Hey hey hey - the new issue of Drumhead Magazine is available in book and music stores across the United States, Canada, and Europe, and as you can see by the above ever-changing photo I lifted from their website, there's a three page article entitled "Too Slick" all about the amazing Eric Slick with additional commentary from Miss Julie Slick and Adrian Belew.
And do I believe the Phillies won the National League East yesterday? It's not that I'm a die hard sports fanatic or anything but my late, beautiful beatnik mom was a huge Phillies fan and I have a soft spot for them because of that. It's funny -- I have outlived my mother age wise -- she has now been dead for more than half my life -- and while with each passing day the memories grow fainter and fainter, there are certain things I will never forget which still make me smile -- like the time she took my friend and me to a coffee house -- not a yuppie Starbucks but a real live coffee house where hipsters played bongos, sang bad folk music, recited poetry, etc. and we drank herbal tea with a side of banana nut bread -- anyway, my friend and I tried very hard to look like hippies even though we were like eleven years old and my mother just about killed us by wearing an earpiece attached to a transistor radio so she could listen to the Phillies game while we were there. She would shout out the score or if anyone got a homerun while my pal and I were trying to act like we were cool, wishing we were old enough to sit by ourselves and smoke cigarettes.
Ah, those were the days. Such innocence. But in any event, I love a good party, so it will be very cool this week to watch the play-offs and maybe have one of our legendary barbecues here.
So in case you haven't noticed, I'm back. Did you miss me? Oh my god, what an unbelievable, fabulous vacation we had.
And while Gary and I were at the beach, Eric was off gigging in so many places it's hard to keep track of them all, but he played an impressive show with some serious jazz musos in New York on September 22 - you can read about it here and here and see some really cool photos here.
At the moment, he's just wrapping up this jaunt with yet another band, Sounds of Greg D:
I was just over at the Ween forum board where someone had this to say about Friday night's show:
"They were super stellar last night.
Eric was ridiculous. Just ridiculous."
He'll be back home later tonight, I think, just in time to start serious rehearsals for the upcoming Project Object tour, and here's the press release for that which includes the cities they'll be hitting but you know me, I'm an obsessive compulsive who feels the need to post them here as well:
Wed 10/10/07 Hartford, CT Webster Theatre/Underground Thu 10/11/07 Troy, NY Revolution Hall Fri 10/12/07 New York, NY Lion's Den Sat 10/13/07 Asbury Park, NJ Stone Pony Sun 10/14/07 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Mon 10/15/07 Lancaster, PA The Chameleon Tue 10/16/07 Plains, PA River St. Jazz Cafe Wed 10/17/07 Cleveland, OH Beachland Ballroom & Tavern Thu 10/18/07 Ferndale, MI Magic Bag Fri 10/19/07 Chicago, IL Martyrs' Sat 10/20/07 Chicago, IL Martyrs' Mon 10/22/07 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall Tue 10/23/07 Madison, WI Majestic Theatre Wed 10/24/07 Cincinnati, OH Poison Room
The show in Philadelphia on October 14 will feature Eric on double duty -- both with Project Object and as drummer for their opener, Crescent Moon featuring Ween's Dave Dreiwitz on bass. Now you know I'm going to be right down in front for that one, so I'm hoping to say Hi to a lot of you there and will of course post many reminders in the next two weeks.
October 25, Eric flies home from Cincinnati, has a few days of r&r, then both he and Julie fly to Nashville to Casa Belew the first week of November to work on some new material for an upcoming studio recording and a massive, three week tour in February-March 2008 which will have the Adrian Belew Power Trio jetting up, down, and across the country -- both re-visiting cities where they've already wowed audiences last year and new cities/states who will be seeing them for the first time.
Life is good.
And now sit back and let me torture you with tales and pictures from our vacation. You can leave if you want...(we're just jammin', that's all) (extra credit to the first person who posts the name of the person attributable to that quote in my comments section)
So we pull up to our beach house and look - someone painted a "Welcome" sign for me on the pole outside:
"How did they know?" I asked Gary. "And err...should I be paranoid?"
Gary giggled and told me not to worry. Ah, it's nice to have a six foot tall, gentile husband.
Here's the view from our bedroom window - Gary actually got out of bed at 6:30 a.m. to take these pictures but alas these are from my camera, not his...he has the much better Canon but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to upload them so I have to wait for Julie or Eric...in the meantime these will have to suffice but trust me, the sky had way more pinks and purples than this and I will post Gary's photos tomorrow.
We arrived on Saturday, September 15 and literally just spent the first couple of days decompressing. Julie and Eric were wrapping up the Seattle gig with Adrian and didn't get back to Philadelphia until late Monday night and they were too beat to travel to the beach. Julie and boyfriend Matt were finally able to make it down on Wednesday, and they stayed through Sunday morning, which was way cool, especially since Julie took over the kitchen. And because I am insane, I took photos of the meals she prepared - seared scallops over brown rice with caramelized leeks and arugula for Julie and me: a Moroccan style chicken dish for Gary and Matt:
Next up are a couple of shots of Princess Julie with Matt -- along with our other son, Monty -- he's the one with the ball in his mouth -- and Matt, by the way, is an awesome bassist and currently gigging pretty heavily with his own band, Cheers Elephant, and ha ha, if I'm not mistaken, the band photo on that site was taken with Gary's camera which is why I am sure Julie will know how to upload his photos for me...anyway, I do believe Julie was also the producer/recording engineer on the tracks Matt has put up for your listening pleasure...she's just so talented I can't take it. So I forgive her for coming into my bedroom every morning at 5:00 a.m. and making me ride bicycles on the boardwalk in the dark before I even had a proper cup of coffee.
Me: Why oh why are you doing this to me on my vacation, Julie?
Julie: Because it's when it's the most beautiful, Mom - no people, the sunrise, the cool air blowing off the ocean...
Me: Oh my god I'm so tired I'm going to die. My legs and ass aren't used to riding a bike...
Julie: Mom! It's a totally flat ride - no hills, nothing.
Me: Okay, okay, you're right. And it is freaking gorgeous out here.
Julie: So do you thank me for waking you up?
Me: Yes. Thank you, Julie. (Whilst secretly muttering to myself Oh my god, I'm gonna die on the boardwalk in Ocean City...if I don't freeze to death first, I'm gonna pass out...fall off this bike...and assuming my death isn't immediate, I'm gonna wake up to a bunch of 18 year old paramedics pounding on my chest and about one hundred retired people in white shoes forming a circle around me which will thus insure that I have a deadly stroke after all.)
Here's those photos I was talking about:
And one of Gary, Monty dog and me:
Eric had a ton of rehearsals upon his arrival home from Seattle due to all of his aforesaid gigs but we connived him into coming down for just the day on Friday and he had such a great time we talked him into returning the following Tuesday into Wednesday morning...and those three days were basically the only days off he's had all summer. Eric was kind enough to bring us down a copy of Drumhead Magazine and naturally being the crazed groupie parents we are, Gary and I then made a million phone calls to bookstores and music stores everywhere trying to score more copies which was not easy because we were basically at least sixty miles from any major city. We finally found them at a Guitar Center a couple of towns over, so we hopped in the car, picked them up, and even we had to laugh at our extreme devotion...though not so much when we got stuck in the traffic jam from hell due to construction work on the Ocean City causeway.
Here's a couple of shots of Eric - one with Julie and Monty and one with his Dad, who, you will notice, is wearing his most favorite t-shirt:
And not to be left out, Monty also made a friend, though to be honest, as you can tell by the expression on his face, Monty prefers humans:
In fact, Monty prefers human companionship so much that he suffers terrible separation anxiety as evidenced by his behavior every time we left him alone, which, based on his heartbreaking expression, wasn't all that often:
I basically spent two weeks offline, but I did go to the library a couple of times to check my oh-so-exciting email (including one from Neil Gaiman telling me how much he enjoyed an MP3 of the Adrian Belew Power Trio and thus sending me into total convulsions of joy) and I did get a few very interesting calls from LA on my cell phone...but this is the How I Spent My Vacation post and not the Robin The Writer post though you can be sure I'll have a lot to say about that this week, including yet more reminders that Another Bite of the Apple is now available in paperback!
Anyway...
Here is the evening view from our bedroom - these pictures do not do it justice...we had a full moon shining over the ocean in a deep purple sky...ack! Why oh why is it so impossible for me to upload Gary's photos?
Because I am technology challenged, that is why. Oh well, just another one of my lovable quirks.
Anyway, I'm leaving a ton of stuff out but it doesn't matter, I will be back with more pictures and stories later today or tomorrow...and in case you haven't already seen this on one of the many Belew blogs now out there (hey, did you notice my new linkage on the right hand side?), here's a You Tube of the trio performing Men in Helicopters two weeks ago in Seattle - and Eric will kill me for saying this, but about 3/4 of the way through you can catch him doing his best Ringo imitation...you'll see what I mean...I think it's great but I can just see Eric cringing right now so I'll stop...and there is also some gorgeous footage of Julie at the very end....Adrian, as you know, is always gorgeous and yeah, yeah, I know You Tubes aren't great quality but he still gives me the chills every time I hear him perform.
So there we have the Adrian Belew Power Trio doing sound check in Mexico...well, the trio plus their amazing sound engineer Biff Blumfumgagnge...and really, I guess I don't have to say much more, other than it makes my soul rise to see how this band interacts both on and off the stage...in fact, it makes me so incredibly happy I think I'll post another photo of Mr. Eric Slick:
Life is pretty crazy right now -- in fact, I'm typing this poolside from the Beverly Hills Hotel while I wait for a limo to pick me up for a meeting...
Heh. Just kidding.
Or am I?
Oh well, enough about me. Here's a really great review coming out of the Mexico mini-tour, but the translation from Spanish to English is pretty funny so hopefully someone who speaks Spanish out there will click on this link and translate it for me properly in the comments section...but for now, here's the botched translation from Babblefish:
""This it is the best applause than we have received not to touch", joked the artist Adrian Belew conquers with impetus the scene of the Metropólitan theater
"The Work of Music is Hacerte to Feel Better"; Mission Fulfilled in the Concert
By: Tania Molina Ramirez
Hardly he had appeared in the scene, when the public excited one already was standing, receiving to Adrian Belew with a great ovación.
"This it is the best applause than we have received not to touch", he joked, accompanied of its bear and his drummer; Julie and Eric Slick, respectivemente, in the scene of the Metropólitan theater, in the second night of the Contemporary cycle live, in his 5ª edition.
It began to everything what gave, with a power impetus that followed the concert throughout, with little moments of calm.
Energy of combined young blood with the long experience of the virtuous estadunidense guitarist, that has accompanied to great personalities of the rock, from Frank Zappa to Nine Inch Nails, happening through David Bowie and The Talking Heads, but that mainly it is known being the guitarist of the legendary King Crimson, from years 80.
In this occasion Trio, integrated by the Slick brothers came with its project Adrian Belew, of 20 (Eric) and 21 years (Julie), that "renergetizaron my music. They are the best young musicians than I have listened in my life. Its way to touch is so expert, but simultaneously it has a so high level of energy that really causes that my music sounds new... and, of step, something sticks me to me. I am touching better than in long time ", it said in interview with the Day a pair of days before the Mexican ground presentations (Guadalajara, city of Mexico and Monterrey).
"I am so proud of these personages", summarized. And note. During the concert it does not let pass opportunity to return to present/display them to the public. And, sure for Eric and Julie also it is a privilege, by the experience. These young people, who live in Filadelfia, were students of Paul Green School of Rock when Belew knew them. They have been a year touching together, in Japan, Europe and the United States.
During the relatively short concert (like one hour and quarter), the trio interpreted pieces of King Crimson and the own project of Belew, with a powerful sound (and to very high volume), per moments near heavy metal.
The not very nourished public one (it filled more of first half of the armchairs in front of to the scene) was compensated with the enthusiasm of the present following faithfuls. During several occasions they were put of foot.
It is the first time that the masterful guitarist, who produced a pair of discs of Caifanes and Santa Sabina, made a tour with his own project in Mexico.
Belew, that also has touched with Cyndi Lauper, Laurie Anderson, Crash Dummies Test and Paul Simon, counted what to his to seem, it distinguishes it of other guitarists: "I have a quite ample vocabulary, I can emulate sounds, my ideas fit in very different musical styles. I enjoy discovering and experimenting sounds and causing that the guitar makes things that assumes that it would not have to do (like animal sounds)".
Ever since he was young "had good ear. To the five years, it could emulate singers of the radius. Also it could imitate personages of the cartoons. For some reason, I can discern of what the sounds are done."
When it explores new sounds do mainly through new equipment: "Right now I am doing much looping". And yes, in the concert he was present. "It is a way to cause that it sounds as if there was more than three people. The new material that I am writing is based on much looping."
Adrian Belew concluded the interview saying: "the work of music not only is to entertain, but hacerte to feel better with the life. When I do not feel well, just I put something of music and in a ratito I am grooving and feeling to me better, so, perhaps, that is the intention of the world of music ".
Fulfilled mission, judging by the faces of its followers leaving the Metropólitan Theater."
Pretty cool, huh.
Okay...I have to fly -- my fresh avocado/jack cheese omelet has arrived, along with fresh squeezed orange juice and champagne. I could get very used to this.
Oh, I'm kidding.
But seriously, I am going to be off-line for a while for vacation, etc. though I do hope to find an internet cafe/library and report back here from time to time over the next couple of weeks, and I will probably do one last long-winded blogpost tomorrow...unless I have something exciting to report later today/tonight.
ETA (or, edited to add har har): I put up a short clip of Adrian, Julie and Eric performing in front of 2,000 people in Mexico last night on my Publishers Marketplace Page - go check it out!
Trade Paperpack $9.00
Yay! The trade paperback of Another Bite of the Apple is available for pre-order at a special promotional rate - for further details click here!
I'm very excited about this. And just think -- you can order and read it well before it appears on the big screen! (Or cable television ha ha -- whatever -- it's all good.)
For those of you who don't know, Another Bite of the Apple is the sequel to Three Days in New York City, and if you click the above "for further details click here" link, there's an excerpt.
And oh my god, should I be whooping it up that Media Predict has an announcement on the front page of their website regarding the selection of the five finalists in Simon Schuster Project Publish next week...and that my book is featured on said front page along with four others? Coincidence or are they just cruelly playing with my emotions? Ha!
"We’re one week away from the first cut in Project Publish. Right now, 50 contestants are competing to win a book deal with Touchstone Books of Simon & Schuster. By next Tuesday, there will be five..."
Arghh...I will be on vacation next Tuesday and without the internet unless I ride my bike ninety seven miles (slight exaggeration) to the only library on the island. Oh well. I can use the exercise...you know there's no way I'm missing that announcement. *****
So the Adrian Belew Power Trio tour continues in Mexico - and this photo of said trio is off of Ade's newly revamped website. It's courtesy of Vance Cox, and I'll be posting more of Vance's fabulous photos in the future for sure - they are awesome.
Here's the poster for the Mexican shows - pretty cool, huh.
Adrian Belew: The Genius of Rock By Kristine Sexton
"What drives you to keep pushing the sonic envelope?
My love of sounds. A new sound nearly always turns into a new piece of music which is what fuels everything I do. I'm not a natural at technology and much of it escapes me but I usually can find a way to make something interesting occur. After I have that "interesting sound" as a starting point I can begin to use the accumulated knowledge of my craft: writing and recording.
I had no idea that you co-wrote Genius of Love with the Tom Tom Club. How did that song come about?
Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth had a place in the Bahamas right next door to compass point studio (where I did my first record called Lone Rhino).
There are 2 speeds in the Bahamas: slow and stop. So we slowly built some songs in their apartment and then slowly went down to the studio, and slowly recorded them.
It was great fun and what a surprise for it to be such a hit!
What is your current guitar setup?
Two Johnson Millenium 150 amps, two line 6 Vetta II amps, one Korg ms-2000 keyboard, one Roland gr-30 guitar synth, a Keeley compressor, a Digitech whammy pedal, a Digitech Hendrix pedal, a Boomerang looper, one Eventide 8000, and a small monitor system to hear the loops and the keyboard. Phew...I'm tired just writing about it!
I play two Adrian Belew signature model parker fly guitars. One at a time. How did the power trio come about?
Paul Green invited me to his School of Rock in Philadelphia and introduced me to his two favorite alumni Eric and Julie Slick. He said they were the best players his school ever had and I believe it. We played one song together and that was all it took. You have played with so many amazing people, who are you favorites to work with?
Eric and Julie Slick, and Robert Fripp.
What major differences have you seen in the music from when you first started until now?
Nearly all of it has changed but I've worked through the "jadedness"that comes with having seen it all turn inside out and returned to the joyous enthusiasm I had when I started as a teenager. The business does not dictate the creativity, quite the opposite. Right now record labels are crumbling, the internet is flourishing but there's no money in it, radio plays little or no part in my music's life, so what do you do? The one thing that has remained constant is live performance. You still have to pay to see me play. They can't steal that! What is the strangest gig you've ever played?
They all feel strange to me. I'm not an entertainer, I'm a recording artist. So it takes a certain mindset to do what I do in front of an audience. The hardest part is letting yourself go so that something magical can happen. But I experience that "transcendence" more than ever now with the power trio. What are you listening to nowadays?
The sound of my fingers clacking on the iMac.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
The Power Trio has a put-one-hand-each in an imaginary volcano, make a bunch of bizarre noises, and work up enough steam to blow the top off-kind of thing. (It) seems to work." **** Oh, I'll say it works! And ahem. Out of all of the musicians with whom Adrian has performed/produced, other than Robert Fripp, Julie and Eric are his favorites? I had the chills reading that. I still have them, in fact. It's hard for me to even type this right now - my eyes are filled with tears.
So I haven't had a chance to really talk with Julie and Eric since they arrived in Mexico, but I did instant message with them for a bit and learned the following:
Adrian is a celebrity there and is asked for autographs wherever he goes, even on the plane -- they are flying from city to city in Mexico for each of the three shows and are on a very tight schedule.
Julie and Eric had one of the best meals of their lives at a restaurant called Il Latino...for appetizers Julie had shrimp and salmon ceviche followed by crab with chipotle aioli over tortillas smeared with guacamole; Eric had pan seared lightly breaded brie with a long piece of toast with a tomato coulis; Julie's entree was dorado with a mild paprika sauce and a salad with fresh mango, papaya and cucumber; Eric's entree was huge, grilled portabella mushrooms with asparagus. For dessert, they had a vanilla ice cream ball with hot fudge almond coconut crunchies.
Ha ha - they have their priorities straight -- I get the food news first.
I spoke to them online before their first show and that's the last I've heard from them so I have no idea how the concerts went...I guess no internet connection where they are in Mexico City but I am hoping to hear from today in Monterrey. If not, they are due back home tomorrow evening and I'm sure I'll have much to report after that, along with some fun backstage and touristy photos - Julie told me they took some amazing shots so far.
So that's it for now I think, but since this is me we are dealing with, you never know.
Okay, yeah, that's a pic of me screaming which I know I've posted before but in light of certain circumstances, I thought it would be appropriate to post it again today, even though what I'm about to say is hardly anywhere near close to a done deal and I am certainly grounded and realistic enough to know that by this time next week, I could be right back at square one.
But let me tell you about what happened anyway because it is just far too cool to keep to myself, and in the event things don't pan out, as I laughingly wrote to a friend yesterday, "Oh well, at least I'll always have September 6, 2007."
To sum it up, yesterday I corresponded/spoke on the phone with (1) a mega literary agent; (2) an LA film producer; (3) an uber...and I mean uber...west coast film agent, who, when I found out that she was involved and went to her website, almost sent me to the emergency room...I wasn't sure if I was having a stroke or a major coronary when I saw the luminaries she represented and the deals she'd made.
My conversations with all three included optioning film/television rights for Three Days in New York City and Another Bite of the Apple, foreign rights for both, and my new book, Daddy Left Me Alone with God.
By the end of the afternoon, I was clutching the edge of my desk, alternating between whooping and feeling nauseous.
But like I said, this is a very tough business and I am only too aware that this is a tiny baby step...though for once I am not paranoid about how I handled things...I spoke in coherent sentences, do not recall saying anything that would cause me to cringe for days afterward (though naturally that might change...I'm liable to remember something any second which will send me flying upstairs under the covers in the fetal position for the next five years)...and well, thanks to all of the wonderful people at Backspace Writers Forum, especially Karen Dionne, Tish Cohen, Lauren Baratz Logsted (to whom I would probably owe my first born child if she wasn't already 21 years old), and my incredible pals from Zoetrope Studios, Steve Augarde, who just wrapped up his brilliant "Various" trilogy and the lovely, wise, and ultra-talented Ellen Meister, whose paperback edition of Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA is now in Target stores as one of their Emerging Authors BREAKOUT selections. Yikes...I forgot Susan Henderson at LitPark, the person responsible for introducing to me to most of these writers via her extraordinary website.
Oh god, look at me thanking people like I've won the Academy Award. Have I mentioned what a dork I am? But it's true...the above list of writers are just incredible friends/people and I wanted to give them a shout out because they are also incredible authors and I cannot encourage you enough to buy/read their amazing books. And they all helped with/talked me through the events of yesterday -- let's just say that without them, I probably would be a complete basket case by now.
Alrighty then, that's enough about me. As I was told yesterday, "these things take time and it's in your best interest to be patient, Robin." So...err...stay tuned.
In other news, the Adrian Belew Power Trio are currently getting ready to board a plane for Mexico, where they will perform September 8, 9, and 10 as follows:
September 8 Guadalajara, MEX Teatro Diana September 9 Mexico City, MEX Teatro Metropolitan September 10 Monterrey, MEX Teatro De La Ciudad
And how freaking cool is this - if my life wasn't exciting enough yesterday, imagine my delight when I visited Adrian's website and saw this:
"SOMETHING FOR LINE-6 GUITARPORT USERS
For those of you who have the Line-6 GuitarPort there is currently a piece on Adrian on GuitarPort which allows you to play along with live versions of "Writing On The Wall" and "Three Of A Perfect Pair". You can chose to play along with The Power Trio or to silence Adrian's guitar parts and play them yourself along with the amazing Slicks. How cool is that?!"
That is just fantastic. And I'm guessing that "Writing on the Wall" and "Three of a Perfect Pair" are off of the soon to be released Side Four Live CD...and ho ho ho, I finally have some idea of the release date but it isn't up to me to announce it...keep watching this space though, because as soon as Adrian puts it up on his website (which I am afraid I do stalk obsessively compulsively), it will be posted here seconds later. Just know that you will all have it in plenty of time for Christmas!
Okay, that's more than I should have said. Let me rephrase it to read "In a perfect world, you will all have it in plenty of time for Christmas!"
So that's my news for now...I need to seriously finish making a decision on the final selections for the 39 and Holding Anthology I'm editing for Phaze, and yeah, yeah, I need to do some more google research so that when uber agents throw out terms like "three month options", "foreign rights" and other suchlike phrases I know what the hell they are talking about...
"September 3, 2007 - Monday adrian belew / julie slick
a quickie:
last friday, aug, 24th, i was working in Tampa. a weekend job, which is very unusual. got off earlier than expected and called Jerry.
"hey man, whatcha doin?"
"going to see adrian belew. ...arnt you?"
"WHAT?!! WELL I AM NOW!!"
i was a little pissed, because i didnt know anything about it. ive known adrian personally for about 11 years now... off and on mind you, but ive been to his house... and here i didnt know any thing about the show! so i get there, jerrys on the guest list, im not, so i buy a ticket and go in.
i talk to martha at the merch table, and give her a hard time about not having "dust" for sale, then adrian starts.
i saw the show last year, and it was killer. but now its a year older, a year tighter, and a year BETTER! there was ALOT of improvising going on durring certain songs. Beat Box Guitar went on for over 15 mins! i stood right in front of julie slick, the 21 year old bass player.
now i know people in this forum appreciate good music and good musicians. julie and her younger brother eric, make up adrians band. an incredible rhythm section boys and girls!! eric plays a tiny 5 piece yamaha set, and julie plays fender P through an SVT pro head and cab. shes also the most unassuming bass playing SHREDDER youve ever seen!!! i couldnt take my eyes off her the whole night. she blew me away! she looks like a regular girl. not some "rock chick" or anything... -just a girl with little girl hands and fingers... youd never guess shes got chops from hell, and can rip your frikking head off!!
there are many long moments in adrians set that get really crazy. seriously atonal and dissonant, with insane polyrhythmic chaos going on... and julie keeps it all together. while shredding. she holds it down, moves it around, moves it forward, up and down, left and right... Give the bass player some!! julie slick ladies and gentelmen!!
after the show we were talking, and i told her what i thoughbt about her, and she was genuinly bashful about it. i dont think shes used to getting complimants. the show IS, afterall, an adrian belew show, and most people want to talk to him, and everything... i wanted to talk to her and give her the props she deserves. i made her blush.
the whole show really was fantastic. i had just seen the Zappa Plays Zappa show in cleveland about a month ago, and i didnt think anything could top that. the adrian show definately ranks right up there. im still diggin on it like mad. no one can play like adrian. he has too many gizmos and custom made thingamaigs... and thats what makes him unique. but i gotta tell you, bass players are pretty much naked. its either there or not. julie slicks got it. keep an eye and an ear out for her and her brother eric. theyre only 20 and 21 years old! theyve been on tour with adrian for over 2 years allready! THAT ought to tell you everything right there! anyway... Julie Slick ladies and gentelmen. remember that name friends..."
Ha ha - the writer in me was dying to go in and edit that post, correcting all the, um, creative spelling and words used without apostrophes, etc. but then I decided it's kind of cool as is and who am I to change it. But oh god, it's hard...I really need to work on my various OCD defects...
******* Here's an email I got this morning from "The Mighty Boognish, a celebrity of sorts and wise man of the great Ween Forum Board...this following Eric's appearance with Dave Dreiwitz at Asbury Lanes on Friday night, August 31 (and to catch what that was like, I did put up a You Tube in the post below this one)
"Hi Robin,
How ya been? Thought I might see you last Friday night @ Asbury Lanes.
That was the first time I'd ever seen Eric play, and now I'm jonesin' to see him play again...with anyone, anywhere... it doesn't matter, HE ROCKS, PERIOD! Wish I could make it to Mexico...
Also, again, I have to tell you what a genuinely nice guy he is... totally friendly and he's also got a killer sense of humor. After the gig Friday night, we're all outside the venue shooting the shit at like 3 AM, and he's waiting for Dave Dreiwitz... so he gets out of Dave's car and he sees all of us out there and he's like "Hello ween forumers! Hi forumers! Woohoo forumers." I don't know why, it just struck me funny.
Rock on,
-Joe ********
Thanks, Joe! Waking up to that email totally made my day.
Okay, that's it for now. I made a promise to myself to stay off line until I am finished the final selections for the "39 and Holding" Anthology I'm editing and that deadline is today...but if you visit my Publishers Marketplace Page you will see what else I'm up to this week...argh..not to quote Tom Petty or anything, but holy cow, he is so right. "The waiting is the hardest part"...
Awesome photos of Julie Slick and Adrian Belew taken at Smith's Bar in Atlanta, GA on August 22, 2007 courtesy of Vance Cox - and click on that link for the whole slideshow...
Man, this is one Labor Day weekend where I really am laboring...doing the writing thing non-stop...well, reading submissions for an anthology I'm editing and working on/pondering something else which the jinx factor prevents me from mentioning until next week...
In the meantime, I wanted to take a quick break for a blogpost and do what I do best at times like these...live vicariously through my brilliant offspring.
Let's start with this. So do you think this blogger was doing his best to hide from me? (okay, I mean me and google blogsearch). Ha! Don't you know that I will find you no matter what you call Ade? Atrium Blurew indeed... "Atrium Blurew"
"We come in peace!" claimed the alien rock star descending from the loft at Cat's Cradle last Tuesday night. So began the Adrian Belew Power Trio's set. Yes, that photo you see may or may not be Adrian Belew, or his alien clone--some say the aliens cannot be photographed, hence the blurriness of the image, having nothing to do with the photographer's lameness whatsoever.
I grew up with Adrian, with the '81-'84 King Crimson in particular hitting me in my adolescent musical sensibilities, though really, pretty much everyone AB has worked with is on my favorites list. He played on "Remain in Light"--it doesn't get better than that! .. and Bowie, Zappa, and so on. His autobiographical video on his website gives a pretty amazing overview of his guitar hero life so far. So it can't be said that I am much of an objective listener.
The question is: what is happening now with the power trio (currently AB + brother/sister team Eric and Julie Slick)? I imagine the Slick's will appear prominently on the forthcoming release of "Side Four", though they do not appear in the credits of "Side Three" (2006), which features bass and drum support from Les (Primus) Claypool and Danny (Tool) Carey. I will say one thing: Adrian and the Slick's are touring like mad and kickin out the jams.
They began the evening with the funkiest song in the Adrian repertoire, "Writing on the Wall" (from the album "Side One"), and played a lot of newer material, some older Belew solo stuff, and of course, a few arrangements from the 80's KC. It was great to relive "Frame By Frame" and some of the 80's era masterpieces, though I did kind of want to jump on stage and fill in on the Fripp guitar lines--as if! Toward the end it was time to let go for some crazy guitar synth improv. The aliens would be proud!
I really enjoyed chatting with Martha Belew before the show, as she shared the insights into the mayhem that is the business these days. The sense I get is that musicians everywhere, even the "big guys", are really struggling during this great transition, where the industry is in decline and we are transitioning to new, download-based distribution economy. Well friends, the revolution is here! All we've got to do is make it happen.
"Great show, as one might expect. Eric and Julie Slick (drums and bass respectively), were fantastic. Very energetic and chops aplenty. They seemed very happy to be there, but weren't at all overwhelmed by the experience. Adrian seemed in a more experimental mood than in shows past, and his playing was astonishing. Lots of what I'll assume was fairly improvisational, even a couple of "piano" solos (via synth)...
"It's been a week since I saw them, and I'm still numb. It was seriously the BEST show I've ever seen.
Everything that you've heard about Adrian being a likeable, down to earth guy is true. I hung out for close to an hour after the show. He was talking to me like we're old friends. I got everything that I wanted autographed (Side 3 that I bought there, a King Crimson button from '82, and my Ibanez Strat!) He played brilliantly, as did his AMAZING band."
Cool, huh. Hey, here's proof that Eric will use whatever is around to warm-up pre-sound check:
Speaking of Eric, this fall's Project Object tour has shaped up nicely, and here's the official poster with dates..though the October 24, 2007 slot is now definitely confirmed for the Poison Room in Cincinnati, Ohio...and I believe one of the open dates that say TBA just might end up being Pittsburgh...stay tuned.
****** Dot and Simon:
Dot and Eric:
Okay, I wish I could take a "snapshot" of this entire page, but you have to click here and read Dr. Dot's diary of Zappanale, which not only includes several photos of my son, but also shows Dot in Philly last week, after she gave...gasp...Simon from Idol a massage. Oh, I kid you not - the same hands which massaged my son touched Simon. Eric! Wash your back immediately!
Ha ha - just kidding. But Dot is so cool it's ridiculous.
Finally, while I am on the subject of cool, here is one hell of a You Tube featuring Dave Dreiwitz and Eric Slick at their Crescent Moon gig on August 16, 2007 at The Court Tavern in New Brunswick, New Jersey. I really enjoyed this - lots of fun and high energy and impossible to believe it's just drums and bass.
Adrian Belew in Atlanta, August 22, 2007 (Awesome photograph courtesy of Rick Glover)
Yep, I know I'm starting to sound like a broken record but here is yet another glowing review coming out of last week's Adrian Belew Power Trio tour:
"Meeting your heroes is awesome...
Last Thursday, August 22nd, my wife and I bought some last minute tickets and headed down to Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta to see Adrian Belew perform live with "The Adrian Belew Power Trio". It was a most amazing experience. Now I'm a pretty big time concert-goer. And these days it takes a pretty revolutionary perfromance to get up into my top 10-20 shows I've been to. It's a club that grows more and more exclusive as the years pass. But I've got to say that Mr.Belew and his amazingly talented rhythm section of Eric Slick (drums / 20 years old) and Julie Slick (bass / 21 years old), provided just such a performance. It was about 100 minutes of music that went by in what seemed like 30. Getting back to the youngsters that backed the man up. There are no words that can describe the level that these folks play at, I wish I could tell you - but you just have to see them in order to understand. It was truly humbling.
Now for those for you unfamiliar with Adrian - he was one of the driving forces behind every incarnation of the legendary prog-rock godfathers "King Crimson" since the early 80's landmark album "Discipline". In addition to being a long time Crim' he is also famous for his work with Frank Zappa, David Bowie, The Talking Heads, Nine Inch Nails, Tori Amos, and a million other people. Not to mention a vast solo catalog that lately has seen Les Claypool and Danny Carey, among others coming around to collaborate with the esteemed Adrian Belew.
If you ever get a chance to witness this man perform in person, do not pass it up.
I was fortunate enough to stick around afterwards and meet all three members of the band. They were extremely gracious and took the time to chat for a few minutes and sign a poster that i grabbed off the wall at the venue. Last but not least... I asked Mr. Adrian Belew if he would pose for a photo with me =)"
"Awesome is the only way I can describe Adrian Belew’s Power Trio show last night in West Palm Beach. Being a long time Belew fan and seeing him play with Bowie, Zappa, King Crimson and Talking Heads, I had greatly anticipated seeing this concert. My high expectations were exceeded! Now that usually never occurs so it was a most pleasant surprise. Let me start by saying I couldn’t believe his rhythm section of bassist Julie Slick and her brother, drummer Eric Slick. The kicker is she’s 21 and he’s 20! I kid you not when I say Stu Hamm and Bill Bruford have nothing over them. Turns out they are from Philadelphia and studied at the Paul Green School of Rock Music...
They performed songs from Adrian’s solo career along with about four King Crimson songs. The ones I recall are Matchless Man, Young Lions, Big Electric Cat, Writing On The Wall, Dinosaur, Ampersand and from King Crimson: Elephant Talk, Frame By Frame, Thela Hun Ginjeet and Three Of A Perfect Pair."
"thank you for the add. excellent bassism. adrian couldn't have asked for better. you give levin a run for the money. love to hear you on stick sometime if you play, or decide to pick it up. thnx again. great show thurs in jax." ***
"Hi Julie,
I have been telling EVERYONE about the amazing show you put on in West Palm Beach. I've been a fan of Adrian's since, well, LONG before you were born :^), but I'm now as much a fan of YOURS! In addition to being an astonishing talent, you're quite simply wonderfully sweet. (At least you were to ME!)"
*****
"GIVE THE BASS PLAYER SOME!!
-the incredible Julie Slick ladies and gentlemen...
-thanx for the add girl... your an amazing talent."
"just wanted to stop by and thank you once again for providing me with a life changing experience. Meeting you a Adrian was truly the highlight of my life. Thank you for being such a wonderful person. You have my undying gratitude. Keep up the amazing work. I cant wait for side 4. Your life long fan -Ian" *****
"Hi Eric, I'm in the city, what's uuuuuuuuuuuuuuup? x
Ha ha - that message would be from Dr. Dot, and that is the perfect segue for the following two short films, starring, yep, you guessed it, Dr. Dot in her wet t-shirt as Mary in the Frank Zappa masterpiece, Joe's Garage, featuring Eric Slick on drums and errr...Eric Slick sipping beer from what Dot slyly tells us is a urinal. Yes, I'm afraid it's true, Eric...so let's just hope it was never used prior to your drink. But oh man, you men out there reading this blog are going to love me - one of these films, not sure if it's part one or part two (heh...yes I do know, but I'm not telling -- which will force you to watch both)...show Dot actually being doused with the water in her white tank top and if I don't win best blog of 2007 for this...well, there's something wrong with the world.
Oh, I'm kidding, I'm kidding.
Or am I?
Yes, yes, I know. My son is one lucky man.
Speaking of Eric, I would remiss if I did not remind you that he's got a Crescent Moon show coming up this Friday night, August 31, 2007 with the always awesome Dave Dreiwitz of Ween...the gig is at Asbury Lanes, Asbury Park, New Jersey. Also on the bill is Sounds of Greg D (with whom Eric will be touring at the end of September)...and performing with Greg will be the fabulous Scott Metzger on guitar and Joey Russo of Benevento Russo fame on drums...man, what a night of music.
Here's a couple of blurbs off the Ween forum board (link above):
"C'mon down to beautiful Asbury Park this holiday weekend ... its crescent moon (starring Dave Dreiwitz w/ eric slick on drums), sounds of greg d and american babies (w/ metzger and russo) at the asbury lanes this friday august 31." ***
"I should be there. Meat Puppets Wednesday and Thursday and Crescent Moon Friday! Their show at the Court last week was great. Slick mans the skins like a legend." ***
"Slick mans the skins like a legend --I love watching that kid (and I use the term lightly) play his ass off. He's unreal."
Crescent Moon got a nice mention on the Harmony Central forum board. The topic is "2 Piece Bands - Anyone Dig'Em?" and people started giving examples of great bands. Right on page 1 someone jumped in and said:
"Crescent Moon
Dave Dreiwitz of Ween on bass and Eric Slick on drums. Shit is great. They did the coolest version of Pink Floyd's "Fearless" that I've ever heard."
Oh yeah, and the Project Object tour with Eric on drums begins October 12, I believe...and here's the first cool press release regarding their show on October 22, 2007 at Shank Hall in Wisconsin:
"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." ******* So that's the music news for today.
Well, not really. As promised, a couple of stories about my weekend as groupie mom for the Adrian Belew tour down in Florida.
First I must talk about my flight down. We'll get to the flight home - now known as the freaking worst experience on an airplane in my life -- later.
But for now, let me begin by telling you about my brush with insanity when I got to Philadelphia International Airport.
I got dropped off three hours before my flight. Now before you have me committed, there was a reason for that. Between Hurricane Dean earlier in the week and the fact that all airports in Chicago were closed the day before due to high winds and blackouts, I knew that thousands of flights were canceled. So between that and the fact that it was a Saturday morning in the summer on one of the busiest vacation weeks, I rightly guessed that our illustrious airport, voted like worst in the country, would be a mob scene.
I guessed correctly.
I looked at the departure board for my flight, got the gate number, and then waited in the line from hell to get through security. One hour later, I made it. Okay. So I now had two hours before take-off. No problem. I had a great book, my iPod, and a brand new Philadelphia Magazine. But when I went to sit down and make myself comfortable (in the waiting area for another airline because mine was so mobbed with people taking an earlier flight), I saw the departure board start scrambling and blinking.
"Oh crap," I thought, getting up to check. "Watch. I'm here three hours early and my flight is getting canceled."
Well, it was way worse than that. They changed terminals on me! I was stunned. I'd already passed through security for Terminal D....now it's saying I needed to be in Terminal E? Could I have read it wrong? No. That was impossible. I checked and double checked. Flustered and completely freaked out, I ran up to the security desk at Terminal D.
"I just passed through here and now the departure board is telling me I'm in a different gate..."
"Happens," the security guard shrugged.
"What do you mean?"
"The pilot probably parked in the wrong spot."
Huh? Was he serious? And what did that mean to me?
"Oh god. So what do I do?"
"You have to leave here, walk to Terminal E, and go through security again."
"You are kidding me."
"Sorry."
Wow. I never heard of anything like that happening, ever, and I've flown a million times. Completely rattled, I headed for Terminal E, where a three mile line stretched full of hassled travelers.
Oh well. I had two hours to kill.
The line moved quickly considering, so there I went again, removing my shoes, my belt, my little ziplock bag full of 2 ounces of various liquids, etc.
Whew. Made it through with an hour to go.
I looked around for my new gate so I could sit down and get comfortable and decompress, and this you won't believe. I looked at the departure board and it said "Terminal D".
I blinked, not believing what I saw. I just kind of stood there in a daze. So this is what I get for arriving at the airport three hours early.
Exited Terminal E, got back in line at Terminal D, and went through security yet a third time.
I now had twenty minutes until take-off.
Didn't get to read my book, didn't get to shop for anything to munch on...I was a sweating, hyperventilating mess.
But at least I was finally in the right spot and I guess it could have been worse - what if I had been pulled out of line during one of my three security pass-throughs? Strip searched, suspected of being a terrorist, or something like that...I almost expected it to happen after standing in my third line of the morning. The security guard recognized me and actually laughed.
Har har.
I boarded the plane, almost wanting to ask anyone and everyone "This plane is going to Florida, right?"
But the fun was hardly over.
I sat down, and my trip started out with the pilot introducing the head stewardess as "Holly from American Idol."
Oh, I wish I were kidding, but I am not. Because you know what they do on that show...
Holly starts out by picking up the mic and running through the safety drill - yeah, like if our plane is crashing, a floatable vest is really going to save us...and who pays attention to that stuff anyway...but she pulls a great one.
"Parents, if you are traveling with a young child, put the oxygen mask on yourself first and then quickly take care of your child. Unless you have two children. Then you should pick the one with the most potential."
Ha ha, Holly, good one. By the way, she was really pretty, in that real American Idol Cheerleader kind of way.
But it's a good thing I didn't have a gun because as we started to take off, she picked up that mic and belted out her own special version of CCR's Proud Mary.
Only she sang "Rolling! Rolling! Rolling down the runway!"
And she sang the whole damn song.
It was like being forced to sit through a high school production of Annie.
I ordered a Bloody Mary. So did the guy next to me. We struck up a conversation and it turned out that he's "in management" with the Department of Defense, overseeing which weapons go to Iraq...but that day he was heading down to Florida for a baby shower with his family. I kid you not. I thought I was going to have to freaking bite my liberal tongue in half but it turned out he was a way cool guy and I had a lot of fun talking with him...not to mention I picked his brain about everything from the war to our illustrious President to how crappy ice hockey is now that the sport has changed and how much we preferred it when no one wore helmets and bloody fights broke out.
Ha ha - Robin the liberal who hates war likes old fashioned ice hockey. I know. I can't explain it either. Well yeah, I can. No one gets killed and everyone has a lot of fun letting off steam.
But I digress.
So it was like the world's quickest flight, between the interesting conversation and the fact that the weather cooperated - I think we got there 45 minutes early. And for once, I found the hotel shuttle easily in the airport, which, if you've ever been to West Palm Beach, is like the size of a small supermarket if even that, with Spanish architecture, a Cinnabon type place, an Irish Pub, and one gift shop.
I arrived at the hotel before the band...but I called Eric and good news, they were only like twenty minutes away. I asked the hotel clerk if they had a computer I could use to print out our boarding passes home for the next day -- they did -- so I kept myself busy doing that and checking my email, etc., then my family and the Belews walked in and I was never so relieved to see anyone. We said our hellos and hugged, dropped our bags off in our rooms, and headed straight to the venue, which was a way cool old fashioned movie theater in West Palm Beach -- excellent acoustics though we've all pretty much decided that we prefer when the band plays in "standing" venues because they really rock out and having to stay in assigned seats is kind of restricting.
They ran through sound check and since we had around three hours before showtime, we decided to go out to dinner. I was leafing through a West Palm Beach magazine while the band was rehearsing and saw a little ad for what looked like a most excellent seafood restaurant nearby. Oh my god, did I pick a winner. Julie, Martha and I had amazing fresh seafood salads and conch chowder, Eric the ultimate vegetarian had a salad and gazpacho...Ade had what he said were probably the best crab cakes he'd ever eaten...and well...we just had the most incredible, relaxed time pre-show and Adrian said that dinner out with people he loves is one of his favorite things in life.
Do I freaking believe that this is what Adrian Belew said to my family...this legend...this incredible human being?
I had to fight back tears, I really did.
We ordered dessert to go (coconut cream pie for Ade, Martha, Julie and me...some insane peanut butter chocolate confection for Eric), and headed back to the venue.
Can I tell you that it was a sold out crowd of some of the best fans I've ever met? When the band took the stage, they gave them a standing ovation. After the first song, another standing ovation. Screaming, clapping...and this continued throughout the evening. Every song, people jumped to their feet. And while I usually sit right in the front row, this time I found a lone seat (thank God) right in the middle, third row back, and I was able to watch the faces of people all around me. Their jaws were somewhere around their feet. I witnessed them gaping at Adrian, then being astounded by Julie...looking over at Eric and shaking their heads in freaking awe.
"Look at the size of the kit he's playing! How the hell is he getting that sound?"
Eric does not like playing a huge kit...as you can see from the various photos I've posted, he likes a basic set-up which he somehow makes sound like six drummers playing at once.
"This is the best fucking band I've ever seen," was basically what I heard coming from every single person sitting near me...and I heard some extremely flattering and to me surreal comparisons which modesty and not wanting to embarrass the trio prevents me from posting today but you can only imagine considering the people with whom Adrian has played.
The cry for an encore was deafening, and the band happily obliged, with their trademark grins plastered all over their beautiful faces.
As you can tell by the photo I posted the other day, post-show Ade, Julie and Eric come out and sign autographs and talk with fans until the last person leaves. We hung around for well over an hour, then mutually agreed we did not want to evening to end so we went out to another restaurant. As soon as we walked in, Adrian was recognized by a thrilled fan who looked up startled and gasped "Hi, Adrian!" and then ran to his car and returned with an old LP which he got Adrian to sign...I think Ade made the man's life that evening.
We chatted non-stop until like 1:30 a.m. and at some point I did actually start to cry though I don't know if anyone noticed...I didn't out and out sob but my eyes filled up several times as Adrian and Martha talked about how much they adored Julie and Eric and we discussed plans for the future...after which we wearily returned to our hotel but I was so fired up from our conversation I could hardly sleep.
The next morning we met for breakfast in the hotel before our flight home and talked some more about additional touring possibilities, Side Four Live, and just life in general. Adrian and Martha are two of the most interesting and intelligent people on the planet. I don't feel this way about many human beings...in fact, I can count on one hand how many folks I've felt that way about in my lifetime....but I could literally talk with them for hours and never be bored or restless. Our two families are like soul mates.
After we finished eating we hugged, said our goodbyes, and I got really depressed that I'm not able to join them again on tour next week in Mexico and Seattle but I've got other obligations and Gary and I leave for our own two week vacation shortly so it just wasn't possible, damn it. But next time for sure...
So it was pretty much of a bummer to arrive at the West Palm Beach airport and experience the ride from hell on the way home. Two and a half hours of turbulence and a crying baby. What is wrong with people? Good lord, when I traveled with Julie and Eric as young children -- and don't forget, they are fifteen months apart so it was like traveling with twins -- never once did I subject strangers in public places to a screaming child. Why? Because I have common sense, that's why. Who the hell travels with children without bringing plenty of toys, books, snacks...man, I used to even travel with two hand puppets -- Bert and Ernie -- put one on each hand and carry on conversations and write little plays on the spot -- anything to keep them occupied and on their best behavior while having a great time myself. It isn't rocket science...and if they did cry for any reason, I would immediately pick them up and comfort them. These two idiot parents on the plane ignored their child -- the mother had an iPod on for god sakes, which, if this had been pre-9/11, I would have ripped off her head and given her the lecture from hell.
Though with my luck, I would have been arrested so I refrained, but between that and the turbulence, I actually pulled out my barf bag...and at one point made my way to the bathroom (but not before giving those parents the glare from hell on my way there)...and just pressed my head against the cool metal wall and splashed water on my face to keep from being sick. I was seconds away from a major panic attack which is definitely something you do not want to have on a plane, but I was seriously never so claustrophobic in my life.
Naturally, because of the bad weather and fog, our plane went into a holding pattern and we had to endure the trip a half hour longer than our expected arrival time.
I actually had a "hangover" the next day...I was still shaking over twenty-four hours later.
But luckily these things pass, and I swear, next time I fly I am going to be the one carrying toys and snacks for any poor kid with a neglectful parent!
Okay, that's a wrap for now...I'm taking off for a few days and in case anyone is wondering about my writing life...stay tuned for what I hope may be some amazing news next week. Or not. Fingers crossed.
I will try and fit in another blog post or two before the Labor Day holiday if I am able but I'm taking a little writing vacation to complete an anthology I'm editing, speaking of writing, and do not know if I will get back here or not. If that's the case, have a wonderful holiday weekend, everyone...I cannot believe how this summer flew by...but when I think of where Julie and Eric have been since June - up and down the east coast, the south, Quebec, Japan...now Mexico and Seattle...holy freaking cow....maybe it didn't go that quickly after all.
Julie Slick, Eric Slick, and Adrian Belew signing autographs for fans following their Saturday night (August 25, 2007) performance in West Palm Beach, Florida
Here's a review which appeared today in Tampa Calling: Adrian Belew My Face Off August 27th, 2007 by Leilani in Reviews
"Progressive rock virtuoso Adrian Belew performed much of Friday night’s two-set show with a shit-eating grin on his craggy face, his fingers dancing nimbly up and down the neck of his retro orange guitar, his effects pedals ensuring that the tones he produced were never quite ordinary. To Belew’s right, 21-year-old bassist Julie Slick played with her long curly hair hanging in her face. To his left, her younger brother, drummer Eric Slick, pounded out beats with changing time signatures amidst the occasional danceable grooves and spirited interchanges — dare I say face-offs? — with Belew.
All together, they filled the room with a dynamic stew of electrifying prog rock and played two fun sets of Belew originals and King Crimson numbers that were enjoyed by a mature, mostly male audience. The tremendously short set break was marked by a solo instrumental performance by Belew, the highlight a captivating cover of The Beatles’ psychedelic “Within You, Without You,” in which Belew perfectly recreated the tone of the tambura (a sitar-like instrument from India). It was the type of show that makes it hard to get a drink or take a bathroom break because you’re afraid you’ll miss something good. Belew was clearly having a raging good time with his young cohorts, their interchange spirited and a treat to take in. When the trio came out and encored with “Thela Hun Ginjeet” — a King Crimson standard – the 300 or so attendees who stood rapt and still through much of the show became an energized mass of dancing bodies."
..."As promised, I'm writing a few on the Adrian Belew gig last week. I first became aware of the guy when my dad brought home what was the second McKinnon family compact disc (the first being Led Zeppelin IV). Paul Simon's Graceland. I consider this one of the most important records in the development of my musical appreciation. I seem to recall The Joshua Tree and Graceland being the records that flipped the switch in my noggin which made me realize the difference between actual quality and fluffy bullshit. I still appreciate fluffy bullshit of course (we're seeing Def Leppard tomorrow, front row center thanks to a hookup with the radio station), but those two records in particular caused me to realize pop music had real artistic value. I started digging into my dad's Beatles, Who and Kinks records soon thereafter. I had a shitty acoustic guitar within the year.
Adrian was on Graceland. At the same time we got the disc, there was simultaneously an interview in Guitar World with him and Robert Fripp. I had no real awareness of Talking Heads or King Crimson (especially KC) at that time. That didn't happen until college, when I actually began to markedly improve on bass (resulting from the embarassment of playing in the basketball band and sucking out loud in front of 15,000 people at the SWC finals) and became interested in "difficult rock" (I loathe the prog nomenclature). Two years later I was in a band with my oldest friend. A year after THAT Peanut Gallery was delving into abject stupidity. Race you to the end of the song was the motto. Cramming as many time signatures as possible into a three minute pop song was standard practice. We worshipped Rush and Genesis and The Police and Talking Heads, but were playing with our egos (as a brief aside, no band should ever wear capes and write 40-minute long songs, regardless of intent or talent). Then came the rock opera, effectively the bane of the group. The Feldmans followed a year later, which was a direct response to PG in that our goal was to get together a few times a week, get drunk and write ridiculous, self-effacing/self-referential prog rock anthems. There are specific moments on the ensuing recording that could very easily be lifted directly from Moving Pictures, but in a laugh out loud sort of way. Laugh out loud if you're 100% geek, I suppose.
During that period in the late 90s/early 00s, I was practicing a lot. Not necessarily expanding my understanding of theory, but more my vocabulary. I got into the Heads (and Tom Tom Club), Bowie, Minutemen, back into Pixies and Pavement, Guided By Voices, various post-rock outfits like Sea and Cake and Three Mile Pilot, Queen, Elvis Costello and Elton John (John Deacon, Bruce Thomas and Dee Murray are probably three of my favorite bassists; so melodic and supportive, but totally distinct in their styles... and regardless of the fact I play like an Entwistle obsessed, adderall laced chipmunk). The bulk of my 20s was spent flushing out the cock-rock vernacular and replacing it with substance and quality. Maybe that's a bit pretentious to say and most likely impossible to achieve, as I am still known to drive away from work with Open Up and Say Ahhh... on the iPod and my outstreched arm flipping an unrepentant fuck you to The Man. I digress.
ANYWAY, Adrian Belew is a major component of that effort. I have nothing but respect for anyone able to forge a career in creativity without sacrificing personal principles. Whether those principles are getting laid and fucked up (a la Motley Crue) or writing and performing music for the sake of writing and performing music, the fact remains it's accomplished without denigrating whatever it was that urged them into that line of work to begin with. What I particularly appreciate about Belew, aside from his individualism, is his sense of melody and songcraft. So many times I hear someone say his music is maybe what John Lennon would be writing were he still alive today. I suppose stripped of the perfectly twisted guitar work - yes. Or maybe Adrian would be performing with Lennon, providing it. They seem cut from the same cloth. Count in the Tony Levin connection, and I s'pose it's not beyond the scope of reality.
To my mind, Belew exemplifies that iconic sort of modern-media artist, the Kubrick or Warhol or Prince, who is just creatively relentless, but populist. How does one live like this? That constant output, all within the public eye. I know for a fact creativity isn't the sole element of those people's successes. I know plenty of creative people who don't do shit. Who sit at home waiting for something to happen to them, waiting for someone to recognize the power of their genius. There's more to it than creativity, obviously. Self promotion, conceit, work ethic, awareness that an audience exists for whatever it is you have to say (although Rush has an exceptional philosophy on the role of the audience in the creative process, I'll refrain from discussing here as I know most of you bastards loathe Rush) - components. And like anything, if you become bored the art declines and you eventually just... stop. Or you resent success and those who established it. Jaz Coleman. Kurt Cobain. Et cetera.
ANYWAY, while I started this post as a review of the Belew show, I quickly realized it's been years since I've written a rock show review and had lost track of my goal by the second graf. I apologize for the sophomoric ramblings, then. I do want to say that seeing Adrian play with, well, kids... kids half his age... siblings Eric and Julie Slick... who can easily hold their own against the best in the business, probably walk all over them actually, motivated his performance to a different level. He's always good, certainly, but everyone seemed to enjoy this gig more than the last go-round. Not that the last go-round was lacking, but that this one was looser and kookier..."
"New and cool in this tiny corner of the world....I saw the most awesome concert last weekend...thanks Mark!!!!!! The Adrian Belew Trio came to Asheville. Even if you aren't into prog rock, there can be no denying the talent that was collected on that stage! Most astonishing was that 2/3 of the group was half my age ....and their talent was almost freakish! I haven't enjoyed a concert that much in ages. I found myself giggling uncontollably for a few moments as a couple of "new agers" found their way next to me at the front of the stage. They were surely enjoying whatever trip they were on. Asheville certainly is a fun place to people watch!"
I can't thank you enough for the amazing performance in West Palm Beach last night. Seriously my ALL TIME FAVORITE concert (and I've seen some good ones!).
You ALL looked like you were having a BLAST! That really transferred to your audience; it made US enjoy it all that much more."
"eric,
you guys ROCKED the theatre last nite! aside from getting to see adrian (1 of my 2 favorite guitarists - words can't describe how much his music means to me), it's so nice to see a band have fun while they play. and to top it off... have a good attitude toward the fans after the show. :)
took a buddy of mine (an opera singer) w/ me to the show. as much as he enjoyed the show, his favorite thing about the show was your drumming ability.
blessings + peace, db"
"Hi Eric,
The show last night in West Palm Beach was AMAZING! You are incredibly talented, but I know you've heard that from the BEST already. :^)"
"Adrian, Saw you last night in West Palm Beach and I have to confess I am still buzzed! By far THE best show I have seen in a long time. Julie and Eric are amazing and your energy is mesmerizing. Hope to see you again SOON!"
Okay, I am totally exhausted, jet lagged, and still on a huge high from my weekend in Florida with the Belew clan. So either later today/tonight or tomorrow I will give you my first-hand account of the show complete with photos and some personal little anecdotes. Cool? Cool!
Yes! Two for the price of one - a ten minute clip featuring Frame by Frame, Three of a Perfect Pair, and my personal heartwarming moment, the evening's final bow, filmed at Stella Blue Live, Asheville, N.C. on Sunday, August 19, 2007
This You Tube is courtesy of ValenZerProductions.
So I am getting ready to hop a flight for Florida this morning to catch the The Adrian Belew Power Trio show at The Theatre in West Palm Beach, but before I go, a couple of things.
First, I joined the Adrian Belew Facebook Network, which was lovingly created by uber-fans Wendy Lozenicins and Gareth Howells. I'm still getting used to navigating the site but I have to admit, so far I prefer it over MySpace though I'm pretty technology challenged as concerns both. Sigh...I hope at some point I'll be able to figure these things out and get really creative with them because I know how excellent they are for networking music and writing-wise.
Next, you know I can't leave for the weekend without posting a couple more reviews:
Jack Rabbits Again Last Night-Adrian Belew Power Trio
"Um, the warm up guy, Saul Zonana was great. Beautiful guitar work and gregarious and funny on stage. We got there about 4 songs into his set and heard about 6, all were good, and one was about a blow up doll. Bought his most recent cd and I will be buying the one with "Bette" the sex toy on it.Don't pass up a chance to see him. I won't.
Adrian Belew, The Adrian Belew Power Trio. Guitar master. Leaning toward Jazz on most of his stuff until the last 3 or 4 songs. Then it was gut wrenching rock. "Power Trio" was an apt description. The kids sitting in with him on drums and bass are unbelievable. Age 20 and 21, brother and sister. Eric and Julie Slick from Philadelphia. Watching them was worth the price of admission!...
"...I went to Smith's Olde Bar last night and met freakin' Adrian Belew of King Crimson fame (see the picture I took on Richie's Myspace*). HOW COOL IS THAT??? He puts on one of the greatest shows ever. And the brother-and-sister bass and drums combo he has playing with him are positively phenomenal, and I mean that. Julie Slick could give Richie a run for his money and win. Eric Slick was sitting there playing Bill Bruford better than Bill. 20 and 21 years old, from Philadelphia, and unbelievably cool (go Flyers!). They have MySpace profiles, check 'em out. That really was one of the most amazing musical experiences of my life. Thank you Allison for reminding us (and for dinner)!!! I'll post pics from the show on my Flickr real soon"
*Note from our author here...I think I found "Richie's" MySpace site with all of the cool photos -- here is the link, which does in fact include a comment from Ms. Kat:
"Ohhh I'm so jealous... you got a picture of half the drummer's face =) I'll get my pics up soon, hopefully.
thanks for reminding us, and for dinner, darling, I had a blast
Posted by Miss Kat on August 24, 2007 - Friday at 1:22 PM"
Okay, holy cow, I just realized what time it is...I'm not even done packing and I've got to be at the airport in an hour!
