Odds and Sods for Monday, November 30, 2009

Well, Andre forwarded this to me with "copyright infringement?" in the subject line, and I laughed out loud.



eSlick!

I like how they advertise this: "Be eSlick. Take your documents on the go."

Yes, you, too, can be like eSlick and always have your documents because God knows, you need to have those documents on you at all times, damn it!

And hear that, Eric? You will now have legions of followers.

Well, in any event, eSlick could not have come at a handier time, because my publisher sent me the following eMail:

"Mundania is running a Holiday Sale for all imprints. Entering the Discount code SANTA when checking out gives a 20% discount on the entire order.

This runs from now through New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010 on Mundania, Awe-Struck, and Phaze Books."

This is especially great news to me because I have a new book coming out next month called "Bitten to the Core" which is the third novel in the Three Days in New York City series so now is a great chance to pick up Three Days and its sequel, Another Bite of the Apple, so you'll be all caught up for Bitten -- here's the link for my author page at Phaze and if you are so inclined to order the eReader or have a Kindle, etc. of your own already, Daddy Left Me Alone is also available digitally right here.

So you can pretty much guess whenever I'm silent on the blog, it's for a reason. In a perfect world, it's because I'm writing, so yeah, that part of life is awesome -- I wrote my first short story in a while and put it up in an online workshop where its gotten some amazing reviews so now I have something to submit to a literary magazine or contest which is way cool; plus I continue to work on the new novel.

I was going to tell you all about Thanksgiving, but Julie Slick trumped me and her Thanksgiving blog post pretty much says it all with detailed pictures - by the way, I suggest you keep checking back because she's going to be putting up all the recipes. All I can say is, vegetarian or not, it was the absolute best Thanksgiving meal I've ever had. I mean, I didn't have turkey but Gary did so we did roast one, but the side dishes were to die for. Julie and Gary really outdid themselves as you can see by Julie's photos.

I do feel an explanation for this photo is in order, though:



That's me holding some kind of freaking brussel sprout tree that Julie and I bought from a "sustainable local farm stand" because we are good little yuppies (Oh, I'm kidding...we really do take our sustainable shopping seriously!)...and me drinking a lovely sparkling something that Julie picked out at the liquor store...but in case you are wondering, they had to be the absolute best brussel sprouts I ever ate...you really do need to stalk Julie's blog for the recipe. I don't know what she did to them, but she took something I spit out and hid as a kid and turned it into something better than a French fry. (This is the highest praise I can give as I am Potato Woman!)

Also, if you haven't been following Julie's blog, she has some funny pics and stories about her recent tour of Russia and Turkey. Here's the straight link to everything. You'll also see photos of last weekend's prep for the first Paper Cat studio CD, featuring Julie, Eric, and Robbie "Seahag" Mangano. Paper Cat returns to the studio again this weekend, and then of course they will share a bill with Cheers Elephant at the Khyber Pass in Philadelphia on Friday, December 11. Buy tickets right here!

Right after next weekend's Paper Cat recording session, Julie heads to Woodstock, New York to the studios of Medeski, Martin and Wood for a top secret project...and as I was just grabbing this link, I laughed out loud reading the band bio because of this passage: "Communal, on-the-road living has broken up many bands, but true-to-form, MMW thrived in this potentially treacherous situation. Their secret was a unique combination of individual personalities, with each band member taking on additional roles that suited their own aptitudes and interests. As always, nothing was planned out; it just happened.

John, with his love for cooking, was the band's chef, preparing incredible meals that made life on the road more bearable. Billy, who worked well with his hands, could fix anything up to and including the band's RV. And Chris, with his head for business, took care of the group's accounting. As it was with the music, Medeski Martin & Wood balanced each other out perfectly."

Ha ha, sounds like John and Julie have something in common, huh.

But do not be misled - Julie is not recording with MMW, she'll merely be at John Medeski's studio in Woodstock, playing her bass and recording with someone else, a male guitarist from England, and that's all I'm saying.

Eric right now is just utterly exhausted from six straight months on the road. We were talking the other day and he counted that he's been home in his own bed exactly three weeks since July. So while he's in for the Paper Cat gig, he's taking some time to chill, write music, and of course both Julie and Eric will be traveling to California in mid-January for The NAMM Show - Eric will be there as an endorser of Paiste Cymbals and Julie will be there as an endorser of Gallien-Krueger Amplifiers, and I see that Julie is not on their site yet as this is a pretty new endorsement for her -- all I know is, those amps sounded AMAZING on the west coast tour last month.

What does Julie do after NAMM? Hmm...could be another secret project. Gah! I hate being so mysterious, but I'm also superstitious and besides, this will be Julie's news to share if and when...

While Eric gets some much needed rest and relaxation, do not expect silence from his corner. I do not know if I mentioned it, but I assume it's okay to tell you that he won a very prestigious scholarship to study composition, which is his true love, and he'll be spending the month of July in France taking master classes. More details on that to follow...like, when I ask Eric and he gives them to me. I keep forgetting because I've been so damn worried about how wiped out he's been feeling. But he did see a doctor and had some blood drawn so we're on it and hope he starts rebounding soon.

We actually had dinner with Julie and Eric last night to celebrate Gary's birthday and I really need to take photos of the cards they gave him - as usual, both were hand made and they both manage to top themselves every year. Honestly, one of their cards is better than any gift you could buy for any amount of money. But Eric gave Gary a totally cool present, too - a magical device which turns albums into CDs. This has been Gary's dream invention for the past twenty years (I knew it was out there but when I checked years ago, it was a freaking fortune) so to say he's happy is putting it mildly. I bet I know the first album he turns into a CD -- it's by this band for sure! (Gary, if you are reading this, you should click on the link - there's an unreleased demo track streaming). Julie is giving Gary her specialty - a meal of his choice cooked at her place (so she gets to clean up) - I believe that is one night this week before the Paper Cat sessions and her trip to Woodstock.

By the way, we just heard through the grapevine that Eric is in the January, 2010 issue of Guitar Player Magazine. Since Guitar Player was at the October 18, 2009 show at Slim's in San Francisco and put up these great interviews and film clips of the trio on their website, I am guessing that the print issue also includes Julie and Adrian as well but who knows? Ha ha, all I can tell you is, I'll be at the store today buying my copy so I'll report back.

Anyway, I guess that's it for now and I'd better start writing. Unfortunately, cookie baking season has started in Casa Slick, and this means BIG trouble for me because I'm home alone today with two huge plates of freshly baked confections, all involving chocolate. ARGHHH. In case you are a new reader to this blog, you should know that Gary's Christmas cookies are internationally famous, and we do mail out tins to selected friends, so if you think you are cookie worthy, shoot me your home address via email and I'll see what I can do (please be sure to mention any allergies like nuts, etc.). He makes at least ten different kinds if not more, and I honestly cannot say which ones are my favorite -- maybe the butter almond sugar, or the toffee shortbread...did I say ARGHHH? Oh, God, I should just get a hotel room and stay away for the next month. I have no willpower at all. None. Though if I give up all other food this month and just eat cookies, maybe I can mitigate the damages?

Oh how I wish it worked that way...

Later,
xo

ETA: I just received this email from my pal Robert, and it's important. I'm actually sitting here shaking as you can be SURE I'm in 100% agreement with Mr. Moore. We need to take action TODAY!

Today at 9:16am
An Open Letter to President Obama from Michael Moore

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Dear President Obama,

Do you really want to be the new "war president"? If you go to West Point tomorrow night (Tuesday, 8pm) and announce that you are increasing, rather than withdrawing, the troops in Afghanistan, you are the new war president. Pure and simple. And with that you will do the worst possible thing you could do -- destroy the hopes and dreams so many millions have placed in you. With just one speech tomorrow night you will turn a multitude of young people who were the backbone of your campaign into disillusioned cynics. You will teach them what they've always heard is true -- that all politicians are alike. I simply can't believe you're about to do what they say you are going to do. Please say it isn't so.

It is not your job to do what the generals tell you to do. We are a civilian-run government. WE tell the Joint Chiefs what to do, not the other way around. That's the way General Washington insisted it must be. That's what President Truman told General MacArthur when MacArthur wanted to invade China. "You're fired!," said Truman, and that was that. And you should have fired Gen. McChrystal when he went to the press to preempt you, telling the press what YOU had to do. Let me be blunt: We love our kids in the armed services, but we f*#&in' hate these generals, from Westmoreland in Vietnam to, yes, even Colin Powell for lying to the UN with his made-up drawings of WMD (he has since sought redemption).

So now you feel backed into a corner. 30 years ago this past Thursday (Thanksgiving) the Soviet generals had a cool idea -- "Let's invade Afghanistan!" Well, that turned out to be the final nail in the USSR coffin.

There's a reason they don't call Afghanistan the "Garden State" (though they probably should, seeing how the corrupt President Karzai, whom we back, has his brother in the heroin trade raising poppies). Afghanistan's nickname is the "Graveyard of Empires." If you don't believe it, give the British a call. I'd have you call Genghis Khan but I lost his number. I do have Gorbachev's number though. It's + 41 22 789 1662. I'm sure he could give you an earful about the historic blunder you're about to commit.

With our economic collapse still in full swing and our precious young men and women being sacrificed on the altar of arrogance and greed, the breakdown of this great civilization we call America will head, full throttle, into oblivion if you become the "war president." Empires never think the end is near, until the end is here. Empires think that more evil will force the heathens to toe the line -- and yet it never works. The heathens usually tear them to shreds.

Choose carefully, President Obama. You of all people know that it doesn't have to be this way. You still have a few hours to listen to your heart, and your own clear thinking. You know that nothing good can come from sending more troops halfway around the world to a place neither you nor they understand, to achieve an objective that neither you nor they understand, in a country that does not want us there. You can feel it in your bones.

I know you know that there are LESS than a hundred al-Qaeda left in Afghanistan! A hundred thousand troops trying to crush a hundred guys living in caves? Are you serious? Have you drunk Bush's Kool-Aid? I refuse to believe it.

Your potential decision to expand the war (while saying that you're doing it so you can "end the war") will do more to set your legacy in stone than any of the great things you've said and done in your first year. One more throwing a bone from you to the Republicans and the coalition of the hopeful and the hopeless may be gone -- and this nation will be back in the hands of the haters quicker than you can shout "tea bag!"

Choose carefully, Mr. President. Your corporate backers are going to abandon you as soon as it is clear you are a one-term president and that the nation will be safely back in the hands of the usual idiots who do their bidding. That could be Wednesday morning.

We the people still love you. We the people still have a sliver of hope. But we the people can't take it anymore. We can't take your caving in, over and over, when we elected you by a big, wide margin of millions to get in there and get the job done. What part of "landslide victory" don't you understand?

Don't be deceived into thinking that sending a few more troops into Afghanistan will make a difference, or earn you the respect of the haters. They will not stop until this country is torn asunder and every last dollar is extracted from the poor and soon-to-be poor. You could send a million troops over there and the crazy Right still wouldn't be happy. You would still be the victim of their incessant venom on hate radio and television because no matter what you do, you can't change the one thing about yourself that sends them over the edge.

The haters were not the ones who elected you, and they can't be won over by abandoning the rest of us.

President Obama, it's time to come home. Ask your neighbors in Chicago and the parents of the young men and women doing the fighting and dying if they want more billions and more troops sent to Afghanistan. Do you think they will say, "No, we don't need health care, we don't need jobs, we don't need homes. You go on ahead, Mr. President, and send our wealth and our sons and daughters overseas, 'cause we don't need them, either."

What would Martin Luther King, Jr. do? What would your grandmother do? Not send more poor people to kill other poor people who pose no threat to them, that's what they'd do. Not spend billions and trillions to wage war while American children are sleeping on the streets and standing in bread lines.

All of us that voted and prayed for you and cried the night of your victory have endured an Orwellian hell of eight years of crimes committed in our name: torture, rendition, suspension of the bill of rights, invading nations who had not attacked us, blowing up neighborhoods that Saddam "might" be in (but never was), slaughtering wedding parties in Afghanistan. We watched as hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians were slaughtered and tens of thousands of our brave young men and women were killed, maimed, or endured mental anguish -- the full terror of which we scarcely know.

When we elected you we didn't expect miracles. We didn't even expect much change. But we expected some. We thought you would stop the madness. Stop the killing. Stop the insane idea that men with guns can reorganize a nation that doesn't even function as a nation and never, ever has.

Stop, stop, stop! For the sake of the lives of young Americans and Afghan civilians, stop. For the sake of your presidency, hope, and the future of our nation, stop. For God's sake, stop.

Tonight we still have hope.

Tomorrow, we shall see. The ball is in your court. You DON'T have to do this. You can be a profile in courage. You can be your mother's son.

We're counting on you.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com

P.S. There's still time to have your voice heard. Call the White House at 202-456-1111 or email the President.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, obviously there's much to be thankful for this year, and I'll get into that in a future post tomorrow along with photos of our Thanksgiving feast tonight, but one thing that really made me smile today was to learn that I'm Smith Magazine's Six Word Memoir of the Day.

So yeah, you can click on the above link to read it but being the egomaniac that I am, naturally I had to take a screen shot, too:



Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving!

xo

The Power of Youth: Julie Slick and Eric Slick in Goldmine Magazine!

If you've been reading my blog, you know that this summer, I went on tour with Julie and Eric and when they played what was my personal favorite show on the "east coast" tour, Toronto, we met Martin Popoff, a rock journalist with some serious creds: Have a look at his published books on the subject!

Anyway, he interviewed Adrian for an article in Goldmine Magazine, and it just came out today. Holy freaking cow, look what he has to say about Julie and Eric:

Adrian Belew experiences the power of youth
November 17, 2009
by Martin Popoff

Acrobatic guitar legend recruits two 20-something siblings for new trio

"Consummate axe-skronker Adrian Belew has seen it all.

Touring with the likes of David Bowie, Frank Zappa, King Crimson, solo at various times, and with his very best band (of Cleveland buds) The Bears, this 60-ish guitar innovator has given us so much music of swooping, sterling variety, from the Beatle-esque to the Dali-esque.

But perhaps nothing has felt so literally vital as what the man is doing now, fronting the Adrian Belew Power Trio, alongside brother-and-sister team Julie Slick (bass) and Eric Slick (drums), both in their low 20s, and both possibly the best musicians this writer’s ever seen live.

The trio is an interesting animal, figures Adrian, chuffed that this group has harnessed their energy in a new record simply titled e.

“Yes, well, the format itself, of having a trio … if you are the frontman, the guitarist in such a thing, it allows you a lot more freedom,” says Belew. “In the case of the power trio, I try to make it so we have places in the set, and during certain pieces of music, where we kind of improvise and change from night to night.”

Having two eager new recruits to push him helps keep things interesting.

“I think the power trio format, for a guitar player, is just wonderful, especially if you have two great young musicians like I do (laughs),” says Belew. “I think Eric and Julie’s role is to bring the youthfulness, the energetic qualities to the band that are so attractive. Of course, their playing is amazing, for their ages, and really, for any age. But for me, those two things combined make a pretty powerful thing."

Belew also has taken on another job with this group that’s proving to be tough.

“Maybe the last thing is, as kind of a producer/arranger, I’m enjoying the role of taking on material that should be difficult for three people to play — maybe songs that were played by four or five people, or even six, in the case of the double trio King Crimson material,” says Belew. “So that’s challenging, too. You put all that together, it’s a hot little package (laughs).”

Did Adrian ever wonder, looking back, that if players like Eric and Julie had been around when he was sprouting his wings, if he’d have been left in the dust, that he “never would have gotten the gig” so to speak?

“I never really thought about it that way, although that’s possibly true (laughs),” says Belew. “I always thought you got the gigs you got because you were ready for that, and you stepped up to the plate and did well. But it does impress me, and interest me quite a lot, to watch their progression as musicians and as people. And as young people seeing things that I saw for the first time — I really enjoy that part. Like when we go to Russia or Australia or Japan, somewhere that I’ve been many times, and it’s their first time, or even their second, I can kind of remember how I felt.”

Being siblings, Julie and Eric have a different way of approaching music.

“It’s different the way they view it and process that information, first of all, because they’re brother and sister,” says Belew. “So they always have a companion (laughs). They even like to share the same room; they don’t even like to have separate rooms. They’re always on the computer together, and that’s just the way they are — they grew up best friends. That makes one big difference. Because when I went out and toured the world the first few times, I was pretty much on my own and had to accept things and discover things in a different way.”

And together they’ve made … e?

“Way back when I was a kid,” says Adrian, by way of explanation, “I used to do drawings of a cartoon character I made up called e, and it was a lowercase e, and I would draw things in high school, and there would be these cartoon pages of this guy. So I don’t know why. Now the letter e, especially lowercase e, appears in a lot of places — e-mail, eharmony or whatever. But I always thought of just a nice simple title — e; it’s a letter, it represents a lot of different things, it’s the beginning of a lot of different words, it’s a very strong graphic — just the shape of an e.”

The album features many of the usual Belew tricks, as well as his latest hobby, looping.

“Maybe seven years ago I began this form of looping,” he says, citing it as a key impetus in this album’s creative process. “You play something into your looper and it’s repeated over and over, so it therefore adds another guitarist for you to play with.”

Fortunately for us, all of this can be witnessed live, as the Adrian Belew Power Trio tour fairly extensively worldwide. And be sure to keep an eye on drummer Eric, whose speed and deft touch can be mesmerizing, which leads one to ask, how much more could he possibly improve?!

“Well, actually, I would say, you’re right,” laughs Adrian. “I would say I’ve watched him progress, is more correct, because, you know, I don’t know much further he can take it. What is so impressive to me about it is, yes, now he’s got the mechanics, got the chops, he can do all kinds of amazing things, but it’s his tastefulness. It’s way beyond his years. And the same with Julie. I mean … it’s kind of mysterious how these two young people get to this point where it usually takes someone 40 years to arrive at (laughs).” 

*********

Okay, that just totally made 2009 for me.

Stay tuned for a TON of exciting news about Julie and Eric Slick, by the way. Now that they are finished touring with Adrian in 2009, they have many, many exciting projects lined up with other musicians and the news just may be of a very surprising nature indeed.

Later!
xo

Is Adrian Belew Power Trio's "e" 2009 CD of the year? Cast your vote!

Well, according to what I've been reading on line, more and more people are saying it. Adrian Belew Power Trio's "e" just may be the best CD of 2009.



From The Progressive Ears forum board...can't get a direct link to the actual post but it's called " FEATURED CD- Adrian Belew Trio - e":

Member: Stigglesworth 11/13/2009 8:20 AM
"One of my albums of the year, fantastic."
******
Member: 100423 11/13/2009 10:50 AM
"One of my favorites too. This group is a monster live as well."
*****

Member: PindralProgger 11/13/2009 11:17 AM
"Enjoying this since I got a few weeks ago....

Fripp commented, "Driving to & from the dentist listening to the Adrian Belew Power Trio's e. Now this is what I call a power trio. Lotsa fun. Current favourite is B. Along the listening-way a few chuckles when I caught the musical puns."
*****
Member: Sputnik 11/13/2009 11:53 AM
"I'm also really enjoying this, probably a release of the year for me as well. Saw them in Fall River and they were pretty good. It might have helped if I knew this album a bit better before the show, though I really enjoyed hearing the stuff live anyway.

To me, this album plays to Belew's strengths and minimizes the things he does that I don't enjoy. Hoping for more in this vein in the future.

Bill"
******
Member: Kcrimso 11/13/2009 12:03 PM
"Very very good. Indeed one of the best new releases of the year 2009."
******
Member: Just Eric 11/13/2009 3:45 PM

"Saw them in St. Louis last year and was blown away by the Slick's..."
*****
Member: PepeLePew 11/13/2009 5:03 PM
"LOVE this release. LOVE the Slicks. LOVE the Trio!

Had a ball watching Ade work his magic from 5 feet away. We were so absolutely blown away by his technique that we were all giggling like schoolgirls. I think the Slicks really fuel something magical here. He is just sooooo...*happy*. Just a joy to watch this trio. I will definitely support this act whenever they roll into MA."
******
Member: MissKittysMom 11/13/2009 8:17 PM
"Release of the year for me as well. Simply marvelous."
******
Member: Sean 11/13/2009 8:20 PM
"This is a great CD. All instrumental and flowing logically from piece to piece. It's like the one Adrian CD where he goes after that Crim kinda vibe entirely. Yet it's distinctly the trio's angle on it and really fresh. One of the best of 2009 for sure! The Slicks really did some amazing work on this one and pushed Adrian to new heights."
******
From the DGMLive forum board:

"me for e
Posted by DeVito on November 14, 2009

Every fan of instrumental Crim and the Projekcts should head over to Adrian Belew’s website and order a copy of e. I’ve never really understood why AB calls this band a "power trio" until I heard this recording -- they’re powerful alright, and both the bass and drums sound huge (and the drummer has that Bruford snare-bop sound down clean). Gets my vote for the best album Crimson never made"
******
So I have a favor to ask. WXPN radio in Philadelphia, our NPR station, is running their yearly poll for CD and songs of the year. They've kindly been playing the actual title track, "e", which is over seven minutes long, in regular rotation. That is really saying something. If you will kindly place your vote for "e" as CD of the year, we here at Casa Slick will be forever in your debt. And to make life easy, here is the OFFICIAL LINK!

And to further encourage you to vote, here's some "e" for you!



Later,
xo

Not quite a blog post but still very cool...

Okay, I'm too lazy and still head cold ridden so I'm not in the mood to do a long blog post today but if that changes and I find reviews, etc. I'll come in and edit. In the meantime, have you ever wanted to own one of my books but were to lazy yourself or too short on cash? Well, with the exception of Daddy Left Me Alone with God, which is published by Tease and which can be purchased by clicking on the banner at the top of my blog, all of my books with Phaze Publishing are on sale today, in honor of Friday the 13th. Just go right here and when you go to check out, use code FRIDAY13 for 13% off your purchase!

And now that I have taken care of business, I want to put up a couple of fun very short film clips of Julie Slick, Eric Slick, Adrian Belew, and Andre Cholmondeley (and Andre of course is my usual lifeline who sent these to me) currently in Istanbul, Turkey. Well, in the first clip, they are admiring their tour poster:



And here's a still photo from that same "scene":



Here's everyone at breakfast this morning -- man, check out that view. No wonder I'm reading tweets from Julie and Eric that they are madly in love with Turkey:



Next up, a clip from the show last night - wow -- security guards and bouquets of flowers!




And finally, here's a great shot of Andre, who sent this to me with the caption "How about a little head in Krakow?"



Andre has sent me a ton of photos which I will hopefully get around to posting, but for now, I do believe I'm going to assume the fetal position for an hour or two.

P.S. Julie, Eric...if I don't get my hands on that "Ghetto" tour poster, I will surely die. Do what you must!

Later,
xo

Eric Slick and Marco F*cking Minnemann

ETA: Here's a review of the show in Perm, but I had a really hard time translating it, though I did manage to pull out this sentence:

"Eric Slick - drums with a classical musical education, operates drums minimal configuration, while the audience is simply amazing amazing musicianship and intelligence, draughty in every stroke." (If anyone can translate this review for me, please email me said translation or put it in the comment section here.)

Holy cow.

Eric Slick and Marco Fucking Minnemann performing Indisicpline in Perm, Russia -- Monday night, November 9, 2009

Oh yeah, Eddie Jobson and Adrian Belew are there, too.



I have a feeling more of these are going to pop up - if so, I'll add them.

Oh! Andre just sent me these very cool photos from soundcheck:













Ha ha - and then there is this: Eddie Jobson and Adrian Belew in their international pop debut (with videotographer Julie Slick laughing hilariously in the background)



Later,
xo

Julie Slick: She is My New Hat

ETA: Hurrah! My latest book, "Daddy Left Me Alone with God" is now available on Kindle! Here's the link! And um, just a heads up that my current NaNo project (National Novel Writing Month - a 50,000 word novel written during the month of November, as in RIGHT NOW) is the sequel, which will bring you all up to date on these *cough* "fictional" characters as well as introducing you to a couple of new ones (and to use the word characters is putting it mildly)...

So yeah, the ABPT is in Russia right now, doing two shows with Eddie Jobson, and some interesting stuff has popped up. But first, here are some photographs of the show in Perm last night, courtesy of my "lifeline", Andre Cholmondeley.

Here they are at soundcheck:













In concert:













With Eddie Jobson for Lark's Tongue:



Final bow:



Also, there's this mention in The Moscow News, and I'll just pull out some quotes; click on the link for the whole article, which, erm, isn't quite accurate as you will see:

"To the dismay of some fans, the legendary British progressive rock band itself isn't actually taking part in the fest, but one of King Crimson's current members - singer and guitarist Adrian Belew - is to perform with his side project, the Adrian Belew Power Trio. Their set is expected to be the fest's main highlight. Belew, who has been a King Crimson member since the band was formed by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles in 1969, is known for participation in many other projects. And while King Crimson is currently in a phase of semi-activity, Belew has been quite focused on touring and recording with his trio.

The trio, which also includes bassist Julie Slick and drummer Eric Slick, has been around since 2006, touring the United States, Europe and Australia. It put out its debut studio album with the title "e" earlier this year, "an extended suite in five distinct but interrelated sections", according to Belew.

Material from the album is likely to be performed in Moscow, as it was at the band's previous shows this year. A reviewer for The Buffalo News described their show last September as featuring a "lyrical, classical introduction", "bits of industrial near-metal, African polyrhythmic motifs" and "a purely ‘free' section of improvisation", observing that it triggered a "visceral and chaotic" response from the audience."

When I took a look at Eddie Jobson's forum board to see if there were any reviews from the Perm show last night, I struck out, but I did find this (and speaking of Andre, there's some really nice and well-deserved comments made on his behalf):

Adrian Belew Power trio
Author: gogo
Date: 10-13-09 22:16

-------- OK----------
"May I suggest that EVERYONE
who has a chance to go see this band
----------------------------GO FOR IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew nothing of the man,
his band, or his music,
other than DISCIPLINE
when I was in grade 10
and what I read of the Eddie Russia festival..........
(which is all VERY cool)

And for whatever reason,
too wrapped-up in stuff
to discover this music..........

And also that our friend
and fellow EJ Forum member
Andre Cholmondeley is their Tour manager........

So, my house-building buddy
Tony Thompson bought a pile of tickets
and handed them out to his friends
and I wasn't going to go over to Vancouver
on my first non-gigging weekend in a while.......

And I emailed Andre, and I say YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tracy-Lyn was wrapped-up in making
a HUGE Thanksgiving Dinner for the gang here
and I said "I will blast over to this show and be back early tomorrow"
....and use the opportunity to pick-up
the violin that I just inherited from Uncle Tony
(another post, another story)......and
our dear friend ROSE decided to go over
for the trip as a sit in.........also YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So we hit the 3pm ferry
and my old guitarist Randal Frew
picked us up..and we went to his place
......and hearing him play was worth the trip alone

....but his cat scratched Rosie...

Then, we hit the downtown
and yap with the cats in the line-up
and move into the front row
..really neat room, black, tall ceiling.....cool club......

we got to chit chat with Andre a bit
(super cool guy...and THANK YOU)
and it was a trip to see how busy he is
and how well he treats and represents his band.

Tour managers are more rare than keyboard players
and worth more than GOLD in the modern rock world.
The guy I work with is basicly irreplaceable.
I have seen very smart and cool men literally
loose their minds as tour managers.

The work-load does not let-up,
and the responsibilities are everywhere.
And it can be very thankless......cos
nobody sees a fraction of what actually goes on.

It takes an extremely reasonable, unflappable
and diversely talented person to tour manage a rock band.
Andre treats people well, and represents his act
very respectfully.

So this says volumes for our friend Andre.
Totally cool...proud to know you, man.



OK, so I did have some preconceived notions
of what this show would be all about......
and it was all good..of course......

But forget all that........
I was totally knocked out..amazed and had an total
full-out riot.

YOU HAVE TO SEE THESE CATS.

Julie Slick
.....She is my new hat

She is great.
I can not get her off of my mind
LOVE YOU Julie Slick.

I was right in front of
the beautiful bass player
and MAN ! she GOES FOR IT
the whole time....excellent !!!!!!!!!!!

Great fuzz bass..a million riffs...
I guess this is called Prog Rock
cos there were a lot of guys,
dressed in black
some with arms folded
and all smiling........

But I call it art rock
so we jjust spazzed out a lot

This is the floor
where a guy fell
unconscious
at Rosie's feet

Poor Rosie.
One minute he is staring at her
and next thing, he hits the floor.

I get to see tons of bands
but never as much fun as this.

This is total wild fun full-out music
and wild to dance to
cos it goes everywhere !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the most fun I have had since UKZ.

Can you imagine these guys opening for the Eddies in Russia ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

The band did huge at merch,
stuck around, signed stuff,
my friends were thrilled
to meet the band
....very freindly, a total 100% class act.

I have never heard music like this before.
I understand it, but I would never think to write
and arrange like that.

There were great dynamic open spots for crowd howls.......just a riot.

RAA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA

----WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!

RAA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA

----WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!

RAA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA

----WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!

If they play anywhere near your town
....you GOTTA go see this act..........

The best fun to be had.

I would go again..and again........

I LOVE IT.
and THANK YOU
love
GOGO"
*******

Re: Adrian Belew Power trio
Author: Dusty
Date: 10-13-09 23:39

"These guys played nowhere near me but I saw them in NYC recently - first time I saw Adrian with the Slick Siblings, killing band.

Ade sits betwixt the Slicks
Ade sits betwixt the Slicks
Ade sits betwixt the Slicks

...eh, on a big, springy stool... amongst an array of technology and sound reinforcement, and black boxes with flashing lights. The rest of the power trio have comparitively spare, minimal set-ups. Bass sound is aggressive, plenty of attack and very clear. I like it a lot. And drummer played a brief but inspired, and very musical solo.

Luckily, the guy sitting opposite me at the Belew gig was an Eddie fan and saw both the UKZ show and the U-Z gig at the same venue the week or so before...."

******

Reply To This Message

Re: Adrian Belew Power trio
Author: gogo
Date: 10-14-09 11:19

"Dusty !
great review !!!!!!!
you loved it too !
just as I doooooo !

Yes, i never mentioned how HEAVY this band is.
Excellent rock, so totally fun.

I love being so surprised
and having such a gas
..a rare rare thing.....

love
Gogo"

******

Reply To This Message

Re: Adrian Belew Power trio
Author: gogo
Date: 10-19-09 10:06

"So, the corporate gig this weekend
turned out to be a pub at a Technical Institute,
unadvertised.....and great to have anything
as winter looms on the horizon.....I suppose.

The driver went into a rave review
of the Adrian Power Trio gig
that he attended in Calgary Alberta.

He chatted away,
with no connection,
until this topic came up.........

Everyone LOVES that band !

love
Gogo"
*****

Reply To This Message

Re: Adrian Belew Power trio
Author: Mike Piazza
Date: 10-22-09 07:39

"WOW !
Love the Adrian Belew Power Trio !!!
Seen them multiple times and always a great show !!!
They are geting better and better every day !

Thanks so much for the great posts GOGO....

If you all get the chance to see them....Do so !
You will definitely enjoy........

They are some of the most down to earth musicians you've ever met !
And they truly enjoy performing for us...every single time !

Peace...

Mikey P"
******

Reply To This Message

Re: Adrian Belew Power trio
Author: Lenny
Date: 10-22-09 09:51

An interview with Julie Slick
******

Reply To This Message

Re: Adrian Belew Power trio
Author: gogo
Date: 10-29-09 11:00

"A great interview !!!

She is wonderful !

The conversation gets better as it goes along
cos she tells some good food stories.....my kinda girl !

Love
Gogo"
******

Ha, gotta love that Gogo!

There's a a nice review of the trio's recent show in Seattle and here's a few snippets I pulled out:

"It was unusual to see the drummer perpendicular to the audience, but it gave us the opportunity to get an appreciation of Eric Slick’s incredible footwork. Adrian has a very unique sense of syncopation, but this lad never missed a beat."



..."Sister Julie Slick was masterful on the bass. And definitely the most photogenic of the group. (That must be the reason I have so many more pictures of her…)"


***********

Ha, that was fun. There's a bunch of articles about their show tonight in Moscow and the next two shows in Turkey - I will have to see if I can get them translated for my next blog post. And as I sit here typing this, Andre keeps sending me more photos so if I don't end this entry now, I may never stop!

In other news, I have had the head cold from hell, which prevented me from going to New York and reading this past Saturday, but under the category of "much better", I finished my edits for Bitten to the Core and they were accepted (whew, that's a relief!) and now it's being line edited so I guess we're right on track for publication for next month. Hurrah! You can't believe what I've decided to do in connection with its release. I can't believe it, either. I've discovered how to live stream a broadcast from my new mac right in the comfort of my living room, so I'm going to have a virtual party here. I'll read from part of the book, maybe drink some wine, introduce you to the dog, show you some cool artwork and maybe even a guitar or two...hell, I'll even play you some music. This could be a lot of fun. Assuming publication of the digital version is in fact December 7, I'm planning on doing it on Saturday night, December 12. I would normally do it that Friday, December 11, but it has come to my attention that there is something very special scheduled for that night, namely, this!

Okay, that's not a direct link. What "this" is: What is mistakenly listed as "Julie and Eric Slick Power Duo" is an error, it's actually their new band with Robbie "Seahag" Mangano, Paper Cat, and they are opening for the amazing band Julie produces, Cheers Elephant...and I can't believe they are all playing the Khyber Pass, because yeah, yeah, Gary and I used to hang at that very bar when we were Julie and Eric's age and we took them to see Richie Havens there when they were kids and I could swear someone else, too, but my brains are fried with this cold. I called Gary and asked him, and he doesn't remember, either, but he, too, has a vague recollection of another band though he did say that Eric did an AC/DC show there when he was still at the School of Rock so maybe that's what we're thinking of. (Eric, if you read this and remember, shoot me an email or a text and I'll add it in and do I believe my son is in Russia and can actually read this on his iPhone?)

Anyway, getting back to me, yeah, the virtual book release/reading party for Bitten to the Core should be lots of fun and I just realized, in a perfect world I will have the house decorated for Christmas by December 12 and it will look all festive and pretty in here (well, if I wasn't going to do it before now, I just decided I will, so hurrah, I have the much needed impetus now to start cleaning blah blah blah). But as I type this, I'm wondering if people will be home on a Saturday night right before the holidays and if I shouldn't make it on Thursday night, December 10, instead. Hmm. Well, I'll let you know...this is all contingent on the release date of my book not being pushed up, too, so I don't want to set anything in stone yet, anyway.

But how much fun will that be? Ha ha, maybe I can bribe Julie and Eric over here, too, for a little comedic/musical participation at my party... as they grit their teeth and shudder in Moscow right now reading this and not from the cold :(

Oh well, speaking of colds, it's time I rest mine and go take a nap. But yeah, tentatively circle December 12 on your calendars! And if you are anywhere near Philadelphia, see you at the Khyber Pass on December 11!

Later,
xo
P.S. I know, I know, the photography/food reviews and posts from the tour. I need Julie's help, memory, and some of her photos. So that's on hold until she gets home.

Odds and Sods for Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Good afternoon....

So you'll notice there's a new song on my playlist today, which totally freaked me out this morning when the alarm went off because my alarm is the radio and I have it tuned to XPN, and the reason it freaked me out is because????

Well, it's Al Stewart's Road to Moscow. And Moscow is where Julie and Eric are headed this very minute. It blew me away that this song was playing as I woke up. I mean, what are the odds? When is the last time you even heard that on the radio?

Yeah, so the kiddies are headed to Moscow, then Perm (also in Russia but naturally being geographically challenged I've never heard of it), then Istanbul. Poor babies. They are playing a festival with Eddie Jobson in Russia; the Turkey gigs are trio only. What a life. Julie was actually moaning "Oh man, Russia again?"

As for me, my travel days are over. At least for the time being. All I've wanted to do since I got home last week is sleep. But when I did wake up and hit the streets, I decided it's time for change.

So. New song on playlist, which in a perfect world, I'll change weekly (I know better than to promise daily)

New hair, straightened with bangs...therefore, new blogger profile photo just taken today:



Heh - obviously I've discovered Photobooth on my new mac and finally I can control the photos, damn it. I promise I'll keep my clothes on, though.

Last night we had our usual bon voyage supper at Silk City; Julie and I got there way early and enjoyed a cocktail hour of Jaded Rubies (grapefruit juice and vodka - Julie) and I forget what the hell my drink was called but it involved Jack Daniels, butternut squash, pumpkin something or other...trust me, it was great. Thanksgiving in a martini glass. We snacked on edamame beans but they don't exactly mitigate the damage of those mighty drinks; luckily the boys arrived for dinner just as our heads were about to hit the table.

It was fun. I'm going to miss those little rascals while they are on tour - I've been hanging out with them non-stop since August. But they will be home November 15 so I can deal. And then it's the holiday season, so it's all good.

Hey, I found out that my books are best sellers on Kindle. So that made my day. If you own one of those things, or an iPhone, here's the link to my "digital page" at Amazon...knock yourself out!

I notice even Another Bite of the Apple is doing well, which is good considering Part III of my "Sin in the City" (so named by my publisher on their website which was news to me but I dig it) comes out next month, provided I finish my final edits. (Kat, if you are reading this, tomorrow...I swear...you will have them...99% done). Speaking of Another Bite, I see it was recently reviewed and The Romance Studio likes it, they really like it:

"This book is the sequel of Three Days in New York. Last year, when Elizabeth, then turning 40, spent those three days in New York with Richard, from England, she went home deciding to change her life. Now, one year later, she’s not at all sure that she did the right thing. Yes, she has left her job as a corporate attorney and her husband of 20+ years, but her painting is still on the back burner and she is working herself crazy at her friend’s (Rob) restaurant, “Nana’s.” She’s in a financial disaster and her apartment looks like it’s for the unemployed—there is no elevator for the 5-story walk-up, it’s in Brooklyn, and has roaches! She has come down a long way since leaving her old life!

She has loved her boss for a long time, but he has a gorgeous girlfriend. To top it off, after leaving her ‘hanging’ for a whole year, Richard calls and he is back in New York and wants to see her. She is still mad at him, but secretly enjoys the attention that she has been lacking for so long! Then Marianne, Rob’s concert pianist girlfriend, leaves for an extended period and Rob needs some help; he promotes Elizabeth to Marianne’s position at the restaurant, and, still, Richard keeps calling!

Ms. Robin Slick has written another hilarious fast-paced tale about Elizabeth’s escapades in finding her new self! This cute, sometimes sad, story details how she is unable to tell one man NO and how she cannot tell the other one how she feels. Ms. Slick has us both laughing out loud and shedding tears over Elizabeth. She writes extremely graphic sensual scenes which are not for the faint of heart. Not only are they graphic, they are frequent! Overall, this is a beautiful story about how one woman seeks, and then finds, her own true self. It is definitely a book that will be remembered!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit"

Ah yes, I'm so graphic..

I have to admit I love the last line about it being "a book that will be remembered!" Yeah! (Though I laughed at "she has roaches!" probably because of the exclamation point and probably because I live in downtown Philadelphia where people name their roaches and take them out for walks on a leash.)

In other news, my reading for tomorrow night in Philadelphia is cancelled. This is because, one hopes, that it will be Game 7 of the World Series. Of course the Phillies could lose it all tonight, but all of the writers involved felt it hopefully prudent to cancel the reading "just in case". Which of course then makes me wonder about my reading in New York Saturday night. No matter which team wins, that damn parade is liable to be Saturday and it will be held in either Philadelphia or New York. So either way I'm screwed.

Oh well. Stay tuned for details. So far, it's still a go for Saturday night on my end, but if the World Series does go to game 7, all bets are off. At least for me.

I again want to remind you about Julie and Eric's latest project, Paper Cat. When they return home from Istanbul, they are going into the studio to record a new EP with Robbie "Seahag" Mangano and that's all I'm allowed to say at this point...erm...other than I have heard talk of a tour and I better shut up before Eric and Julie, currently at the airport, call me from their respective iPhones and threaten to cut me off (from the grapevine, that is). But I'm truly excited for them and I have always loved Robbie so I have a very good feeling about this and as soon as I'm allowed to spill the beans on what's really happening, you'll read it here.

Hey, did you know the trio gets quite a mention on Rotten Tomatoes as having the album of the year with "e'? You can read it right here but I'll give you a snippet:

"My favourite album of the year so far has probably been heard by virtually nobody. It's e by the Adrian Belew Power Trio. If you're at all into progressive rock, it's definitely worth checking this out. Adrian's solo career has been a bit hit and miss, some great songs mixed in with some dated awkward cheese, at least when compared to his work with King Crimson, which was for the most part fantastic.

Finally he's released a solo album that lives up to his immense talent and measures favorably with the best of the Crims. e is all instrumental, and plays around with many interesting variations on a central theme, showcasing the guitar and studio wizardry that Belew is best known for. The sound is great considering, as far as I can tell, it was produced by the band without the aid of a record label. Unfortunately that means that this isn't getting the exposure it deserves.

The other two members of the 'trio,' (brother and sister) Eric and Julie Slick, are definitely part of the reason for Belew's renewed inspiration. Both are in their early twenties and both are potential stars of prog rock. They comprise an amazing rhythm section, and if there is any justice in the music world their names will be well known someday. When I saw the Power Trio live a few months ago in New York, Adrian Belew said that Eric Slick was the best drummer he's ever played with, and for those of you who know all of the legendary musicians that Belew has worked with over the years that's saying something. I feel lucky to have met them after the show in New York and gotten my copy of e signed. That was the second time I saw them live, and both times they killed; the Adrian Belew Power Trio must be seen live to be fully appreciated -- they get into some truly wicked grooves.

Considering that the album is basically one long 40 minute instrumental broken up into smaller movements, it's hard to pick out highlights, but if I had to I'd say that "a2," "b2," "d," and "e2" are my favourite moments...."

Anyway, things I owe you: Food review of the tour and links to all the great photographers/photographs. This will be a huge project for me and I really must finish my edits as well as work on my new novel for National Novel Writing Month - I have 5,000 words so far which is not keeping pace so I need to write like hell over the next few days. But you know me, the minute I get news or need a break, I'll be back here with my little reporter cap on...

But for now, grr...must finish my edits!

Later,
xo

Happy Halloween!

Who is this green man?



Surely you recognize the character from this:



Here's a hint: He spent the entire summer on tour, just got back late Monday night, and has three - yes three - gigs today/tonight for Halloween with three, yes three, different bands - where he'll also be playing guitar and bass (who knew) before taking off for Russia and Turkey on Wednesday...

Okay, I know it's obvious.

I should have made the clues harder, like...

He played the slot drum in the audience of a Stephen Stills concert when he was four years old and stole the show from Stephen;

or

He met Captain Noah in person right after he was potty trained but got so excited he pooped his pants, anyway, and made a public announcement:



or

I recently learned he used to eat Reese's peanut butter cups for breakfast and lunch at school, even though I slaved in the kitchen half asleep at 6:00 a.m. and packed him four course meals in his little lunch bag...


(Yes, Google images actually yielded me someone insane enough to have made a Reese's peanut butter cup sandwich, which, in retrospect, had I known about...har har...not that I spoiled my kids or anything...)

So in case you haven't guessed by now, and here's hoping you are lucky to see him at one of his gigs tonight dressed as such...Greenman is...



My favorite son (not including the dog)...Eric Slick!

Eric always comes through with the most amazing costumes, doesn't he? And I know he's thrilled to be home and not touring for the first time in years on Halloween, even if he is technically working (though I don't think he ever considers playing music "work").

And now for my annual torture - do I or do I not eat an entire bag of miniature Almond Joys tonight? I'm thinking of being a grinch this year and turning out all the lights and not answering my door so that I don't need to have any candy in the house. But then I remember how I hated those mean neighbors when I was a kid trick or treating, and I so, so, so never wanted to be one of those people. Now I could do something tricky like buy candy I don't like to give out, but as it turns out, THERE IS NO CANDY I DO NOT LIKE, DAMN IT.

Sad but true. I'll even eat Dum Dum suckers, those little wax bottles filled with weird fake juice, Bit'O Honey, even stale, packaged licorice...bleh..I am truly hopeless.

And don't ask me to put Gary in charge. He will promise to keep the candy away from me but I can wear him down. That, and I find every hiding place he's ever thought of - he just isn't a devious guy and after over thirty years, I know how his brain works. "Oh Robin will never think of looking in the washing machine since she hardly ever does the wash."

First place I look every time, Gar, and I'm seldom wrong.

I know about your hiding place under the sink, too, and I also know where you hide your own candy in the corner cabinet where we keep the oatmeal and dried fruit but luckily you really do buy yourself crap - who enjoys Jujyfruits for Christ sake?



I'd even take a Dum Dum sucker over those. (But I am happy when I find your contraband blister peanuts so continue to knock yourself out, dear)

Anyway, Happy Halloween!

Later,
xo

Happy 5th Birthday to In Her Own Write

Okay, okay, I know I said I wouldn't do anything as cheesy as a five year birthday tribute to my blog, but yeah, I just confirmed today is the day and since I do have some other stuff to talk about, why the hell not.


Drawing by the late, great John Lennon (and if you didn't know that and the fact that this journal is named in his honor, you are not cool enough to be here so go away. Or not. You know I like to kid around because hey hey, I'm still a kid even if the mirror tells me otherwise.)

So yeah, happy birthday, blog! Thanks to you, I've met some really cool people (oh, no one special...just Robert Fripp (who remarked, "I've read your blog", causing me to almost swallow my tongue while mortified that I had a camera in my hand which I desperately tried to stuff down the back of my jeans while simultaneously attempting to croak out an answer...and anyone who is familiar with Mr. Fripp understands the gravity of that camera situation and my subsequent horror/terror), also from DGMLive Sid Smith, California Guitar Trio, Tony Levin, Barry Eisler, David Morrell, Neil Gaiman, Amanda Palmer (well, sort of when it comes to Amanda -- I bumped into Neil and Amanda at the Highline in New York City a week or two before they "came out" as a couple but anyone who follows them on Twitter or their respective blogs had to have guessed months earlier; I was at the Highline with Eric to see some friends of ours read their six word memoirs published by Smith Magazine; anyway, I saw Amanda and Neil together in the audience because Amanda was the musical portion of the show following the reading and blurted out (much to Eric's humiliation yet again) "Ooh, I'm telling the internet!" Amanda turned around and laughed but due to the Eric factor, i.e., I'm running out of free passes for mortifying him in public, I didn't wait around to chat any further and hustled past to the bar)...and of course, last but not least, all of the fans, both of my books (all 4 of them!) and of Julie and Eric and the Adrian Belew Power Trio.

So yeah, having this blog has been a gateway and diary to all kinds of fun, and if you check out the archives, particularly in 2005 and 2006, you'll find everything from our infamous pizza date with Eddie Vedder; Julie and Eric's performances with everyone from Jon Anderson of Yes to Ann Wilson of Heart to Alice Cooper, Stewart Copeland blah blah blah...and yeah, the whole evolution of their respective careers - Eric landing his first professional drumming gig with Project Object, Julie's brief stint with punk skateboard band McRad and their tour of the UK (yeah, I went. So shoot me.)...and then the call from Nashville when they landed the gig with Adrian.

Hey, speaking of Project Object, Eric, who has been home all of three days from the ABPT west coast tour and is taking off with Julie next week for two weeks of gigs in Turkey and Russia, anyway, Eric will be joining Project Object for their winter tour and here's the preliminary info on that, though I suspect more dates are going to be added:

SUN 12/27 - Sellersville Theatre - Sellersville, PA

MON 12/28 - 8 x 10 Club - Baltimore, MD

TUE 12/29 - Rex Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA

WED 12/30 - Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland, OH

FRI 1/1 - Martyrs - Chicago, IL

SAT 1/2 - Martyrs - Chicago, IL

SUN 1/3 - Miramar Theater - Milwaukee, WI

THU 1/7 - BB King Blues Club & Grill - New York, NY

FRI 1/8 - Regatta Bar - Cambridge, MA

SAT 1/9 - Revolution Hall - Troy, NY

SUN 1/10 - Toad's Place - New Haven, CT

Also, I've been remiss in that I should have posted this earlier, but better late than never...here's a note from P/O's founder, Andre Cholmondeley:

"Hello folks...

Hoping this message finds you well.

While there have been real high points and really great moments --It's been a very hard year for me and my loved ones, most of you know about the tragic & sudden loss of my mom in July, 10 weeks ago today. Many of you also know that day arrived against a backdrop of very tough times -- my other half and love of my life Cheri Jiosne has been fighting breast cancer for almost a year now.

She is doing as well as one can, in fact better I think - she looks great, feels great and is several months into an intense program combining various schools of herbalism, holistic methods, Qi gong, Acupuncture and diet with a low dose Alternative Chemo program called IPT. We're at a crossroads now, looking at what the next move in her fight needs to be.

It's ironic (or not) that the current national debate has been about health care -- we too are amongst the millions of Americans without health care insurance. The small amount she had at one of her jobs ran out -- and we are dealing with this out of pocket. We are looking at creative ways to keep paying the bills, and one idea was to do a benefit in NYC. The ACOUSTIC PROJECT/OBJECT benefit went fantastically - especially on a Sunday, and a major Jewish Holiday. THANKS SO MUCH for showing up, sending in donations, letters, emails, cards etc. The silent auction run by our dear friends Laura Dardi & Rob Bruce went fantastically - thanks to those who bid. The support from all corners has been touching and amazing. We are trying to plan a benefit in MONMOUTH COUNTY NJ somewhere before the end of the year - stay tuned here and on the email list. Once more --THANK YOU IMMENSELY.

- Andre', Project/Object

We have a pay pal account as well as a PO Box you can send a donation check/money order to. Here are other options:

You can go to paypal.com and make payments to projectobject (at) earthlink.net

You can send a check or money order written to
CHERYL JIOSNE to:

Cheri Jiosne Cancer Fund
PO BOX 16672
Asheville NC
28801

Thanks! No amount is too small.....Stand by for further info and please forward this to anyone you think would be interested.

Thanks so much for all your support, in so many ways through the years. She is a fighter and we will make it thru this difficult time, with victory over this!

- André Cholmondeley"

I know personally that Cheri's medical bills are freaking staggering (God Bless America and our fucked up healthcare system) so every little bit helps and perhaps in the spirit of the approaching holidays you will keep them in mind? Hope so!

So I know I said I'm turning this blog back over to my writing career, and that's true, but it's kind of ludicrous for me to say I'm never going to write about Julie and Eric again - they are my best friends, my family, and hell yeah, I'm gonna shout it out when cool stuff happens in their lives.

And trust me, cool stuff is in the works...I can't talk about any of it yet in detail, naturally, but well, I can sorta say some stuff. California Guitar Trio has asked J&E to contribute bass and drums to three songs on their new CD...in fact, here's the mention right in Bert Lam's diary:

"Wednesday, October 7, 2009

This past weekend Paul, Hideyo and I met in Louisville, Kentucky, for a recording session at Funeral Home Studios, with sound engineer Kevin Ratterman.

We recorded several strong pieces: Chacarera, an original piece by Paul, based on an Argentine rhythm.

Next was Hazardous Z, a piece by Hideyo. Paul came up with some Spanish 'flamenco style' chords, and I composed a new part on classical guitar. Sessions were fun, and went very smooth, thanks to some good preparation, and the professionalism of Kevin.

We've sent out tracks for some of our friends to play on: Tony Levin, Julie and Eric Slick, Dilek Engin(viola), and Daniel, Shri and Colty from the UT percussion ensemble.

We now have recorded about 10 pieces, and a few improvisations; plenty of very strong material for an all-originals new CD release."

Ha ha, Julie Slick and Tony Levin, together again. Heart be still.

Julie and Eric have in fact laid down their respective tracks but of course it will be up to the CGT to make the final decision as to whether to officially include them or not or ask for changes...whatever....you know it's all good!

Also, as soon as they return from Russia/Turkey, J&E will be recording an EP with their new band, Paper Cat, featuring astoundingly fantastic guitarist Robbie "Seahag" Mangano and while I could really go to town blabbing on that one, I will stay quiet and simply post this.

While on tour, I received so many emails I cannot possibly respond to all of them; we were in the car for over eight hours most times and I had limited internet access in a lot of venues and hotels. So I thought I'd put up some of letters I received here because they deserve some recognition and a huge thank you!

From Frank Jordan:

"I saw them play this last week in Santa Ana, and was simply blown away. I saw Ade's Trio a few years ago, before Julie and Eric came aboard. It's mentioned in several reviews, how they have ignited Adrian with their youthfulness and talent, but it's all talk until you see and hear them live. Unbelievable. My friend and I were able to meet with them for a few minutes afterwards, and as a parent, I must say that your children are so far beyond their years in how they interact, and so open and friendly with the fans. I'm a drummer also, and when I'd asked Eric about his snare drum, he invited me up onstage so he could show it to me up close. That was very kind of him to do. The show was again wonderful throughout, and I especially loved the new material from "e". You know, you read alot and hear alot about how good they are, and they seem to me to be as good of people, as they are musicians. I love the passion for what they are doing. (And, at least Julie puts her socks on after the show for the fans). I know it makes me feel worthwhile when someone says it to me, so I'll say to you, you have great kids, Robin."

From Dan Reagan:

"Robin,

I just saw Julie and Eric tearing it up with Adrian last night in Portland, OR at the Aladdin theater.

I just wanted to say that your children are truly awesome musicians; they blew my mind. I think the future of music is in very capable hands.

Take care,

Dan"

From David Reynold:

"Greetings!

I met you this evening (Oct 13th, if anyone cares) behind the merch counter at a small, out of the way venue to see -- OH WAIT, IT'S YOUR PROGENY! wow.

What ever it is you have done, you have done it well. As a single dad, I work hard to make sure the lizard (Elizabeth) has a good grounding in classical education (that is, I pay for piano lessons and get up in her face about homework and how it applies) and do my damnedest to make sure sure she can still have fun. With luck she will be the next 'It Girl' out of Hollywood, but that's only 'cause I'm a pushy stage parent and my cousin is a producer.

You are patently not THAT and have been an obviously good influence on your progeny; Thanks for letting them tour, and even more -- thanks for coming with them -- you probably can claim 'BEST MOM EVER" just for that.

PS: They _better_ bring flowers on Mother's Day..."

From Stephan and Kim in Calgary:

"Hi Robin!

We had a blast getting to know you guys at PikNiq after the show in Calgary.

Like I said on my Email to Adrian, they are great musicians ( we knew that) but more importantly, you are great persons. Your kids are wonderful, probably because you are too.

Hopefully we will see you again here or in Quebec city.

Big hugs, stay warm and enjoy the road to Vancouver,

Stephan and Kim, Calgary"

And my personal favorite, from Patrick Gaumond of Quebec, who incredibly enough is good friends with Stephan from Calgary - they were in a band together in high school and how insane that we ended up having drinks with both of them in different cities a month apart:

"Dear Power Quartet,

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful musical and social evening. You let me stay in your bubble and be part of your tour memories and I’m really thankful for such an honor.

I didn’t take any picture or made you sign my whole CD collection because I wanted you to feel at home in my City. I tried to be a friend, not a fan.

Eric, thanks for the subtle drumming on your “non-Bozio kit”, your funny eye contact with the crowd and your kindness.

Julie, thanks for your “almost Hendrix” moment, your French effort and your "joie de vivre".

Adrian, thanks for your unstoppable communicative smile while you perform, the music you share with us and your warm humanity.

Robin, thanks for answering my first email, thanks for having trusted your kids' talent and your devotion. I owe you for the rest of my life.

It’s been a pleasure chatting with all of you. You made me felt very comfortable. Let me write it again: “You have a perpetual invitation whenever you come in Québec City for vacation or playing music, whatever the group, venue or else. I’ll always be happy to help you get food, attractions and fun”. I'm in the phonebook, I’m easy reach by email and it will always be a pleasure to meet any of you again.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A really happy guy,

Patrick"
********
And so many people took such cool photos! Ack, that will have to be another post. It will take me forever to link them all and my publisher has taken to sending people to ABPT shows to hound me for my edits on my latest book so I better end this post right now and finish said edits before I no longer have a career.

But um, speaking of that, please notice to banner on the top of this page. It will take you right to my Amazon page. Those reading today's blogpost and my series of journal entries about the trio would probably really dig my latest book, Daddy Left Me Alone with God. I'm not gonna lie, a good chunk of that book is based on Julie and Eric and the beginning of their career...i.e., the School of Rock years. Is the rest of the book fact or fiction? Ha ha - you will have to decide that for yourself. I'm not saying a word.

And I couldn't help but notice a few really great reviews have popped up while I was on tour...like this one over at Coffee Time Romance:

"DADDY LEFT ME ALONE WITH GOD
ROBIN SLICK
ISBN#: 9781607670308
February 2009
Tease Publishing, LLC
www.teasepublishingllc.com
Paperback
$12.59
368 Pages
Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 Cups

Annie has an opportunity that few receive. Through her talented children, she can revisit her teenager rock star god, Mick. Her father was once her dealer, and after being left alone with a god, she became his enthusiastic lover; leaving behind her first love.

Mick is a rock star who has always remembered little Annie and often wondered wistfully how he let her get away. Now he wants her back, even if it means stealing her from another man. Her husband and first love is the man she chose to marry when he stood beside her during a difficult period of her life, but is his love and support enough to keep her.

Annie starts out sure that her marriage is over; especially if she can have Mick back. Her children are grown and on their way, and now just may be the time for her to have what she thought she had always missed. But did she really miss anything and is the gamble worth giving up the man who has loved her for so long?

Daddy Left Me Alone With God is all about getting a second chance and the choices we would make if we had it to do all over again. I enjoyed the character of Annie because she was never portrayed as a perfect woman but as woman with all the flaws of a real woman. The road trip from hell made the story so funny, sad, and poignant, depicting the end of an era and the beginning of the next. Well worth the read; I would recommend that everyone make it least one visit to the world of Robin Slick.

Delane
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More"

And on Amazon:

"Daddy Left Me Alone With God tells the story of Annie, an aging rocker who's accompanying her children, gifted musicians in a rock band, while they play gigs across the U.S. Here's the hook: In her youth, Annie had a torrid affair with rock god, and he's the headliner on the tour, while her children are the opening act. Part travelogue, part road story, part romance, and definitely a coming-of-age story, this book was witty and wildly entertaining while straddling the literary line. Annie is a conflicted woman with a difficult past. Her kids are her heaven, but her every day home life is lacking and she struggles with her advancing age while being tempted to recapture a piece of her past. We generally think of coming-of-age stories as youths getting a taste of adulthood, being forced to make choices or sacrifices or having their eyes opened to indignities of the world. But life isn't a one-and-done experience when it comes to growing up, and we face major transitions into different stages of life. The male experience of mid-life crisis is well documented in literary fiction, but the female's perspective is generally ignored or trivialized. Annie does suffer indignities, but they're hilarious, and she gets tested on her adult status, and ultimately has to make a choice. Throw in the will-they-or-won't-they tension, and this book certainly kept the pages turning."

So I hope that tempts you to at least click on the link and consider buying "Daddy" as well as my other titles with Phaze, which are erotic comedies, and I cannot stress the word "comedy" enough. In fact, I stumbled upon a recent review of my first book for Phaze, Three Days in New York City, and I wanted to share it here because it really made me feel great:

"Three Days In New York City (a book review, sorta)
September 28, 2009

A few years ago I came accross this book called Three Days In New York City by Robin Slick. I read a review in a blog I frequented regularly and it sounded interesting so I thought I’d give it a try. You see the blogger talked about how funny and quick witted the book was.

Oh sure! Don’t get me wrong! It mentioned other stuff but what drew me in was the fact that the reviewer/blogger mentioned how he hadn’t laughed so hard yadda yadda… how funny it was, etc etc.

That is what drew me to it. Not the “other stuff.” The funny stuff.

The day my book order came in was a day that my boys had baseball practice.

“Yay,” I thought! “Now I have reading material for the two hours that we are gonna be stuck at practice.”

So there I go! I got to practice and took my book out and started reading.

Page one umm… hu?

Page two: WHOA… whatta?

I was only able to read about a page and half. OK OK so maybe it was three. It was then that I realized I had to stop reading it.

IMMEDIATELY!

I was shocked at the content.

Don’t get me wrong. It turned out to be a very funny book but…

well….

you’re gonna think I’m a dumb ass..

and I should have known better..

Don’t judge me! I’d never read this “type” of book.

I mean, I could sort of imagine… but I guess I really didn’t know…

It’s labeled EROTICA.

And yes, while I know what the word means, I guess I didn’t really “KNOW” what the word meant?

Yes, I can be slow like that. I’d never read erotica before and didn’t really know what to expect. Well, ok maybe I just figured it would have a passionate kiss here and there and maybe a description of a nipple being perky or a private part tingling with anticipation. But I wasn’t exactly figuring it was gonna be how it was.

The book starts off with phone sex while she’s on public transportation on her way to meet her lover at a hotel in New York City while wearing a short skirt with no panties, per HIS request. And by phone sex, I mean VERY EXPLICIT phone sex.

Ummm yeah. Definitely feeling “funny” but not funny-ha-ha. Feeling a little bit more like “funny, I never expected THIS!”

So anyways, after reading a little bit my face started to feel a little flushed. I looked up and felt like all the other baseball moms were staring at me. With INDIGNATION!

Oh my GOD! Did they KNOW?

Can they read my thoughts as I’m reading?

Can they tell that my heart is racing?

Can they feel my sweaty palms?

Did I accidentally mouth the words as I was reading?

Or worse…. did they have Three Days In New York City at home?

Did they recognize the cover?

Are they judging me thinking, ”BAD MOM, reading that smut while at at her kids baseball practice? I mean, what kind of mother does that?”

The crack-ho/nynpho kind, that’s what.

– So I very discreetly put the book back IN my purse, looked around to see if anybody had been able to read my thoughts.

*If I was Catholic I would have quickly recited ten hail Mary’s(is that what they call it?)

DAMN.

I can’t even remember what those prayers are called. Not that it matters since I’m not Catholic, so even if I did know what it was called and how to recite them, the Catholic God would look down at me from heaven and say, “Nice try, Twinkie, but you’re not fooling anyone!”

Bad Twinkie! Erotica is the devil~

That evening I went home, made dinner and did all that other motherly/wifely stuff, then once everyone was in bed, I finished the book. Devoured it, really.

I was like a perv in a brothel.

Don’t judge me! To my defense, like I said, not only is it “EROTICA” but it’s really funny too.

The book follows a sexual escapade between a married almost 40 year old American woman going through a sort of mid-life crisis empty nest syndrome. She’s bored with her corporate job. Regrets not following her dreams as an artist and decides to take a cyber-office romance with an overconfident, freaky Brit to the next level.

What ends up happening between this unfullfilled but very vanilla American will make you laugh out loud till your stomach hurts.

It was a short and very easy read.

Since then? Erotica became my very own guilty pleasure.

Don’t worry though. I’ve learned my lesson. From now on, if the cover has certain key words like sex, erotic, for dirty crack ho nympho’s only, etc on it, I will NOT take it to my kids practice. In fact? I will ONLY read it in the privacy of my bedroom. With the door shut."

Ha! I really do love that review. And you should know that there is a sequel to Three Days, called Another Bite of the Apple, and a third book, which is tentatively scheduled for release December 7 ASSUMING I EVER FINISH MY EDITS ARGHH, called Bitten to the Core...and you can purchase them at Amazon or directly from my publisher, right here.

Oh wow, there's something else I'd better mention! I'm doing two readings, one in Philadelphia on November 5 and one in New York on November 7! Here's the details...

As advertised on author Greg Olear's Facebook page:

"The Totally Killer Book Tour / Philadelphia
Let's get ready to mumble!
Host:
TOTALLY KILLER by Greg Olear
Date:
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Time:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:
Moonstone Arts Center
Street:
110A S. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA

"I'll be in the City of Brotherly Love as part of The Nervous Breakdown's Literary Experience, the traveling roadshow of the web's premier address for creative nonfiction.

Joining me on stage:

-- ROBIN SLICK, author of "Daddy Left Me Alone With God," and mother to two-thirds of the Adrian Belew Power Trio

-- J.E. FISHMAN, co-author of "Life is a Series of Presentations" and writer of the mystery "Mr. Gloom and Pollyanna Fight to the Death," soon to appear in serialized form on TNB

and

-- ELIZABETH COLLINS, my fellow Madison High School alum, the event's hostess and organizer, winner of the Columbia University Nonfiction Prize and the Best Essay of Literary Nonfiction at UNI's Critical Writing Conference, finalist for The Missouri Review's Nonfiction Award, and author of several YA novels."

And regarding my New York reading on November 7, I'll be at Barbes in Brooklyn as part of Dime Stories, reading my piece, Picnic, which, as you can see, was previously published in the absolutely fabulous Smokelong Quarterly.

Finally, November 1 begins my yearly ritual of National Novel Writing Month, where I will attempt a 50,000 word novel in thirty days. Hey, trust me, after being on tour all summer/fall with the trio, I have more material than I know what to do with.

Muhahahahahaha...

Hey, if I don't get back here tomorrow, Happy Halloween, everyone. I know I promised a restaurant/foodie heaven review of the tour, and yes, I will post links to all the great photographers I've mentioned above; I've got some great film footage as well...stay tuned. But for now...gah...my edits await and playtime is over.

Later,
xo