Okay, so I'm drinking tonight and in my last lucid moment before passing out face down on my desk, I will tell you what I want.
I want that idiot, Sarah Palin, to go away. I do not want to be reading this.
I want someone in Hungary to translate something for me. Apparently Julie is the headline of the Hungarian Zappa Society. If you speak/read Hungarian, please go to this website and tell me what the hell it says in the comments section here.
Yeah, there's a lot I want, but at least in this particular case, I got my wish:
Continuing on...
I want to post a chapter from my new novel but I'm scared and shy. So I will have another drink or seven and see if that helps and if so, check back later. If not, I promise to post something by the end of the weekend. I'm starting to get really psyched.
I do not want to be twenty again but I want to look twenty. Is that wrong?
I want everyone I love to be happy. Now that I know is not wrong.
I want Project Object to have the best tour ever -- how can it not happen with Eric Slick on drums -- and while I won't be at the Wilkes-Barre opening show this Saturday night, I sure as hell will be at World Cafe Live next Sunday and if you want to join me, purchase your tickets right here!
I want to write a coherent blogpost. But you cannot do that whilst drinking.
Maybe it's the post-euphoria of the election, the Phillies' World Series victory, the finale of the Adrian Belew Power Trio European tour, but sadly enough, I find myself with nothing much to say. I've been struggling with National Novel Writing Month because my heart just isn't into writing it quite yet (in other words, I want to get to the meaty, humorous chapters and maybe I should be attacking it that way - writing those first and working them in later)... and yet I know...I know I can do this and I know I'm funny...only I don't feel very funny right now and I just can't force it. I'm not unhappy...don't get me wrong...but I just feel kind of bleh. Hey, it happens.
But then I find something like this on line and I'm smiling again. When the Adrian Belew Power Trio were in Moscow, Ade broke a string and Julie and Eric had to wing it and do a spontaneous jam while repairs were made. I love this!
And then the mailman came and brought me the coolest gifts ever -- a total surprise from huge Adrian Belew fan Tickledrop...said parcels contained a download DVD of the King Crimson Festival in Moscow, a Splinter Group DVD featuring one of my favorite guitarists, Peter Green, a book called This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel J. Levitin which looks absolutely incredible, and speaking of absolutely incredible, homemade goodies in mason jars which I have not identified yet...I am waiting for clarification from Tickle as to what each is and will open them when the whole family is present.
Anyway, I'm kind of in blog transition land. Last night Julie made us a fantastic dinner but took photos for her own blog so my talking about that is probably out; as far as tidbits from the European tour...ditto...so what do I do now? Well, I know one thing. I have lots of friends who are writers and have really awesome novels out right now. Do I enter the world of book reviewer? Or should I use this weird, uneasy period of time to solely work on my new novel and maybe post excerpts here? Bah! I do not know what I want or what to do.
You know what? I need to be writing. I need to stop blogging and whining right this second and work on my novel. It's the only way I'm going to feel human again.
Wait: How excited am I to read this in the newspaper just now:
"WASHINGTON – President-elect Obama plans to use his executive powers to make an immediate impact when he takes office, perhaps reversing Bush administration policies on stem cell research and domestic drilling for oil and natural gas.
John Podesta, Obama's transition chief, said Sunday Obama is reviewing President Bush's executive orders on those issues and others as he works to undo policies enacted during eight years of Republican rule. He said the president can use such orders to move quickly on his own.
"There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action, and I think we'll see the president do that," Podesta said. "I think that he feels like he has a real mandate for change."
Okay, I started the above post on Saturday. It's now Monday morning. Look what I just came downstairs to - an incredible, all-inclusive interview with Adrian at All About Jazz. I'm not even going to post excerpts - go read the whole thing - the title is "Adrian Belew: Power Trios and Crimson Heads".
Oh, and another date has been added to the Adrian Belew Power Trio tour, which will run from April to June, 2009...and that would be Shank Hall in Milwaukee, WI on April 17. It's not on their site yet but it's up on Pollstar...keep a look-out for a lot more dates across the United States to be added. And if you want to hear a brilliant version of Young Lions recently recorded in Switzerland, Eric has now put that up on his own MySpace page.
Oh man, maybe I'm not feeling so bleh after all. Yeah!
Have I mentioned lately how much I miss Julie and Eric Slick? Thank God for You Tube:
There's the Adrian Belew Power Trio performing the title track off their new soon-to-be-recorded studio album, "E", a couple of nights ago in Den Haag, Netherlands.
So a couple of cool things.
There's an awesome article/interview with Adrian written by Matthew Shapiro over at State of Mind Music Magazine.
Here's some great quotes from the article: "Q: What was your intention in putting together this trio with Eric and Julie? It's so interesting to see a musician of your caliber recruiting these two young players and together tackling some incredibly complicated music.
A. As usual‚ it's form follows function. I had written some music‚ which I felt was real suitable for a power trio. I really liked the idea that I was free to play whatever I wanted and I could play a lot more guitar than I normally do. I tried a couple of different combinations that didn't quite work out. It just so happened that I went to the School of Rock to do a seminar for their kids. The founder of the school‚ Paul Green‚ said‚ "You have to check out these two students of mine who already graduated‚ Eric and Julie -- a brother/sister team that are just the best players." So‚ I said to bring them in and we'll play a song together. Really‚ it was just so perfectly timed with what I had in mind. I would have never guessed that I would be so lucky to get such great players. They're so young and their energy level is amazing‚ yet they're so mature that their confidence and competence is there.
Q. Yeah‚ they're phenomenal. And not just for their age.
A. Yeah‚ for any age.
Q, I think you touched on the key word: confidence. They're so on top of their game. Julie throws it down so hard‚ and Eric's drumming‚ his touch and his feel are so beyond his years.
A. He is exactly what I'd like to be if I was a drummer. And it's the same with Julie as a bass player. They really know what to do in my music. They've studied the King Crimson stuff‚ my solo stuff‚ the David Bowie stuff‚ the Talking Heads stuff‚ Frank Zappa‚ so they've grown up on stuff that I was involved in. That was their education. It's just really serendipitous that here I am playing with someone who actually knows my music‚ but they're 21 years old....
Q....That's great. It's must be really cool to see them grow‚ not only as musicians‚ but also as people. And also‚ to see the communication between the three of you grow. They have the sibling communication…
A. Sure‚ that unspoken thing that siblings have. But I think now‚ we are a trio. Their father‚ who was here tonight and has seen a bunch of shows‚ said we sounded like one person tonight. It's really become that way. And as people‚ they're truly gifted. I don't think of them as kids at all. I forget they're so young because they know so much. And they're gifted in so many other ways‚ not just music. They're terrific people to be with and travel with. We just have a ball. We have a real‚ unique closeness. It's just so much fun. All of our shows are good. They never let me down. Not even once. I can't say that about a lot of the bands that I've played in‚ and I can't say that about a lot of the experienced musicians I played with that I admire. Sooner or later they're going to fall on their faces. Eric and Julie haven't done that. They're just super...
...I've got something so powerful and precious now‚ and Robert (Fripp) loves it too. I'll tell you the quote he gave me after he saw this band. He said‚ "King Crimson would have a difficult time following this power trio." [laughs]...
Anyway, this is a four page article complete with photos...please click on the link and read the rest...keeping in mind that this interview took place before the summer and certain things may no longer be "current".
Hey, also, don't forget about Andre Cholmondeley's new tour blog. I love the way he incorporates a music lesson into each post - he really gives his blog a different spin than the rest of us though I cannot help but cut and paste a bit right here because it really made me smile: "...another great show!! I was fooled - we all were- with this place when we got there and saw the little stage...the small amps.....it's a jazz club (Bill Frisell coming up next week...) and that always wigs us out a bit...right away we were considered TOO LOUD ..and that is usually the case..... also the sound system is usually waaaaay inadequate built no, this system was actually pretty ballsy...
but as i let the posters and listing on the wall sink in, I realized it was more diverse than "just jazz" -- they had funk bands, pop stuff, electronic...and the main floor area was open/no seats, so that was a good sign.
Sure enough - they crowded in there and were a rocking crowd!! It got pretty packed....
here as in in NL, some super-Crimson freaks were flipping out when they hit those numbers...and I was even surprised by the RARE appearance of "Elephant Talk"..very cool..."
And then there's this:
"what a killer show!! I'll keep saying it -- the band thrives-- like any good live band - on a rabid, involved and engaged audience. And this show, closing out the Dutch Trilogy (Groningen, Den Haag, Eindhoven) was just memorable stuff...
Started out with a spirited soundcheck, including trying out some parts for the "e" recording sessions coming up..."
Man, Andre's blog really rocks and to see photos of Chris, Theo, and to read a really touching tribute to the late Jimmy Carl Black, you really need to read the whole thing. Here. Let me make it easy. I'll repost the link.
Jimmy's website now says the following, which made me a bit teary-eyed this morning:
"Jimmy passed away peacefully last night Saturday 11/01/08 at 11:00 o'clock pm. Jimmy says hi to everybody and he doesn't want anybody to be sad."
Here's my Jimmy Carl Black story. I met him for the first time in East Germany in the summer of 2003 at the first Zappanale festival Eric and Julie ever played, when they were sixteen and seventeen years old. After Eric performed, Jimmy walked over to me.
"You're his mother?"
"Yep."
"You did good, woman. But only one problem."
"What's that?" (And you have to understand, I'm completely starstruck. For the first time, I'm meeting and hanging backstage with Ike Willis and Napoleon Murphy Brock and we're talking Zappa and John Lennon...drinking beer...etc. etc.)
"The problem is," said Jimmy looking over at fellow drummer Eric Slick..."How the hell do I go on stage now and follow that kid?"
He hugged me hard and smiled that big, happy grin.
Anyway, Jimmy does appear, along with the aforesaid very young Eric and Julie, in the documentary, Rock School. I do not remember if he's in the trailer I just linked or not...I will have to check it out and if not, do some snooping around as I do know some footage of him from the movie exists somewhere on line.
I keep having the same image of him, though. There was a really cool outdoor cafe in Germany we all hung out at...and no matter what time I passed by, there was Jimmy, with a whole bottle of whiskey in front of him...smiling, shaking hands, signing autographs...
Wow. It was just a little over five years ago but it feels like a lifetime.
Arghhh...as my favorite waiter once told me, "Time fries, Lobin."
Well, I hope everyone downloaded the Swiss radio show link I posted yesterday because I still haven't recovered from that.
But for now, here's my first Oh. My. God. moment of today:
Eric, you sound like you are sitting behind a 50 piece kit. I think this is from Thursday night's show in the Netherlands.
And in my next Oh. My. God moment, if you are a regular reader of my blog, you know I mention Jeff Menke a lot and I have to tell you, his radio show on Saturday evenings is one of the best in the entire United States. It's called Rainbow Bridge - it starts at midnight, and tonight he'll not only be playing a "surprise" from the Adrian Belew Power Trio, he'll be playing promos the trio did for the radio station as well. Here's the link to listen live!
But yeah, I did say it was another Oh. My. God moment and that's because Jeff sent me outtakes from the promos. And here they are -- truly hilarious (and that's a photo of Jeff on the far right)
And finally, for those of you who might be wondering: "Why is Robin blogging right now? Isn't this the start of National Novel Writing Month? Doesn't she have a minimum of 2,500 words to write today?"...the answer is Why yes, it is and I do. I started earlier this morning, am up to 1,100 words, and the name of my new book (which took me most of today so far to decide but I'm really, really pleased) is "Sparrow Rising". I will be posting a link to the work in progress tomorrow...though I am tempted to post the synopsis now...maybe I'll come back in, edit this post, and add it...
"Last week I've seen the Adrian Belew Power Trio here in Milan and it was a great concert. A couple of days before the band played in Lugano (italian-speaking Switzerland) and the show has been recorded and broadcasted by the national radio.
A friend of mine made a recording out of it and I'm willing to share it (hence the subject). It's in AAC format and you can download it from here:
In my opinion it even surpasses the great Side Four and, as a plus, you get the band's rendition of Neurotica."
I haven't listened to that yet but I'm really looking forward to it. I also know there will be a future broadcast with tunes specially selected by the trio...stay tuned.
And this just in...if you want to purchase one of my books today, there is a special Halloween promotion over at my publisher's website - you'll get 20% off! Here's the link and here's the info: "To celebrate this spooktacular day, Phaze Books is giving you a 20% discount! Just enter this promotional code when you check out:
CANDYCORN
Good for 20% off everything, on Halloween day only.
Not to be repetitive or anything but it's true, basically everything I know about the current Adrian Belew Power Trio European tour I'm still getting solely via Julie and Eric's blogs because between the time difference and being super busy, we have barely connected at all nor have I been able to translate most of the reviews I've found. All I can say is, what little I do know is that this is an immensely successful tour and they are really, really happy.
Yeah, I think so!
And to add to the mix of great bloggers, I just this minute learned that their techie/tour manager and Project Object guitarist extraordinaire Andre Cholmondeley has started an on line journal as well, and oh boy, it is ever extensive and informative! Here's the link, which I will make permanent and add to my blogroll.
But you know me, I did manage to find a few other things. Here's some really cool links which will lead you to some interesting Adrian Belew Power Trio tidbits:
First, after clicking the ABPT link above to see some of the kind comments left on their MySpace site, wander over to Kill Ugly Radio where...what's this? A post by Eric Slick?
Then, Beana Bern, the fantastic photographer I mentioned in my post below, blogged about the recent ABPT concert she attended in Austria, and all of the photos in my post today were taken by Beana, who gave me permission to post them. Anyway, here's what she had to say:
"Every now and again (more often than I ever expect) something rolls into this little Tyrolean Valley and brings the world I remember with it. Last night the Adrian Belew Trio played a club called Komma in a little village about 30 minutes east of me. I rolled into the club just in time to hear Eric kick things off and remembered how often I find myself in awe at his talent…His sister, Julie, is also quite a prodigy and when you glue those two together with Adrian’s style its a pretty amazing show. The sound in the club wasn't perfect and there was one drunk douche bag who kept “conducting” the band as though he was driving but neither of those two things prevented me from enjoying myself. For those of you not sure who Adrian Belew is, hes a rock legend whose played with plenty of amazing musicians among them King Crimson. I first saw the Trio play at the 1st Annual Paul Green School of Rock Festival and knew they were worthy but enjoyed last nights show much more. Complicated rock is more fun for me in a little room where I can concentrate. After the show and a little QT they packed it in and so did I. All in all, an exceptional night of rock in Tirol..."
"Julie Slick is one hell of a bass player as you already know and she's currently on tour with Adrian Belew. She's started a new blog which is pretty damn cool. And man is she easy on the eyes."
"Saw them last night in Milano. She was playing a Lakland with a MarkBass amp and a MarkBass 4x10. She was using a Toneworks pedalboard and a couple of effects before it that I could not figure out, one must have been a compressor, lots of knobs. She has to keep standing the hell that Adrian creates on guitar, because the guitar is not taking particular care of keeping the groove or tonality. (Note from our author: Huh? I am going to chalk this up to an Italian to English translation glitch)
They did a couple of numbers from KC where she walks shamelessly barefoot in the footsteps of his majesty. All in all the Slick brothers are a hell of a rhythm section, laughing and joking while meeting the needs of complicated music." (Note from our author: Brothers? Ha! Yep, I'm right about the translation stuff)
Pretty cool, huh.
Here's a blogpost coming out of Spain. While I was able to translate it using Google translate, when I went to cut and paste it in ye olde blog, it turned back into Spanish. Weird! So click on that link and go to Google translate right here, being sure to click "Spanish to English" (d'oh) and you can read what it says and see a cool photo or two.
From the Planet Crimson forum board: "Catched the trio in Woergl, Austria yesterday, and "e" had the crimson sparkle flying, a truly astonishing piece!
Only 70 people in attendance (Markus Reuter being amongst them), which is a shame, but Adrian & the Kids seemed to enjoy the gig nevertheless and received a storming reception. Adrian promised to be back soon, so I guess the trio might be a permanent touring outfit, which is good news. Don't miss them!"
I think the 70 people issue is addressed in either Andre, Eric, or Julie's blog...they changed venues on them at the last minute or something...basically they've been playing to large, enthusiastic crowds every night - so much so that they are already getting offers to return to Europe next fall.
In my world, in three days I begin the challenge that is National Novel Writing Month. I thought I was ready to rock; all of a sudden I've had a change of heart and might do something completely different which is way scary because it means I haven't thought out anything other than the actual story. Oy.
I really, really need to meditate further on this today.
Julie and Eric are doing such fabulous blogging while on tour that I'm thinking I should actually do some writing posts but strangely enough, I'm not in the mood. However, my free and usually 100% inaccurate Yahoo horoscope for today says: "You will have a good combination of positive energy and free time, today! Have fun. You're more in touch with your feelings than you have been in quite some time and you can communicate them as clearly as possible. It's a good day to sit down with your sweetie and do just that!" so okay, okay, let's break the Yahoo curse -- it sounds good to me. Onward and upward! This is going to be a journal entry containing all kinds of flotsam and jetsam...should be fun.
First let me post some photos which Julie didn't nick for her own blog har har. I have absolutely no explanation or stories to go with any of these pics though both Julie and Eric do kind of touch on some in their respective blogs. I kind of think they speak for themselves, anyway:
I'm really wondering about that hotel room photo which appears that they are inches away from the ocean. Or is that an optical illusion? I can't tell! Man, if that was their actual room, how awesome. And um, no comment as to the topless photo but let me just say they are part of a hilarious series and as much as I would love to post the photo of Ade and Eric inexplicably eating dinner in suchlike fashion...something tells me I'd better not.
An incredible photographer, Beana Bern took some amazing, amazing shots of the trio a few days ago in Austria, and here is the direct link.
Here's a You Tube of "Matchless Man" from a recent show but warning, it's a tease and not the whole song and you can't see Julie but you sure can hear her...damn!
Finally, tomorrow night ABPT will be performing in Aschaffenburg, Germany. I google imaged that city...have a look:
Gah! I repeat, why am I not on this tour?
In Belew-related news, kind of, the engineer for the trio's new studio album will be none other than Saul Zonana, and there's a way cool article about Saul and one of his new endeavors right here.
If I may take a minute to write about my own life, last Friday night I read from one of my novels at Bluestockings in New York City.
I had a lot of fun doing that and it was way cool meeting fellow author Donna George Storey in person as our paths have crossed many times in on line world, both at Zoetrope Studios and via weirdly parallel writing careers. We've appeared several times together in the same magazines and she also wrote an erotica novel with an actual plot and intelligent, thoughtful characters. Her book, Amorous Woman is brilliant. Simply brilliant.
After the reading, we ate at a really great Japanese restaurant called Hasaki in the East Village. I had grilled wild salmon with basil miso. It was to die for. And speaking of food, and speaking of basil, as you also may know, Julie got her food porn ideas from me -- and Gary and I are the one who nurtured that palate, damn it, so here's a few food porn shots of my own -- it's what Gary made me for dinner tonight and I'll post the recipe beneath it...but first, we had an appetizer of a salad made with red lettuce, (marinated/prepared by Gary) fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil, imported olives, sliced portabello mushrooms sauteed in a bit of teryaki sauce and all tossed together in a roasted garlic dressing:
Our main course was this: Sweet Potato Ravioli with Basil-Brown Butter
Serves 6 as an appetizer, 4 as an entree (makes about 20 ravioli)
2 large sweet potatoes, baked through in oven wrapped in foil, scooped out hot 1 teaspoon five spice powder 1 bunch chives, chopped 2 tablespoons honey 1/2 package wonton skins Egg wash (1 egg mixed with 2 tablespoons water) 8 tablespoons butter, divided 1 tablespoon canola oil 1/4 cup packed Thai basil leaves, plus extra for garnish 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
You wanna talk about sick? That was one of the sickest dinners ever. And I didn't even have to go to Europe. (Ha ha - sour grapes, sour grapes...but seriously, I've eaten all over the world, too, and not too many chefs rival my husband or my daughter and I understand Eric is also rapidly becoming "one of them", too.)
Speaking of food yet again, tomorrow I am having lunch with Joan Baez. No, really, I am. Details will follow.
No one can ever say my life is boring.
Later, xo P.S. There is a chink in the photo posting tonight in blogspot - hence the gigantic pics I am totally powerless to shrink. I'll try playing with them again tomorrow...
Ha ha, I'm just kidding, but between Julie Slick's fabulous new tour blog (or is that food blog?) and the fact that there haven't been any on-line journal reports coming out of Switzerland or Spain, I am kind of left in the dust on this tour. Sob.
Not to mention the fact that Julie took my camera with her; is loading photos to my photobucket site; then using them for her own blog! Oh well, at least she left me with the one posted above.
All kidding aside, what parent in the world wouldn't want to hear this from their kids:
"I love my life. I have the best life in the world."
Seriously. If Gary and I have done nothing else in all our years on this planet, that is enough. We are literally walking around so damn proud and teary eyed it's ridiculous.
Yep, both Julie and Eric have instant messaged me how much they love their lives repeatedly ever since hitting Budapest last week. This is a tour of dreams come true - they adored Budapest; Lugano, Switzerland was breathtaking; San Sebastian, Spain is some sort of utopia, and early this morning they left for two days in Italy. I did speak to them at 2:00 a.m. their time following their show in Barcelona last night, and they were ecstatic.
Julie said: "Totally rocked - best show so far. But ya know, we were meant for clubs. We didnt really get to see Barcelona unfortunately though...too bad we have a day off in Milan tomorrow. Such a tough life huh?"
Eric told me he and Ade were flying - the club was packed, the reaction of the crowd amazing...you can just feel their happiness oozing right through the computer monitor.
But I do have something really excellent to report which is sort of Adrian Belew Power Trio related. Please listen, via the web (or the radio if you are in the Philadelphia area) to WXPN radio (and that's the link to "listen live") tonight between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. eastern. Gary, who has also updated his Guitar God blog, has done something way, way amazing and you'll have to listen to XPN to find out. Cool? Cool! (And don't forget to check Gary's blog - he is up to #7 on his all time Guitar God list and you may...or may not...be surprised at his choice).
Oh well. I've got nothing else to say at the moment but I did hear there were a ton of journalists at the show last night...I'm hoping something pops up on line later today, especially a You Tube, so I'll keep checking and I will come back in and add it to this post if I get lucky. But for now...
Later, xo P.S. Oh, wait. I did find this pretty amusing blurb on, of all places, the Kawasaki Motorcycle Forum Board. Though Earl Slick may be surprised to find he is now the father of two musical prodigies...heh...
"If you like Zappa drumming, check out video on youtube of the Adrian Belew Power Trio. Adrian played lead guitar for Frank back in the 70s, then moved on to Talking Heads, David Bowie, King Crimson, and many more great gigs. His trio consists of Adrian on guitar & vocals, Eric Slick (a 21-year-old MONSTER) on drums, and Eric's gorgeous 22-year old sister slapping the Tony Levin out of a bass. Yes, the slick siblings are the offspring of Earl Slick, so they've got good rock n roll genes! Eric does stuff on the tune "Young Lions" that I had previously thought only do-able by the likes of Neal Peart and Mike Portnoy."
Okay, stop the presses. Julie Slick has started an online journal called Having My Bass and Eating It, Too and she starts it off "The Final Slick Gives In..." It's a must read. I'm dying here right now. And when you are done reading that, Mr. Eric Slick has also updated his blog, too.
Here's a pic sent to me by a fan, Diana, following the first show of the tour in Budapest on Wednesday night.
And as usual, Andre Cholmondeley comes through again and sends me a whole slew of pics as well, which I'll post intermittently within the next few days as they cover both Budapest and Lugano, Switzerland, where they play their second show tonight.
Finally, a sign at an airport which makes sense:
Here's the trio posing under their own poster at the club in Budapest..
And a slightly off but at least mostly understandable English translation of an interview Adrian did with the Mike Oldfield blog a few weeks ago...and as usual, he's got some very cool things to say:
Mike Oldfield Blog interview with Adrian Belew Written by Miguel Fernandez
While we are working with all the material we have gathered in the afternoon we spent with Tim Cross, and that little by little we will be publishing, as we said, I'd like to share with you a little chat that I was able to convert in an interview with Adrian Belew, Oldfield collaborator on the topics and Holy Far Country, Earth moving album (1989). Everything came a couple of weeks ago, when we send an e-mail to your personal web and we commented that Adrian happy and we would respond to our questions by phone. Shortly afterwards took place here will see what we transcribed it as closely as possible.
I would like to thank from here to own Adrian Belew for his kindness, his sincerity and patience during the 20-minute telephone interview and Renee (his secretary) for the speed of response and facilities provided to us all safe arrival. Thank you so much!
Mike Oldfield Blog (MOB): How did the collaboration with Mike Oldfield on Earth moving?
Adrian Belew (AB): I imagine it would be his producer that she would say that I was the appropriate voice for a couple of songs on the album.. I liked the idea and I accepted, and the truth is that I was surprised that anyone would like me to record voice and no guitars, which is almost always called me.
MOB: Mike chose what item (s) was going to work or you chose?
AB: Well, at first I was going to sing another song, I do not remember the title now, but it would not be Holy. Mike thought that my voice was not right for this subject, but I told him that I no longer try Holy, I did the best I could, and the result left him impressed.
MOB: Tell us about Far Country, the other issue on which we can enjoy their collaboration.
AB: (Laughs) Far country was a song in which I did not plan to burn, but as I had finished my shots vocal (I'm pretty fast in the study), asked me to record a guitar for that song and I thought " Oh, you know, another guitar that I asked to write! Really improvised, there was nothing formal for my part of the solo, because I had not brought my own guitar, because it did not have that! (laughs).
MOB: How were the recording sessions for those two items? Was Mike did this or distance?
AB: I traveled to England to record in the studio that Mike had in his house. There was a couple of weeks. And yes, Mike was always present with everything perfectly planned and the recording was like silk.
MOB: How was the experience of working with Mike in the studio?
AB: I liked the experience. Mike was a man with great sense of humor. It also coincided with several musicians who were recording with him for the disc, and sometimes we met to take some Guinness, tell stories ... it was fun.
MOB: Have you kept in touch with him since?
AB: Ya know ... with the passage of time, it becomes difficult to maintain contact with everyone, unless you call to do more things (laughs).
MOB: Let's talk now of Adrian Belew Power Trio, your current project. What criteria used to select the two musicians who accompany you?
AB: I already knew Eric and Julie Slick before starting this project (they were 19 and 20 years when we started, now are 21 and 22 years). They are incredible musicians: young, but very focused. I needed a change in my career and I thought they were the perfect musicians to join me in this change.
MOB: What are the main influences of the Power Trio?
AB: I really can not be said to have an influence, because by touching items that I have composed or helped compose throughout my career, because there is no common denominator in influence. However, the father of Eric and Julie always put them in touch with lots of music similar to what I've always played, thus greatly helped them to understand the songs.
MOB: What is taking place this tour?, Is the response of the audience you expected?
AB: Really great how the public is reacting to our concerts. We have played in Russia (it was the first time I did) recently and there were about 150,000 people, something unbelievable. We have also stayed in Japan and Canada and the response has been very good to the public. Now we will make a tour of Europe and Australia...hopefully everything continues this good.
MOB: Tell us how it is a concert of the Power Trio: Is everything planned millimeter or there is room for improvisation on the part of all three?.
AB: A concert with the Power Trio, it's a very energetic concert, the people like us as much to be engaged on stage and they love to see us on stage doing what we really like. There's always room for improvisation, both for me as for them. Eric and Julie carry a lifetime playing together, so it complete perfection, there is a lot of complicity between them, musically speaking and I can really party because I know that they will do so perfectly, and so I also have a small hole for my own improvisations.
MOB: Are there any reviews and funny anecdote that has happened on the tour?.
AB: If you enjoy the anecdotes I recommend that you visit Elephant Blog. I write a sort of diary of the tour and you'll find many fun things. I like to write it so that everybody can read it.
MOB: Recently on our blog, we had an interesting discussion about the term "progressive rock" with many differences of opinion. How would you define the progressive rock someone like you, that has formed (and is) part of it?
AB: Hmmm ... I would describe as an Rock complicated, with many changes of meter and key, as ... epic film, I do not know if I explain. In the beginning, the bands that were better represented as King Crimson and Yes, but now that has changed, and I do not know how to define it (laughs).
The truth is that many people are bent on labels, and progressive rock was much more than a label ... it's like jazz. Over the years there have been jazz, but is that of the 20s, that of the 50s, etc ... I think that would define the progressive rock as intelligent rock.
MOB: So, as you could ... classify any work by Mike Oldfield as progressive rock?
AB: Without a doubt. It was a complete novelty, and honestly had all the components that I mentioned earlier: it has that air all those changes and epic compass and key.
MOB: After so many concerts, albums, collaborations and different projects ... What are your future plans in the world of music?
AB: Right now I'm completely focused on the Power Trio. The truth is that in addition to the great happenings on the stage, we are doing wonderfully. With the whole issue of the Internet, anyone can download the discs for free, free to copy, share songs with other people ... So I think that what you cut the cake are the concerts live, and I am lucky to be with a great band, probably the best band I've played with, even better than King Crimson. And between concerts, I'm composing new items for what will be our next studio album with the Power Trio ... in fact will be the first album proper for the Power Trio.
It is also possible that rather than do anything with King Crimson for its 40th anniversary... someone will end up calling....
MOB: Is there or is there someone with whom you'd like to collaborate? Highlight some of those with whom you have collaborated?
AB: (Laughs) Not really ... I think that when you are young idols are just that ... you know, idols, people you never end up playing. The Beatles are gone. Jimi Hendrix, either. The truth is that I am very proud to have worked with all the people with whom I have done: Nine Inch Nails, Talking Heads, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, including Eric and Julie! ... I think we all are to same height, and they are all about great artists.
MOB: It was a pleasure, sir. Belew. Belew. We stand expectantly waiting to this new album. Thanks for taking this small interval of time over the telephone and good luck with all your projects.
AB: Sure, the pleasure has been mine ... Oh, and tell your readers that if they have the opportunity to attend one of our concerts, they do so. Worth it and a unique opportunity in life!.
MOB: This will be done ... We are sure of that.
So that was very enjoyable.
There's a lot more, but I am truly wiped out from my New York experience last night, and I'll devote a separate post to that shortly. It was truly a blast and not without some laugh out loud moments...stay tuned.
Let me end this post with a fantastic photograph of the trio touring Budapest. It's just so Abbey Road, isn't it? God I love me some ABPT.
Gah! I get so wrapped up when the Adrian Belew Power Trio is on tour I forget about my own life, and I almost blew telling you all about tonight...in fact...I almost blew the event altogether because I've been otherwise preoccupied with like a million other things.
So yes, I will be reading a chapter or two from Three Days in New York City, talking about the sequels, and just life in general. I'm seriously at my best when I just improvise and ad lib on the spot so that's the plan.
Oh. It would be nice if I tell you all where I'll be doing said reading and with whom. Well, joining me will be the fabulous Donna George Storey and we'll be reading at Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington. Bluestockings Bookstore is described as "a radical bookstore, fair trade cafe, and activist center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
We carry over 6000 titles on topics such as queer and gender studies, global capitalism, feminism, police and prisons, democracy studies, and black liberation. You can also find some good 'ole smutty fiction. We also carry magazines, zines, journals, alternative menstrual products and other oddly hard-to-find good things.
We host readings, workshops, performances, discussions and films almost every night. Please see our events calendar for details on upcoming events, and when visiting the store, take a look at our community bulletin board to learn about other events happening around the city. Oh, and we run a cafe which is full of organic, vegan, fair trade goodness."
So. See you tonight at 7:00 p.m.?
I'll have copies of all of my books for sale, I'll sign anything you want (within reason ha ha), and the usual copious amounts of chocolate.
Wait. I just read over this post. Excuse me? Alternative menstrual products? Oh God. The mind boggles. Well, at least I can never say my life is boring.
I just hope said products are not part of the menu at the cafe.
