Tonight: Adrian Belew Power Trio in NY

So tonight the Adrian Belew Power Trio will be at Revolution Hall in Troy, New York and it's their last show until July 5, 2008 when they head to Canada for the Ottawa Blues Fest and Quebec Summer Music Festival followed by a handful of U.S. cities...a lot more on that to follow, as well as keeping tabs on Eric, who will have a busy June sitting in with Crescent Moon, Chris Harford, and Delicious and I'm sure I'm leaving a band or ten out.

*ETA: Heads up - new You Tube posted below

**ETA2: Another heads up - link to very cool article posted underneath said You Tube

***ETA3: Here's a review written by Gene Wicker, Jr. which just appeared at 6:00 p.m. this evening and contains a link to some startling good pics with great captions underneath.

Here's a killer review from the show in Teaneck, New Jersey last night:

Photo by, I kid you not, Grudnick the Flatulent

"Adrian Belew and Robert Who?

Three of a Perfect… well, you know.Adrian Belew is the musical equivalent of a character actor. Like that face you’ve seen in God knows how many films but you can’t place the name, Belew’s guitar has left its fingerprints from one end of popular music to the other. Whether you recognize the name or not, you’ve likely heard that distinctive sound on records by Zappa, Bowie, the Talking Heads, King Crimson, Nine Inch Nails, Paul Simon, Jaguares, Tori Amos, and others; if you’re lucky, you’ve also heard him on one of his many solo outings.

And if you were in the sleepy, overheated vicinity of Teaneck this evening, you could also have caught him live at Mexicali Blues with the other two-thirds of his Power Trio, the ridiculously talented Eric and Julie Slick, who play drums and bass, respectively. The club featured terrific sound, great sight lines, and a temperature that would likely have allowed anyone who was so inclined to make a pretty serviceable omelette on one of the speaker cabinets.

For the faithful fan, it was all there: a set list that drew from predictable old favorites (”Big Electric Cat,” “Three of a Perfect Pair,” “Ampersand”), along with songs that haven’t seen daylight in a while (”Futurevision,” a blazing version of “Neurotica”); Belew’s quirky humor; and the guitar that sounds like everything from seagulls to piano to alien landscapes. The sum of the parts is such that no matter how many times you’ve heard the songs, they never get old, because they’re never quite the same thing twice.

Of course, they’re also helped along considerably by the other two-thirds of the band. Somewhere around the halfway point of the concert, it occurred to me that the first time I saw Adrian Belew was nearly 20 years ago, when his backing band would have been aged roughly two and three. From the first notes, though, it’s pretty obvious that they’re not just along for the ride, nor are they there because Belew was feeling particularly generous. A good trio isn’t just one guy blazing away while the other two keep time; the best ones have always been a balancing act, with the rhythm section doing as much to propel the group’s sound as the frontperson. That’s as true of Cream or the Police, say, or any of Bill Evans’ excellent trios. In this case, the Slick siblings gave a powerful underpinning to Belew’s flights of fancy. It’s saying a lot when someone’s playing stuff that was laid down by the likes of Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp and Tony Levin but you don’t miss the originals. Even more to their credit, neither of the Slicks contented themselves with playing by rote; they made the material very much their own.

At this point, it’s probably also worth mentioning the School of Rock, of which both Eric and Julie are alumni, and some of whose current students opened the show. Ordinarily you’d think that a bunch of kids with electric guitars, bass, drums, and keyboard wouldn’t have much to recommend them beyond a certain kitsch appeal, but this lot were good. When I heard the opening chords of “The Great Curve,” I thought to myself, “Oh no they didn’t.” But, of course, they did. And it was worth it, as was the rest of the set, which was given over largely to the music of Yes. Now, if you’ve listened to much Yes, you can imagine how cringe-inducing it’d be if it were done badly. But it wasn’t; every last time change, every guitar riff and bass lick, all of it was executed well (and that Chris Squire bit on “South Side of the Sky” ain’t exactly amateur hour material).

Adrian Belew’s fans have been heard to grumble when he goes for long stretches of time between projects. The last few years, though, have been an embarrassment of riches in the form of the studio projects (Sides One, Two, and Three) and even his first live album (”Side Four,” recorded with the Power Trio). Belew seems both musically and personally invigorated these days, and hopefully it’s not asking too much that another album might be in the offing. When you’re sounding this good, it’d seem a shame if there wasn’t.

Postscript: For more Belew information, and/or to order CD’s, visit his website here.
****

*ETA: A really cool video just surfaced of the trio performing Matchless Man in Carrboro last week. Here's the caption:

"Great show at Cat's Cradle, Carrboro NC. Adrian, Julie, and Eric were on that night. Good vibe."



And the same song just surfaced from last night's performance in Teaneck...



**ETA2: Here's a link to a print magazine distributed throughout the Philadelphia area called Lifestyle Magazine and in this month's issue, if you click that link, there's an awesome article about how hot the Philadelphia music scene is right now, and look who gets a mention:

"...Further evidence the region has an impact on the national music scene is just a DVD rental away. The 2005 documentary “Rock School” documents youths’ studies of music theory and performance, and it happens in Philadelphia, where Paul Green founded the Paul Green School of Rock, which now has franchises across the nation. Students range in age from 9 to 17, and can focus their studies on singing, electric guitar, electric bass, keyboards and drums. Though many don’t choose to go on to become musicians, the school has influenced rising stars, including siblings Eric (drummer) and Julie (bassist) Slick, who were recently profiled in Bass Player Magazine. The pair has worked with iconic guitarist Adrian Belew."

Note to self: Venture out in 100 degree heat again and pick up a few hundred copies of that magazine.

So here I am back in Philadelphia, missing all of these amazing shows, but happily working on my next novel in between gasping for air in one hundred degree weather when I venture outside to walk the dog. I must say I do not eat nearly as well with my whole family out on tour - dinner for the last two nights has consisted of left over pizza and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but oh well, who cares about food when I can wake up early to a review such as the above, spend my whole day writing, and get telephone calls from Gary where he nonchalantly tells me "Oh, we met Dick Smothers last night" or from Julie who says "Hey, Paul Reed Smith came to our soundcheck on Friday and wants us to tour his factory, etc. etc."

Nice life, huh. All of us.

I'm on the lookout for more photos and reviews and it's way early in the morning so there is a very good chance I'll be back.

Later,
xo

Tonight: Adrian Belew Power Trio in Teaneck, NJ

Tonight the Adrian Belew Power Trio will be at Mexicali Blues in Teaneck, New Jersey.

I don't have much in reviews or mail yet today, but for now, here's a very cool photo of Julie courtesy of Ross Smith and a brand new You Tube, which, while lacking in sound quality (a good portion of the actual song has a lot of buzzing), begins with a very, very tasty Eric Slick drum solo and thus makes it way worth watching.





More Later,
xo

Tonight: Adrian Belew Power Trio in Annapolis

So yes, I slacked off again for a couple of days and missed writing about the Adrian Belew Power Trio shows in Asheville and Carrboro, North Carolina, but the mail bag has been full of praise and absolutely fantastic photos such as these, taken in Nashville on May 28, 2008 by Ross Smith, who also wrote "Your kids ROCK!!! As a fellow bass player, Julie is indeed quite an inspiration, to say the least."

Thanks Ross - I feel the same away about your photography. If you click on the aboove link to Ross' MySpace page, there's a lot more where these came from:













There's also some wonderful photos on my pal Cleek's site, and he has this to say about last night's show:

"It was an excellent show, as is expected. And everything I said about his August show could be said about this one. Adrian was mesmerizing, Eric Slick remains a fantastic drummer, and Julie Slick makes most other bass players look timid and clumsy.

It was pretty much the same show as the previous, though they had one new song, and they pulled out a couple I’d never heard him do before: “Future Vision” and “I Remember How to Forget”.
*****
And then there's this from Jeff Bond of Adrian Belew's "Tribe":

"Adrian and the Slicks were in fine form last night. The first half of the show featured a bit more of the 'experimental' side of Adrian than I remember from the previous time he was here, but after the break they really hit their stride. Things I noted: I think Adrian has even more effects boxes panels and switches (is that possible), Julie the barefoot bass player is getting better and was definitely part of the 'experimental' half of the show, and Eric doesn't smile as much while he plays - but he sure does play. After the show Eric was smiling, talking, and laughing with crew and audience while he broke down his drum kit."

And a reply to that from Famous Jonny Mambo:

"Hey Jeff and Other Friends,

They were great!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!

I spoke with them before the show and they could not have been more gracious
while being on a very hectic time schedule. Tickledrop you were right-my
mind will never be the same. They also very generously played for 2.5 hours.
They were much more improvisational than the last time

FJM

****

ETA:

"...the show was awesome, the best trio show I've heard yet, even better than the Two Mikes edition. Julie played with a confidence that I didn't see in her last time at the Cradle, she definitely rocks. And Eric did have less smiles than last time, but it was quite hot in there compared to before - Adrian was pouring sweat.

The set list ruled - they played "I Remember How To Forget" and "Color Futurevision" - how awesome!

Definitely worth the 6 hour round trip and 2 hours of sleep I got before I went to work!"

Adam

******

So that's it for now - if you haven't checked Gary's blog lately, he's got an amazing You Tube up of the trio performing "E"...and as usual, if any more emails, reviews, or news comes my way, I'll be back.

Tonight you can catch the trio performing at Ram's Head On Stage in Annapolis, Maryland...tickets are selling out quickly and other than a few dates in July, this might be one of the last chances to catch the trio on the east coast in 2008...but oh where they are going this fall/winter...

Later,
xo

Quote of the Day...

From the Audio Circle forum board in response to "Latest Live Show You've Been To..."

"Adrian Belew (Power Trio). Unreal. A religious experience. Music was fabulous. Adrian = monster power and tone. One of the most creative and enjoyable shows I've seen in my life. I now hate all other musicians and all of my CDs. All I want to do is follow them around the country and listen to their music. I don't think I'll recover from this obsession, nor want to.

A twenty-something brother (drums) and sister (bass) fill out the trio. I mean no disrespect, but these kids' mother must have conceived them with Scott Lafaro and Buddy Rich while listening to music from Jaco Pastorius and Keith Moon. It is the only explanation to their enormous talent."


Actually, there's a pretty good chance he is right as concerns the listening part...

Photo by Gary Slick

ETA: Just talked to Eric, young drummer of power and terror, who relates this story from last night. Whilst vacationing, they accidentally picked what turned out to be a pretty rotten restaurant.

Here's his email, which cracked me up:

"Dinner last night sucked big time! Terrible choice.

However, we sat two tables away from Chris Rock. Julie was the first to notice and she whispered it to me. I started to freak out and laugh uncontrollably to myself. Then, I had to tell Adrian. Naturally, he blurts out loud, "What would Chris Rock be doing in this dump?" Of course, Chris Rock looks over at us with a look of discomfort and Julie and I began to just crack up. Adrian leaves without paying, because his tilapia was not cooked."

Gotta love those trio stories...I know I sure as hell love them! (The stories and the trio)

More later,
xo

P.S. Gary has updated his blog.

Tonight: The Adrian Belew Trio is on holiday

The Adrian Belew Power Trio has a couple of days off until their show Wednesday night in North Carolina, and they are currently on holiday in a very cool undisclosed location. But in the meantime, this very wonderful review of their Friday night show was published in Creative Loafing:

Belew Friday
June 2nd, 2008 by Leilani in News


Photo by Phil Bardi

This Friday night, I had the pleasure of seeing the Adrian Belew Trio play dynamic, jazz-infused electro rock for the second time in less than a year.

And they blew my mind. Again. “Well, looks like this is going to be a very different show than the one at State Theatre,” prog rock guitarist/vocalist Belew commented near the beginning of the first set to a lively crowd of a few hundred fans at Skipper’s Smokehouse. Not that the show at the State last August was lacking in vigor – it was most assuredly a great time, but the Belew fans seemed more almost standoffish in their enjoyment of his music, whereas at Skipper’s, they made their appreciation well-known with much boisterous clapping, whooping and rowdy shouts of approval, not to mention some actual dancing.

And the band was definitely deserving of the enthusiasm. Belew brought his usual good humor and animated showmanship to the stage, and was great fun to watch with brother-and-sister rhythm section/Philadelphia School of Rock alumni Eric and Julie Slick, who provided strong support; Julie, with her fluff of dark curly hair, long hippie skirt, and bare feet, came off as cool and collected with self-assured bass thumping and expert finger work, while Eric supplied moments of John Bonham genius.

Belew really got into what he was doing, a unique and refreshing change from the normal prog rock stone face that so many of his peers employ. And as I remarked in my write up of the show, Belew wasn’t just the frontman but a vibrant force who owned his music. He knew when to take control with face-melting licks, when the time was right for improvisation, and when he needed to add psychedelic texture to his sizzling sonic landscape. He wasn’t just content to play his songs, but to lead his band to new horizons of aggressive improvisation, to become completely enmeshed in the fresh and appealing sounds they created together.

I talked this show up to all my friends, pimped it in every place it could possibly be pimped, and left the show satisfied that it lived up to my hype.

*******

Well, that was nice. And here's another, complete with photos.

I just talked with Julie - they are having an absolute blast and are currently on the hunt for some gelato.

Sob...I'm so jealous.

Later,
xo

Adrian on the radio!

Sorry for the short notice but I just read this on the Zappa forum board: Adrian Belew will be interviewed by Project Object's Eric Svalgard today at 1:00 p.m. eastern right here!

ETA: Somehow everyone I've ever emailed has been invited to join me on a MySpace type site called Hi5. I do not know how this happened and I've deleted my account with these people so please, please ignore any request to "friend me" and I am sorry for any inconvenience. Stupid internet...

Tonight: The Adrian Belew Power Trio in Lake Worth, FL

So this is kind of bittersweet - tonight the Adrian Belew Power Trio return to the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, Florida, where they performed two years ago -- and where the legend of Julie Slick and her peach cobbler originated.


Photo of Julie Slick, Atlanta, GA, May 29, 2008 courtesy of Rich Wilson

What's bittersweet is that after tonight's show, the Bamboo Room is going dark...the end of an era. Man, it's such a cool venue, I feel a bit broken-hearted right now...though I just learned via an e-mail that the closure may not be permanent; it may just be for the season. Julie assures me she is going to re-create the cobbler tonight as a farewell gift (though she is thinking blackberries instead of peaches for those of you who care) but...sob...I won't be there...I'm here in rainy Philadelphia, sulking.

ETA: See? I do come in and edit. This just in - an extremely cool review of last night's show complete with most excellent photos.

Speaking of Rich Wilson, who provided the above photo of Julie and is a very cool bass player in his own right - here's his band's MySpace site, let's visit my mail bag, which starts with an e-mail from Rich:

"Robin,

Hi there, was reading your blog and noticed you didn’t have any ATL photos yet so I thought I’d send you a pic of Julie from last night. You actually used my wife’s photos from last years Atlanta show, and we thank you very much,

I am myself a Philly native and totally love seeing your kids play. I struck up a conversation with them last year about Philly because they spotted me in a flyers hat and said something about it after the show. Amazingly enough, after all that time Eric remembered me from last year and came up and said hello before the show last night. They are both amazing people and I am sure you are very proud..."

Naturally I wrote back to Rich, asking for permission to post his email, and he was not only cool with it, here's part of his response:

"I gotta tell ya – I’m a 31 year old bass player and Julie’s playing is totally inspiring. I do pretty well for myself and am fairly well respected as a player around my parts, but she has my utmost respect. I’m even taking a few cues from her – the way she plays very easily and effortlessly has taught me to lighten up my touch and play more economically, saves my arms for later a lot better. She’s also super cool about returning myspace messages and trading bass gear / tone tips."

Thanks, Rich, I really appreciate this.

And then there's this, from Ken Eichman:

"I now live in Huntsville Alabama however I grew up in Willow Grove PA. I have been an Adrian Fan for 20 plus years going back to the Bears at the Chestnut Cabaret and King Crimson at the Mann. I have seen him many, many times in many many cities, he is the BEST. Enough about him.

The power trio is F(*%$ great! I just caught the show they did in Nashville. I am a drummer in a local band but damn, they were great. It was almost like Adrian's long career has just been working up to jamming with them (sorry Tony Levin and Bill Bruford). Your kids are great.

Thanks for raising them with music in the house. Adrian as you know has played with the best but it was almost like he was just touring to show off his new toy.....the power in the power trio."

And then there is this, in response to comments I posted in my blog yesterday:

"Freaking Amazing is accurate! That was a funky, powerful nite! Looking over the 'collection' this was the closest to the Talking Heads sound than I have ever seen him - and I have see Ade in many forms over the years. The Slicks are amazing..."

A few of my photos are here."
*****

So it's only 8:30 a.m., I'm sure I'll be getting more reviews/emails as the day progresses, and I'll add them here as they come in. (I did do that yesterday, too, in case anyone missed it). But for now...I think I need more coffee.

Later,
xo

Tonight: Adrian Belew Power Trio in Tampa, FL

Tonight the Adrian Belew Power Trio will be in Tampa, Florida. Opening for them is a wonderful band I caught two years ago when I was down in St. Petersburg - Jerry Outlaw and Friends. Jerry is a hell of a guitarist in his own right and and here's a blurb about the show in today's St. Petersburg's Times:

Photos by Gary Slick

Adrian Belew
With Jerry Outlaw and Friends
FRIDAY 8 p.m. Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. $15-$20. (813) 971-0666.

A master sound-manipulator and guitar hero to the art-rock pack, Adrian Belew spent time with Frank Zappa, Talking Heads, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails and King Crimson before forming his own progressive power trio. 20-something siblings and technical dynamos Eric and Julie Slick only add to the sonic vigor.





From Access Atlanta:

"SOUND CHECK: Belew hits wide-ranging notes

By Jonathan Williams
For the Journal-Constitution

AS ONE OF THE MOST accomplished guitarists of the past few decades, Adrian Belew has performed and recorded with the likes of Frank Zappa, David Bowie, the Talking Heads, Nine Inch Nails and Tori Amos, not to mention William Shatner and Henry Rollins —- at the same time!

Before reuniting with King Crimson, the progressive rock band for which he is best known, for a few shows later this summer, his current project is the Adrian Belew Power Trio. Touring in support of "Side Four Live," a live recording released last November, the trio performed at Smith's Olde Bar this week.

Q: You've worked with many of the most prolific rock artists of the past few decades. How did you end up playing with a couple of kids?

A: I had been working for quite a while on material for what I called a Power Trio and I had some ideas on what I wanted that to be. So I was in the market to find the right players. I went to the School of Rock in Philadelphia to do a guest seminar and Paul Green, the founder of the school, said, "I want you to hear the best students I've ever had. They've already graduated, but they're brother and sister, Eric and Julie Slick." He brought them in, they played with me and I said, "I think I've found my trio."

Q: One of your latest projects was "Ghosts I-IV," an experimental instrumental project with Nine Inch Nails. What was working on that like for you?

A: This is the third record I've done with Nine Inch Nails and it went pretty much the same as the other two. Basically Trent [Reznor] plays me the material and lets me do whatever I hear. He's very encouraging to me and lets me try things. It's really fun for me because I love the music and I have total freedom. I really like Trent's production work, I like the sound that his records have, so it was four days of happiness.

Q: Aside from your own album, have you been featured on any other recent releases?

A: I am working on a brand-new record of new material with the trio, some of which we'll play on this leg of the tour. And in August, King Crimson is doing 10 shows in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. Around all that I'll be working on new material and the trio will be touring all over the place.

Q: Tell me if this doesn't sound like the beginning of a bad joke. William Shatner, Henry Rollins, Ben Folds and Adrian Belew are in the studio one day . . .

A: That does sound like a bad joke. That was actually another night of hilarious fun. I'm friends with Ben Folds and John Painter, the two people who were producing that record [William Shatner's 2004 album "Has Been"], and they called me and said, "Hey, we've got William Shatner and Henry Rollins here and they really want you to come over and play." We just did some improvisational work until about 5 in the morning and it was a lot of fun. I really enjoyed William Shatner. He's a ball of energy, unbelievable. Henry's a character, too. Having him and William Shatner in the same room together, there was almost no air left."

*****

From the mail bag regarding last night's show in Atlanta:

"Saw the Atlanta show, and yes, it was AWESOME

I had so much fun I'm inarticulate. Suffice to say this is the best
he's played of the 4 or 5 times I've seen him over the years, from
the Bears in the 80s to today... and the Slicks are also awesome.
What a pleasure. I also met some groovy dudes, one of whom plays
bass, and might just have made a new jamming buddy.

My face hurts from smiling. It was fantastic."

*****

"I have seen them 4x in the last 2 years. This last show was FREAKING AMAZING.... It was hands down the best to date. If you can pick your jaw up off the table after they leave the stage, then watch the crowd. It would be a great picture for a dictionary to help describe the word 'stunned.'"

*****

"...They sounded great, and I have nothing but positive, glowing, and wonderful things to say about Julie and Eric. Great young people. Just great."

*****

"...As usual, Adrian is infectiously happy when he's playing with Eric and Julie. There are KC songs that I would rather hear these guys playing that the actual KC, just because of that spirit of fun and enjoyment."

*****

"Saw the show in Atlanta. Your kids are amazing good!

Adrian - well he's on another planet and sometimes he's nice enough to take us all there for a few minutes."
*****
And the most special post of all, from Margie Wallace, wife of Ian Wallace, which I am editing to exclude some personal references:

"...Technically, I stole the set list...I picked it up after helping Eric break down some of his stands. What can I say, I have a soft spot for drummers who carry their own gear. And what a drummer Eric is....absolutely fantastic! I can't say enough about what great players Eric and Julie are! After so many Friday evenings spent talking with Adrian about how much he loves playing with this band, it was so wonderful to see them in action. The beautiful Julie, looking so serene while holding down the bottom end as Ade just played and sang his heart out! Not to mention the special added bonus of Saul Zonana working the soundboard while simultaneously singing harmony vocals! Everyone was having a blast and the crowd loved it! ...The audience was filled with all manner of spectacular musicians (including the venal one, tapping his feet and smiling throughout) and enthusiastic audients!

It was nice to spend some time with Julie and Eric before the show, having never met them previously. We dined at a nearby sushi bar...I discovered that as amazing as Julie and Eric are as musicians, they are even better people - smart, funny, talented and gentle. Congrats to Robin and Gary for bringing up two such fine human beings.

All in all, a wonderful evening....

Margie"

I wrote to Margie, asking her permission to post this, and here is how she graciously responded:

Robin,

They are both great kids and talented musicians (I almost cried watching Eric at soundcheck) and a credit to both you and Gary. What a gift to shepherd two such lovely souls into this life. I had a great time meeting them and look forward to spending more time with all of you in the future! ...I know our paths with cross sooner rather than later. Until then....blog away! Consider this my official consent.

All the best,
Margie

Yes, I know. That is the coolest thing ever.

Hey, here's some exciting news. Gary has updated his blog, which currently is a tribute to his top Guitar Gods. His first post on the subject was Jimi Hendrix - click the link to see who comes in at number two and for a hint on as to which legendary musician is next on the list.

Anyway, I know I'm always saying this, but I do expect more reviews and emails later today because I personally know a couple people who attended the show last night so yep, as soon as I receive them, I'll add them to this post.

Later,
xo

Tonight: Adrian Belew Power Trio in Atlanta, GA

So while I do not have all that much information I am able to share as concerns last night's show, here's what a fan had to say:

"Great show. Adrian had a preposterous rig for the venue, and the two kids he had with him are monsters. I wasn't familiar with his material before this, so I kind of just spent the evening enjoying the weird noises and ogling his Parkers, but it was a good time indeed."



That's a pic from World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, March, 2008 (thanks, Gary) because I don't have any photographs from last night - at least not yet, anyway - nor much other information other than, um, there were two special guests in the audience - Robert Fripp and Margie Wallace, wife of beloved late King Crimson drummer, Ian Wallace.

You realize it's killing me not to say anything further but out of respect to people (including Julie and Eric!) whom I truly admire and respect, my lips are sealed.

But okay, I am running around the living room whooping it up right now and the dog is looking at me like I'm crazy.

Nothing new about that.

From Tampa Creative Loafing:

Friday, May 30
Published 05.28.08
By Leilani Polk

Adrian Belew

Last year, when progressive guitarist Adrian Belew brought his power trio to State Theatre, I was skeptical about how much I'd enjoy the show. Many months before, I'd finally seen Jeff Beck -- another prog-rock heavy hitter whom I loved and appreciated -- and found myself indifferent, bored even, by Beck's cold licks and lack of charisma. But when Belew took the stage with brother-and-sister rhythm section Eric and Julie Slick, his goofy mug all smiles, and they launched into a set of dynamic, jazz-infused electro rock, my doubts were put to rest. Belew's sound was relevant and rousing, a refreshing change from the route followed by too many veteran musicians, who fall back on the familiar rather than attempting to break new or even gently-tread-upon ground. Belew knew when to take control with face-melting licks, when the time was right for improvisation and when he needed to add psychedelic texture to his sizzling sonic landscape. Belew wasn't just the frontman but a vibrant force who owned his music. Overall, a badass show and one of the best I saw last year. Belew and his trio return to town this Friday night; Jerry Outlaw & Friends provide support. Fri., May 30, 8 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa, $20 in advance/$25 day of show, 813-971-0666, skipperssmokehouse.com.

So that article concerns the show this coming Friday, but if you are in the Atlanta area tonight, please check the trio out at Smith's Olde Bar.

And if it turns out any more "reportable" news pops up, I'll be back.

Later,
xo

F.o.C.K. Yeah! Adrian Belew Power Trio tonight in Nashville

So yesterday both Julie and Eric arrived in Nashville - Julie took a flight last evening but Eric arrived with Andre Cholmondeley in the afternoon via car whilst King Crimson was wrapping up their final rehearsal this week. You realize what this means. I will be interrogating poor Eric horribly later, and since I know he reads my blog, he's probably going to be hiding from me big time today. Ha ha - I don't blame him.


(Official tour poster created by Mark Colman)

Anyway, as I have been broadcasting all over the internet, the Adrian Belew Power Trio kicks off the first leg of their summer tour tonight in Nashville at the Mercy Lounge. They'll be introducing some new material and after listening to the recordings of their rehearsals of last week, those lucky enough to be in attendance are in for a treat.

From the Tennessean:

"ADRIAN BELEW WENT BACK TO SCHOOL
AND FOUND HIS NEW BAND"

"Wildly adventurous guitarist Adrian Belew went back to school and discovered his personal fountain of youth.

Perhaps that's not surprising, given that the institution was the School of Rock.

Belew, who lives in Mt. Juliet, is one of the most talented and experimental guitarists in rock music. He began making a name for himself while working with Frank Zappa in the late '70s. The next 20 years brought a flurry of tours and recording sessions with artists including David Bowie, Paul Simon, Nine Inch Nails, Talking Heads and Laurie Anderson. For more than 25 years, he has served as lyricist, vocalist and guitarist of the progressive rock group King Crimson.

In February 2006, Belew conducted a seminar for students at the Paul Green School of Rock Music in Philadelphia. "While I was there, Paul (Green) said, 'I want you to hear my best students I've ever graduated.' " He introduced Belew to siblings Eric Slick, a drummer, and Julie Slick, a bass player. The three played a Zappa song together and something just clicked.

That collaboration quickly led to the Adrian Belew Power Trio, which performs at Mercy Lounge at 9 p.m. Wednesday. They'll play music from their album, Side Four (Live), as well as six King Crimson songs and other music from Belew's catalog.

The three have already performed in Italy, Canada, Germany and Japan, and they've been working on new material at Belew's studio before resuming their tour. This is more than just the latest project for Belew; it's a life-changing musical movement that has re-energized his quest for musical exploration.

"The rejuvenation of my own personal place in music with this trio is astounding to me," said Belew, 58. "I feel like I'm 20 years old. I have really discovered so much on guitar just in this last year or two of working with the Power Trio. I am doing things I never thought I could do, and so the world of guitar is so interesting to me. It is infinitely interesting to me.

"I feel sometimes like I've started all over again, and I have as much energy as ever. A lot of it has to do with playing with young people, but a lot of it has to do with the material. For the first time in my life, I'm really enjoying touring more than I ever have. There's something special going on here."

When asked to describe the trio, he chose one word: powerful.

"All the players have to play extra, in a way," he said. "I don't mean like too many notes. But I mean everybody has to really be great at what they are doing and fill all the holes with just three people.

"For example, playing King Crimson music, some of the music was originally done by six people, and some of it was done by four. None of it was ever done by three, so it's a real challenge. You have to have the right combination of players, and I think they have to be virtuoso players. I just happened to find these two, the Slicks, that are exactly what I needed.

"They still live with their parents. Eric is 21 and Julie is 22. They are phenomenal players. Everyone who hears them just can't believe they can be this good at their age. They are great people, of course, and they are very gifted."

Belew said he has discovered that King Crimson's songs have held up, despite the fickle tastes of popular culture.

"They go in and out of fashion with the players themselves, and maybe even with the public a little bit," he said. "You'll be really hot on one for a couple of tours and then you'll get tired of it. But in terms of how they've lasted as pieces of material, most of them have stood the test of time really well, because they were pretty much ahead of their time.

"Even now, they are a little ahead of their time compared to what most people are trying to do. I have a lot of young musicians who tell me they still don't understand what (King Crimson) did in the '80s. I can understand that. It's tough music to get your head around, but once you do, you really like it because it's complex and it's deep and it has a classical atmosphere to it as well."

The Power Trio takes a fresh approach to the King Crimson songs, but keeps within the original themes so fans can still recognize the compositions. "What I have tried to design with the trio is to allow us to have a lot of room to stretch out," Belew said. "Our concerts have quite a bit of improvising.

"Even though we are playing set pieces of music, there are times when we go out on a limb together, and audiences really like that, too. Then, when you are finished going to outer space and finding some new place you haven't explored before, then you come back to the rest of the piece of music, and everybody loves that.

"It's one of the things that sets us apart. Most bands just go out and play their songs the same way every night."

(Celebrity columnist Beverly Keel can be reached at 259-8073 or beverly@tennessean.com)

Do you think I get the chills when I read stuff like "This is more than just the latest project for Belew; it's a life-changing musical movement that has re-energized his quest for musical exploration.

"The rejuvenation of my own personal place in music with this trio is astounding to me," said Belew, 58. "I feel like I'm 20 years old. I have really discovered so much on guitar just in this last year or two of working with the Power Trio. I am doing things I never thought I could do, and so the world of guitar is so interesting to me. It is infinitely interesting to me.

"I feel sometimes like I've started all over again, and I have as much energy as ever. A lot of it has to do with playing with young people, but a lot of it has to do with the material. For the first time in my life, I'm really enjoying touring more than I ever have. There's something special going on here."

Oh, I get the chills alright. Just a little bit. (Insert smiley face emoticon here)

So you may be wondering about the caption of this blog post, namely, "F.o.C.K. Yeah!"

From Tony Levin's journal:

"May 26, Nashville

F.o.C.K. Primus!
Hmm... I had suggested that the name Friends of Crimson King, for the collection of musicians who will play at the Quebec Festival d'ete in July, might not read well when abbreviated...

Anyway, we will open for Primus on July 8, and our lineup will be very cool: the California Guitar Trio plus Adrian Belew and his Power Trio, plus Pat Mastelotto and me...

Then on the 12th, the Trio, Pat and I will open for YES .... F.o.C.K. YES !!! They'll both be great shows!"

I love that. I think it's brilliant. How fucking cool is Tony Levin. And yep, it's confirmed I can do both the Ottawa and Quebec shows July 5-8 and I am so excited I will be hard to live with until then. And even worse afterward.

The Quebec City Summer Music Festival, by the way, has their English website up and running...man, if you guys have any extra vacation time coming, this is the place to be.

So it wouldn't be a true post from me if I didn't bring up food. Normally on Memorial Day we go down to Ocean City and eat Brown's donuts, Mac and Manco's Pizza, 14th Street Bakery cheese pockets...arghh...in between mini-golfing and bike/surrey riding so we can at least fool ourselves into believing we are burning up some calories, but this year being what it is so far (and that rotten Julie had to work), we ended up staying home. Not so bad. Julie and Gary went over to Whole Foods Market and did some serious damage. Between Julie in the kitchen, Gary manning the grill outside, and some really prime ingredients, here's our "kicking off the summer dinner":

For Julie and me, baby spinach salad topped with warm seared scallops and shrimp, sliced avocado and spicy pecan praline in a mustard vinaigrette. Does Julie rule or what?



For Julie's significant other, Matt, a porterhouse steak topped with sauteed shrimp and chimichurri sauce, a char-grilled baked potato, and baby spinach salad. Julie also made the chimichurri sauce, which is like pesto made with cilantro. Kind of, anyway:



For Gary, the exact meal as Matt - sans shrimp:



A photo of the table before we went on attack - I really like this pic; it captures our crazy little dinner beautifully:



And finally, in his usual spot during a meal such as this, Monty hoping to score a few scraps. Oh, who am I kidding. The dog had his own bowl with chopped Porterhouse steak and a potato. Hey, he's one of our kids, too - why should we treat him any differently?



For dessert we had this but I was way too stuffed to remember to take a photo. It was fantastic, though - trust me on that.

So that's it for now unless I get to talk to Eric this morning and he tells me something I can actually spill here without embarrassing him or anyone else...in which case I will come back here and edit.

Later,
xo