Chris Harford Band of Changes with Eric Slick on drums

...and that would be with a backing band of Ween -- Gene and Dean Ween on keyboard and guitar respectively, Dave Dreiwitz on bass, and former Particle guitarist Scott Metzger.

This You Tube is from the NPR/World Cafe Live show on December 8, 2006.

You can listen to the rest of the concert, which includes the hauntingly beautiful "What We Do Not Know" and "Teach Me", right here.

Ahh...I love waking up to presents like this.

Later,
xo

The Awesome Writer Post

The beautiful Hyatt Hotel, where I'll be attending a book convention and signing in three weeks

So since there is a rare lull in music news in the Slick household and it's suddenly occurred to me that I'll be traveling across the country in a few weeks to party, network, sell and sign books with authors and fans from literally all over the world for five crazy, fun-filled days here, I thought I would point out a few authors who are really, really special and talented and make my soul rise. But before I do that, oh god, I just realized that because we are assigned alphabeticallly to "signing tables" at the book fair, I will be sitting next to the infamous Christina Skye. She's a most interesting woman with thousands and thousands of fans so while people snake in long lines for her autograph, I can only hope I pick up her overflow. Note to self: Buy lots of chocolate to hand out. I'm serious. Christina is terrific and it's kind of humbling to watch her fans approach her one by one, some unable to speak because they're so choked up over the profound effect her books have had on them. Cool, huh?

Anyway, back to some friends of mine.

First of all, I make no secret that I'm a big Theresa Boyer fan and I was thrilled to nominate her brilliant story, Waxing Razal for the Million Writers Award. Seriously. Read that story and learn from a master. Or mistress. Ha. Whatever.

Also, had she not already been nominated, I would have also put in a vote for Kat Denza and her incredible piece, Snake Dreams. Another must read and I see it was the lst runner up in the Storyglossia Fiction Prize, 2006.

Another amazing story comes courtesy of Richard Grayson entitled La Difficulte d'Etre. After you read Richard's short story, click on the link to his bio where I guarantee you will be completely spellbound.

Some of my pals have been interviewed lately as well.

Author Kelly Spitzer interviews Dave Clapper.

Dave is the editor/founder of Smokelong Quarterly, which, as I've said on many occasions, is probably one of the finest 'zines out there, along with Juked. Both Dave and John Wang, editor of Juked, have an incredible eye for literature and can tell the difference between talent and "unstructured, ungrammatical, airheaded shit". (I'm quoting a friend who shall remain nameless because he threatened to kill me if I mention him in my blog. Just kidding...but he knows I love his lines and steal them whenever I can)

While you are on Kelly's website, please also read her sparkling conversations with four of my other favorite writers -- here are the links:

Interview with Ellen Meister;

Interview with Alicia Gifford;

Interview with Kathy Fish;

Interview with Mary Akers.

These are not only brilliant women but extremely classy ones -- people who neither flaunt their talent nor whine about themselves or the publishing world -- they are graceful, lovely people and it's a joy to know them and read their work.

Also interviewed this month is my usual favorite suspect, Susan Henderson, who gives us yet more insight into her incredible mind over at Insolent Rudder, and while I was lifting that link, I saw that the insanely fabulous Jeff Landon is the author spotlight this quarter and let me tell you, that is one funny man and one hell of a terrific writer. I strongly suggest you google him, as well as the others mentioned like Alicia Gifford, Kathy Fish et al and read a lot of their work. You'll not only have a wonderful read but again, you may even learn something.

I know I've left some people out -- take a look at my reading recommendations on the right hand side, for one thing -- but it's early and I've got to fly for now -- so there will definitely be "The Awesome Writer Post - Part II" coming your way in the very near future. Count on it!

Later,
xo

No more chocolate Jesus -- it's all schmaltz anyway

Photo of the band taken by Gary Slick on Friday, March 30 at the Black Lodge

There's Eric Slick on drums/percussion (which included everything from a ladder to PVC pipe to pieces of sheet metal), Elliott Levin on sax...and the names of the rest of the band members are listed in the below review, which, naturally, gave me the chills:

"ELLIOTT LEVIN and The Black Lodge Ensemble

Finally, and with great effort, The Black Lodge has a working ensemble.

The purpose of this working group is to develop original material, perform with special guests and to go where no band has gone before. The first fruits of this project were performed onstage Friday night with Elliott Levin.

Elliott Levin is a Philadelphia native, published author and renowned performer on saxophone, flute and spoken word. Elliott has performed throughout the US and the world with many groups, including: Cecil Taylor’s Unit Core Ensemble, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Scram!, New Ghosts, Atzilut (Fourth World) and Talking Free Bebop.

Elliott graciously joined our project approximately one month ago
at the request of Eric Slick. We then did a series of live improvised radio broadcasts from the studios of wdcdradio. These included solo performances and ensemble improvisations with Rock School students alumni and quests.

This workshop stressed improvisation, extended technique in all instruments as well as the use magnetic tape loops and pre-recorder Reel to Reel tape and studio as instrument applications to live performance.

Friday night’s performance was a seamless forty-five minute exploration of avant-free form music, delivered with energy, wisdom, humor and confidence. A mesmerized crowd of mostly students (about time!) and guests cheered Elliott and company to The Black Lodges first ever encore.

Hands Down, the best performance I have ever seen in The Black Lodge.

For this project The Black Lodge Ensemble was:

Elliott Levin – Saxophone, Flute, Spoken Word
Eric Slick – Drums, Percussion, Sheet Metal, Ladder, Organ
Dylan McConnell – Bass, Guitar, Tape Loops, Keyboards, Magnetic Tape
Dominic Angelella – Guitar, Percussion
Daniel Nitz – Guitar, Water Bottle, Percussion
Gina Gleeson – Guitar
Foster Longo – Keyboards, Prophet 5

The Black Lodge Ensemble’s next project will a be:

THREE COMPOSITIONS

Works by Dylan McConnell, Eric Slick, wdcdradio

Anyone interested in joining The Black Lodge Ensemble need only an open mind.

BLACK LODGE PRODUCTIONS
blacklodgeprod@yahoo.com

WDCD RADIO
wdcdradio@att.net"

For more reviews of the show including those of the other bands that performed, visit this link.
********
Yeah, that performance was really something and so is the new Rock School -- Dylan McConnell is not only the Philly music director he's the national Art Director for the school as well -- and he did an amazing job on both the exterior and interior of the building. It was totally cool to learn that the new, improved location has even a better vibe than the first school at 13th and Race. It even has that music "smell"...like, when you go to a music store or CD store or a venue where musicians are playing...I can't explain it, it's intangible. As far as visually, Dylan blew up Thom Lessner posters and other photos of Rock School shows and decoupaged them to the walls to make this simply amazing wallpaper which. I admit it, I'm going to steal the idea and do the same in my own hallway which means that when you come over my house now, you won't have to worry about banging into all of the paintings I currently have crammed and hanging everywhere in that narrow space. My mind has been boggling with the possibilities all weekend - besides owning several of Thom Lessner's posters myself, I can blow up huge black and white posters of photographs Gary and I took of Julie and Eric playing with everyone from Adrian Belew to Eddie Vedder to Jon Anderson, Ann Wilson, blah blah blah. I am psyched!

Here's one of the early Lessner posters from a Rock School show and I'm going to have to double check with the kiddies on this but I do believe that is a drawing of both Julie and Eric on either side of Zappa great Napoleon Murphy Brock, back in the day when they were like two of only twenty All-Stars nationwide.



Ah, time flies. That poster is at least 3-4 years old...Julie "graduated" Rock School in 2004 and I think that's the last time Eric wore his hair that short and he used to wear glasses...
*****
So in other news, for two straight years I was the victim of an April Fool's joke after managing to go my whole life without ever being tricked. Last year as you may know, I was totally bamboozled by Howard Glassman, who allegedly digested the "compleat works of Neil Gaiman" and Sue Henderson was not only fooled as well, she went after him for an interview and I was so jealous I hadn't thought of that first!

Anyway, this year's blockbuster Let's See What An Idiot Robin Is and How Easy She is to Fool came courtesy of a good pal who knew about that writer who rankles me (big surprise, she rankles her, too), read the comment I had in my last post about yet another writer who wanted to smack that person with the flat side of a shovel, and she sent me an email which was a fake copy of a Publishers Marketplace announcement of a huge book deal for said shovel in the face recipient. I almost hurled my breakfast -- she totally fooled me -- but then, being the masochist I am, I went to Publishers Marketplace to see for myself and couldn't find it anywhere -- so then I did an actual deal search -- came up empty again -- and in a flash realized what day it was. I admit it - I'm usually thrilled about people I know getting book deals but this one had me sitting groaning with my head in my hands. I did get back at my friend, though...I know she's a saint, a really good person, but along with that heart of gold she suffers from tremendous guilt so I wrote back to her "Oh no. I want to kill myself. I just had to take a second blood pressure pill." And the poor gal got alarmed that I over-medicated myself because of her prank because as I figured, she had no idea that you can't arbitrarily double your blood pressure medication, which is why I didn't write back "You made me drink a Bloody Mary at 10:00 a.m." instead.

Then of course I sent her joke off to two other writers, both of whom were fooled as well, but now I'm nervous one of them took me seriously because he didn't write back and I just hope he's not swinging from the rafters in his attic right now.

I'll tell you what else really made me laugh. This:



That would be Chocolate Jesus, brilliantly named "My Sweet Lord", sculpted by artist Cosimo Cavallaro, which was to have been displayed from Monday at Manhattan's Lab Gallery. But apparently, the lovely Christian right wing had a problem with this and as usual, fucked everything up.

"The Lab gallery's artistic director, Matt Semler, has offered his resignation, saying the decision to cancel the exhibition was a result of "strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show, seen what we're doing."

Yeah, no shit. It's the typical behavior I've come to expect from those right wing morons -- and woo hoo, these are the people currently running our country.

To read the rest of the article, click here (the BBC News version since I wouldn't dare post the Fox news version of this debacle).

And so to wrap up this post nicely, I think, I offer you the following:



Chocolate Jesus
Song and Lyrics by Tom Waits

Dont go to church on sunday
Dont get on my knees to pray
Dont memorize the books of the bible
I got my own special way
Bit I know jesus loves me
Maybe just a little bit more

I fall on my knees every sunday
At zerelda lees candy store

Well its got to be a chocolate jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate jesus
Keep me satisfied

Well I dont want no anna zabba
Dont want no almond joy
There aint nothing better
Suitable for this boy
Well its the only thing
That can pick me up
Better than a cup of gold
See only a chocolate jesus
Can satisfy my soul

(solo)
When the weather gets rough
And its whiskey in the shade
Its best to wrap your savior
Up in cellophane
He flows like the big muddy
But thats ok
Pour him over ice cream
For a nice parfait

Well its got to be a chocolate jesus
Good enough for me
Got to be a chocolate jesus
Good enough for me

Well its got to be a chocolate jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate jesus
Keep me satisfied
********
By the way, Passover begins this evening at sundown. Have I mentioned my Christian husband makes the absolute best chicken matzoh ball soup in the universe? Unfortunately, I forgot what today was and we've already got a pork tenderloin marinating in the refrigerator for tonight's dinner which is kind of funny. But you all know how I feel about religion -- I wish it would go away -- but the food, man, I'm all about that for sure. So I'll probably have back to back meals this weekend of my aforesaid soup on Saturday followed by a honey glazed ham and chocolate bunnies on Sunday.

Sad but true: Last week Gary's mother gave us a box of matzoh an elderly neighbor bought her -- her neighbor mistakenly thought they were like Saltines and Gary's mom actually thought we could make matzoh balls out of them.

Gary also makes the best fried matzo so all was not lost. And yay, even Eric ate some because it was vegetarian. Ha ha - he should only know how my grandmother made it - with schmaltz. In fact, if I ever describe schmaltz to him, he'll probably throw up, especially if I tell him we had it in a mayonnaise jar in the refrigerator at all times when I was growing up and my parents used it like butter...

Memories. Oy.

Later,
xo

Odds and Sods for Friday, March 30

The only thing creepier than the actual man is his impersonator...

Ugh. So I read in Rolling Stone that Bono was knighted yesterday.

This calls for another excerpt from "Daddy Left Me Alone With God", my highly touted but as yet unpublished newest novel har har:

Once I said those words, I realized they were true, spoken from the depths of my deeply damaged heart, and at that moment I really did feel like vomiting.

“Ouch,” Mick said.

“I’m horrible, aren’t I? I’m a wicked fucking witch. That was a dreadful thing to tell you. If I believed in hell, I’d say I was going to burn in it though in my own personal version I’ll probably be stuck in a Wal-Mart for eternity being forced to listen to U2 CDs twenty-four/seven.”

Mick laughed. “And she’s funny, too. What have you got against U2, anyway? Bono’s a nice chap. He does lots of brilliant work for charities and suchlike.”

“I know, I know. But it’s his voice, you see. He somehow manages to both moan and sound arrogant at the same time. It’s quite extraordinary, really -- worse than chalk on a blackboard. And as for Edge – has there ever existed a more one dimensional guitarist?”

Hmmm...I need to change "chalk on a blackboard" - I can't believe I used a cliche and didn't catch that on one of my million read through/edits.



Err...speaking of "God", Happy birthday Eric. Holy shit, he's sixty-two today. I can't handle that.


Hey, EC, in surfing through Google images for a good photo, I have to tell you -- you need to take a page from Neil Gaiman's book and grow your hair long again because: (a) You look younger with long hair; (b) The hair you are currently sporting makes you look too much like an old fart American jazz musician from the fifties. So that's why I posted the above and not one of your current pics.

See what I mean? Oh, and for more on Gaiman, visit LitPark today for some very cool photos and comments where I am encouraged by Nathalie, who met Neil in Paris last week, to write a short story entitled "I Want to Be Neil Gaiman's Pussy".

Well, as you can see by my remarks there, it was my idea - she just wants me to act on it.

And Nathalie, thanks for the link to your photos, but if you must know, Sue and I found them on Monday and we've been stalking your blog all week. I'm afraid I didn't pay attention to your warning that "The copyright for all pictures (photos and ePaintings) in this blog is mine unless otherwise specified. Consider yourselves warned." because I figured you wouldn't mind if I lifted a few for my own, err, personal use. But I promise to give you credit. Hey, everyone - that pic I posted on Wednesday of Neil in Paris? That was taken by Nathalie!

Susan has really created an amazing oasis for writers at her site and I've made some great friends over there, but as in any large group, there always has to be someone who rankles me and I was joking about this person with another author who not only agreed with me, he gave me what had to be one of the best lines of 2007 and made me literally spit out my morning coffee:

"I have history with Ms. X. I'll tell you some time. Leave us say only at this point that I am not a violent person but I would willingly do six months on a chain gang for the pleasure of smacking her in the face witb the flat side of a shovel."

Oh god, I need to steal that line. And now you all know I'm not as nice as Sue, who has a heart of gold and a high tolerance level for fools. She truly is my hero.



Finally, in other, kinder, gentler news, just a reminder about my son's show tonight -- which I'm really looking forward to because it's an atypical jazz fusion jam and I just realized as I was about to name the musicians involved that we have three D's and 2 E's -- Dan, Dom, and Dylan on guitars and bass respectively and Elliott and Eric on sax and drums. They're the headliners so even though the doors open at 8:00 and the show starts at 8:30, they most likely won't go on until at least 9:00 but I'm not sure -- anyway, get there early because the other acts on the bill look interesting, especially those featuring Matt H and Nero, who are both incredibly gifted musicians.

BLACK LODGE PRODUCTIONS
presents

ELLIOTT LEVIN - 'flautist-sax-ist-spoken-word-ist' extraodinaire backed by the dynamic duo Eric Slick and dmc*...special surprise guests, too!

CETUS - Avant Metal from the Gutter fronted by Rock School graduates Nick and Matt H. You saw Matt H peel the paint off the walls last month, now see him thrash this place fo real!

The Trio Nero - instrumental excursions into the heart of darkness starring our own Nero Catalano.

Women - Bill Rooney is the Man, The Musical!

m*callen - secret solo project (guitars, wailing, laughter, etc)

Friday March 30 8pm @ The Black Lodge
1508 Brandywine st.
$2 admission records & cds for sale!
*********
So that's it for today, I think, but you never know. Now. I'm off to read through my novel yet again in search of any more dreaded cliches.

Oy.

Later,
xo

Two Garys, Two Daryls, and a Gaiman in Paris...

Hey, thanks to my pal Mike Grosvenor from Zoetrope Studios who flew on Delta airlines, read Sky West magazine which is distributed on all of their flights going out west, and noticed an article about Paul Green School of Rock Music which mentions its two most famous graduates to date, Adrian Belew Power Trio's Julie and Eric Slick which he lifted off the plane and snail mailed to me. Yay! Another one for the old scrapbook.

Okay, I don't keep a scrapbook but I should, huh. But hey, that's what this blog is for -- otherwise I would have abandoned it long ago.

So yesterday I had jury duty where I wasted an entire day because I didn't get picked -- I knew that was going to happen for a number of reasons -- but since I was assigned to a criminal trial with a pool of sixty jurors, each one of us had to be interviewed individually and I was at the end of the list. It truly sucked.

Luckily I had a judge who let me say more than yes or no when he questioned me and since the case involved a hand gun, I was allowed to tell him how I thought there should be zero tolerance and they should be illegal and I'm pretty passionate about it so the defense attorney was practically on his feet screaming like Get her out of here before I even left the room while he and the prosecuting attorney deliberated.

One funny thing did happen. When I was dismissed, I was given instructions to return to the juror waiting room, where, if you can believe this, I might have been subjected to another trial but as it turns out, I was the only one left and all they wanted me for was to give me my huge $9.00 check for "serving". Anyway, this guy comes over to me and says "Robin Slick?" and I'm like "Yeah", thinking he's going to give me my money so I can get the hell out of there, and then he says "Um, don't think me forward for asking you this, but would you happen to be related to Gary Slick?"

"Well, yeah, he's my husband."

The guy does a double take, makes kind of an angry face, and stares at me like it's not possible. Here, my usual first thoughts would be (1) he knows Gary from his guitar playing days; (2) He knows Gary because I write about him; or, (3) he knows Gary is father to rock star extraordinaires Julie and Eric Slick.

Nuh-uh.

And then, as I witnessed the range of not so pleasant emotions cross over this guys face, I realized what it was. My Gary has a distant cousin who isn't really a cousin - it's a step-cousin by marriage thing -- with the same exact name, only this Gary Slick did time for grand theft auto, robbing a Seven/Eleven -- you name it and it's against the law, he's done it.

"I'm his parole officer," he said to me.

Yup.

"He skipped out on me and has the audacity to call me from wherever he is and taunt me. But we'll get him."

"Err...well, I never met him; he's not even really related, but I guess I'd better mention to my husband that there's an all points bulletin out for someone with his same name."

And then would you believe I launched into a whole explanation of who my Gary really was, including husband of novelist Robin Slick (har har), distant cousin to Grace, father of 2/3 of the Adrian Belew trio -- and this guy stared at me like I was from Mars because like, what the hell did Robin Slick write, who the hell is Grace Slick, and Adrian who?

All he was interested in was catching his criminal and I came off like some crazy broad.

Sigh...nothing new about that.

The only good thing about being sent down to the waiting room was that they had big screen televisions (yeah, I know - our tax dollars at work) and there was a rerun of Monday's Entertainment Tonight on and what do you know, they made a huge deal out of showing Neil Gaiman's Stardust trailer except instead of on a small computer monitor, I got to see the whole thing on big screen. Oh my god, it looks amazing. Clare Danes, Sienna Miller, and Michelle Pfeiffer have got to be the three most gorgeous actresses out there and they are perfectly cast - the costumes and setting are to die for. It's been a long time since I've been anxious to see any new "blockbuster" but woo hoo, for this one, I may even do an opening nighter.

Speaking of gorgeous...sigh...Neil last week in Paris:



That's for newly signed author, Susan Henderson, who has an incredibly interesting interview up on LitPark today, and said interviewee just happens to be a friend of mine, Daryl Darko. Okay, that's not really his name, but read Sue's interview and you'll see how he came to use it. When I say "two Daryls" in the heading of this post, it refers to the fact that Daryl is bi-polar and has two distinct personalities which are totally fascinating.

And yeah, I'll take credit for this because I met Daryl through my blog during the Adrian Belew west coast tour -- he saw the band, took these awesome photos, and then when he mentioned to me in an email that he wanted to attend the show the following night and take more pictures, I got him on the guest list and a beautiful friendship was born. And when I found out he was an aspiring writer, I sent him to LitPark...and I suspect he won the Neil Gaiman picture contest because he reads my blog and Susan's and actually pays attention to what we write and knew about our fan girl crushes on Neil.

Sooo...that's this morning's news...I may post some other cool stuff this afternoon when I am more coherent.

Later,
xo

Goosebump Time

Crescent Moon, featuring Dave Dreiwitz on bass and Eric Slick on drums, performing Saturday night at Luna Lounge in New York

Eric and Dave got a nice review of their show in the Jersey Beat:

"...Crescent Moon turned out to be my old buddy Dave Dreiwitz, one of the most talented and innovative bassists in the history of NJ indie rock; his credits include Tiny Lights, his own two/man bass/drums nerdcore band Instant Death (who were HUGE in New Brunswick for many years,) and of course a long stint in Ween. Like Instant Death, Crescent Moon is a drums/bass duo, but more sincere indie-rock, not that goofy arch pseudo-metal stuff. Dave told me that his 19-year old drummer was a prodigy who also plays in the Adrian Belew Trio, but when the kid started clanging the cowbell for a particularly funky tune, Crescent Moon just sounded like great rock n' roll. Dave's bass is so dynamic and versatile that he can mimic guitar leads and power chords as well as providing a grooving funky bottom. This is definitely an act you have to check out."

And there were some nice blurbs on the Ween forum board:

"Eric Slick will be the featured drummer with Crescent Moon

That kid is a motherfucking great drummer.

Reply
This show ruled.

Crescent Moon Rules. Dave rocked monsterously hard. Eric Slick ate 3 Marshmellow Pies before the show and played fast fills on request. Greg D was badass. Some of his songs I thought should never end. Props to ryan for keeping the bouncy beat throughout the whole Greg D set. Great night out!

Reply
I expected Crescent Moon to be really good when I saw them about a year ago. I was wrong. They were really really really fucking good. I mean I know Dave is great and all, but holy shit. That man packs quite a bit of rock."
*****

So that was cool, and then I wandered over to Adrian's blog and saw this:

"Yesterday was a good day.
Saul Zonana* and his wife Nicole are visiting.

He and I spent 5 hours digging through the hard drive containing the Power Trio performances earmarked to be Side 4.

By five o'clock we were listening to rough mixes of Dayton and Newport. The rough mixes were unadorned, raw as sushi, but they sounded powerful, charged with energy.

Wow! Eric and Julie are just awesome!

Finally I can hear them without being preoccupied dancing on a pedalboard while singing in one time signature and playing in another. We have a beautiful trio portrait done by Mark Colman and I've begun designing the artwork, so now I can rest assured we have a Live Side 4 on the burner.

*some of you may remember Saul Zonana as our opening act or you might just have his record I was part of 42 days (a good idea). Saul has been listening since the inception of the mike and mike trio and throughout the growth of this awesome trio with Eric and Julie. I can't think of a better person to partner with for the mixing of this, my first live solo record."
*****
I'm sorry...every time I read that I get the chills. I mean, I knew they recorded Side 4 Live but between the band going on a short hiatus this spring so that Julie can graduate college and the flurry of excitement associated with The Bears new release, it sort of became a dream where you ask yourself Did this really happen? And naturally Gary was just thinking about Saul and was going to call him -- they really had a blast together during the two week west coast tour in November.

So yeah, all is fabulous in this household right now. Eric is still flying from Saturday night's gig and is really, really looking forward to his jazz show this Friday night with sax great Elliott Levin...I'll post show info and links again toward the end of this week.
******
Writing news:

So Sue Henderson fills us in with the details of her book deal today, but here's the announcement as it appeared over at Publishers Marketplace:

"23 March, 2007
Children's:Young Adult
Susan Henderson's TAP ROOT, a coming-of-age novel set in the 1970s about a young girl who believes her mother has gone missing and, after finding her living in a secret room in their basement, must come to terms with their irrevocably changed relationship, to Regina Scarpa at St. Martin's for publication as a Griffin trade paperback original.
regina.scarpa@hbpub.com"

That is so freaking cool!

And hey, I got some pretty good news myself. More and more mainstream and independent bookstores are carrying Three Days in New York City, and I received a snail mail letter on Saturday which says:

"Dear Robin: We have reviewed Three Days in New York City and would like you to join us in displaying your book in our bookstore cafe. We are delighted to have you as one of our great authors.

...At this time, we request that you send ten newly printed copies of Three Days in New York City available for display and purchase in our bookstore cafe, which will open for business summer of 2007."

Anyway, this is a new indie store located in Chicago and I'm really, really excited. Now let's hope they schedule a reading! But getting that letter made me realize something: I miss snail mail! As much as I love the excitement of a good email, there's nothing like reading good news in print...which is the same way I feel about my books.

Speaking of which...is Daddy Left Me Alone with God actually finished? Have all of the revisions and rewrites at last turned it into the book I've waited my entire life to write? Ha ha - finally, Agent Kate. Stay tuned...

Later,
xo

Extra, Extra, Read All About It

Eric's new Paiste cymbals are just too awesome, aren't they? Photo by Gary Slick taken last month at the Belew Power Trio show in Dayton, Ohio.

Okay, the cat's out of the bag -- the author who scored the deal with her brilliant debut novel is the one and only Susan Henderson. Not only that, it's her birthday on Sunday. As I just told Sue, not only is she a remarkably talented writer, I really do believe karma played a role in her successs - she is one of the most unselfish people I've ever met -- a tireless advocate for other authors -- and if you are a regular visitor to her above linked website, LitPark, you are already aware of that and are as thrilled for Susan as I am.

So congratulations and Happy Birthday, Sue!

In other writing news, thanks to another incredibly gifted writer and die-hard Zappa fan, Theresa Boyar, for linking my blog entry containing the Cosmik Debris You Tube with son Eric on drums, Ike Willis on vocals, and Tim Palmieri of The Breakfast on lead guitar. In reading Theresa's post, she also mentions that it's nomination time again for the Story South Million Writers Award for best fiction published on line during 2006. I took a look at the nominees so far and was thrilled to see that one of my personal favorites, Snake Dreams by Katrina Denza has already been nominated at least twice. Like Theresa, I take these awards very seriously and am currently seeking out my favorite writers to see if they have anything over 1,000 words published last year which would qualify. Right off the top of my head, if Theresa, Myfanwy Collins, Jordan Rosenfeld, or Kathy Fish, who is too modest/humble to have a website even though she's got a book coming out herself chock full of her brilliant flash fiction are eligible, I will be nominating them later today.

I was also slightly amused to see that there were authors who actually nominated themselves. Oy. If you are one of those writers, see my comment about Susan above and learn. But not before you self-flagellate yourself first, you egomaniacs, you. Ha!

Nah, no one that narcissistic visits my blog. You guys are all so cool it's ridiculous.

And now for the exciting music news I know you've all been waiting for. While I obviously have already known about this for weeks, I was waiting for the powers in charge to announce it, and now that I see that Mike Keneally, guitarist extraordinaire, has it on all of his websites as well as his newsletter which I've cut and pasted below, I guess it's okay to blab it to the world:

"KENEALLY TRIO @ PAUL GREEN SCHOOL OF ROCK FESTIVAL
With WEEN, ADRIAN BELEW AND BENEVENTO/RUSSO DUO

The location of the Paul Green School of Rock Festival on June 23 and 24 is Asbury Park, NJ. Still don't know the venue. Again, we're (we being me, Bryan Beller and Eric Slick) playing on the 24th, on a bill being headlined by Ween, and also including Adrian Belew and the Benevento/Russo Duo, as well as the School of Rock All-Stars. A thoroughly fantastic day of music! Can't wait. As usual, more details soon."

Okay, here's what I do know. Yep, Eric will be kicking off the Sunday, June 24, 2007 portion of the festival in the afternoon sitting in on drums with the brilliant Mr. Keneally and the equally brilliant Bryan Beller on bass, followed by a performance by...yay!...the Adrian Belew Power Trio featuring Eric on drums again and Ms. Julie Slick on bass. So basically my son gets to play three hours straight with two of the best guitarists in the world - both Zappa alumni. How freaking cool is that? And yep, their performances will be followed by Benevento/Russo, Ween, and the School of Rock All-Stars with a "special guest"...don't know who that is but you can bet it's going to be someone awesome. I'll be posting his/her identity here as soon as I know. Also, this is just a wild guess, but I'm thinking that the venue is either Asbury Lanes or the adjoining Baronet Theater. However, both locations are one block from the boardwalk/beach, so whether this will be an outdoor event I have no idea...though it would seem to me that with unpredictable weather, it would be more prudent to have the big acts play indoors but again, I will let you know as soon as I have official word.

But can you imagine that? All of those amazing bands playing together in one day? I haven't seen the Saturday line-up -- I can't wait to find out who it is but trust me, it's going to be equally incredible.

Also, I believe this Asbury Park appearance will kick off at least part of the Belew Trio summer tour -- perhaps an east coast swing but I really have no idea -- and the release of Side 4 Live. Stay tuned...

Okay then. Back to work for me. I am concurrently working on several projects, all pretty damn exciting...and again, I'll share the details as soon as I am able.

Later,
xo

Yeah, yeah, I know...I've gone missing again

Eric, with nerd glasses and bass...yeah, he plays that, too

So yeah, yeah, I didn't blog all week because I am concentrating on my novel and something new and all kinds of stuff, really, while J&E are on hiatus from touring. I've gotten so used to being "exciting" that if I don't have anything cool to say, I'd rather say nothing at all.

But suddenly things have gotten very cool.

Just a tease -- someone who is a regular "feature" on my blog has sold her novel to one of the major publishing houses...she's announced it over at Publishers Marketplace today but will make it official either tomorrow or soon after I should think.

Oh, and before I forget -- Eric will NOT be at the North Star this Saturday night because the Crescent Moon show at the Luna Lounge in NYC has been pushed up to 8:00 p.m. and there's no way in hell Eric can do the show and get back home to Philly in time to go on at 11:00 p.m. But the good news is, The Breakfast will be back at the North Star on May 3, and Eric will sit in with them then. Cool? Cool! But if you are in New York Saturday night and want to see a kick ass show featuring Eric on drums and Dave Dreiwitz of Ween on bass, then you really need to be at the Luna Lounge at 8:00 p.m.

I will be back later with more stuff -- I promise.

Later,
xo

How 'bout Some Breakfast?

So thank you to Dave at The Breakfast who enabled embedding on one of my all time favorite You Tubes -- Project Object performing Cosmik Debris with Eric on drums and special guest Tim Palmieri from the Breakfast on lead guitar. In fact, I love this You Tube so much I've made it a permanent feature on the right hand side here. Also note that I've added some new reading recommendations over there as well -- I highly suggest you check them out.

And why do I bring up The Breakfast? Because they'll be performing this Saturday night at the North Star Bar, and Eric's sitting in on two songs -- Cleetus Awreetus Awrightus by Zappa and Big Bottom by Spinal Tap. What's crazy is that Eric's only able to do this because The Breakfast isn't going on until 11:00 p.m. and they're playing two sets because at 7:30 p.m. that same evening, Eric's doing a short set with Dave Dreiwitz in New York City as follows, as per the Ween Forum Board:

Crescent Moon Live in Brooklyn March 24 (early show)

"Crescent Moon will be performing at the new Luna Lounge in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn...any folks coming in for the Gene een shows have something to do Saturday night...it's an early one:

7:30 Crescent Moon
8:30 Half Cleveland(w/chris butler ofr the waitresses)
930 Sounds of Greg D
10:30 Kapow
11:30 TK Webb

Eric Slick will be the featured drummer with Crescent Moon

The Luna Lounge 361 Metropolitan $8"

Reply:

"Crescent Moon! YAY!"

Reply: "Quote: Eric Slick will be the featured drummer with Crescent Moon"

"Sick."
*****

Yeah, so Eric's basically gonna play the gig with Dave in New York, immediately hop on Greyhound, and get to Philly just in time to jam with The Breakfast.

His kind of night! And yeah, yeah, his groupie parents (ha) will attend because thankfully the North Star is only six blocks away from our house. Yeah!

Eric's also got this coming up:



BLACK LODGE PRODUCTIONS
presents

ELLIOTT LEVIN - 'flautist-sax-ist-spoken-word-ist' extraodinaire backed by the dynamic duo Eric Slick and dmc*...special surprise guests, too!

CETUS - Avant Metal from the Gutter fronted by Rock School graduates Nick and Matt H. You saw Matt H peel the paint off the walls last month, now see him thrash this place fo real!

The Trio Nero - instrumental excursions into the heart of darkness starring our own Nero Catalano.

Women - Bill Rooney is the Man, The Musical!

m*callen - secret solo project (guitars, wailing, laughter, etc)

Friday March 30 8pm @ The Black Lodge
1508 Brandywine st.
$2 admission records & cds for sale!
*****
So that's the news in my son's world -- daughter Julie, thank God, takes a few finals this week and then goes on a belated Spring break where I hope to get in some quality time with her -- okay, what I really mean is that I really hope the two of us get to hit some cool new restaurants together but naturally the ridiculous has happened -- I got hit with jury duty again next Tuesday. That's twice in two years and absurd, especially since I'm automatically disqualified once they learn (again, for like the 5th time in five years) I'm not only a writer, I worked as a legal assistant for over two decades and know practically every lawyer in Philadelphia as well as having some definite opinions about the legal system, meaning, in civil cases I'm 100% pro Plaintiff and in criminal cases, man, if I think you ever even held a gun in your idiotic little hand and have the slightest feeling you would use it, well, let's just say you do not want me as your juror and I thought I made that perfectly clear to the judge the last time I was on the proposed juror stand...but oh well, this is what I get for being a registered voter in Philadelphia.

The worst part of the experience is that they are under the assumption that all prospective jurors are illiterate morons (well, they probably aren't too far from the truth) so they make you watch a film that tells you step by step how to answer each query on the juror questionnaire as if you can't read or write, and the last time...and this is completely awful...they had some one hundred year old, retired judge warm us up first by cracking some really lame and pointless jokes. It was like being in the audience at the Jerry Springer Show.

Or how I imagine that would be, anyway. Sigh...

So to save it from being a completely wasted day because trust me, I'm going to be left for eight hours to sit in the waiting room while others are assigned to trial, I'll print out a copy of what I hope is my finished novel and go over it again all day with a red pen and probably end up wishing I was in fact an eligible juror.

The only good news is that there are lots of great restaurants near the Criminal Justice Center and they do give you two hours for lunch, so Julie? Don't make any plans for next Tuesday afternoon.

Later,
xo

Top O'The Day...

Hey, I thought I'd celebrate St. Patrick's Day today with copious amounts of alcohol while watching You Tubes starring my son. And what better clip for today than Baba O'Riley? Featuring Eric on drums and the always incredible Katie Jacoby on violin -- LA Knitting Factory, January 2006.

Later,
xo