Showing posts with label The Residents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Residents. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

The Parowan Gap - Ancient Graffiti?


Back in the twentieth century, when I was still a college boy, my chums and I used to take trips to the mysterious Parowan Gap. A perfect party spot. I don't know why no one else ever went there. We never even saw anyone passing through the gap road which is a main route between Parowan and Cedar Valley.

The gap was probably created as receding waters from the dying Lake Bonneville etched a channel through the rock and mud. Now, it is an arid and desolate place in the middle of nowhere.

The Parowan Gap was once the home of Fremont Indians, as well as later Native Americans, who used the gap as a natural corridor to access shallow lake waters to the west.

The ancient Native Americans who frequented this area left their mark on the rocks. Numerous petroglyphs can be found, carved into the stone cliffs. No one can say for sure whether these symbols are to keep people out, or if they are a map or story of some kind, or simply graffiti from an ancient gang. Looks like the Residents have been here to me.

Friday, October 24, 2008

=@# - Bunny Boy Review - #@= Part 9

Not to be continuedI'm so excited because I'm finally finished with this Bunny Boy triple trilogy project. After this, I won't need to say anything about the Residents for a long time. Yay!

If you haven't heard the Residents before, the Bunny Boy probably isn't for you. The Residents require an acquired taste, as well as a fully functional sense of humour to be appreciated appropriately. The latter will get a first-timer a long way though, and everyone is a first-timer sometime.

Historique

The Residents are an anonymous collective of musicians and artisans who have been hiding in the shadows since before the war. Their
1976 song, Satisfaction, is credited as being the first* Punk single, (even though it isn't punk).

In the late seventies, the Residents associated themselves with the image of a large eyeballed tuxedo in a top-hat. A smart move. Every eye-con needs a good image for devotees to venerate.

The Residents' records have mostly been thematic and conceptual. This approach allows the Residents to re-invent themselves whenever necessary... something they've done dozens of times. They avoid personal fame by remaining anonymous, and rarely grant interviews. Their official information is misleading at best. They've done a pretty good job at staying aloof for the past three and a half decades.

Bunny Boy Feels Like the Furr-ssst Time

I've been trying to listen to the new Bunny Boy album as if it was the first time I had heard the Residents. For research, I attended a recent
live Residents performance with two people who had never seen or heard the Residents before. Their naivete was telling, and a little surprising at times. After the show, Mein Frenzel asked me, "Are they always like that?" That's actually a pretty tough question because, no, the Residents have never been like that, and yes, the Residents are always like that... nothing like you have ever seen before. Seeing the Residents is always like seeing them for the furrsst time.

This time the superintendents of the subterranean have chosen a ridiculously contrived story about a supposed former colleague of theirs whose fascination with rabbits and the coming apocalypse has driven him off the deep end. I don't think anyone really believes the tripe about the Residents good-will gesture to help their crazy friend find his brother Harvey who has supposedly, mysteriously disappeared.

To tell the story, (or confuse it further), the Residents have been showing a You Tube series of videos supposedly filmed by the Bunny Boy himself. These short movies chronicle his psychotic search for his brother Harvey. Portions of these videos were featured in their live performance as well.

The songs on the album are all short and catchy tunes that I find myself whistling as I go about my daily duties. The melodies are smart, and the snappy arrangements of deranged songs are FUN to listen to. At the live performance, the songs were presented in a different order than that of the CD. I'm not sure what that means.

Mr. Bunny Boy's video series didn't do much to convince me that the lost brother story was real and I haven't lost any sleep over Harvey's disappearance. In one of the early episodes, (2 I th
ink), the Bunny Boy plays a message on his answering machine from someone who he claims to be his brother. In one of the following episodes, we see the chord to the answering machine unplugged. You'd think he'd want to keep it plugged in in the event Harvey calls again.

In another episode, the Bunny Boy points out his first family photo. It's an old black and white picture that shows himself as a baby with his mom, and dad, (dad is a book). Among the plethora of photos of family and friends pasted on the walls of the Bunny Boy's secretum sanctorum, there are surprisingly none of his supposed brother Harvey. Likewise, when the Bunny Boy shows the family photographs from Greece, there are none of Harvey, however, the Homeric Bunny Boy is present in many of them. I suppose the case could be made that Harvey was the photographer who took the pictures, and therefore wouldn't be in any of them.

These clues lead me to think that the Bunny Boy and Harvey are a
one man show, so to speak. Apparently something happened that forever separated the Bunny Boy from his once golden guy personality. Maybe it was the recognition of his own insanity that pushed him over the edge, maybe it was eight years of the Bush Administration, maybe it isn't even real... so why am I wasting my time pondering it??? It brings to mind the Residents early film, Vileness Fats, where conjoined twins, in a jealous rage, fight to the death over a woman. The victor limps away, dragging the corpse of his conjoined brother behind him. I think the psychological equivalent happened to the Bunny Boy. Maybe not.

For some reason, insane people always find themselves mentioned in Holy Writ as some kind of messenger or messianic figure. This was true of Harvey who's fascination with Saint John's apocalyptic visions took him to all the way to the Island of Patmos** where the apostle wrote the Book of Revelation. Apparently, this is where Harvey came unglued.

The most surprising thing about the Bunny Boy album is how well it works. Who'd have thought insanity could be so artsy-fartsy and down-right fun?

EDWEENA would give The Residents Bunny Boy two thumbs up... if she had thumbs. 

* I held it in my hands, but didn't buy it when I had the chance. It's worth about a million bucks now. Maybe more?

** I was glad that it wasn't Easter Island.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

=@# - Bunny Boy is a Big Fat Copy Cat - #@= Part 8

Did anyone else noticed how the Residents blatantly stole my blog idea and posted it on their own blog? "How many Residents are there?" Good question guys... where did you come up with that one?

When I covered the built-in camera on my laptop with tape,
I thought it was just a coincidence when the Residents did exactly the same thing on one of their Bunny Boy internet episodes less than two weeks later. Now I am more suspicious!

It makes me wonder if the Residents have ever had an original idea, or do they just steal them from me all the time???

I'm locking all my ideas up in safe deposit box out of certain eye's view.

With no new ideas, the Residents will be forced to announce their retirement at the conclusion of the Bunny Boy Tour.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

=@# - The Bunny Boy at the Rio- #@= Part 7

Bunny Boy Wanna-be in front of Rio Theater in Santa Cruz Friday Night

Wanna watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat?

I was born in the Year of the Rabbit. Maybe that's why I was so amused by the Residents' presentation of the Bunny Boy last night at the Rio Theater here in Santa Cruz, California. More likely, it's because I've been a Residents fan since the seventies.

Eye spy with my little I

I paid close attention to the goings on at the Rio all week, and I'm happy to report that I caught a few glimpses of those mysterious masters of anonymity, the Residents. Last night, I spotted one of them again as the doors to the Rio opened and the crowd began shuffling in. It was guitarist, Nolan Cook. He had come outside to view the spectacle of hundreds of Residents fans lined up all the way down Soquel Ave., all the way to Comerica Bank. What a strange feeling it must have been to stand so close to his fans, as they strolled past oblivious to him. Imagine if one of the Beatles had stepped out of a theater where they were playing what commotion would have ensued. Anonymity gives the Residents a bit of control over their fame.
. There were eyeballs and bunnies everywhere.
Waiting in line was almost as entertaining as the show.

The Rio Theater in Santa Cruz, CA
I can't imagine a better place to see the Residents

I saw Mr. Cook again inside, at the top of the stairs at the same spot I met Tony Levin a few years ago. "Welcome!" I said. "Thanks," he replied sheepishly, realizing his cover had been blown. We headed down the stairs to the lobby where hundreds of fans were coagulating. I stood in line to browse the merchandise, but none of it was manufactured in the United States, so I didn't purchase anything. Besides, all I really wanted was the Let
ters from Patmos CD, but it was not available at this particular show =8>(-

Those hoodies were really cool though.

No Cameras Allowed

You'd think that Robert Fripp was a Resident with a camera policy like that (I always think of Fripp on the guitar solo part of the Moisture video). Needless to say, I was disappointed that I wasn't allowed to take my camera inside. I
had hoped to get some great shots for the blog. I took a dozen or so photos with my phone, but the quality is poor.

I got a great seat on the fourth row and center. Perfect! Before me was the stunning snow-white set consisting of some fancy construction with 2" PVC tubing and a white, semi-opaque canvas-like covering. At each side of the stage was a half-dome structure. On the right, the half dome was concave to the audience while the dome on the left side was convex. Inside the concave dome was a guitar and a collection of electronique instruments. Obviously, this was the area the band would be positioned throughout the show. Shadow profiles of dangling bunnies could be seen on the fabrique of the left dome. I assumed it to be the secret room. Separating the domes was a three foot wide shrouded door with decorative video screen above it. Stage smoke spewed from behind the set, while new Residents intermission music played over speakers. I could already tell that this was going to be something special.

The Residents Bunny Boy show was kind of like, Aqualung meets Swinging Songs for Sybil's Siblings. Crazy! I'm going to critique the Bunny Boy album on another post, and will attempt to dissect this crazy carousel of dueling personas in Part Nine of the Bunny Boy Triple-Trilogy review. In the meantime, here's a handful of phuzzi fotoz from the debut show of the Bunny Boy Tour, taken with my scratchy* telephono lens.






* I miss Scratch

=@# - One of the Residents - #@= Part 6

=@# - How Many Residents - #@= Part 5





=@# - Favorite Residents Song - #@= Part 4




=@# - Favorite Residents Album - #@= Part 2



=@# - The Residents @ the Rio - #@= Part 1

I Have Got a Story To Tell

Today, for the first time all summer, rain was in the forecast for Santa Cruz... just in time for the Residents Bunny Boy Tour debut. The threatening skies swirled and gloomed, but remained respectful to the fans who came out to see the infamous eyeballed ones.

The show was incredible. I've been spending the past hour or so thinking about the the Residents performance earlier tonight. As usual, it was nothing like I had ever seen. It's always that way when it comes to the Residents. I don't know how they stay so far ahead of gr@vity.

At this point, I realize that
more than one post will be required to describe my evening with the Residents.

Arrived Early

When I arrived a little past six o clock, there were already a hundred or so people ahead of me in line. I staked out a spot while Mighty Mo set out to interview a handful of attendees. Here's what she shot.

Where ya from sailor?



Local Santa Cruzan, Trevor 1, claims to be a quantum visionary.





Bay-Arean, Double A, came all the way from Santa Cruz to see the Residents for his first time.




Solon Hammack came all the way from behind the Zion Curtain to see the Residents at the only show west of the Mississippi. He told Mighty Mo that he wore a Residents shirt to a Yip Yip show, so he returned the favour tonight by wearing a Yip Yip shirt to a Residents show. Yip!




Mason is a Vox Jaguar from Santa Cruz.

See more video from the Residents at the Rio on the You Tube

Thursday, October 2, 2008

24 Hours To Go

Tomorrow at this time, I will be watching the Residents at the Rio.

They've been practicing hard to bring us a spectacular kick-off to their world tour.

I've been busy sneaking around with my video camera.

Here's what I saw.


The Multi Tasque King

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Residents to kick off World Tour in Santa Cruz

Who's the happiest girl in the whole USA?
That'd be me...

Masters of spooky weirdness, The Residents, have selected the third evening in October, 2008, to kick off their latest world tour. Lucky for me, the show will premier at the beautiful historic Rio Theater, right here in Santa Cruz.

The Residents' presentation of The Bunny* Boy will be the ensemble's only Bay Area show and I suspect that it will quickly sell out. To ensure that I didn't get left out, I picked up four tickets at Streetlight Records last Saturday Morning.

The Residents at the Rio. I'll be there with bell bottoms on... you can be sure of that Jim. And, if the big eyeball in the sky directs a wink my way, maybe even an exclusive interview** with someone mysterious... right here on the world infamous Zenberg
blogue.*** Keep your eyes peeled.
* I love bunnys... Good eating. A bit stringy, but darn tasty.
"I like to eat the eyes first" Ernest P. Worrell.

** Holding my breath in one hand and a smirk in the other!

*** Coming to you at the speed of gr@vity.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Residents or What Does Salt Smell Like?

Edweena

Subterranean-Rhetro

The first time I heard t
he Residents was in 1979. I was sixteen or seventeen, and an avid listener of I'm So Bored, Susanne Brown's Tuesday night radio program on KRCL in Salt Lake City. There was nothing else like it in Utah at the time, (or the rest of the country for that matter), and assuming that I would likely never hear the songs again, I began recording the shows on ninety-minute 8-Track tapes. I'm So Bored was unique, and presented me with a plethora of new punk and rock wave music, (as Michael G. Cavanaugh* called it), that I could listen to at my leisure on the tapes I had recorded. One of them contained a track called Plants by the Residents, which was nothing like anything I had ever heard before. I knew I'd have to hear more from these mysterious musicians.

The Cosmic Aeroplane was no doubt the most likely place to find Residents music in Salt Lake in 1979. I was astounded that good old el Cosmico had a handful of
Residents records to choose from. I delightfully selected Not Available, and Fingerprince, and purchased them both, having heard neither. I bought Not Available for myself, and Fingerprince for my summertime girlfriend, Jamie, who accompanied me on my quest for the Residents. Back then, the record department at the Cosmic was located downstairs. At least that's where they kept the punk-produkts and related paraphernalia. After finalizing my purchase, we ascended the narrow stairwell, and exited the store. I had a friend named Bob Ruffner who lived near Skyline High, so we went there to hang out and listen to my new Residents records. Bob's house would be a good place to hear them for the first time because his dad had a great stereo, and surely, the Residents could be best appreciated on a good hi fi.

By the time side one of
Fingerprince had finished playing, there was no way to convince Bob and Jamie to listen to side two, or the other record I had purchased. They had decided that the Residents were too weird. Bob had became partial to the last of the successful prog bands, Rush, while Jamie had metal tendencies, and fancied Van Halen and Ozzy. YUCK! Serves them both right! I had to wait until I had driven all the way back to Tooele, dropped off Jamie, and returned home before I could finally listen to Not Available on my own adequate stereo. I was shocked. It was stranger than anything I had ever... anything. It appeared to be some kind of opera about a woman named Edweena. I wasn't sure if I liked it. I played it for my friends Greggary Peckary, Merlin, Jon and Bart. Jon and Merlin gave it three thumbs up, Peck snickered, and Bart sardonically laughed, declaring, "They sound like little kids." I could forgive Bart. He didn't know any better. After all, he was a cowboy from Stockton, Utah, who's most radical venture in alternative music was Molly Hatchet and Lynnard Skynard. I suspect that Peck secretly liked it.
1979 was a time when music was stagnant on most fronts, yet changing on others. Leading the change, so far ahead they were out of sight, were the Residents, who's brand of subterranean-modern tunneled deeper than other alternatives, and kept their fans entertained with comically spooky treatments of familiar and contrived themes. I had become jaded by the polished cookie-cutter music that permeated the seventies, and in 1979 I began a five-year boycott of commercial music. Who needs commercial radio when there's KRCL? No commercial radio stations, and no TV. As it turned out, I missed a lot of terrible stuff during those years... so I hear. Remember Wham? I don't.
On Wednesday nights, KRCL presented Brad Collins' program** which featured more emphasis on the punker side of neo-underground musick. When the Residents released their critically acclaimed Eskimo album, Brad Collins played his copy in its entirety. It was awesome, and I soon procured my own copy on snow-white vinyl. One of my favorite records of all time. Eskimo was an unprecedented instant masterpiece that made it clear to me that the Residents were not only part of the underground scene... The Residents, in fact, were THE underground. Everything else sounded like pop in comparison.
In 1980 my best friend, Jon, purchased the Residents latest release, the Commercial Album. A departure from their anthropologique Eskimo, the Commercial Album featured forty - one minute songs... a mockery of formulaic top forty pop music. What was most surprising about the Commercial Album to both Jon and myself was the album cover which featured a picture of my friend Jon. I have no idea where the Residents got a photo of Jon, or why they used it on their album cover, but there he was.

Jon 1978

The Commercial Album 1980


When the Residents released their Mark of the Mole album, they pressed a handful of special edition silk screened covers which had been signed by the
Residents with brown crayon, and pressed on brown vinyl. My copy was mistakenly sold at the flea market for one dollar. :-( I wish I still had it, especially since now its worth hundreds of dollars. At least I still have my Third Censored and Roll album, the West German version of the Third Reich and Roll. Still in perfect condition.




The first time I saw the
Residents perform was at the Barrymore Theater in Madison Wisconsin in 1990. I arrived early, and was the first person in line that night. When they opened the doors to the theater, I sprinted to the front and center of the Barrymore. Best seat in the house. That night the Residents presented Cube - E (being) The History of American Music in 3 E-Z Pieces. The first piece featured old western cowboy songs. One Resident wore an exaggerated over-sized cowboy hat. A neon fire glowed at center stage while a projected desertscape and evening sky illuminated the backdrop. The other three Residents, cloaked beneath Harry Tuttle-esque disguises, tapped away at their electronique instruments . Black slave songs were the theme in the second set. The third and final set featured Elvis as a fulfillment, or personification of cowboy and black rhythm. In the end, the space-age Elvis is made insignificant by the British invasion, specifically the Beatles. At least that's what Zoroaster said.

I didn't see the Residents again until 1997, when Mighty Mo purchased tickets for the Halloween show at the Fillmore, for our anniversary. I was impressed by projected images onto a large balloon on stage. Brilliant idea! Clam rockers, Primus, and fellow Residents fans, must have liked the idea too because they incorporated the concept for their own stage.

A Simple Song - Ralph Viddy - Buy or Die!
I must have been one of the first people to order this fancy NEW Ralph Records Video.

When it arrived in the mail, it was a simple TDK video cartridge featuring seven different Ralph viddys. Five different bands, including the Residents.

The cover-art consisted of basic black ink on a 81/2X11 white paper-board. I
carefully cut out the video cover, and with Elmers Glue, affixed it to the vhs box (included). Crafty!
The fancified package was complete.


These videos were a great alternative to the trendy commercial music being played on MTV.

The Residents have released lots of other videos over the years. Millions of them in fact. In May 2001, My son and I had the opportunity to see the Residents right here in Santa Cruz, Ca, at the Rio Theater. As usual, the Residents presented a unique and unprecedented concept for their stage show. The Icky Flix Tour featured the Residents playing live on stage as their familiar videos were projected onto a large screen above the band. Not long after the tour, the Residents released the Icky Flix DVD, which featured lots of snazzy Residents videos that could be played with the option of listening to old familiar songs, or newly recorded versions of the same tunes. Sparkling idea! I'll take two. Mm... Salty!

Ralph

* Michael G's show preceded I'm So Bored. His show featured sixties and seventies rock. This was back when KRCL was located above the old Blue Mouse Theater, next to Cosmic Aeorplane. Jon and I paid Michael G a visit one evening. He played Cucamonga by Zappa/Beefheart at our request.

**
My friend Squirrelly's cousin, Jamie, who lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, stayed with Squirrelly's family every summer. She returned home with Fingerprince. Jamie reported to me that she had played it for a friend, and that they both laughed at it. What can you expect from a couple of ignoramiatic metalheads?
*** Mr. Collin's program was originally called Dead Air, but was later changed to Beyond The Zion Curtain. When Brad sold out and began playing speed metal exclusively, Jon and I began to pester him by requesting Eskimo every time his program was on. Years later, I asked Collins about his Eskimo album, and he told me that someone had stolen it. He may have assumed that his taunters were the thieves. He assumed wrong

Friday, March 28, 2008

Dark Side of the Pawn or Pawn of the Dark-Side

I have too many t-shirts. Most of them are industry shirts from the high-tech bubble days that have been collected from trade-shows from all around the world. They're all stored away in a box in the garage and I'll probably never wear any of them.

The t-shirt. It's really quite a strange concept when you stop to think about it. Gaggles of people, including myself,* behaving like walking billboards, providing free advertising for sports teams, rock bands, personalities, corporate logos, and etc.

I don't know when it became popular to put images and signs on the traditionally short-sleeved, upper-torso garment, but today, t-shirting is a multi-billion dollar global industry. The casual uniform of choice for the early 21st century.

I remember one particular T that I wore in grade school which featured an old looking, long-haired stoney-eyed hippie brandishing the dual-fingered peace sign. Across the image swept the groovily sculpted text, "I'm so far out that I'm in." I made it myself... with help from my mom, who actually did all the work of ironing the image onto a clean and wrinkle-free pale green t-shirt. No one could iron better than my mom. I remember how the toxic fumes rose up and permeated the room as she pressed the iron firmly against the paper side of the appliqué. The heat from the iron transferred through to the rubber-ish chemical substance on the other side of the paper
appliqué which melted into the fabrique of the shirt, bonding permanently to the garment. We never considered that it might be harmful to inhale the fumes... we were in Tooele after all.

I had a good selection of concert shirts when I was in high school. I could wear a different T every day of the week. All of my shirts from that era are gone now except for my very extra special Residents Eskimo t-shirt which has recently been commandeered by my son. It's quite faded now, and way too small for me, but it suits him perfectly. Its funny to think that I wore it when I was about his age.

Currently, my favorite t-shirt features the unmistakable image of leftest-rebel Che Guevara as an Imperial Storm Trooper. I purchased it in Mexico a couple of years ago when I was vacationing during the holidays with the Mueller Clan. The artist was incredibly insightful to envision Che as a pawn of the dark side. Around these parts, Senor Guevara is renowned as some kind of folk war-hero/freedom fighter. Ironically, these are the same people who claim to be anti-war. One person's terrorist, is another's freedom-fighter.




* Sporting my Phil Hendrie Show T as I whapetty tap away at the keyboard.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

My iTunes Top 25

The holidays brought a new hard drive to our home, and with the new virtual space, iTunes has become a part of my daily life. I've been using iT on my computer for more than a month now, and out of nearly two-thousand songs, the following tunes have risen to the top, and represent the cream of my play list.

Interestingly, the top four positions go to radio stations which are scattered across the country. The streaming feed is counted once per play, even if I have it on for hours at at time.

1 In the number one position, coming in first place with forty-four plays is KSCO, 1080 AM in Santa Cruz, California. i Tune into KSCO pretty much every day, but not only on the computer. I am fortunate to live where I can listen to this local radio station at home or in the car. AM talk radio programming such as Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly help to keep me abreast of the workings of the right-wing propaganda machine. However, unlike most other AM talk stations I have heard, KSCO's political programming is much more balanced. Congratulations KSCO!

2 In second place with forty-two listens, is KRCL, 90.9 FM in Salt Lake City, Utah. I especially enjoy getting up early on Sunday mornings to listen to the Native American music on KRCL. I tune in to their political programming to keep in touch with left-wing political propaganda. KRCL has been one of my most profound musical influences, and holds a special place in my heart. I began listening twenty-five years ago, and thanks to live feed, I can hear it anytime I'm at my computer.

3 Close behind, in third place with forty-one plays is KZSC, 88.1 FM in Santa Cruz California which I listen to every Tuesday and Thursday morning... Platypus Rising, and Here There and Everywhere respectively. My favorite FM station in Santa Cruz.

4 WORT 89.9 FM Madison Wisconsin - play count 34. A fine station I was first introduced to when I lived in Madison, (before the war), and have fond memories of this eclectic, listener sponsored, left-wing voice from the heart of America's Dairyland. And thanks to live stream, I can once again Tune in for political propaganda, and a host of entertaining and informative programming.

###-Title-@@@-Artist-@@@-Album-&&&&-Play Count

5 Number One - The Rutles - The Rutles - 27
6 Dust - Adrian Belew - Dust - 26
7 Click Clack - Captain Beefheart - Spotlight Kid - 26
8 Totally Wired - The Fall - 50,000 fans... - 26
9 Send in the Clown - The Simpsons - Songs in the Key of Springfield - 26
10 And She Was - Talking Heads - 12x12 Original Remixes - 26
11 Frail - The Vox Jaguars - Good As Gone - 26
12 Greensleeves - California Guitar Trio - Christmas Album - 25
13 I'm So Bored With the USA - The Clash - The Clash - 25
14 MTV Get Off the Air - Dead Kennedys - Frankenchrist - 25
15 I Will Survive - Tony Clifton - Man on the Moon - 25
16 Onward - Yes - Tormato - 25
17 On the Beach Goes the Crimson King - Adrian Belew - Dust 24
18 Angela (theme from taxi) - Bob James - Man on the Moon 24
19 Coconut - Harry Nilsson - Personal Best - 24
20 Frame by Frame - King Crimson - B'BOOM - 24
21 The Robots - Kraftwerk - The Man Machine - 24
22 Trigger Hippie - Morcheeba - Who Can You Trust? - 24
23 Chase - Ravi Shankar - Tana Mana - 24
24 Kaw-Liga - The Residents - Stars and Hank Forever - 24
25 Metropolis - The Vox Jaguars - Good As Gone - 24

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Best Live Record of the Year - Side Four: Critique

Pre-Order Belews

I waited a long time to hear this CD. Back when the double Mike power trio was touring, there was talk about plans to release live material to complete Adrian's Sides theme. After all, a three-sided record doesn't make much sense.* Then came the Eric and Julie version of the power trio, and more promises of a Side Four in the future. Recently it was announced that Side Four would soon be released, and that pre-orders were being taken at http://www.adrianbelew.net/ I promptly pre-ordered my copy of Side Four in order to be among the first to hear it. That was the plan anyway... 

I looked for it in my mailbox daily, until one day, it donned on me that I couldn't remember informing Pay-pal of my address change when I moved a couple of years ago. I decided to check my on-line receipt, and to my horror, I discovered that my signed copy of Side Four had been shipped to my old address on B-40 Drive. I picked up the telephone and called the people who currently live there, but no one answered, so I left a message explaining what had happened. A few more days passed and I hadn't hear back, so I drove to Happy Valley to find out for myself. When I arrived, no one was around, no mail in the box, and no package anywhere to be found. Next door, the infamous Happy Valley Villa loomed forebodingly... making me wonder if my Side Four was being enjoyed by some villain living within the gates of the spooky complex once owned by the Elizabeth Montgomery family. On Christmas Eve, I successfully contacted the current residents at my former address who told me that they hadn't seen the parcel. OK, so it is lost, I should be able to find a copy of Side Four somewhere in Santa Cruz right? wrong! I found two Side Twos, and one Side One, but no Side Four for X-Mass. 
Unexpected Surprise

I play disc golf every Thursday, and today was no exception. I realized that I had forgotten my special disc golf glasses, so Mighty Mo met me at the course, so I'd be able to see where to throw the disc. In addition to my special spectacles, she handed me a small manila mailer. The official Nashville TN postmark was dated December 24, X-mas Eve. I knew it was Side Four before I looked to see. The good folks at
Adrian Belew Presents had made sure that I received a replacement for my lost parcel. I had a fantastique round of disc golf in anticipation of listening to my new compact disc.

I didn't open the parcel until I got home. Knowing that it would be difficult to give a critical listen with all the hustle and bustle of extra-family activity all around me, I chose to wait until the house was quite quiet and dark. I didn't want any interruptions. With headphones adjusted comfortably on my ears, I pushed play, and heard
the best live album of the year... maybe the best album of the year... I haven't heard all of them yet, so can't say for sure. 
The Listen
 
Writing on the Wall erupts like a volcano on a primordial landscape. The thundering sound makes me feel like some kind of Primusaurous Erectus is coming to scoop me up and devour me. Fast as punk and tight as a fine Swiss watch. Suddenly, another Dinosaur rears its head for an old familiar Krimson cover. The bass is masterfully executed, the drums are precise and deliberate. Adrian's voice is powerful as he delivers every note with convincing passion. Pretty freakin' good for an old guy. Oh, and the guitar... Oh, yea... and did I mention the bass? What really stands out on this track is the bare foot pretty's phenomenal frettery. Wow! Queen Crimson.

I had always hoped of one day seeing and or hearing
Les Claypool play Ampersand live with Belew... this is probably better... Next, Adrian introduces his masterful young musicians who have just made such an impression on the audience (and listeners at home like me). Young Lions sounds as though the trio has played together for a decade. Adrian's guitar solo roars and reminds everyone what they're there for. He manages his custom-made Parker Fly guitar as though it is an extension of himself. No wonder Beat Box Guitar was nominated for a Grammy a couple of years ago. Infused with a touch Krimsonesence, it really grooves, and is a lot of fun to listen to too. It sounds like the band is having a great time... like three kids in a sandbox. One of the most beautiful songs in the sides series is Matchless Man. The lyrics and backwards guitar give this piece a bit of a Lennon flavour.

Next the band plays
A Little Madness. I wonder how mad folks feel about the title. I don't think they'd like it, but I do... really... what, do you think I'm Krazi? In a couple of months, I'm going to Drive all the way to San Fancisco to see this dynamique trio because they're not coming to the vegetarian and barefoot-friendly Santa Cruz. The Siblings Slick sit this one out as Adrian commandeers the wheel and takes everyone on a Belooperistic adventure. Nice!

One of my favorite Belew songs is
Of Bow and Drum, from the Op Zop Too Wah album. I couldn't ask for a better live presentation. Great job. Last November, I was impressed when these three played Big Electric Cat at the Catalyst here in Santa Cruz. Listening to this track reminded me of the excitement in the air that night. From frogs croaking in the jungle to the slick presentation on this disc, there are now lots of versions of Thela Hun Gingeet for the Krimsonnoisseur to enjoy. 
Not Kids Anymore

Now that I've heard
Side Four, I feel like it isn't fair to refer to Eric and Julie Slick as kids any longer. They've proven themselves. Any band would be thrilled to have either one of these exceptional performers in their ensemble... Adrian Belew is fortunate to have both of them. He'll have to work hard to keep up with these two.

I have to wonder what is next for the Twang Bar King now that the
Sides are complete...
and what of the siblings Slick?
* Unless you're the Residents who recorded a three sided concept album called Tourniquet of Roses. The double album was intended to have a blank fourth side, but economics outweighed concepts, and the music was whittled down to accommodate the limitations of a single 12# vinyl disc, (two sides). Fortunately, the full version is now available on one side of a single compact disc.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Rhetro Meets Mighty Mo

The city street was dark, as three young men exited a small car. The Cosmic Aeroplane was their destination... a musty bookstore, with a great record department. At the time, it was the only place in Salt Lake to get punk albums. Rhetro was planning on getting the Residents Eskimo album, while Merlin was there for a new baseball cap with a picture of an exotic Maple Leaf on it. Peck was looking for Fabulous Poodles on pink vinyl. As the car doors slammed in unison, an automobile sped past and they heard screams of agony coming from the middle of the road. It was difficult for them to see the man lying in the road. "That car hit me" he exclaimed in pain, as two high school age punk girls came running from the opposite side of the street. Everyone huddled around the man as someone scampered off to find a phone and call for help.

What no one in the scene knew, was that
cosmic forces and mystical powers were hard at work to bring two people together. On the surface, (literally), a man lay helpless in the road as another young man runs to the Cosmic Aeroplane to call an ambulance, and the others stay to direct traffic and comfort the victim until help arrives.

Many years later:

Rhetro and Mighty Mo had been married for a handful of years when he relayed the above story to her. She replied, "I remember that. That was you?"

Happy 21st Anniversary sweetheart.


Thursday, September 20, 2007

Future Thinker: #1 Who Did The Electric Car Kill?

"The future isn't what it used to be." Yogi Berra

In the future, when all of the noisy pollution spewing automobiles are obsolete... and illegal, a goodly number of pets, children, and other innocent pedestrians (and bicyclists) will fall victim to electric cars, simply because the electric motor is so quiet and stealthy.

The time will come when all
electric vehicles will be required to emit a safe decibel level of sound when in operation in order to protect the unsuspecting public. And, according to market trends, we'll have a choice of big brother approved sounds to personalize our fancy futuristic rides, in the same manner customized ringtones are available today... for a price, with hundreds of different audios available to satisfy our individual taste. Among the most popular will be jalopy, muscle car, galloping horses, Jetson's space car, Fred Flintstone's twinkle toes, and even Harley Davidson, (hopefully a toned down version of the latter).

"When everyone lives in the future, the present is au revoir." A Resident

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

EDWEENA - A Hard Woman is Good to Find

Her feet were sticking out of the dumpster when Mighty Mo found her... But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Mighty Mo had been making a Father's Day gift at a ceramic studio in Salt Lake City. The shop had the paint and kiln she needed to finished her artistique creation - bookends, that looked like large stones, with a lizard or two on each one. She had meticulously formed them from clay, and had planned to make the stones look as though they were made of metal. When she entered the studio, it was hot and orange, and so were the tempers... She asked one of the employees for assistance, and was told, "It is impossible to make silver-stone, Miss." The place was filled with metal shelving, and reeked of burning clay. Mighty Mo suggested layering rust, copper, and turquoise glazes. She figured if she "layered and gooped on lots of it", maybe it would turn out the way she envisioned. The employee rolled their eyes back, and said, "It will never work, honey." She tried it anyway...

This was the day she would find out how her creation had turned out. She arrived early, before the shop had opened for business. As she sat in her gold Mazda 323 waiting for the store to open, she noticed two bare feet and legs sticking out of the dumpster behind the shop. At first disturbed, she got out of her car, walked to the dumpster, looked a little closer and realized that these legs were not human legs, no... but something less animatedd. Mighty Mo opened the lid, and pulled out a beautiful, 5'10" female mannequin in perfect condition. She tucked her new-found friend under her arm, and scurried back to the car, hoping no one was watching, and layed her across the back seat. The shop soon opened, and Mighty Mo quickly made her way inside to check on her book ends. There they were. Perfect! The risky glazing experiment worked wonderfully. The ceramic stones were metallic silver, and the lizards were lizard-green. The cashier that morning was the same person who had said the "experiment" would not yield Mighty Mo's desired results. She was wrong, and the proof was right there before her very eyes. There was no greeting, comment, or eye contact as Mighty Mo paid for her project, and left the shop. As she approached the car, project in hand, Mighty Mo was startled for a moment when she saw the mannequin laying across the back seat. EDWEENA has been part of our family ever since... about seventeen years.

"When Edweena made me mushrooms, she ate the grain and ground the groom..." The Residents

Monday, March 12, 2007

millions of knowbody nose me now

A blogue eh? It doesn't sound so good. Blog. The more you say it, the stranger it sounds.

There is plenty of blogeurical excess in Cybervill these days. Is there room for another blog in this town? Do we really need another? Not likely. But then again, why the hell knot? I'm asking a lot of questions.

Even the Residents, and Adrian Belew have blogs... and millions of nobody knows them. Millions of nobody knows me too... so here we are.