Hey, I know this is last minute, but if you are in the NYC area at 9:00 p.m. tonight, please go check out Cheers Elephant at the Parkside Lounge, 317 East Houston Street, NYC. Julie's boyfriend plays bass in the band, does vocals, writes a lot of the songs...they are just amazing and were recently compared by one reviewer to the Kinks.
Oh, and Ms. Julie Slick produced their new CD, which they will hopefully have available tonight at the show...and say Hi to Julie while you are there this evening - maybe she'll tell you about Side Four Live and the upcoming Adrian Belew Power Trio tour.
Yeah! Zappa Plays Zappa performing on Conan - October 30, 2007
Man, what a smoking version of Willie the Pimp.
I guess because I'm Eric Slick's mother and there's always this flame war crap going on over at the Zappa forum board about Zappa Plays Zappa vs the merits of Project Object and Eric Slick v ZPZ's Joe Travers on drums, I'm not allowed to love this or something because it would be disloyal...but Eric sure doesn't feel that way and neither does Andre Cholmondeley, P/O's fearless leader...this is good, good stuff and it's thrilling to watch. Ray White is fucking amazing, Dweezil rips on guitar, and anyone who says Joe Travers isn't a fantastic drummer isn't hearing the same music I am. Joe rules!
I am so pissed I missed them when they were in Philadelphia but I intend to rectify that mistake next time they are anywhere nearby.
Whew...what an awesome way to wake up this morning. I need to play that again. Give me a minute....
Ahhhhhhhh.
You know, I've probably said this before and one day I intend to tell you the whole damn story down to the very last detail, but it was through Eric Slick and Julie Slick that I came to love the music of Frank Zappa. I was a total music freak growing up but a Brit Rock/punk snob and thought Frank was "weird". Around ten years ago, they came home from their music lessons when they were about twelve years old and made me sit down and listen to his really deep stuff and even his more "accessible" tunes and I am now a diehard fan. That's just one of the many reasons I pinch myself daily to know that Adrian Belew (if there's anyone reading this who doesn't know, Frank Zappa gave Adrian his big break when he made him as his guitarist back in 1977) chose both Eric and Julie as his bandmates...a year and a half later and it still blows my mind.
And I know I've said this a few times this week, but if you are in the Asheville, N.C. area tonight, please catch Eric and Andre and Josh in the band Delicious tonight at Stella Blue Live.
Hey, speaking of Mr. Belew, by now I guess you've all seen Adrian's Blog, where yesterday he announced the impending release of Side Four Live, which of course features Eric on drums and Julie on bass: "the parts for side four (live) were sent to the pressing plant to begin the manufacture thereof.
in two weeks we will begin accepting orders. I'm told they will make lovely Christmas gifts..."
Yay! Heart be still!
Okay, that's it for now. I am going back to work on my novel for National Novel Writing Month...I am woefully behind my 2,000 word a day pace - I should have close to 4,000 words as of this morning and I only have 2,019 thus far which means I need to triple that amount by the time I go to bed tonight.
But before I go, I am being clobbered by Army Wife/Toddler Mom in the 2007 Best of Blog Awards...and we just can't have that. So as I instructed before, anyone can vote once a day until November 8 without registering any name, email address or anything...just click on the button that says "Robin Slick"...and here is the "voting booth".
Okay, there is only one week of voting for 2007 Web Blog Awards, Best Diarist and I need your help. Everyone can vote once a day from their computer, you don't have to register your name or email, all you have to do is click on the "Robin Slick In Her Own Write" button when you go to this page. If you could do this for me once a day for the next week until the polls close on November 8, you will have my undying gratitude.
I know, I know, I'm far too hip to be concerned with stuff like this but there you have it - the big secret is I am really a nerd.
Speaking of nerds, I have to make this quick -- I've had the migraine from hell the past two days which is an awful time to be participating in National Novel Writing Month but oh well, talk about dying for your art...
But before I go, I could not help but notice that my son has a mention in today's Citizen Times:
"Asheville’s Delicious makes a comeback New ingredients bring fresh life to psychedelic band by Michael Flynn, take5 correspondent published November 2, 2007 12:15 am
ASHEVILLE — Without a guitarist and drummer, longtime Asheville psychedelic rockers Delicious appeared to be cooked. That was a few months ago, before bassist and remaining member Josh Rosenstein met up with guitarist Andre Cholmondeley of the acclaimed Frank Zappa tribute Project Object.
Cholmondeley agreed to perform with Delicious and round up drummer Eric Slick, whose gigs include work with celebrated King Crimson guitarist Adrian Belew.
Suddenly, Delicious was back, with new ingredients but promising the same instrumental jams that have powered the trio through hundreds of shows since its formation about 10 years ago.
The new lineup hits the stage for the first time Saturday downstairs at Stella Blue, after an earlier show upstairs featuring metal kings Sanctity and several other bands. In advance of the show, Rosenstein talked about the band’s second life. Reformation
“I gave him a CD, and he called me back that night and was way into it,” Rosentein, 32, said about the Asheville encounter with Cholmondeley that led to the group’s rejuvenation. “I wasn’t into being the only original member of Delicious, but now I am really excited about it.” Satan’s jam band
“It will still be the same wall of sound with its quiet moments,” Rosenstein said about the band’s music, which draws on the heavy sounds of Black Sabbath and instrumental elements of Pink Floyd. “These guys are really into what Delicious was originally about.”
The shows will also improve, he said. “It will change for the better because everyone in the band is sober,” Rosenstein said in reference to a prior member’s substance problems that helped doom the previous lineup.
Showtime
With Slick living in Philadelphia and the other two players in Asheville, the new members will have jammed together only a few times before taking the stage downstairs at Stella Blue.
“It will be Delicious instrumentals and who knows,” Rosenstein said in anticipation of the spontaneity. “No waiting around — let’s just do it.” Instrumental trio
“There’s a lot of room — it’s real organic and free-flowing,” Rosenstein said about the benefits of performing instrumental music. “I’ve been doing it for so long, it seems natural.” Plus, as a trio, there’s more room in the van, and no prima donna lead singer.
“There’s no arrogant frontman taking up all of the time running his mouth,” he said with a laugh.
The future
Rosenstein said he looks forward to touring with the new lineup, as well as recording an album. “It’s going to be nothing but good for Delicious,” he said.
Michael Flynn writes for take5. E-mail him at mlflynn@email.unc.edu. Contact Michael Flynn at 828-232-2935, via e-mail at mlflynn@ashevill.gannett.com
I clicked on that link and was so thrilled! So thank you, Bonnie, for your kind selection and excellent taste...and now for my acceptance speech. I wish to thank the Academy, my family, my therapist...oh, I'm kidding...I don't have a therapist...I mean, I need a therapist, I'm sure most will agree, but nope, don't have one.
Yet.
Har har.
Anyway, they were kind enough to provide me with an award button, which I have posted on the right hand sidebar here.
Heart be still. It gets better. As if that excitement wasn't enough, this morning I came down to the news that yes, yes, yes, I'm one of ten finalists (out of like a gazillion nominated) in the 2007 Web Blog Awards, Diarist and voting will begin late tonight for the winners -- you know I will be posting a link for that as soon one appears on their site.
So why did I post a photograph of Eric and Gary instead of my stunning face? Because you know me, I got way more psyched when I discovered today that Eric, who is currently on tour with Delicious in Asheville, North Carolina, has updated his blog.
I was just laughing out loud reading it - Eric is hilarious. And ahem, genetically an excellent writer, for which I will take full credit.
And...look out...because Gary, former computer hater...wait...he still hates computers but he's reluctantly become a part of the "If I can't beat 'em, I'm gonna join 'em gang", has asked me to set up a blog of his own. Right not it's nothing more than a URL address but he will probably be posting within the next day or so and his "platform" (ha! to all of you writers out there who moaned out loud as soon as they read that word) will be something on the order of Rock Music 101. Gary is an extensive musicologist and has probably attended thousands of concerts in his lifetime...yes...his Mommy even took him to see the Beatles in 1966 when he was too young to go anywhere but the bathroom by himself and he not only has the original ticket stubs ($4.50! Four freaking dollars and fifty cents!) he has the actual program from the show, which was held at the now demolished JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.
But if I know my husband, he'll probably also rant from time to time about Republicans and yuppies as well because, he is, after all, my husband. So watch this space - I'll put up an alert when Gary writes his first words of wisdom.
Oh, and I am sure he'll be blogging from at least part of the Adrian Belew tour this February/March, and speaking of that...hey hey hey...more good news for me, I just discovered that Pollstar had a feature article on their website about the trio yesterday!
The Power Of Adrian Belew Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007 3:15AM
"Adrian Belew, self-described "world's greatest experimental whammy twang bar czar rhino king crimson stunt guitarist," has announced the first round of dates for an early 2008 tour of the U.S. accompanied by siblings Eric and Julie Slick.
The Adrian Belew Power Trio kicks off its trek February 19 at Triple Door in Seattle so far is scheduled to hit clubs and theatres around the country through mid-March.
Highlights of the tour include stops at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Ore. (February 20), Slim's in San Francisco (February 23), the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, Calif. (February 26), the Santa Fe Brewing Company in New Mexico (February 29), World Café Live in Philadelphia (March 12), and B.B. King's Blues Club in New York City (March 13).
Here's a clip of Belew (accompanied by the Slicks) doing that voodoo-that-he-do at the Carriage House Theatre in Saratoga, Calif., in October 2006."
So yeah, Pollstar posted that video of the trio, which, by the way, is the most watched You Tube of all the trio offerings out there -- in fact, it's even on Adrian Belew's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nomination Page. Alas, Adrian was not nominated this year but it's the first year he's eligible and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that he's going to be inducted sooner rather than later.
In other news, I've made no secret that I am decidedly not a Bruce Springsteen fan because my taste in music runs more to British blues rock and punk, but good grief, the man has the #1 CD on the Billboard charts right now and the evil, wicked, Republican, corporate Clear Channel, who own approximately 40% of the country's radio stations -- that would be 1,165 of 'em -- has banned the entire CD from their playlist because of Bruce's liberal politics!
""When you have artists like the Dixie Chicks and Bruce Springsteen who have overtly spoken out against this Administration, they are taken to task in spite the clear and undeniable indications from the marketplace that people want to hear their music. What seems to be happening-- if sales are any kind of a barometer of what the marketplace is-- is that these politically-connected radio networks like Clear Channel are not looking to succeed as radio stations as much as pushing forward some political agenda."
I think I'm gonna be sick. I mean, I already knew the evil Republicans running this country, headed by the madman in the White House, were a completely unconstitutional dictatorship who owned the media, but banning Bruce Springsteen? Oh. My. God.
I am embarrassed to be an American right now. We need to do something about this, people. The government is fucking with our music, damn it!
So let's start right here. That link will take you to a Petition to Boycott Clear Channel.
And to my fellow animal loving friends, here's a bit more on the PETA side to this story...we all really need to unite here...googling Clear Channel, PETA, and other suchlike connecting links has rendered me totally unable to eat breakfast this morning. I seriously feel like I'm going to hurl.
I do believe a definite return to my wild hippie protest days is in order and I'm taking all of you along with me.
Anyway..
Ooh, I almost forgot - I have some more way cool music news - Julie's boyfriend Matt, as I've mentioned before, is in an amazing band, Cheers Elephant, and yesterday they got a fabulous review in the Philadelphia Weekly:
"Cheers Elephant
Fri., Nov. 2, 9pm. $7. With Papertrigger, Drink up Buttercup + Sisters 3. Millcreek Tavern, 4200 Chester Ave. 215.222.1255. www.millcreektavernphilly.com
Cheers Elephant sound more British than most young Philly bands. They set out for prime Kinks real estate, and nearly close the deal with their rambunctious shows. (They could grow up to become the Teeth.) But as smoothly as songs like “Here We Are” and “Wide Eyed” channel ’60s psych and folk, the band reveals spidery digressions and fat Primus-style basslines amid their noisy rave-ups live. The result is a heady swirl of influences that grapple with each other for attention while Cheers Elephant play happily along. These guys may not have their sound set in stone yet, but most everything they’re doing is pleasing to the ears. (Doug Wallen)"
Yay, Matt!
Oh well. The best blogger of October 31, 2007 needs to split now. Why, you ask? Because today is November 1, and you know what that means. Oh, you don't? Sigh...okay...here it is. Today is the start of National Novel Writing Month. So I will be joining thousands and thousands of other writers across all seven continents in an effort to complete a 50,000 word novel by November 30. That's something like just under 2,000 words a day, which is only daunting if you don't have a plot (ha) but I'm pretty lucky here...I'm using it as a vehicle to write the third book in the Three Days in New York City series so I've already got my characters, my plot, and okay, I'll admit it, some really sick humor ready and waiting to burst from my fingers to the computer keyboard.
And speaking of humor, Susan Henderson has a great topic going on over at Lit Park this week - name your top five humorous books. I am such a dork - I must have been over-caffeinated yesterday because while I easily came up with my first four choices, I stumbled and could not think of #5 so I did the lamest thing ever - I picked my own book. Thank God my good friend Ellen Meister, whose own book I selected for its brilliant humor, came in and bailed me out. Ack! Susan, when are you going to get that edit button? I cringed all day over my "vanitized" selection - I reminded myself of...never mind...why make it worse than it really is?
Okay, enough of me. I'm off to type...what's that again...2,000 words for National Novel Writing Month, or "Nano" to you...
Eric Slick performing with yet another band, Sound of Urchin at the Fire in Philadelphia on Friday, October 26, 2007
"Eric slick played "Spirit of the Radio" with the boys. He "winged" the shit out of the song, truly awesome!!" Photo and comment from the Ween forum board
Happy Mischief Day.
Or is that an oxymoron.
So it's been a couple of crazy days at Casa Slick - in fact, Gary is on his way to the airport with Eric right now at 6:00 a.m. - Eric's got a gig with Delicious (yes, I know, add one more band to Eric's resume) this Sunday in Asheville, North Carolina at Stella Blue.
I kind of picked a bad time to stop blogging for a few days as I just found out I'm nominated for The 2007 Web Blog Awards - Best Diarist -- and thanks to the fabulous Jon Swift for nominating me (by the way, Jon is not his real name and he's someone famous - I think I have figured out who but I'm not saying) anyway, whether I'll make the finalist cut this year (to be announced this Wednesday) I do not know...if I'd had advance warning I'd have posted me doing some lap dances, etc.
Not. And I'm not in an especially festive mood, either...in fact, quite the opposite.
So the weekend started off great - I got a lot of writing in on Friday while waiting for Eric to come home from touring with Project Object - he was supposed to be back from Cincinnati on Thursday night but it was just too long a drive so he stayed overnight at keyboard player Eric Svalgard's house in Wilmington. Then, Eric, Julie and I went out to dinner with my friend Donna and her two daughters who are Eric and Julie's age, both vegetarians, and one of daughters goes to Drexel with Julie; her other daughter works there. So we all had that and much more in common and we had a blast, though naturally I was the village idiot and drank over my limit - that is, I had two beers, not one, and it was Chimay, which I swear is grain alcohol disguised as beer. Poor Eric, though...he was literally home for the first time in three weeks after spending hours and hours on the road and I basically dragged him right out the door for pizza with my pals. We ate at the fabulous Mama Palma's at 23rd and Spruce Streets because they have awesome vegetarian pizza combinations and also vegan pizza with soy cheese, especially cool as Donna's daughter Dana is also a vegan. But I didn't have to worry about Eric being tired - right after dinner he went to a classical Renaissance concert with his pal, Rich, then he headed over to the Fire where he sat in on a song with Sound of Urchin. Hence the above photo, the link for which was sent to me by my cool friend Joe...and you should click the link to his blog because he's got some neat stuff in there - and he even turned me onto a New York City hotel I didn't know about called The Pod which sounds like fun and right up my alley - Julie and I do a NY overnight trip every year during the holidays (and yeah, yeah, I've blogged them all, including my famous Oh My God I think I accidentally just ate a dog panic attack of 2004 and last year's stay at the Hotel of Horrors - see December archives for every year I've had the blog and there's a classic Slick Christmas tale in each...at the moment I'm thinking I should turn them into a holiday novella after a quick re-read and a sobby walk down memory lane).
Getting back to Eric, he then headed back to Wilmington, Delaware for the night because he's now teaching drums while on tour hiatus at Wilmington School of Rock.
He came home from a day of teaching Saturday, jumped into a costume, and then played a Halloween gig at the Black Lodge in Philadelphia and arrived back here sometime in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
I woke up pretty early Sunday morning and he's sitting on the sofa and so is Julie and I could tell right away that something was very wrong. My mother radar was on high alert just looking at their expressions -- and yes, the news was horrific. I don't want to get too personal here but they sadly informed me that someone from Rock School had passed away suddenly over the weekend - this was not only a good friend to Eric, she was also his student and also someone Gary taught/mentored when he was assistant music director at the Rock School Beatle show in 2005 and she was one of his best kids. So our family is heartbroken and while I am sad that Eric is on his way to Asheville now and won't be able to attend the wake/funeral, in a way I'm relieved because I don't care how old my kids are...I try and do anything and everything to shield them from pain, impossible as that might be. Of course the truth is, Eric really wanted to go to her memorial service, so I'm in pain for him in that regard, anyway, as I know how devastated he is and wishes he could be there. There's a very moving tribute on the School of Rock forum board for anyone interested though I have to warn you in advance, it's gut wrenching though yet another example of the extreme closeness and almost other worldly love of the Rock School family.
Then I read a note posted at Zoetrope Studios yesterday that an extremely talented young writer I knew who was battling cancer the last couple of years had passed away this weekend, leaving a daughter and a brokenhearted best friend of many years - another writer from Zoetrope I really love -- so I've basically spent the past forty-eight hours asking myself WHAT THE FUCK.
And why? Why, why, why?
I have no answers. Just the usual advice to myself. Love my family - appreciate every second, every minute I am with Gary, Julie, Eric, and Monty dog...and ugh, cliche coming but it fits...don't sweat the small stuff because it just doesn't matter and I am completely unable to tolerate anyone who does.
Eric Slick gets "pantied" while on stage with Project Object earlier this week in Wisconsin at Shank Hall, which, by the way, was a fictitious venue in Spinal Tap that actually became reality
So as you know, I put up a partial listing of Adrian Belew Power Trio tour dates in my post below - here's the official Jam Base and Pollstar ticket sites so you can buy your tickets directly.
Project Object performing Zomby Woof with Eric Slick on drums, featuring guest star and what a coincidence -- Adrian Belew engineer/vocalist extraordinaire, Biff Blumfumgangne on violin in Madison, Wisconsin on October 23, 2007.
Oh my god, that rocks. Anyway..
Hey hey hey - here's the first of the confirmed Adrian Belew Power Trio tour dates for 2008 -- and note to those of you in Philadelphia, tickets go on sale tomorrow right here!
Eric Slick, Adrian Belew, and Julie Slick, September, 2007
02/19/08 The Triple Door Seattle, Washington
02/20/08 Aladdin Theater Portland, Oregon
02/22/08 The Crystal Bay Club Casino Crystal Bay, Nevada
02/23/08 Slim's San Francisco, California
02/24/08 The Coach House San Juan Cap., California
02/26/08 Belly Up Tavern Solana Beach, California
02/28/08 Rhythm Room Phoenix, Arizona
02/29/08 Santa Fe Brewing Company Santa Fe, New Mexico
03/08/08 Tralfamadore Music Hall Buffalo, New York
03/12/08 World Cafe Live Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
03/13/08 B.B. King's Blues Club New York, New York
Yo, Kozmic - if you are reading this, please send me the full size photo of Eric I posted above - I absolutely love it.
So tonight is the last night of Project Object's tour in Cincinnati (I finally learned how to spell that city) at the Poison Room. I'm sad it's over but I miss my son! (Though of course he's only home for four days before he takes off on tour again...what a life...do you think he'll swap with me?)
"project object last night in Milwaukee was awesome. its unreal to have napi do his thing less than ten feet in front of you. the selections from one size fits all and roxy were like taking a trip back through time.
project object is great to see. they really keep the spirit of frank alive. i always have more fun at their shows than the zappa plays zappa shows (not that the zappa plays zappa shows are bad, i love them). project object have a fun and zaniness similar to frank's shows that zpz lacks a bit. the zft should stop shunning these guys and start working with them in keeping frank's music regularly performed EVERYWHERE. im sure there is one point that the fans, project object, and the zft would agree on: we want to hear more of frank's music l-i-v-e. with frank went the official source, so the slandering of those who are doing their part to keep frank's legacy alive is just wrong, on many, many levels."
I know Eric had some pals at the show in Madison last night, one of which is his good friend Biff Blumfumgangne, who had plans to join the band on stage with his violin for what...King King? I dunno but that's what I'm guessing.
Where are all my blogging Project Object fans? Ha ha - I'm spoiled because usually when Eric tours with Project Object or the Adrian Belew Power Trio, I come downstairs in the morning to all kinds of reviews but it's been sparse this time around...what, does Gail Zappa own the media now like the rest of the Republicans? Though I must admit, the only place I'm finding blurbs the last couple of days is in fact the Zappa forum board, so maybe not.
Here's another brief You Tube clip, this time featuring percussionist wizard Joshua Oxford though Eric is certainly prominent as well:
Cool, huh.
In other news...
Yesterday while I was out playing ball with the dog my cell phone rang and it was one of the producers from Hollywood to talk some more about the film/television rights for Three Days in New York City and its naughty little sequel, Another Bite of the Apple, and there I am, trying to have an intelligent conversation while Monty kept nudging me to throw him the ball.
So while I'm trying to collect myself, the producer then proceeds to throw out the name of yet another actress for the role of Elizabeth -- this is someone who once dated Eric Clapton and after I picked my jaw off the ground, how did I respond? I proceeded to pester him about the theme song for the soundtrack because, speaking of tracks, I have a one track mind. The hell with focusing solely my career, I want Adrian and Julie and Eric to do the music.
Hey, if nothing else, I've always had my priorities straight. Play ball with the dog, think about my kids, and talk to Hollywood about film options -- and in that order.
Sadly, though, now that we're talking finances, I had to refer him to my agent so no more fun phone calls I'm guessing.
When I got back indoors, Julie was cooking some vegetarian rice and bean dish that smelled like armpits that were out in the desert for three weeks without deodorant but it ended up being delicious -- but just you wait until she wakes up this morning, she's in big trouble. She used my shower last night - the detachable spray hose, that is -- before she got into bed for the evening and she forgot to adjust the setting back to shower. As a result, I woke up at dawn today to write, got in the tub, turned on the water, and got a full spray of ice water in my face courtesy of the hose. This is the second time it happened this month and I.AM.PISSED. She is going to be officially put on notice that the next time this happens, I am marching into her bedroom with said hose and spraying her awake with a frigid blast and we'll see how she likes it. Okay, so the hose won't reach into her bedroom. But that's what paper cups are for.
Oh, I'm kidding. You all know I love Julie so much it hurts, and I'm thrilled she's dividing her time between our house and her boyfriend's these days while said boyfriend tours with his own band. But I'm surprised that my tortured screams of MOTHERF**KER in the shower this morning, which is a mere ten feet or so from her bedroom, didn't wake her up, let alone the whole neighborhood....though I did hear Gary giggling. (Nah, that's a lie...in fact, Saint Gary actually climbed out of bed to help me even though he was 99% asleep because I was so freaked out I couldn't fix the damn thing and continued to be sprayed non-stop until he came to my rescue)
Anyway, that's about it for me right now -- I have a book to write -- but indulge me while I post another link to the flash I have published over at Tuesday Shorts because I love, love, love that site and whole premise.
Eric Slick at World Cafe Live October 14, 2007 (photo bt Gary Slick)
So tonight is the second to the last show on the Project Object Fall Surge Tour, and it takes place at the fabulous Majestic Theater in Madison, Wisconsin. What a beautiful venue that is - and I see Robert Fripp will be performing there in three weeks as well...you gotta love the synchronicity.
Tomorrow the tour wraps up in Cincinnati, and well, more on that later, I guess...I'm still searching around for reviews/articles on the Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago shows but haven't found any yet -- if anything pops up this afternoon or evening I will be back and post them.
In writing news, I had a flash (a story under 100 words) accepted today over Tuesday Shorts and I'm way psyched about it, especially as this is my second appearance there and I'm in esteemed company - some of the other notable authors published include Todd Zuniga, Jim Tomlinson...wait...what am I doing with those guys? (And err...Todd...in case you find this via a Google vanity search...and don't be shy, we all do them...where are the archives for Opium Magazine prior to 2007? I had a hard drive crash and lost two stories you published in 2004 and 2005 or is that 2005 and 2006...anyway...I'm dying to get them back as I have no other copies anywhere)
And err...note to my stalker: Coming to me from other writers' websites doesn't work though I'm impressed at the one you visited yesterday before clicking on his link to me - I would have thought his writing is way above your comprehension -- anyway, just to let you know, I am aware that you are here. I'm flattered, I guess, that you still want to drop in on me daily though as we all know, I'm simply irresistible so I know it's a hard habit to break har har but okay, as long as you don't use my name or habitually steal my "contacts", feel free to lurk and you can even have a virtual glass of champagne with me when I announce any upcoming big news. Cool? Cool!
Andre Cholmondeley doing a wicked guitar solo with Eric Slick on drums, Napoleon Murphy Brock on sax/vocals, Dave Johnsen on bass, Eric Svalgard on keyboards and Josh Oxford on percussion, Lancaster, PA -- October 15, 2007
More Information: Project/Object with Napoleon Murphy Brock Performing the Music Of Frank Zappa
Napoleon Murphy Brock, lead vocalist and instrumentalist with Frank Zappa for more than a decade, will tour once again with Project/Object, the mothers of reinvention.
Napoleon Murphy Brock is a singer, saxophonist and flautist who is best known for his work with Frank Zappa in the 1970s and 80s, including the albums One Size Fits All, Roxy and Elsewhere, and Bongo Fury. His own most memorable vocal accomplishments are illustrated on Village of the Sun, Inca Roads and Florentine Pogen. His numerous performances include the role of the "Evil Prince" on Zappa's Thing-Fish album. He has also performed with George Duke, Captain Beefheart and others.
As the lead singer and sax player with Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa last year, Napoleon Murphy Brock toured all over the World and received foremost praise from fans and critics alike.
The lineup is rounded out by Project/Object founder Andre Cholmondeley (nee Chumley) on guitar and vocals; wunderkind Eric Slick on drums who is also Adrian Belew's touring drummer; Dave Johnsen, who also performs with the Mahavishnu Project, on bass; and incredible keyboardist Eric Svalgard"
"I enjoyed the hell out of the show in Troy, NY...
...This was my first time seeing Eric Slick and you can be damn sure I'll try to see any band he is in when they come to the area. I hope Belew will get over there. Bravo to all of P/O. This was the 5th or 6th time I've seen you guys and thought this was the best playing, sound clarity and setlist that I've heard yet. Everybody just played so well from Eric's enthusiasm and accuracy (and bombast from that little kit!) to other Eric playing some really sweet notes and timbres from the keys to Dave TEARING IT UP on Apostrophe to some really fine singin' and playin' from Andre to HOLY FUCK the percussionist was so damn fine! That Napoleon was remarkable goes without saying (which is in and of itself remarkable).
I've been listening to FZ even more than usual since the show, you guys really set me on fire. I'll be seeing ZPZ in Kingston in a couple of weeks (my 3rd show for them) and can't wait for that either. It'll be my first time hearing Ray White live and I can't wait to hear Scheila and Joe tear it up in particular. It's a fine time to be an FZ fan." ******* Yeah, so if you are in or near Milwaukee tonight, as I keep telling you, this is an amazing band and should not be missed.
So in typical Eric fashion, after the tour ends at the Poison Room in Cincinnati on Wednesday night, he's driving home and will be back in Philadelphia late Thursday, October 25. He'll be here for a couple of days but then on Tuesday, October 30 he flies to Asheville to do a series of shows with a new band he's involved with, Delicious, from November 1-4; then he heads down to Nashville right after his last show with them for a week long rehearsal with Adrian Belew - Julie's flying down on November 6 -- they'll both be there until the evening of November 11 -- do you think that along with rehearsing, they will be autographing copies of Side Four Live? Ha ha - this is my fantasy, not something I've been told -- but since it's also my blog, indulge me. But one thing I do know - the week of rehearsals is for new material gearing up for the entire month of touring they'll be doing February-March 2008 as well as for a new studio CD.
Speaking of The Adrian Belew Power Trio, someone put up a new You Tube last night of the band performing Big Electric Cat in Jacksonville, Florida this past August and it's pretty cool:
So I think that's it for now - I am slinking away from cyberworld and spending the day writing but should anything momentous occur I will be back.
Oh...and if anyone has any footage of Uncle Remus or I'm So Cute from this fabulous Project Object tour or can take some for me tonight, tomorrow, or the final show Wednesday and post it on You Tube, I will be forever in your debt.
