In The Court of the Crimson Queen: Rehearsal in Julie Slick's Room

I have over one hundred of the coolest photos ever courtesy of The Adrian Belew Power Trio and I don't even know where to begin trying to decide which ones to put up here.

So first, as promised, here are some pics of rehearsal in The Queen's Julie's room. I had a hell of a time picking out the most interesting, so I'm not sure if these capture just how big her room is, but yep, she has two sofas in there which I did see in one I'm not posting due to poor quality.

Adrian Belew, Eddie Jobson, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, and Eric Slick hashing out what will be incredible versions of Larks' Tongue in Aspic and Red. Notice that Eric is playing the trash can and Pat is playing the bed. Nice!







So how do I know the songs were amazing? Because I am the luckiest woman in the world. My daughter Skyped me during that portion of the show with her microphone and Gary and I got to hear both Larks' Tongue in Aspic and Red in full, as it was happening, and not only did we have the chills, I had tears running down my face. It was INSANE! Eric and Pat on double drums, Tony on bass, Eddie on violin, and the spectacular Adrian Belew on guitar. It was a religious experience.

Please oh please oh please let someone have recorded this concert for a professional DVD/CD.

Who am I kidding? I'd kill for a crappy You Tube.

So anyway, after the show, which Julie said was FABULOUS -- she said the Adrian Belew Power Trio were amazing -- we got to hear Julie, Eric, and Adrian talk to us via Skype, too, but I couldn't respond because it was early in the morning here and I didn't make that run for an iMic yet.

"Hi, Mom," said Julie. "Wasn't that great?" (Julie knew I didn't have a working mic so we also e-mailed while she spoke to me and I answered her that way when I realized, d'oh, that was all I had to do but half the time I forgot and answered her out loud like a total dolt)

"Dad and I are crying," I shouted as aforesaid to no one but Gary and me.

"Adrian! My mom and Dad are here - they listened to the whole thing on the computer!"

Adrian: "Hi Robin, Hi Gary! We miss you and wish you were here in Russia! More importantly, we wish you spoke Russian," he laughed.

Gary and I are such dorks, we're yelling back at the top of our lungs answering him even though we knew full well he couldn't hear us.

"Hi, Ade! We miss you, too!"

Oy, we are hopeless.

Adrian: "Hey, Eric was just in King Crimson!"

Us: "We know! We heard!"

More like mentally challenged.

Now even the dog is looking at us like we are crazy...it was as if he knew we were talking to no one but an unresponsive, mic-less computer, too. Oh why oh why didn't I run out and buy a mic this morning? But truthfully, their show was 10:00 a.m. our time and stores do not open until 10:00 a.m. here and had we gone, we would have missed everything and then I would have had to kill myself.

I haven't heard about the encore yet, which was the Beatles' All You Need is Love, but the festival has a photo up on their website and I'm not sure if it's Eric front row second from the left or not but it sure looks like him:



I can't tell and it's my own son. What do you think? I guess I'll wait to hear from Eric and he'll confirm it - I do know he has a dark shirt like that; it's his stance and haircut...but I'm not positive. He said the trio was planning on dancing during the grand finale which really made me smile but who knows how it all panned out...when I talked to Julie last, the ABPT show and surprise Crimfest had just ended and they were off in search of something to eat before said grand finale.

I will say that after the Crimsonians did Larks Tongue and Red and left the stage, I clearly heard Julie tell Tony "that was awesome" and Tony replied, "Thanks, you're awesome, too" (Ha ha, we think that's what we heard but just in case we didn't, Julie, we apologize in advance for being insane though admit it, that's why you love us) but then we definitely heard Julie giggle and say "We'll do Thela in Moscow on Wednesday," and Tony agreed, which makes sense, since Tony, Julie, Pat, Eric, and Ade performed it brilliantly in Quebec this summer.

Let's see, what else. I dunno, my brain is still fried from witnessing that show this morning...it was that thrilling. So while I wait to hear from them, assuming that happens, let me share some of the fabulous tourist photos Julie uploaded to my site today.

Here's that wacky trio, who could star in their own version of a Hard Days Night...you have no idea. Or maybe you do. xo



Julie and Eric with their obligatory photo for the gushing parents and said parents thank you very much, guys:



Julie posing under an advertisement for a Russian radio station:



Eric on the tour bus, which has some pretty interesting seat covers, huh. Nice photography, Jules. Love it.




Look! Julie is not only the Crimson Queen, she's Peter Pan!



Isn't this crazy? It looks more like Disneyland than Russia:



Ha ha - Ade is either feeling the after effects of the twenty-seven hour flight or would that be flights of vodka?



Vegetarian Eric Slick standing in front of his worst nightmare:



Two best friends and band mates...it doesn't get much better:



Wow. I'm actually putting up two posts in one day. I hope I have something left for tomorrow!

I'm guessing yes.

Later,
xo

Back in the U.S.S.R...Part II

"Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the West behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout..."



Okay, that photograph is hilarious. Look at the expressions on the faces of Ade, Eric and Andre. You have to know that these are three men who truly love their significant others so this is obviously a "requested by someone" shot. This is when I wish I knew how to do those comic book voice balloons. I'd have Ade saying "Martha, they made me do this...really...it was not my idea though I am vaguely amused..." Eric would be parroting Ade, except substitute "Katy" for "Martha" and add "Who, me? You want me in this pic?"...but Andre...hmmm...he looks a little too "Why me-ish", doesn't he? Ha!

So speaking of Andre, the information continues to roll in from him, though I did have a hysterically funny conversation with Julie and Eric last night as I wildly tried to use Skype, only to learn after hours of research that when you use a mac without a built in microphone, only an iMic will work so now I've got to run out to an Apple Store or the like today. But I did end up talking to them on my cell phone (which blows me away - T-Mobile works from Russia to Philadelphia but oy, I do not want to see my monthly bill for that)...it was 1:30 a.m. their time when they called and they were obviously feeling no pain. Taking a quote from their now good friend Tony Levin's diary, "Entre-acte here at the Sotvorenie Mira 'Creation of Peace' festival. I had meant to update some photos from Moscow and the trip here, but with the many rehearsals, and usual scientific quest to find the best vodka(!) I have not had time until now."

So in speaking with a very tipsy Julie and Eric who yes, are obviously both on that same scientific quest, I learned that for whatever reason, Julie was given a suite at the hotel with two sofas, the nicest room in the hotel, which therefore also made her place the designated hang-out, rehearsal room.

"Mom, I have such stories and pictures for you but I'm really tired and I can't transfer the photos from the camera to your computer because the internet cost many many rubles here...but all I can tell you is, we really bonded with Tony Levin and Eddie Jobson and they spent all afternoon in my room rehearsing with us. Tony, Eddie, Adrian, and Eric are doing a killer version of Larks' Tongue in Aspic...anyway, we're really tired and we want to go to bed, but I just wanted to tell you we are going on at 6:00 p.m. which will be 10:00 a.m. your time in Philly so wish us luck!"

Oh God. So that's how she left me last night, but then I came downstairs this morning to another amazing email with many photographs from Andre, who apparently is willing to shell out those rubles! (Damn kids...if they weren't so toasted last night, I would have told them to just bill me like they always do, anyway. Ha!)

So again, edited post for privacy sake, but here's Andre:

"I started the day out with going down to the festival grounds to set Adrian up for the CRIMFEST soundcheck. As I met up with Tony Levin and others, we were all wondering out loud "Why soundcheck BEFORE the scheduled rehearsal?"

...ANYWAY - cutting to the chase -- after a comedic Keystone cops-like series of jumping through hoops to get the schedule changed so we could pull this special show off, I was able to set Ade's mini-rig up (a Johnson head and controller pedal, whammy pedal, Jimi/fuzz pedal, and Keeley compressor. Instead of what was confirmed by the backliners and then mysteriously absent (cough...cough) we used a pair of Fender twins (for their speakers only). I'm extra delighted since this will confuse the net-gear nerds "Wow! Adrian used a a pair of twins!!" What?? No way man! Er - I hear it was only the speakers." "Naw, I have checked the recording on my spectral analyser... they're twins alright!" Etc....

THIS WOULD BE the first time Tony Levin, Eddie Jobson, Pat Mastelotto and Adrian Belew --all Crimson alum (Note from our author to my new friend Martyn: I know, I know) -- have played on the stage or anywhere together.... certainly the first time it all was joined by Eric Slick. They worked out LARKS' TONGUES IN ASPIC...it sounded great outta the box with the inevitable rough spots and a couple of Fripp's parts that needed to be re-assigned and re-arranged...but in general it was great to hear them together. Of course the very special rare treat was hearing THAT violin sound again-- that of Eddie Jobson...the one and only tone from so many UK, Tull, Zappa and solo albums and shows. Eddie said later that his last show before this would have been the end of the Tull "A" tour!! With the exception perhaps on coming on stage once when Tull did some a show on Bach's 300th birthday on March 21, 1985....Eddie is returning to the prog world and live performance with his new group UKZ, more on them later.

Interviewers were on hand... crews gathered around to watch.....besides seeing the Emerson Modular beast come alive, this was the rehearsal to watch!

The soundcheck came along great and soon our time was up. I broke Ade's gear down, they rolled Pat's incredible set of DW drums and Roland trigger pads offstage, on it's riser. It came to rest just next to the GIANT cases marked "EMERSON" and "ELP"...

Pat had just got done with the KTU rehearsal...the trio he is in with Trey Gunn and Kimmo Pohjohnen....and Tony stayed onstage as he was about to start another check/rehearsal with Geoffrey Oryema ....one of at least three times Tony would appear onstage at this huge fest!"

Here are some photos which Andre was kind enough to send from said sound check...first up is Eric Slick and Pat Mastelotto, who have an amazing, natural chemistry together which, as I mentioned in a prior post, really gave me the chills during the Friends of Crimson King show in Quebec City in July. Plus, they really, really like each other and are in each other's respective fan clubs:




Here's Eddie Jobson and Adrian Belew:



Here's Tony taking a photo of Eddie and Ade...



And Pat, Tony and Eddie jamming with Julie Slick standing in the wings, watching:



There's Julie watching Tony again...arghh...my own daughter is stealing my fan girl crush! (Oh come on, I know it's now become a lame joke but I feel the need to continue because I am such a huge music nerd, what can I say?)



What you see from the stage:



And the provider of all this great gossip, Andre, in front of whatever it is:



Speaking of Andre, let's hear some more from him, which confirms what Julie on "wodka" told me last evening but in better detail:

"One gas guzzling bus ride and several text messages-to-organize-amps later, we re-convened to Julie Slick's room...Crimfest' lads plus Julie, Mark (Jobson's tech/studio engineer) and yours truly. With only two small amps and a shared mattress and some glass lampshades and garbage cans for drums & percussion, they again ran through LARKS' TONGUE and RED for the special appearance. Pretty unforgettable to see these gentlemen with the 140-150 years of accumulated progressive music history between them, just tightening up and re-arranging two of the classics of the canon in a large hotel room far inside Mother Russia...incredible. Stay tuned for pics of all this...

Then before you know it, off we were to a local restaurant (www.tinkoff.ru) for some decent japanese food (I had miso soup, tempura, avocado roll, and a GIANT dark beer)....lots of good sushi and good in house brews, wine and bread filled the table...I had the pleasure of sitting between Eddie Jobson and his tech Mark. I got to clear up ALL kinds of stuff that I lie awake nights wondering, like, about King Crimson, Curved Air, Roxy Music, Eddie's solo on "PROMISE NOT TO COME IN YOUR MOUTH" on Zappa in New York.

Eddie replied: "Oh, man, people always tell me they love that solo...I dunno...I think I'd better go check it out again! See, I had just gotten the Moog...I was just trying some stuff out, y'know? Is it that good?? I haven't heard it in years."

Here's a photo of the gang and yes, Andre, that is one huge beer for sure...and Eric, I hear there are huge mosquitoes over there so I'm guessing that has to do with what you are up to...



Back to Andre again...

"We also heard more in depth about how the Jethro Tull "A" album was supposed to be an Ian Anderson solo release but morphed into a proper Tull album. Of special interest was his tales of an unreleased album with many great people on it, including Bruford, Levin, Bulgarian choirs and one of my fave singer/songwriter guitarists Francis Dunnery on there! If you don't know of Francis, pause right now - check out his site and bio, and grab yerself some youtube and iTunes. He is unreal. AWESOME guitarist -- his prog/pop bad IT BITES opened for Tull a few times, and he has toured with Robert Plant, also plays on Plant's "Fate Of Nations" as well as albums as far-flung as Lauren Hill and Santana.

OK - back at Nerd-Central Restaurant, poor Eddie is sandwiched between Eric Slick and myself. It was good to give poor Adrian a break. Ponder the significance for a minute, the fate of a willingly talkative living legend caught between two freaks like us...groan!! Can you say Restraining Order? (Ha ha, note from our author...just to clarify, both Eric Slick and Andre Cholmondeley are total music nerds and walking music encyclopedias and Eric especially knows stuff there's no way he should know...detailed facts about every freaking musician out there from like every single period of music, ever)

Okay, back to Andre again:

"Eddie is telling us cool stuff about the well known early 70s' invite he had to join YES, and of course he mentions his friend Pat Moraz. I then remember to mention that I met him twenty years ago at the Bruford/Moraz show in a small room at Montclair College in New Jersey. He is silent for a few seconds and says "I remember meeting you."

Way to make a fanboy's night, Eddie!

...I better get to sleep. I have a major day ahead making sure my people get on stage and kick ass. Emerson band is playing, Eddie Jobson's return to the stage for the first time in twenty-seven years or so...(he starts the day with FAIRPORT CONVENTION, of course with bassist Dave Pegg, who also did many years on with Tull). I'm really looking forward to giving my old buddy Tony Shanahan a coronary when I sneak up and surprise him -- he is Patti Smith's bassist and he has NO IDEA that I am here. And -- having seen many many Patti shows...wow! What a bonus to catch one here!

LATER: Meeting....the great Keith Emerson yesterday!

P.S. Manna For Geargeeks Section: Besides Adrian Belew's stripped down rig, Eddie Jobson is playing his CLASSIC clear plastic violins...wireless to a rack offstage, with a Line6 POD XT rack, and a MIDI foot controller onstage. Clean, compact and replaceable in just about any modern city. Pat Mastelotto has his custom DWs, plus his laptop and a couple Roland units -- the SPD-S sampler/drumpad and the SPD-15 Handsonic. Tony Levin had a couple of Boss and other footpedals and his trusty Chapman Stick and an Ernie Ball Musicman bass and Eric Slick is on a compact set of house drums..."

Oh man, that was great, wasn't it? Thank you so much, Andre, and let me add that Eric and Andre will be back on the road with Project Object for a week in November - more on that as the information rolls in regarding venues, etc.

Okay, then, that's a wrap for now but I'll be back with another post as soon as I hear from everyone later today...assuming they do not continue on their, um, scientific quest for vodka which I suppose is entirely possible and inevitable.

But hope remains eternal...and that tease Andre gave about Keith Emerson...arghhh...to quote Tom Petty, "the waiting is the hardest part!"

ETA: IT LOOKS LIKE THE CREATION OF PEACE FESTIVAL IS PUTTING UP "LIVE AS THEY HAPPEN" PHOTOGRAPHS ON THEIR SITE AS WE SPEAK!!! HERE'S THE LINK!

ETA 2: TONY LEVIN IS ADDING PHOTOS AND COMMENTS BACKSTAGE AT THE FESTIVAL AS IT HAPPENS, TOO, AND HERE IS THE LINK FOR THAT!

Later,
xo

Back in the U.S.S.R...

...you don't know how lucky you are, boy.

Oh. Sorry. I told you - any opportunity to sing a Beatle song.

But just how lucky are my kids...

So, yes, Adrian, Julie and Eric are having an absolutely amazing time in Russia. Lucky for me, tour manager Andre Cholmondeley has been providing me with all the juicy details and some fantastic photos.

Here's the Adrian Belew Power Trio at the airport in Russia.



According to an email I got from Eric, it was, including layovers and connecting flights, a twenty-seven hour trip. But look at Ade. He's such a kid. It's so awesome to see him ham it up. He's always smiling ear to ear around Eric and Julie and Ade told me something that really choked me up. He's got a goofy, messing-around pic of the three of them as the wallpaper on his laptop and whenever he needs a smile, he looks at it. Isn't that the coolest thing ever? Ha ha, well, it is to me - but then again, I am their mother.

So I was thrilled hearing from Eric, but I got an even better email from Andre. He gave me the gossip. Here is the edited version - sorry, some stuff is too juicy and personal to share.

Oh, I love my life. Anyway, here's Andre:

"Yes -- Today I'm in Kazan, Russia with Adrian Belew and his Power Trio--

Our first gig is Saturday, August 30. The bill includes....Keith Emerson Band, Eddie Jobson, Tony Levin, Trey Gunn, Pat Mastelotto, Patti Smith, Fairport Convention etc.....crazy! Can't wait to be at soundchecks/rehearsals...

Highlights---so far......listening all the way from Moscow to Kazan (90 minute flight) in (tiny) plane...(yikes)....on my iPod, to live ELP....and sneaking a glance or two at a sleeping KEITH EMERSON across the aisle, three rows back! Priceless! How can I EVER forget that shit!?!? During 'Take a Pebble' I had to pause to go piss. (Insert kidney stone joke here). When I came out of the bathroom, there was Keith waiting. I said hi real quick, he said hi and smiled, no real intros till today -- we were all at the check in line together yesterday, he and band, (including Marc Bonilla), Trey Gunn (playing in KTU) was also there...

Keith Emerson has been my favorite keyboard player since I discovered TRILOGY at about age 13 or 14. Other than that --- it's Eddie Jobson. The first UK album...inhuman. It's tough to find better keys performance ANYWHERE, next would be maybe Don Preston, Herbie, Chick,....George Duke and Wakeman further down the list. I have ELP's "Trilogy" on an average almost once a month since 1978.....have seen ELP, ELPowell, and two solo Keith gigs. I love him, especially his PIANO work. Karn Evil...absolute masterpiece, desert-island stuff.

So yeah. Listening to Tarkus while Keith naps across the aisle. Silly...but priceless.

And of course having some great talks with Eddie Jobson already - I freaked him out as we were all on line in Atlanta waiting to fly here -- before he had seen Ade or the band, I walked by singing his early 80s semi-hit "Turn It Over"

It blew his mind pretty well. I had met Eddie at a Bruford/Moraz gig 20 years ago, but now then I introduced myself as a professional (and secretly nerd-fanboy). Then Ade walked up to the line and they had a great reunion. They had met once years ago.....Crimson & Zappa alumni (!!) but have never played together. This will be the first time and I will document it with pictures and in my silly little prog-jackass head. Prog-Heaven!! Prog-Heaven!!!

Last night -- after 30 some hours of traveling and living in airports.....got real fucked up with the Belew band, and Trey and his girlfriend. Jesus Christ. Russian bartenders can pour some damn drinks. Great gear-nerd chat with Trey -- -about where he is going with his NEW Warr guitars...will be horizontal, like a pedal steel. (A la how he plays it in the King Crimson video on the song "Construction of Light". Trey is super cool, I'm a big fan of his "molybdenum'CD and the KC years of course........he chuckled knowingly about the Fripp "Audience-Blocking-Wall-Of-Gear".

Very memorable evening. Last time I was getting fucked up in a hotel bar it was in July/Quebec...... with Tim Alexander and Les Claypool......hours after having drinks with Tony Levin! (Note from our author...sigh...I was there, too...why the hell am I not in Russia now? Oh my God, it sounds like I'm missing the experience of a lifetime)

...Today checking out KAZAN -- very historic city -- google it! The gig is the 30th, next day we ride up the fucking VOLGA RIVER with the Mayor (the REAL one, not me) -- on a boat-party, that will be sick -- I believe most of the above people will be there....

Oh my god. My kids get to go on a cruise with these guys, too? Arghhh....

Here's a couple photos of the trio at sound check:




Here's a cool canal:



And last but not least, Keith Emerson's tech guys, one of whom is also named Keith and has been his/ELP's sound engineer, mixing his stuff since 1994 as well as something like six Beach Boy albums including their hit, Kokomo:



Okay, Andre, next I'm counting on you for some Eddie/Trey/Keith/Pat/Patti and most of all Adrian Belew Power Trio photos, okay? And um, don't forget my fan girl crush: Tony Levin.

(Oh, I'm kidding)

(I really have one for Keith...shhh...don't tell anyone)

But I did wake up to a sweet message from Julie instructing me to begin using skype to communicate with her. She added the following P.S.:

"If for some reason I'm not on, it's because soundcheck went long or we ended up jamming with Eddie Jobson, Tony, and Pat. That would be a good enough excuse I hope!"

Um, yeah, Julie. For sure.

Later,
xo

To Russia With Love

Oh behave. I know it's really From Russia with Love, but it's my "two" who are over there right now and yes, be thankful I didn't give this journal post the cheesy header "Two Russia With Love" okay?



Sorry. I had to post that pic. I mean, come on. Sean Connery.

So as the billboards I've been posting all over the internet have already announced, the Adrian Belew Power Trio are playing two major shows in Russia during the next ten days, with the first one being this Saturday night in Kazan. Here's the link for the Creation of Peace Festival and if you hit "English" or use Google Translate, you will see that the grand finale is Patti Smith, Keith Emerson, the Adrian Belew Power Trio, Fairport Convention, Tony Levin and more performing the Beatles' All You Need is Love.

Why oh why oh why did I not tag along on this tour?

Anyway...take a look at the accommodations - the poor, poor musicians actually have to stay at his hotel:



Now this one cracks me up. On the hotel website, in the photo gallery section, this pic is labeled the "Fitness Room". Ahem. Is it just me or is the Fitness Room a bar?



Seriously? Do you see any exercise equipment there? Too funny...

But if it is a bar, oh man, my kids are going to be having drinks with some very heavy hitters over the next couple days. I know I wrote about the Keith Emerson connection regarding the night Julie was born but something even freakier happened. The evening I was in labor and didn't really know it because naturally I didn't have timed contractions like every other normal human being, along with Take a Pebble, the other calming song I listened to non-stop was the extended play version (yes, an album) of the theme song to one of my favorite movies, Local Hero. During dinner on my birthday last week, I had the urge to hear that song again so we put it on the turntable (yes, I still have a turntable because if you think I threw out 5,000 albums when CDs arrived on the scene, think again, and I'm so glad I didn't because I love, love, love vinyl and still buy it). All of a sudden, Gary looks at the album cover and says "Oh. My. God." and I'm like "What? What?" He hands it to me wordlessly, I stare at it blankly, and he says "Look who is playing bass..."

Yep, you guessed it. Tony Levin.

Here's a You Tube I found, but...sob...Tony is not on it nor could I find one with him, damn it...but still...have a listen...it's the most incredibly beautiful song:



Things in my life just so weirdly go full circle. And now Julie is in Russia, about to perform with both Keith and Tony. By the way, the second show, in Moscow on September 3, is an actual King Crimson Festival, and around 3/4 of KC alumni will be there, along with the Adrian Belew Power Trio, and will perform around an hour of KC material along with their own sets. More on that in a few days.

Back to the fabulous hotel in Kazan...

Here's what is labeled a "rest area":



The pool isn't half bad, either:



And of course after seeing those photographs, I could not help but check out where they will be staying in Moscow next week...





Gah! What a life my two kids have. I will of course have much more news once I am in contact with Julie and Eric...according to their flight schedule, they arrived in Russia around 2:30 a.m. our time and since Russia is ahead of us by eight hours, I assume they are settled in right now but since we use AOL, I'm able to see that they have not picked up their email yet which makes me wonder if they have wireless in their rooms or, heaven forbid, their converters for their laptops don't work back in the USSR (hey, is it still called that? I doubt it...but you know me, any time I can throw in a Beatle reference...)

It's funny. In another full circle moment, my grandfather left Russia in the early 1900's to come to America as a young boy, fleeing the Russian Pogroms. When I met Tony Levin in Canada last month, we discussed the fact that we had a similar ancestry. He of course had been to Russia on tour previously and told me some fascinating stuff...I hope Julie and Eric get to do a little sight seeing but they got some advance warning that they had to stay in a group and not go wandering off on their own and I think I'll leave it at that so I don't go into a total panic attack right now.

So yep, the Creation of Peace Festival this Saturday night is an amazing event, and one of the sponsors is Rolling Stone Magazine which is just too, too cool even though yeah yeah, Rolling Stone is practically unreadable these days as they have an American Idol mentality music wise and they've sadly lost their way but hey, anyone who grew up when I did will still have that wishful, wistful "On the cover of Rolling Stone" dream and pardon me if I fantasize seeing this someday on newsstands:



Or, I'll settle for the caption "E", which is the working title of the new studio album...

I'm not picky, just crazy, and I hope I hear from Julie/Eric today with more news you can use but until then...

Later,
xo

Happy Birthday to Me! (Okay, one day late...)

So yesterday was my birthday, and it was awesome.

Via my email were the best cards ever from Adrian Belew's tribe - the first one is from the fabulous Rena Fay and the second photo and graphic, which said Happy Birthday though I could not capture the words in my photobucket site, are from Mike Inman:



Such talented people, but then again, who wouldn't expect that of Adrian's fans?

My family was incredible as well. The day started off with brunch at the restaurant where Julie is a server in between gigs as a bass playing superstar...she brought me poached eggs over crab, shrimp, and asparagus swimming in hollandaise sauce...mmmm...and a spicy Bloody Mary. I stumbled walked home from there and Gary was upstairs, installing a new bathroom sink (yay!) Eric made me an incredibly funny card that I wish I could post here but it's too personal -- trust me, though, that man is not only a genius but extremely artistically talented -- and then they presented me with a very generous gift certificate to a techie's dream...The Apple Store! So right now I'm undecided if I should use it toward new laptop or...I dunno...the possibilities are endless.

I honestly thought, because I told them I am the woman who has everything, that they wouldn't bother with presents this year (yes, I know, I am an idiot) so I figured I'd treat myself to a few things so family, if you are reading this, here is our new living room lamp, which will be arriving in a few days...hahahahaha...hope you like it but I know you will and for those of you who have seen my house, you will know that this fits in perfectly and it takes one of those great new energy saving lasts for fifteen years bulbs that I now have all over my house (and this one can handle a 150 watt bulb though I think that's a little much)



But naturally my favorite gift was this one, which was designed especially for me (and my new laptop) by Satchel Studios. Recognize the artwork?



How freaking cool is that! I have my kids' album cover, original Adrian Belew art, on my messenger bag. It's so gorgeous in person - the pic doesn't even begin to do it justice and there's even two special compartments for my cell phone and iPod.

I actually had two birthday dinners - one with the family on Saturday night - three cheese homemade ravioli dressed with a roasted garlic olive oil, peas, fresh tomatoes, and mushrooms (to die for), an arugula salad, and lemon tart for dessert, but for the actual event, I had my favorite (I hope my doctor isn't reading this) - buffalo chicken and home fried potatoes -- and an hour or two later, triple chocolate mousse birthday cake.

I'm pissed I forgot to take the usual food porn photos but I was so hungry both nights that eating took precedent, though the ravioli in particular will be a meal we'll be repeating within the next few weeks so I'll try to remember to take a few shots then.

You realize I have to fast the rest of this week or exist mainly on lettuce leaves but it was so, so worth it.

Meanwhile, life is about to get very busy again. Next week Julie and Eric leave for Russia and to play in front of 100,000 people in Kazan with Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Patti Smith, Keith Emerson...arghhh....I'm so excited for them...and then basically as soon as they return they are heading down to Nashville to start rehearsing/recording the new studio album with Adrian. It's going to be all freshly written material for those of you who lamented the lack of same at last weeks' fabbo King Crimson shows - just incredible, amazing stuff from the bits and pieces I've heard so far though those of you who witnessed the 2008 summer tour got a taste when you heard the superb, almost otherworldly song "E"...and hmmm...I just noticed there are a few new You Tubes up of the trio from Teaneck, New Jersey in June which, while just some partial bits, are very good quality so I feel the need to post them:




And then basically, after they return from Nashville, we take a family vacation the last two weeks of September at our house right on the beach...even Monty dog comes...well wait, the whole vacation is based around him (ha) since we go off-season when he's allowed on the beach and who am I kidding, our lives are based around him, period, since he first joined our family ten years ago and we wouldn't have it any other way.



Then after that, it's Europe for a month - my lucky kids and Ade get to go everywhere from Switzerland to Spain...wait...here's the whole list...and the "tba" for October 16 may turn out to be Poland...we'll know in a few days:

ADRIAN BELEW POWER TRIO
FALL 2008 - EUROPE

AUGUST
30 Kazan Russia Open Air Festival

SEPTEMBER
03 Moscow Russia B1 Club (King Crimson Festival featuring Adrian Belew and his Power Trio, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Eddie Jobson, Trey Gunn, Marco Minnemann...and more!)

OCTOBER
15 WED Budapest Hungary
16 THU tba
18 SAT Lugano Switzerland Auditorium, Radio Svizzera
20 MON San Sebastien Spain
21 TUES Barcelona Spain
23 THU Milano Italia Blue note
24 FRI Woergl Austria Komma
25 SAT Vevey Switzerland Rocking-Chair
27 MON Aschaffenburg Germany Club Colos-Saal
28 TUES Groningen Netherlands De Oosterpoort
29 WED Den Haag Netherlands Paard Van Troje
31 FRI Zurich Switzerland Moods Im Schiffbau

NOVEMBER
01 SAT Schwerin Germany Der Speicher
02 SUN Muenster Germany Hotjazzclub
03 MON Leverkusen Germany Forum Leverkusen, Jazztage

By the way, I just realized something. Last night when the family sang Happy Birthday to me and I made a wish...ha ha - you'll never guess what I wished for...think it involved Adrian, Julie and Eric?...the dog usually joins in, barking hysterically with a crazed look in his eye. Last night he didn't do it and I just figured out why. It was because since it was my birthday, I didn't sing! Oh my God, this just validates something the kids have told me for years...I'm gonna cry. They say I am absolutely, unequivacably the worst off-pitch, off-key singer they have ever heard, despite my gut/soul wrenching version of Natural Woman (performed best in the shower, of course, when no one is listening)...and I swore they were just teasing me; that I really do have a lovely singing voice. But but but...the dog didn't bark like he was losing his mind last night. Oh no...

Anyway, Happy Birthday to me, I'm another year older, another year wiser (not, but what's a little white lie among friends), and I truly, truly, truly love my family.

Later,
xo

Hey, "my" film is winning awards!

Okay, so it's not really my film, but as I've mentioned here several times, the short film based on my new novel, Daddy Left Me Alone with God, is currently making the rounds at several international film festivals.



So "we" won an Honorable Mention at this festival (scroll down)...and in California right now, it's receiving rave reviews, one of which can be found right here:

"Another beautiful day at Downtown Disneyland for Indie Fest USA events. The short blocks overall were very impressive with a wide variety of styles and stories. A few films that stand out were Jonty Reason's Film Daddy Left Me Alone With God and an interesting film titled El Taxista. Brock Johnsen's feature film about WWII was very very stylish."

Even better, you can now view the actual movie and vote! So please visit the site and click on "Best", okay? Here's the link!

In other news, it's been a pretty interesting time for me and one of these days, I'll fill you in but damn, let me be honest, when Julie and Eric aren't on tour, I've kind of lost interest in blogging. I know I joked about it, but all those other bloggers out there have really freaked me out. I've always liked being "special" and now I'm feeling bored by this thing. I'm sure it will pass...and of course once the Adrian Belew Power Trio is in Russia on August 26 I'll have many interesting things to talk about...that, and three weeks in Europe and what is turning out to be an extended tour in Australia...but for now, I really do not have much to say.

Oh yeah, one other thing, I guess. It's my birthday on Sunday. I'm now at the age where that no longer excites me, but I do know of a really cool gift which is arriving any day and I will naturally post a photo next week...and I will most likely have an excellent meal out with the family as well as a spectacular one here (yeah, yeah, I'll take some food porn pics)....but other than that...meh...OBLADI OBLADA LIFE GOES ON BRA LALA HOW THE LIFE GOES ON OBLADI OBLADA LIFE GOES ON BRA LALA HOW THE LIFE GOES ON.

And if you don't get the reference, get out and don't come back no more.

Ha. (That last line "get out and don't come back no more" is also a lyric - see if you know which one and no cheating with Google but here's a hint - it's from a re-issue of a great, great album by one of my favorite British bands)

Later,
xo

Slacker, slacker, slacker (but I am seeing King Crimson tonight)

Yes, I know. I've been slacking again. But in fairness to myself, I've been working on a new novel. God help me.

So tonight I'm going to see Adrian cheating on us King Crimson and I'm really stoked. Full report with be forthcoming, of course.

You'll never guess the real reason I'll be at the show this evening, though. So I'll let you in on a little secret.

Robert Fripp hired me to do a photo shoot!

Oh, I'm kidding. You guys know I have a warped sense of humor, right? But just to clarify, every single word of this post so far as concerns King Crimson, except for the fact that yep, barring any unforeseen events, I'll be at the Keswick Theater tonight, is me pulling your respective legs. And all joking aside, I am seriously, seriously excited about seeing this band in concert. Some of the reviews I've read have given me goosebumps.

And I'm also excited about the possibility of saying Hi to Sid Smith...we've corresponded for a couple of years now and it's groovy to have the chance to maybe meet him in person.

Meanwhile, do I believe that Julie, Eric and Adrian leave for Russia in two weeks? Should I be going out of my mind insane with worry that Russia is at war right now?

"Mom," said Eric. "Face it. The trio of terror causes typhoons, earthquakes, and blizzards. So why wouldn't you expect a war?"

True. But I'm still more than a little anxiety ridden.

In other news, there's a new CD on the Ayler record label, and it features none other than Eric Slick on drums; Elliott Levin on sax and vocals, and Jair-Rohm Parker Wells on bass. Here's the direct link to have a listen and purchase it.

Also, I've been trolling the web and have stumbled on some really great shots of Adrian, Julie, Eric in Canada, and a cool pic of their dad. Well, not Adrian's dad har har, but Papa Slick, who is sitting at John and Peters in the audience watching his son on drums and mandolin with Chris Harford. Normally I keep a list of where I find these photos so I can credit and link the photographer, but apparently I had a melt-down and forgot so if you stumble on this blog and are responsible for any of the below pics, shoot me an email and I'll give you a shout out and a link. Cool? Cool.









Finally, here's a link to a download of Eric's show with Chris Harford at John & Peters last weekend. It's awesome.

I think that's it for now. I'm a little overwhelmed with lots and lots of stuff at the moment but hope to get back on track shortly.

Later,
xo

Odds and Sods for Monday, August 4, 2008

I'm slacking at the journal writing again, I know, but I'm still aggravated over those thirty-six million other diarists who make blogging seem so, so uncool..that, and I've had a major lifestyle change which is playing havoc with my schedule. And if the aforesaid is not bad enough, for some ungodly reason, Google locked me out of my blog on Friday and almost gave me a heart attack with dire warnings that they were going to delete four years of my writing, photographs, and memories. It seems I was reported as "spam" or inappropriate content. Laughable, given all the maniacs and porn on the web, but it's all straightened out now and it is confirmed that I, at least, am somewhat normal even if all of my readers are not. Ha.

Here's a great You Tube of the Adrian Belew Power Trio which just popped up - word has it that this version came about during a jam at sound check...Julie was noodling on her bass and next thing you know...



Another thing that made me smile is a new feature on Google - they have a search engine for Quotes and here's the page for Adrian:

QUOTES BY ADRIAN BELEW:

"This is the most fun that I've had touring, maybe, ever," Belew says.
Jul 11, 2008 Kentucky.com

"The Power Trio is my favorite thing right now," Belew said.
Jul 11, 2008 Kentucky.com

"The amount of amazing things we're doing has fueled my life all over again," Belew said.
Jul 11, 2008 Washington Observer Reporter

King Crimson leader Robert Fripp has decided that "maybe we should play some shows occasionally," Belew explained.
Jul 11, 2008 Washington Observer Reporter

"The Slicks are the most unjaded people I've ever met," Belew said.
Jul 11, 2008 Kentucky.com

Belew says he's taking his two-year-old Trio into the studio as soon as he can cook up material that "is challenging enough to keep the Slicks interested."
Jul 11, 2008 Cincinnati.com

"They are so supreme as musicians, I never even think about their age," Belew explained two weeks ago from his home outside Nashville.
Jul 11, 2008 Washington Observer Reporter

Ha! I just love that page o'quotes but how could I not?

So Eric had a gig with Chris Harford Saturday night with Micky from Ween on guitar and here's some of the remarks on the Ween forum board:

"Had a great time. notably high numbers of hot chicks and some great playing by all particularly Eric (who gets better every time I see him) and Mickey who just burned down some leads. I always forget just how good he is till he whips it out on something like this."
*****

"Great show. fuckin Eric was sick and tore the hizouse dizown, yo. mickey amazes. lots of jaw hitting the floor leads and tasty funk. brown ending to a brown show with guitar on face action and feedback ripping my head open. siiiiiick."
*****

"The band was hot, as always but goddamn if Eric Slick isn't one of the best drummers around. Kid didn't even know some of the songs, but you'd never know. He just looks over and shrugs at me with half a smile....and tears it up. Can't wait to see him again. His dad was in attendance and was a very proud Papa. Ear to ear grins all night.

Chris sounded great...it's been way too long since I saw him proper-like....and it doesn't get more proper than last night.

Mick was....well....what do you think? Awesome. I've never seen someone play a guitar with their face (teeth yes....face no) and who knew grinding a strat on the ceiling of JnP's could sound so awesome. Kudo's."
*****

"Both Chris & Mickey were in rare form to say the least...with an "Ouch" that rocked liked the old days, & one of the best "Catacombs of Paris" that I've ever heard. Eric Slick was amazing as was mentioned, & even accompanied one of the opening acts, a woman called Jenny Bray (I think) & played along, never having ever heard her stuff & it was great."

Yeah, regarding the opening act - it was a chick on a keyboard and she asked Chris if she could "borrow" his drummer.

"But I don't know any of your songs," Eric replied.

"Oh, you'll be fine," she said.

And he was...said chick probably thought she died and went to heaven. That's not the first time someone borrowed Eric and threw him into a situation with songs he'd never heard/played before...but Eric has super powers and can do anything. We were at a club at the beach a couple of years ago and honest to God, some Mariachi band was playing background music and something happened to their drummer...anyway, I forget exactly how it all panned out but Eric ended up on stage playing the Banana Boat song and other suchlike classics with these seventy year old guys...hilarious.

I also woke up to an email from my pal Joe who wrote:

"Eric was phenomenal last night at J&P's with Chris Harford, Mickey, and Matt. He played songs he didn't even know, but you'd never know it... he's just THAT good. And what are you putting in his food? He's getting so tall. We told him that last night and he said "you're the 2nd person tonight to tell me I've gotten taller... I'm 21... isn't that kinda late for growth spurts?" And his girlfriend... wow she's stunning. And Gary looks so freakin happy... just grinning ear to ear the entire night.

All in all it was a great night of great people playing great music.

Rock on,

-Joe"

Thanks! As always, I love waking up to stuff like that.

*****
So the short film based on my novel, Daddy Left Me Alone with God, (ha ha, click and check out the photos of the hot young guitarist/actor in the vest playing "God") just won an award (it cracks me up to see it's going to be showing at the Disney Theater next week) and here's a You Tube snippet - it's part of a montage put together by its cinematographer, actually, so it's the second or third one in and just a tiny taste...



Boo! You don't get to see God play guitar in that clip. Damn.

I think that covers it for now...I'll be in New York toward the end of this week for a writing conference and Julie and Eric are low-keying it for a few weeks until they head to Russia with Adrian, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, etc. for two huge shows in Kazan and Moscow...much more on that...

Later,
xo

On Tour with the Adrian Belew Power Trio - Part IV

Hey, want to see a great drum solo? Check out Eric Slick here! And that of course was Eric with the Adrian Belew Power Trio performing "Young Lions" in June of 2008. Ahhh...very enjoyable. So I never did wrap up my final day on tour with the band but life kind of got in the way and while New York was an unbelievable show, I'm still missing Canada A LOT and it will take much to top the shows there. Okay, where did I leave you last? Oh, right. So the band played Boston to a small enthusiastic crowd on Thursday night, July 10, and the next morning we had a five hour drive ahead of us to New York for a concert on a boat. Well, five hours if you don't count New York traffic...once again, we were in the car for over seven hours...it actually took us longer to get from one end of New York to another than it did to drive through Connecticut. Ugh...and then we hit rush hour traffic on a Friday night in the summer...we were seriously hyperventilating by the time we got there and just in time for sound check. You know a post from me would not be complete if I didn't mention food and one of the few things we liked about our hotel in Boston was that it was blocks away from one of the best diners ever called The Breakfast Club. Man, it so totally rocked - an old time chef who made eighty different kinds of eggs before your eyes, deftly cracking them in one hand effortlessly and whipping them into a frenzy with the other. And oh god, the home fries...sigh....well, now you know the real reason why we were late getting into New York. Look who showed up for said sound check and concert...in case you do not recognize him, that would be Omar Hakim, drummer for David Bowie, Sting...anyway, he was blown away by the trio, as was another attendee visiting from France, Richard Pinhas. Here's Omar with his significant other whose name I forget (sorry!)hamming it up with Julie and Eric: Richard Pinhas, whose image I lifted from Google: Richard, in fact, approached Eric after the show and then met him the following week for lunch in Philadelphia - they are going to do a project together in 2009 so that's way cool, huh. The boat had room for five hundred people and I swear there were more like one thousand five hundred hot and sweaty humans crammed on board - you couldn't even walk out to the deck it was so jammed but it was amazing! Here's a few photographs courtesy of Gary Slick...he had a camera malfunction thanks to an over-enthusiastic fan grabbing his arm and knocking the settings out of whack, but oh well, you get the idea: You had to be there - watching the sun go down over the river, hearing that incredible music...wow...what a way to end my leg of the trip, even if it wasn't Canada...sigh... After the show, the trio headed for their final two performances - Saturday night in Pittsburgh and Sunday night in Kentucky, but I headed home only to return to New York the following evening to do a reading...the one I linked in my post below. Speaking of links, yesterday I also mentioned my "memoir" up at Smith Magazine...last night I got an email from one of the editors there which really made my evening: Hey Robin, Check it out--I enjoyed your submission and featured it on SMITH. (we're working out some bugs in the feature page, so despite that your story is a recent post, it's on the second page of features, here. Best, -- Lisa L. Kirchner associate editor Actually, overnight they must have worked out the "bugs" because my story is now on page one and the very first entry of "Features". Yay! ETA: Wow! Even better - I'm featured on the front page of the magazine itself! I know I have other stuff to talk about but right now I'm kind of brain dead...it's only 7:00 a.m. here in Philadelphia and it's already like a hundred degrees and incredibly humid and oh joy, today is trash and recycling day so I've been busy carting nasty bags in and out of the house...more information than I am sure you all want or need, so... Later, xo