, O, Way To Go Ohio

Why, it's the Adrian Belew Power Trio

So this is what I know so far:

(1) Last night's Adrian Belew Power Trio concert at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was amazing. I'm so jealous I missed it I can't even tell you. Gary called me and he's still on this unbelievable high from the show and after-meal with Adrian where they talked a lot about this band's future and some really exciting plans;

(2) In answer to the many emails I've received since posting about their existence -- and I am very grateful for that...thrilled, actually -- the autographed/doodled by the Adrian Belew Power Trio Beatbox CD will be available for sale on Ade's site in the near future;

(3) There is a very, very cool newspaper article today in the Cincinatti Post about the trio entitled Adrian Belew's New Trio is Long on Youth;

(4) You can catch the trio tonight at the Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio;

(5) Eric, as per your telephone request of this morning because you didn't have internet access, I ordered Shins tickets as soon as they went on sale at 10:00 a.m. today and you will be both happy and quite relieved to know that I have scored you two tickets so that you won’t have to sleep with another totally uninteresting Shins fan on Craigslist later;

(6) Julie, I emailed your physics professor at Drexel University and let him know you wouldn't be in class today because you PLAYED A GIG AT THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME LAST NIGHT WITH ADRIAN BELEW...

Oh. Sorry. Heh.

And just so you know, family, I miss you very much -- I'm eating my heart out that I can't be there but the dog, I'm sure, appreciates my loyalty -- and just so you know part two, I'm glued to the computer, writing my little heart out. And what a nice surprise I just got. A little elf wrote to tell me that Another Bite of the Apple is the #1 best seller here.

Later,
xo

Hey Ho...Ohio

There it is - my official new book cover, complete with blurbs, as it will appear in bookstores across the universe. Well, this is a high res photo so the colors are off...on my screen, the lipstick on the apple looks blue, etc., obviously it's going to be red, but that could just be my computer. Anyway...

Yay!

But naturally, that's not the real cause of my excitement this week (though I might also add that I've been extremely lucky in the acceptance department lately with short stories coming out in many magazines over the next couple of months...hooray!)

Nope, the real reason I'm jumping for joy is:



The Adrian Belew Power Trio - featuring Julie Slick on bass and Eric Slick on drums, who are back out on tour!

Okay, so the family left for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, this morning...digging out of a foot of ice in Philadelphia to get the Jeep out and heading towards ten feet of snow in Ohio.

I am trying not to hyperventilate.

Poor Eric. His flight to Cleveland was cancelled yesterday due to all the bad weather and thus, so was his gig with Project Object. Luckily we already had the plan in place for his dad to drive Julie to Cleveland today for their gig with Adrian Belew but I know Eric was bumming bigtime over the cancellation of the P/O gig.

But hey hey, there's tonight's completely sold out show at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Friday in Dayton, and the big show/recording of Side 4 Live in Newport, KY (see post below for all details and links) to look forward to, and the weather forecast is good; in fact, they had better luck clearing ten feet of snow from Ohio than our lovely City of Philadelphia had clearing a couple inches. There is something very corrupt about our city government but I'd best leave that alone right now.

However, I'd be lying if I said my heart won't be in my mouth until I get the phone call that they've arrived safely. It's a seven hour drive to Cleveland assuming there's no traffic or ice...and soundcheck is at 5:00 p.m. tonight. They did leave at 7:00 a.m. so that's giving them ten hours...but still.

Ugh, I'm not happy unless I'm worrying. And let's not even discuss Julie flying out of O'Hare Airport in Chicago to get to New York on Sunday to record Jon Anderson's new CD...I can't even bring myself to look at the Chicago weather forecast.

But all that aside, to say I'm excited right now is putting it mildly.

And in case anyone reading this is planning on attending any of the Ohio shows, the trio will have a special treat. They are offering limited edition CDs of an eleven minute version of Beat Box Guitar Live with original artwork and autographs by all three members of the trio...they will even customize them for you. Sun Ra used to do this and now his doodled CDs are collectors' items.

I know if I were lucky enough to get one of these, though, I'd have to be reduced to eating cat food for dinner before I'd part with mine.

And how cool that all three members of the Adrian Belew Power Trio are fantastic artists...funny, I thought that being a painter was Julie's true calling in life. Her artwork is incredible and she studied at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia and University of the Arts even as a child. When she draws a portrait, it looks like a photograph jumping off the page. If the family didn't take my camera with them to Ohio, I'd be taking a photo right now of Julie's drawing of Gary and Eric when they were, ironically, stuck at Chicago's O'Hare Airport on the way home from the west coast gig with Adrian.

I noticed a couple mentions of the trio in two Ohio newspapers, namely, right here and right here.

Anyway...I'm going to spend the next five days in hermit mode, writing my little heart out, but of course I will be back with blogposts as I hear from the family as to each Power Trio performance and other amusing little anecdotes of which I'm sure there will be plenty knowing this gang -- though now I have to share my stories/audience with this Grand Master Blogger...and a very fine author in his own write.

But I mean, come on. How can I compete with stories which contain mentions of Robert Fripp's willy?

Err...I guess you'll have to read my actual books for that, huh. (Insert evil, wicked grin here) Links to purchase on the right. Get 'em while they still have the old "collector" covers...in a few weeks they will be gone. Ha!

Later,

xo

A major snow? Oh say it isn't so!

My youngest son, Monty, frolicking during our last blizzard

So like for the first time in...ever...I am actually praying for no snow this week. The schedule around here is so crazy and awesome...but yikes, if we get a blizzard we're in big trouble.

Anyway, here's some of the cool stuff going on.

Right now Eric is on his way out the door.

"Where ya goin', Er?"

"I'm going to Rock School to hang out with Jon Anderson."

Jon's in town to do a bunch of shows. Eric first met Jon in 2005 when he played a gig with him at the LA Knitting Factory -- they did an amazing version of Heart of the Sunrise which they also recorded together on the Rock School Soundtrack.

Speaking of Jon Anderson...it gets crazier, but continuing on with this week...

5:00 tonight Eric heads for Wilmington, Delaware to rehearse with Project Object for their gig at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this coming Wednesday, February 14.

Yeah, he's flying to Cleveland on Wednesday, just when they're expecting the snow.

Okay, I'm just not going to allow myself to think about that.

The next day, Gary and Julie load their gear into our Jeep and take off for Cleveland where Julie and Eric will perform with Adrian Belew at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Thursday, February 15.

Friday, February 16, the Adrian Belew Power Trio performs at The Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio.

Saturday, February 17, the Adrian Belew Power Trio performs at The Southgate House in Newport, KY where they will record their new CD, Side 4 Live, in front of, you guessed it, a live audience.

Sunday morning Gary and Eric are going to load all of the gear back into the Jeep and take the eight hour drive back to Philadelphia. Julie, on the other hand, is getting on a plane for New York City, where Jon Anderson has requested that she record his two shows at B.B. Kings House of Blues on Sunday, February 18 and Monday, February 19. It appears that both of these shows are sell-outs but I'm not entirely sure.

So yeah, my daughter is going to go straight from recording her first CD as a performer with Adrian Belew to producing a Jon Anderson CD within two-three days of each other.

I know I've said it before, but in my next life, I really want to come back as my kids.

So now you know why it simply cannot snow this week. Everyone say magical chants, light candles, do whatever it is you do.

Later,
xo

Ike Willis/Project Object/Eric Slick...and Bah! I hate Beta Blogger!

Okay, I give up. Well, at least for this morning. Beta Blogger is driving me crazy. It's taking me an hour to post and if this blurb works I'll faint; no one is able to comment -- you get a weird "error" thing if you try and I've done everything from contact Google (yeah, like that's getting me anywhere) to joining a stupid blogger forum board where I find out like most of the world is having problems so I guess they're either going to fix it or we're all going to switch over to MySpace but...bah! I hate MySpace, too, even though I do have a site because cool people keep inviting me to theirs and I've got some ultra cool friends on mine.

But just in case I am able to publish this post, here's a very fine You Tube of Ike Willis with Project Object (and Eric Slick on drums, of course)...just wish it was longer, damn it!

Okay. I do have other news but I'm afraid to type anything else because if this blogpost fails and I lose it, I'm blowing up my computer.

ETA: Whoa! It finally worked! And comments appear to be working, too! But I'm not pressing my luck any further...I'll be back this afternoon after I calm down.

Later,
xo

And today, so that it can actually be read by real people...

So my post today was unreadable in all of those colors -- I've been forceably switched to Beta Blogger and I guess I need to read up on it...right now it feels weird but I'm going to enjoy those labels, I think, especially if I pick good ones that show up on Google searches. So I figured I'd repost in easy to read white.

Anyway, here's what will have the first official Robin Slick Beta Blogger label:
Saturday 17th
Ballroom
BUY!
Adrian Belew Trio
guest TBA
$30 / $35 | 7PM doors, 8PM show | 18+ |
Come Be A Part Of The Live Recording for the upcoming Adrian Belew Trio's “Side 4” record!

In other news, I woke up to a most excellent review of Three Days in New York City and Another Bite of the Apple at Bella Magazine today - thank you so much, Karen Pruitt Fowler.

While I'm shouting out in glee, I know I mentioned it yesterday, but I'm going to be writing a regular column called "Psychotic Reaction" for N.L. Belardes' Noveltown Review and to get this magazine off the ground and available all across the universe, Nick, or N.L., needs support in the advertising department so please click on the ad sheet link when you visit the link I provided -- especially if you are a writer and want to promote your work because something tells me, with the heavy hitters involved in this project, that this is going to be HUGE and you're going to reach a large audience. Just which luminaries are featured in the first issue besides me? Brad Listi, for one (LA Times best selling author) and Susan Henderson of Lit Park fame and today, of Neil Gaiman Hair Day if you click on that link, and just so I can stop feeling like Cyrano De Bergerac, you should know that I set those two up on their first date har har...Sue knew that Neil had graciously emailed me a couple of times and asked me to forward a request for an interview to him. I was too embarrassed to tell her "Hey, we aren't that close" so I simply did what she asked -- I forwarded her email to me directly to Neil along with a little note "Hope you aren't into shooting the messenger" and now the two of them are best friends and I'm sitting here sulking.

Hahahahaha - so not true.

I also have some amazing Eric Slick news to report: Watch this space, because Eric, who already has that endorsement for Paiste Cymbals, picked up a MAJOR DRUM ENDORSEMENT YESTERDAY!!!!! And I cannot wait to spill the details on this one because it's pretty spectacular and since it will be on this company's website in a week or two, I will wait until then for the official announcement.

Finally, some sobering news which makes everything else kind of trivial, really. As you know, I'm a big rock music fan and one of my favorite websites is DGM Live. There's an update on drummer Ian Wallace via a diary being kept by Ian and his significant other, Margie.

My heart hurts for them -- I've been through it (I lost my Mom at a young age many years ago...I've already outlived her, in fact)...and well, it's a life altering experience. You realize afterwards that caring about petty bullshit or hanging out with people who do is pretty much the world's biggest waste of time.

But err...while I was over at DGM, I had a peek at what's being discussed over at their forum where I smiled when I read this:

Posted by MudShark22 on February 06, 2007

"Since the forum is abuzz with questions concerning the original double trio and all the recent K3 talk; why not "re-invent the wheel" and add the Slick Siblings for Billy B. and Trey ? Not as nostalgia, but as a way forward."


Well, that's very kind/cool of you, MudShark, and you never know...

But for now, oh my god, I don't see how it can get any better than The Adrian Belew Power Trio. Can't wait until next week! Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Side 4 Live! YEAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Later,
xo.

So this is what's going on...

"Eric Slick stares into the distance for the cover of Playgirl"
(Photo of Blue Eric by Dan Nitz)

(Eric, you can't be mad at me for this -- I lifted the photo and quote off your own MySpace page har har)

So today I realized that my son is now an official Paiste Cymbals endorser (even though I announced it here a few weeks ago). I know this is true because the Paiste website says so. If you click on Eric's name on the Paiste page I linked, it takes you to aforesaid Eric's MySpace page, which is only temporary because www.ericslick.com is being designed/constructed as we speak. But if you click on "S" on the Paiste artist page and look for "Slick", well, how cool is this! I especially like "See Eric in Action".

Speaking of "seeing Eric in action", I notice that now that Google's bought You Tube, you can google a person's name, hit "video", and all of the You Tubes for that person are lined up nice and neatly. If you want to check out a varied collection of Eric's assorted performances with various bands/luminaries throughout the years, click here.

Actually, I notice that's an incomplete listing, most likely because Eric's name isn't tagged so Google didn't pick it up, so for more Eric, you can visit You Tube right here and to catch some Julie and Eric with Mr. Belew, click here.

I've felt bleh over the past couple of days so I haven't been up to blogging but here's what I did manage to do:

Wrote a column on blogging, which I should have titled "Blogging: Art Form or Mental Masturbation" but I didn't think of that until after I subbed it...anyway, it's for NL Belardes new print mag, Novel Town - the debut issue of which features work by Susan Henderson, N. Frank Daniels, Brad Listi, Conrad Romo, Rich Ferguson, and Cindy Wathen. You can find appropriate links at Novel Town Review.

I also wrote two short stories - both of which I sent to print mags who thank God take online submissions -- only of course after hitting the "send" button, I'm expecting instant gratification and would like my acceptances/rejections immediately without having to check my email every five seconds.

Oh wait. I do that anyway.

So today I'm out of bed, back in the real world -- I've got a bunch of unpleasant mundane things to do/places to go in Philadelphia weather which is registering a wind chill factor of six below zero -- none of which I'm looking forward to.

But hey hey, that's life, huh.

Later,
xo

Oh, I'm screaming alright...because yeah, Robin Slick and Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things are featured at Lit Park today

Okay, yeah, I'm excited.

But first things first, and when I say that, you know I have to be talking about my kiddies. Jo, my wonderful webmistress, has made me a permanent banner for the purchase of Beat Box Guitar which will appear indefinitely at the top of this blog, and if you click on it, it will take you directly to the 123 Music Store so you can download it and hear how incredible Adrian, Julie, and Eric sound live...a total tease for the new CD to come, which, as you all know if you read this blog on even a semi-regular basis, will be recorded live on February 17, 2007 (scroll down to my prior posts for all of the details).

Secondly, my pal Lloyd was kind enough to also feature me over at his amazing website, Your Drum, and I thank him very kindly for that...he's got an awesome site for us hipster Baby Boomers and, well, note to self: Link Lloyd more often - don't just keep him to yourself! He always finds incredibly cool things to post...in fact, he reviewed an Indian Restaurant in New York City the other day which has me so excited I'll probably go to NY with my daughter in the next few weeks just to try it out.

And, finally, going with the drum theme (my son Eric the drummer, Lloyd's website named Your Drum...get it?), let's have a major drum roll please: Susan Henderson has annointed me emcee of Neil Gaiman week over at her fabulous website where I have reviewed Neil's latest and greatest collection of short stories...and well, without further ado, here's the link to Lit Park and my review of Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things!

Okay. It's only 7:30 a.m., I just woke up to all this great stuff, and I'm only on my first cup of coffee. This is way too much excitement for me so early in the morning.

Must.Go.Calm.Down.

Later,
xo

And Because He Asked Nicely...

So here is the new book cover for Another Bite of the Apple, coming to a bookstore near you sooner rather than later and I'm totally psyched...I even have the blurbs which will be on the back cover but I'll keep the authors' names a secret just in case I shouldn't be doing this:

""...I really enjoyed this story with its fast pace, its convoluted twists and turns, and the first person point of view. You’ll get to know Elizabeth and her idiosyncrasies and see just how entangled things become before they finally work themselves out."

"...Ms. Slick knows her way around words. She uses them in a way that I love to see! Thumbs up for you, Ms. Slick! Now, about my reading experience, ask me if I laughed? Yes, I did (in the public bus! Imagine that!). If my attention was solely absorbed by my reading? Oh yes! If I want more? Oh yes!"

"...Ms. Slick has created a commendable character in Elizabeth and there is no mystery to be solved and no over the top action in Another Bite of the Apple. It is just a simple life story of two people coming together and finding the answers to their life through each others eyes. Told in first person, this story shows that even though the road to personal growth is hard, all one needs is love and determination to make the journey worthwhile. If you are a mom struggling with motherhood, check out Another Bite of the Apple!"

So am I happy about this right now? Oh yeah!

Guess what else I'm happy about?


Click the banner to purchase...

The Adrian Belew Trio get a mention over at Progressive World, which basically has the same info I've been posting here on a daily basis -- all about the Side 4 Live CD which will be recorded during the trio's upcoming shows -- well, specifically at the show on February 17 at The Southgate House, a haunted mansion in Newport, KY, and the possible impending K3 tour. Nice to see this news getting picked up by different 'zines.

The cool factor in recording a live CD with Adrian Belew in a haunted mansion goes totally off the chart in my humble opinion. Eric Slick and Julie Slick are incredibly lucky, but then again, they are also incredibly talented so they deserve all of this great stuff coming their way. But I repeat: The cool factor here really rocks.

Found another blurb about my amazing son right here...authored by percussionist Bruce Baldwin:

" I tried recording the sound of turning the crank on a flour sifter as well, but it didn't work out well. I recorded the drum part when I was feeling especially inspired to play drums the day after going to see Adrian Belew here in Phoenix. I know that doesn't seem to make sense, but I was thinking of this insistent mid-tempo jam he has called "Madness." Belew's current drummer is this amazing kid named Eric Slick. I knew full well that the drum recording wouldn't turn into anything like that..."

Yeah, but Bruce, I had a listen to your music and it's pretty interesting and obviously Belew influenced so good on you!

Anyway, back to writing. I am sooo close to finally being happy with Daddy Left Me Alone with God. I can taste victory...okay, it's the glass of wine I had with lunch...but no, really, what I truly feel is relief that I worked my way through some troubling chapters and forced myself to cut out some things I liked because deep down I knew they slowed down the story and took the reader right out of it.

I recently did an interview for writer pal N.L. Belardes and he's got the "coming soon notice" up if you click on that link.

And tomorrow over at Lit Park I've dubbed myself the emcee for Sue's huge upcoming interview with Neil Gaiman - as an introduction she asked me to do a review for his latest book, Fragile Things, but said "Don't make it a typical review - see if you can make it short and funny."

Ha! Short and funny is what I do best and the mirror confirms it every day as well.

So speaking of "back to writing", that's what I'm going to do now. But before I go...

Because he asked nicely, this is for Neil Gaiman:
Penn Jillette

Later,
xo

Odds and Sods for February 1, 2007

How awesome is that photo? Thank you, Daryl.

So bleh, I'm under the weather but felt the need to come downstairs and post something anyway because I can only stay in bed for so long without getting nuts.

Here's another review of Beat Box Guitar, and this one is from drummer Neil Bettencourt:

"Adrian, Julie and Eric Slick. What a combo!! If you didn't get to see the tour, then this is a great way to get a glimpse into the quality and intensity of what they did. Eric and Julie show their mastery on this track, as does Adrian with great tones, great grooves, and imagination that goes so far!! This is fabulous stuff that any Adrian fan just has to have!! Good recording quality, and just a solid performance all around. Thumbs up!!!!"

You, too, can own a copy of Beat Box Guitar by clicking right here:



Also, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally has the Zappa week info up on their website, but it's moot because I JUST FOUND OUT BOTH SHOWS ARE COMPLETELY SOLD OUT!!!

"FEBRUARY, 2007

14 PROJECT/OBJECT with Ike Willis Performing The Music of Frank Zappa

PROJECT/OBJECT formed in the early 1990s as an offshoot of the annual Frank Zappa birthday celebration that took place in guitarist Andre Cholmondeley's basement in New Jersey. As the event grew in size and popularity, PROJECT/OBJECT decided to take their show on the road, performing Zappa's music in more cities and in larger venues, with a growing set list from every era of Zappa's 30-year recording career. The band strives to stay true to Zappa's vision of constantly challenging musicians and their audiences. This event is free with a reservation. Please email edu@rockhall.org to RSVP. If you do not have access to email, please call 216.515.8426.

7pm

15 An evening with Adrian Belew

Highly regarded for his work with artists and bands including Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Nine Inch Nails and Paul Simon, Adrian Belew is considered the guitar player’s guitarist. He is a five-time winner of Guitar Player’s best guitar player award, has been inducted into the Guitar Player’s Hall of Fame, has been honored by ASCAP and was nominated for a Grammy award. This event is free with a reservation. Please email edu@rockhall.org to RSVP. If you do not have access to email, please call 216.515.8426.

7pm"

Oh, one more thing before I crawl off back under the covers. I have finally impressed my son today in a big way because Relix Magazine, which is where all the cool kids hang out, made my blog a permanent link on their website right here.

How freaking cool am I?

Later,
xo