Organised as part of a 'Lab Concert' by Bas Andriessen in 2003, Mike Keneally teamed up with Jan Akkerman (with Pieter Douma and René Creemers).
Bas combined his video recording with the NPS Radio audio and put it up on YouTube !
(It's been up since 2015 but I hadn't seen this before.)
-- info: Jan van Kemenade
Next to the black vinyl release, this radio show album also got issued on orange vinyl.
Limited / numbered edition of 300 copies.
Most probably released around the same time as the black vinyl edition, but copies are (still) slowly surfacing.
(images taken from Discogs)
Completely superfluous since this (fabulous) concert got an official release on "Mothers 1970" in 2020.
Last December, I mentioned The Gatekeepers, an Alex Wroten project that featured Alan Jenkins, Molly Harvey, The Residents, Morgan Ågren, ...
Track three, ‘Who Are The Gatekeepers?’ uses the melody line of the chorus of FZ’s ‘Who Are The Brain Police?’ throughout the song.
I told you that the album got issued on CD, on black vinyl (in a limited edition of 333 numbered copies), and on blue vinyl (in a limited edition of 100 numbered copies).
As I just received my blue vinyl copy, numbered 008/333, and as my black vinyl copy has number 107/333, I assume that the vinyl edition is limited to 333 copies, with the first 100 on blue vinyl and the remaining 233 on black vinyl.
(The other option is that my blue vinyl copy has been put in a wrong sleeve...)
Darko The Super’s “The Devil Defeated” included a piece called ‘Suzy’ in which FZ's 'The Return Of The Son Of Monster Magner' gets sampled and Frank Zappa got mentioned.
And there's also ‘I Want More (Out Of Life)’ in whicn zircon-encrusted tweezers got mentioned…
And here's the artwork of the back side.
Looks familiar somehow...
Last week, I mentioned the excellent "Bowdlerized Music" album by Michael Pabst.
Shortly after the release of "Bowdlerized Music", Michael teamed up with Marcus Prüßmeier (who had already contributed to "Bowdlerized Music") to create The Research Institute.
The Research Institute released two CDs: "Universum" in 1998, and "Flies" in 2003.
Later, TRI would release their material through Bandcamp only.
"Universum" includes a piece called '4 12 93 - In Memory Of A Maestro'. It's a beautiful tribute to Frank Zappa. Actually, the entire album sounds like a tribute to FZ. It's marvelous. I'm blown away.
Check it out.
It's good for you.
"Universum", also out on CD.
Listen to the first track, 'Visual Check At The Viper Room' !!
"Flies", also out on CD.
The 'new ' Steve Vai album is available.
'New', as it got recorded in the ninetees but shelved when Gash passed away.
Thirty years later, Steve revisited the project.
CD is out now. Vinyl should follow soon.
From the liner notes in the CD booklet:
The Mark Pinske Mixes : During this time, I met Frank Zappa, who was very kind to me. I told him my story about the WB problems (I don’t think he was a fan of WB either) and he very generously offered to let me use his amazing studio. He said go get a couple of 24 track tapes from WB which I did. I had to sneak them out as they were vaulted but I managed to get a couple of reels out.
I took them over to Frank’s house and he introduced me to his engineer Mark Pinske. He mixed 3 tracks in one evening.
Darko The Super has numerous mentions and links to Frank Zappa in his music.
The album artwork of Darko’s 2020 “The Meeting Place” referred to The Mothers’ “We’re Only In It For The Money” album.
FZ can be found in the crowd.
While a couple of tracks mentioned FZ in the lyrics, the album also included Darko’s version of FZ’s ‘Bobby Brown’.
• The Meeting Place - mentions FZ in the lyrics
• Bobby Brown Goes Down - cover version
• My Hoopty - mentions FZ and Ruben & The Jets in the lyrics
• King Of The Zoo - mentions FZ in the lyrics
Out on (extremely limited / lathe pressing) vinyl and CD. Also on Bandcamp :
-- info: Philippe Lamoot
Frank Zappa's "20 Years Of Frank Zappa" bootleg box got re-issued on CD last year.
In Russia.
The 12 LP set got reworked into an 8 CD set.
-- info: Facebook
https://americana-uk.com/david-crosby-the-lighthouse-band-live-at-the-capitol-theatre
Beautiful.
Here's a peek into their recording studio :
Mike Keneally has sent out another Keneallist newsletter, and with good reason:
Mike's new solo album, "The Thing That Knowledge Can't Eat", will officially be released on the 24th of February.
https://store.keneally.com/products/mike-keneally-the-thing-that-knowledge-cant-eat-cd-plus-download
Here's the official video for 'Big Hit Song' :
Featured in The San Diego Union Tribune:
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/music/story/2023-01-11/guitar-wizard-mike-keneally-a-member-of-six-bands-starts-new-chapter-with-covid-era-solo-album
Featured in the Greek Blues website:
https://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/q-a-with-talented-multi-instrumentalist-mike-keneally-one-of-the-
Mike will participate in the upcoming Devin Townsend tour.
Feb. 21, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
Feb. 23, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Helsinki, Finland - Kulttuuritalo
Feb. 24, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Tampere, Finland - Tampereen Tullikamari (Pakkahuone & Klubi)
Feb. 25, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Oulu, Finland - Tapahtumakeskus Tullisali
Feb. 27, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
Feb. 28, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Göteborg, Sweden - Pustervik
Mar. 1, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
Mar. 3, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Tilburg, Netherlands - Poppodium 013
Mar. 4, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Köln, Germany - Carlswerk Victoria
Mar. 5, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Lille, France - Le Splendid
Mar. 7, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Leipzig, Germany - Werk 2
Mar. 8, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Frankfurt Am Main, Germany - Batschkapp
Mar. 10, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Zurich, Switzerland - X-Tra
Mar. 11, 2023@ 8:00 PM - München, Germany - Backstage Werk
Mar. 13, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Dornbirn, Austria - Conrad Sohm
Mar. 14, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Trezzo Sull'adda Mi, Italy - Live Club
Mar. 16, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz
Mar. 17, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Madrid, Spain - Sala La Riviera
Mar. 18, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Lisboa, Portugal - Cineteatro Capitólio
Mar. 20, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Ramonville-St-Agne, France - Le Bikini
Mar. 21, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Marseille, France - Le Moulin
Mar. 22, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Clermont-Ferrand, France - La Cooperative De Mai
Mar. 24, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
Mar. 25, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA Longhorn
Mar. 26, 2023@ 8:00 PM - Paris, France - L’Olympia
Mar. 28, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Bexhill On Sea, United Kingdom - De La Warr Pavilion
Mar. 29, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Bristol, United Kingdom - O2 Academy Bristol
Mar. 31, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Manchester, United Kingdom - Manchester Academy
Apr. 1, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Nottingham, United Kingdom - Rock City
Apr. 2, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom - Newcastle University Students' Union
Apr. 4, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Wolverhampton, United Kingdom - KK's Steel Mill
Apr. 5, 2023@ 7:00 PM - Norwich, United Kingdom - University Of East Anglia
And one can find MK on Bandcamp : https://mikekeneallymusic.bandcamp.com/
and on Patreon : https://www.patreon.com/MikeKeneally
The Six Million Dollar Guitar releases recordings through Bandcamp. Most of the time, these are lengthy jams, often inspired by a song or an artist.
The most recent album, "Lost Horizons", is performed on a Schecter sustainiac guitar, which has an active system that allows notes to keep on sounding. Some of the Schecter guitars even have three settings: you can let the note ring though, you can get an harmonic overtone, or you can get both.
Anyway, another nice improvised soundscape by The Six Million Dollar Guitar.
Originally released in 1977 in a limited edition of 500 copies, the "Blorp Essette" compilation album featured artwork by none other than Don Van Vliet / Captain Beefheart.
(and it included The Residents).
Los Angeles Free Music Society release.
A second volume got released in 1980. Again with artwork by Don Van Vliet.
Both albums got re-issued as part of a 4CD set in 1980.
Volume 1 recently got re-released.
As a limited edition LP on the Etats-Unis record label.
The new Giant Sleep album is out !
When GIANT SLEEP came to be in 2012, it was an unlikely but ultimately fruitful liaison: Founded by guitarists Patrick Hagmann and Markus Ruf after the demise of melodic death metallers Fear My Thoughts together with former Destruction singer Thomas Rosenmerkel, the band became an outlet for the members ́ passion for all things classic rock without shallow “vintage” or retro” sentiments.
Consequently, their first, self-titled full-length became “demo of the month” in opinion-leading German magazine Rock Hard in 2014, followed three years later by label debut “Move a Mountain” (Eucalypdisc) while the group kept gigging selectively with international acts such as ASG or Dead Lord and at festivals, also replacing Ruf with Tobias Glanzmann (ex-Zatokrev) and further honing their craft.
With new material collected during four years of free and easy songwriting, the Swiss-German quintet recorded their third album GROUNDED TO THE SKY completely live within two days – practically no overdubs! – at Little Creek Studios in Gelterkinden/CH together with producer V.O. Pulver (Destruction, Pro-Pain et al). Vividly capturing the musicians ́ live energy, the nine tracks display Giant Sleep ́s widest range of tastes, colours, moods and sounds yet.
https://redbookediciones.com/producto/musica/zappa/
Here's a part of the Zappanale performance from a little while ago.
An amazing concert, I must add.
The Ghost Highway Recordings label has issued a calendar.
Artwork by Francisco Diaz.
The illustrations feature Captain Beefheart, Roky Erickson, Suzy Quatro, Suicide, Ramones, New Bomb Turks, HeWhoCannotBeNamed, Bo Diddley, Dead Boys, Jeffrey Lee Pierce, Kinks, MC5
https://ghosthighwayrecordings.bandcamp.com/merch/calendario-ghr-2023
The Vegetarians, featuring Hans Annéllsson, have released "Loo Read".
And take a closer look at the album cover !
Pierre Vervloesem has remixed / revamped his "Folklorik" album.
Check it out !
A fine article by Mark Wingfield about his guitar hero, Jeff Beck.
https://londonjazznews.com/2023/01/16/jeff-beck-a-tribute-by-mark-wingfield/
Mentioned in the article, the amazing 'Nadia'.
At the Zappanale expo: Helmut King and Peter Görs.
Music at the expo will be provided by Kuhn Fu, Fred Händl, and Tante Tofu.
Gowy's excellent 2015 "Atoms" album is getting a (limited) vinyl release.
Read more:
https://gowy.bandcamp.com/album/atoms
Al Caprone's 2018 "Yacht Rock Breaks 2" album includes part of the guitar solo from FZ's 'Inca Roads'.
It cuts in at around 1 minute and 38 seconds in the first track.
Previously only available for streaming and download, the album will get a CDR release on the L33K5P1N 84574RD5 label in a limited edition of 10 copies.
and it should be out before the end of the month.
Just look at the name of the guests !!
In the liner notes for this digital track release, Eidon says:
I didn't know Frank Zappa or his music, when he died. But now I know and love Frank's music; and I feel like I've lost too many an opportunity: never met him, never watched him live; and even more than that, I never had the chance to talk to him, about music and all. Not that he would have cared. I would have, though; very, very much.
Why am I saying this now? Well, Jeff Beck has left us, you know. And it's the same. That same mistake again. I don't know Jeff Beck, don't know his music. But I know that it's my loss. The end. Too late. The only way now will be to get to know what I have lost and, if I can, learn a bit what I have missed. It will be like talking to him, or more precisely as writing him letters, as people used to do long ago. Letters that were written without knowing how long would have taken for those thoughts to reach the destinee."I'd Love To Turn You On" is a 3CD set that presents classical and avant-garde music that inspired The Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, and a bunch of other artists.
As an example of the music that inspired FZ, the set includes Edgard Varèse's 'Hyperprism'.
Released in 2020.
In 2018, the same record label, "El", had already released the "Complete Works Of Edgard Varèse".
A 3CD box set.
a message from Bandcamp :
Happy 75th Birthday to John Etheridge!
Long life to SOFT MACHINE and JOHN ETHERIDGE.
Confirmed SOFT MACHINE shows in 2023:
Feb 03 - LONDON, UK (New Cross Inn)
Feb 08 - WIMBORNE, UK (Tivoli Theatre Wimborne)
Feb 15 - MANCHESTER, UK (Band on the Wall)
Feb 16 - KINROSS, UK (Backstage Green Hotel)
Feb 17 - AMBLESIDE, UK (Zeferelliss)
May 26 - LEEDS, UK (Leeds City Varieties)
Oct 06 - NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA (The Iridium)
Oct 07 - NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA (The Iridium)
Oct 14 - QUEBEC CITY, QC, Canada (Salle d’Youville)
Oct 14 - QUEBEC CITY, QC, Canada (Salle d’Youville)
Oct 24 - CHICAGO, IL, USA (Reggie's)
Oct 26 - INDIANAPOLIS, IN, USA (Irving Theater)
Sdban Records has released two samplers that focus on Belgian (afro)funk, soul and latin.
--
Ostbahn Kurti's 1992 album, “A Blede Gschicht“, featured a track called‘Bertl Braun’. Ostbahn-Kurti’s version of FZ’s ’Bobby Brown’.
According to the number of samplers that I have found that included 'Bert Braun', the song must have been quite a hit single in Austria.
The latest addition to the series is the Ostbahn Kurti "Austro Masters Collection" from 2016 !
From GlassOnyon PR
Zappa Alumni Mike Keneally To Release New Album “The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat” feat. Steve Vai, Eric Slick, Nick D'Virgilio and others!
Frank Zappa alumni Mike Keneally will be releasing his new solo album “The Thing That Knowledge Can’t Eat” on Feb. 24, 2023. Pre-orders are available NOW at store.keneally.com. The eagerly awaited release features guest appearances by Steve Vai, Eric Slick, Nick D'Virgilio and others.
Says Mike, “This is my first new solo album in seven years - the last one was ‘Scambot 2’ in 2016, so this one has really been a long time coming. About half of the material on the new album was in the works prior to the pandemic, but the other half was created at home in lockdown in 2020 and 2021, and all the finishing touches were placed on the songs during 2022, so it's been in the works for a while. I've never done so much work on an album on my own, so the learning curve was steep, but I did have help from friends all along the way, including farming out tracks to drummers who were also locked down at home. I wrote all the songs, and the lyrics of the later songs definitely reflect the strange times during which the album was finalized. A lot of my past albums have been lengthy, extended works, but this one is a tight 42 minutes, nine songs - I think it goes down pretty smooth but it travels to a lot of different places along the way. I'm extremely happy with it, and very grateful to finally be able to share it with everyone.”
Watch the first video from the album for the song “Celery” (featuring Steve Vai):
Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins upcoming shows:
Jan 13 – The Grand Ritz, Escondido (advance record release party/concert
Jan 14 – Alvas Showroom, San Pedro – 7pm
Jan 15 – Alvas Showroom, San Pedro – 4pm
Jan 16 – The Siren, Morro Bay – 6:30pm
Jan 17 – The Baked Potato, LA – two sets, 8 and 10pm
To purchase:
https://store.keneally.com/products/mike-keneally-the-thing-that-knowledge-cant-eat-cd-plus-download
The different editions :
It's eight years ago already that Derek Cornett released his version of FZ's 'Blessed Relief' on Soundcloud.
An acoustic guitar trio arrangement.
A couple of weeks ago, UK/Dutch Zappa coverband Zappatika released an EP through Soundcloud.
5 tracks.
Recorded in Germany, on tour with Ike Willis.
It looks like Universal is accelerating.
There's a new Zappa release announced for March.
"Zappa '80 - Mudd Club / Munich"
Zappa ’80: Mudd Club/Munich combines two historical performances from the spring/summer 1980 band. The first is from a set at FZ’s favorite NYC nightclub – the famous Mudd Club. Presented from a hi-res transfer of the original master tape. The second from Olympiahalle in Munich is the first ever live direct to digital stereo recording of Zappa. Mastering by Bernie Grundman, 2022. Photography and memoir from George Alper, with liner notes from Arthur Barrow, Steve Vai, Vaultmeister Joe Travers.
Mike Keneally's new album, "The Thing That Knowledge Can't Eat", can be pre-ordered from Mike's website:
https://store.keneally.com/
Last month, Gov't Mule had to cancel their New Year's concert series because Warren Haynes was hospitalised due to complications from Covid and Influenza.
Although Warren is doing better, he sent out an e-mail that he will not be able to participate to the Island Exodus festival that's being held from Jan 15 to 19.
Gov't Mule will be performing, but without Warren.
We wish him a speedy recovery.
Here's the adjusted line-up:
Morgan Ågren contributed to Anatole Muster's 'Layers'.
The track has been made available on Bandcamp.
To be honest, he did lose quite some credibility a couple of years ago, being against Covid safety regulations and complaining about all the lockdown restrictions.
And then last year, he did get Covid and he admitted that he had been vaccinated...
Oh well, at least he can play the guitar and he has a nice voice.
That being said, "The Lady In The Balcony" is a very enjoyable album.
Some classics and some original material (some of which are also classics).
Available in various formats: LP, CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, with a book,...
Recommended listening.
If I had to pick one track:
January 21, 2023 at the Sudhaus in Basel, Switzerland,
The Universe By Ear will share the bill with Monotrone and with Online $hopping.
https://www.sudhaus.ch/events/the-universe-by-ear-monotrone-online-hopping
I already mentioned Darko The Super's "Freak Out!" album in Volume 3 of The Others Of Invention, but I'm not sure if I already mentioned it here.
The artwork for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based rapper Darko The Super’s ”Freak Out” album needs no explanation.
In 2017, Darko The Super had already released “Don’t Call The Brain Police!”, an album inspired by FZ’s ‘Who Are The Brain Police?’.
Darko The Super’s “Freak Out” got released on CD and was made available as a download through Bandcamp.
No Zappa music, lyrics or samples as far as I can tell, but it's a nice (and funny) rap album and I do like the artwork.
The Six Million Dollar Guitar released another set of improvisations / guitar solos.
Track number 5 is called 'I'm The Slime' and it's a 40 minute (!!) improvisation that's (obviously) inspired by the FZ piece.
The Japanese edition of Zappa's "Waka / Wazoo" box is popping up at several on-line record stores outside of Japan.
On Super High Material CD (plus a Blu-Ray).
