A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Pito Ka Walo'
by Eidon

MAURO PAWLOWSKI'S NEW ALBUM IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON BANDCAMP

Musical mastermind Mauro Pawlowski will be releasing a new album next month.

You can already check out a couple of tunes and pre-order the album over at Bandcamp.

NEW SINGLE FROM PURBAYAN CHATTERJEE & MARK LETTIERI

Purbayan Chatterjee & Mark Lettieri - 9000 Miles

ALEC K. REDFEARN AND THE EYESORES

The Cuneiform Record label added a 15' bonus live track to ALEC K. REDFEARN AND THE EYESORES' "The Smother Party".

The live bonus track (#10) was appended in May, 2026 with Alec's full endorsement. This is a rare, good quality recording of the large scale Eyesores in full, LOUD concert flight!

 
It's not perfect, but it captures something aggressive and noisy, with Frank Difficult conjuring up hell as a full member of the ensemble!

 
If you already own this album, this track is now yours for no charge and you can stream it download it and enjoy it evermore.

If you don't already own this album or know this band, head on over and listen to the last track!

 

DEVIN TOWNSEND TOURDATES

Devin Townsend will start a solo tour in September.

https://hevydevy.com/tour-dates/

-

JAZZ A LA VILETTE

https://jazzalavillette.com/fr/programme

A couple of reasons to visit Paris :

In concert at Jazz à la Vilette

Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest
Dirigé par Jules Buckley
1re partie : Arsenal Mikebe
vendredi 28 août • 20h00
Grande Halle de La Villette

Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest
Dirigé par Jules Buckley
1re partie : Dolphin Hyperspace
samedi 29 août • 20h00
Grande Halle de La Villette

Selah Sue and The Gallands
1re partie : I Am Roze
vendredi 4 septembre • 20h00
Grande Halle de La Villette

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

KEVIN KASTNING & PAUL WERTICO

I mentioned Kevin Kastning & Paul Wertico's "Interchange One" a little while ago, calling it a sonic adventure.
"Interchange One" was Kevin Kastning (baritone guitar, contrabaritone guitar) and Paul Wertico's (drums, percussion, prepared drumset and talking drum) first collaboration.
A second album has been announced for later this year.

Greydisc Records presents

Kevin Kastning & Paul Wertico:

The Story Behind the "Interchange Sessions"

The albums "Interchange One" and "Interchange Two" by Kevin Kastning (30-string Contra-Baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-Contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-Contraguitar) and Paul Wertico (Acoustic Drums & Cymbals (featuring the Wertico Ride), Prepared Drumset & Talking Drum) were recorded in January-February 2026.

The story and the process behind these two albums is quite unusual, especially in the jazz world.

Paul explains:
"I think it’s critical to understanding how this music was actually created.

A few months ago, Kevin (who I didn’t know at the time) contacted me on Facebook Messenger about the possibility of recording a duo album project together. I then called him by phone and I told him that I’d love to do a duo project together.

Two days later Kevin, who lives in Maine, sent to me in Chicago (where I live), a track that he improvised. I listened to about the first 30 seconds of it and decided to record my drums over it in my home studio without ever hearing the entire track. I then sent the results back to him and we agreed that we indeed had a special chemistry, so he sent me more improvised tracks for me to record over, and I sent him some improvised drum tracks for him to record over.
Our concept was basically that two streams of water/music can exist independently, but also co-exist and blend and/or clash sonically with each other during the same passage of time. It’s also based on “organic time” (flowing time) verses “inorganic time" (metronomic time). So, our musical conversation was primarily one of listening to the other person speaking through their instrument in real time, while reacting to it without any pre-plan or set agenda. Every track was also recorded by both of us in a single unedited take.
The result was that we ended up with two full albums worth of material, again, all of which were recorded as complete first takes without ever pre-hearing what we were playing/recording over. By the way, this is even before we actually made a video call where we could even see what each other looked like!
After we had 14 completed tracks, I mixed the drums and sent the drum mixes to Kevin where he mixed the guitar and the drums together, and then I mastered the final mixes. Next, we discussed the titles of the albums (Kevin’s suggestion), the song titles (my suggestion) and we agreed on artwork from artists Kevin knew (and had worked with before).

Lastly, we agreed to release our music on Kevin’s Greydisc label, and since then we’re just waiting for reviews, and hoping that we’ll get the opportunity to perform live together in the near future. Every aspect of these recordings has been a study in mutual respect and friendship.

Our musical chemistry is only equaled by our personal interactions, where we talk frequently (often several times a day) about music and life, etc."

Kevin adds:

“Again, we want to stress that on both albums, we recorded (overdubbed) our parts on each other’s tracks without previously hearing those tracks. Additionally, the recordings for each track and its overdubbed part by the other person were all first takes, as well as being complete and full takes. While the compositions on both albums sound composed, in fact everything was improvised in the studio in a single take, with no edits in post-production. The albums as you hear them are exactly how everything was recorded in our respective studios in Maine and Chicago.”

Interchange One was released on 31 March 2026.

Interchange Two is released on 4 August 2026.

Here's 'Adjacent Flowing Streams V', from "Interchange One":

ANTOINE FAFARD

Canadian composer, bass and guitar player Antoine Fafard has released 9 albums. If you also count the two that he did with Gavin Harrison, that is.

"Fusion", is what I was told. 
What a discovery. This sounds really great.
And while enjoying some clips, I also noticed that he has worked with several Frank Zappa drummers !

• Antone Fafard: Occultus Tramitis
      (2013, cd, Canada, unicorn digital)
      - Feat. Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozzio
  
  
• Antone Fafard: Ad Perpetuum
      (2014, cd, Canada, unicorn digital)
      - Feat. Vinnie Colaiuta
  
  
• Antone Fafard: Proto Mundi
      (2017, 2cd, --, timeless momentum)
      = compilation + 4 unreleased tracks + “Doomsday Vault” bonus disc
      - Feat. Vinnie Colaiuta, Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozzio
  
  

From "Ad Perpetuum" :

SNARKY PUPPY - LIVE AT GROUNDUP MUSIC FESTIVAL

• Snarky Puppy: Live At GroundUp Music Festival (Record Store Day 2026 Edition)
      (2026, lp, USA, ground up)

Released as a download / streaming album on digital music platforms in 2022, "Live At GroundUp Music Festival 2017 - 2021" also got a (red) vinyl release on the latest Record Store Day.

I'm not the biggest fan of Record Store Day. Quite the contrary actually.
I do support independent record stores and releases, I just don't like the fact that most of the RSD albums  are not easy to find.

That being said, Snarky Puppy rules !!

Here's 'Grown Folks', in a different version than what's on this album.
But !!! with special guest Esperanza Spalding.

MICK ZEUNER - LEUFO LEBT !

Mick Zeuner compiled and produced several Zappanale sampler CDs. Being a drummer, he also contributed to several Frank Zappa-related albums: The String Trash Project and Z.E.R.O. just to name two.

More recently, Mick released "Leufo Lebt !" on Bandcamp, a complete album.
Recorded during the summer of 1984, "Leufo Lebt !".

Check it out !

HEUBACHER ZAPPA NACHT SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 17

In Heubach, Germany.

TREACHEROUS CRETINS TOURDATES

Concepual Continuity Tour coming very soon

It’s May already… which means the Conceptual Continuity Tour kicks off Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May, at The Lexington, London.

We’ve been back in the studio rehearsing a whole batch of new tunes and we cannot wait to get back out and see you all. With so many gems in the Zappa catalogue, it’s been a joy (and a challenge!) picking, arranging, and learning the new material. We previewed a few pieces at Festival Moo‑ah, and they went down a treat.

This run includes some of our favourite familiar venues, plus new stops in Brighton and Tavistock (in June).

As always, we couldn’t do any of this without you - and without the forward‑thinking venues and promoters who keep live music alive. If you haven’t grabbed your tickets yet, now’s the time. Your support genuinely keeps this whole thing moving.

🎃 Halloween Shows — October 2026

As previously announced, we will be back out on the road in October playing some Halloween shows. Firstly a dash to Germany for the Heubacher Zappa Nacht on the 17th October. We will be visiting The Cavern in Liverpool 26/10), The Railway in Winchester (30/10) and the Finsbury in London (31/10). Our Halloween shows are becoming an annual event and a great chance for the Zappa community to meet up and celebrate FZ's favourite holiday. Don't miss out… get yer tickets now!

New merch

https://treacherouscretins.bandcamp.com/merch/treacherous-cretins-60-years-of-fz

PINK FLOYD TRIBUTES

Just when I was about to give the "Back Against The Wall" Pink Floyd tribute 2 CD set another spin, I noticed that it has been re-issued but with an additional third disc this time, retitled "Various Artists: Animals Against The Wall – Volume II".

I have the impression that there are more Pink Floyd tribute albums than original Pink Floyd albums...

"Back Against The Wall" features Vinnie Colaiuta, Adrian Belew, Aynsley Dunbar and Dweezil Zappa, just to name a few.

• Various Artists: Back Against The Wall
      (2005, 2cd, --, purple pyramid)

Here's the album cover for "Animals Against The Wall - Volume II":

• Various Artists: Animals Against The Wall – Volume II
      (2026, 3cd, USA, lemon records)
  

Here's 'Run Like Hell"
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar * Electric Guitar – Bob Kulick * Keyboards – Billy Sherwood * Lead Guitar – Dweezil Zappa * Soloist [Keyboard] – Tony Kaye * Vocals, Bass – Jason Scheff

UPCOMING ED PALERMO BIG BAND CONCERTS

 A message from Ed Palermo

This theme's so nice we're going to do it thrice.

June 1, 2026 The Iridium 8:30 PM
www.ticketweb.com/event/ed-palermo-big-band-iridium-tickets/14072974

June 13, 2026 The Falcon (2 Shows)

Matinee (3:30 PM):
www.liveatthefalcon.com/shows/the-ed-palermo-big-band-matinee-show-12

Dinner Show (8 PM):
www.liveatthefalcon.com/shows/the-ed-palermo-big-band-22

FRANK GAMBALE

Frank Gambale - May 29, 2026, - Muziekhandel Leo Caerts, Leuven, BE - "live guitar clinic"

 -

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve

NEW MUSIC BY MAURO PAWLOWSKI

https://www.undayrecords.be/news/mauro-pawlowski-announces-new-single-%E2%80%98maintained-love%E2%80%99-and-his-upcoming-album

 

GIORGIO LIBERA - WHAT'S ALL THIS NOISE FOR ?

• Giorgio Libera: What's All This Noise For ?
      (2004, cd, Switzerland, private release)

Giorgio Libera released his second album, "What's All This Noise For ?",  in 2004.
Experimental, zappa-esque rock.
Even more amazing is the fact that there are two familiar sounding songs on the album: 'Day Tripper' and 'Come Together'.

Love it.
Essential listening.

Rémy Sträuli on drums !!

'Francis'

'Day Tripper / Come Together'

JOHN CURRY'S MAIL ART

Quite a while ago, around 2014 (?), John Curry produced a series of mail art postage stamps.
The series, entitled the Trystero PX stamps, consisted of 4 different stamps.
Here's a picture of the Frank Zappa one :

MORE MONKEES

Next to his appearance in the 1968 "Head" movie, Frank Zappa was also featured in one of The Monkees' TV Shows.
In show no. 57, broadcast on March 11, 1968, Michael Nesmith teaches Frank Zappa how to play a car to the tune of The Mothers Of Invention’s ‘Mother People’.

This got released on :

• The Monkees: Vol. 16
      (1995, vhs video, USA, rhino home video)

And then there's the Davy Jones / Frank Zappa interview.
I don't know if this was also part of show no. 57, but it did find it's way to a Monkees DVD.

• The Monkees: Hey, Hey… We’re The Monkees
      (2005, dvd, Norway, scantrade entertainment)

Both fragments :

 

ZAPPA - HITHERTO UNKNOWN

• Zappa: Hitherto Unknown
      (2012, 2cd-bootleg, --, the godfatherrecords)

This bootleg 2 CD set got released a bit over 10 years ago.
Shortly thereafter, so-called radio show albums started popping up, taking over the CD-bootleg market.

Anyway, The Godfatherrecords was a familiar sounding name at the time. They had already released several Frank Zappa (bootleg) titles: "Viva Zappa", "Muffin Man Goes To College", "Live At Leroy Theater", Come On Punky", "The Time To Sing And Dance And Love",...
I have most of these and they look and sound great. That's why I couldn't resist when I bumped into "Hitherto Unkown".

Recorded live at Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ, USA, October 13, 1978. Early Show.
Nice.

THE MONKEES - HEAD

The Monkees "Head" movie was a full-length theatrical motion picture, released in 1968.
It only aired on TV in 1974, as a "CBS Late Movie".

It was made available on laserdisc in 1986 !
A VHS video release only followed in 1991.
Nothing new, but a copy of the VHS tape recently arrived at UM HQ.

Frank Zappa made a cameo walking around with a cow on a leash and talking to David Jones.

DRACU - TROUBLE COMIN' EVERY DAY

 

AARON DANKS

Aaron Danks, aka danksy_for_real, is releasing a new single titled "WORM AND GOD" (or "WORM & GOD"), which is scheduled to be out on the 15th of May.
It could / should feature Dweezil Zappa?

MARC-ANDRE HAMELIN - RUTH IS SLEEPING (F. ZAPPA)

Released on CD a little while ago, and now, Marc-André Hamelin is touring with this program.

His Berlin concert got recorded and will be broadcast on May 8 on Deutschlandfunk.

VAK - BUDO

• VAK: Budo
      (2018, cd, France, soleil zeuhl 55)

French progressive rock / zeuhl / RIO band VAK released two albums: "Aedividea" (2015) and "Budo" (2018).

I got introduced to "Budo" a little while ago and I can only say that this is yet another excellent release on the French Soleil Zeuhl record label.

...widely acclaimed as a top-tier Zeuhl release, blending complex, jazzy progressive rock with intense, rhythmic foundations. The French band delivers a "modern" take on the genre influenced by Magma and Eskaton, featuring strong female vocals, heavy basslines, and synth-heavy soundscapes.

• Alexandre Michaan - keyboards
• Joël Crouzet - bass-guitar
• Vladimir Mejstelman - drums
• Aurélie Saintecroix - vocals
  with guests
• Michaël Havard - sax
• Nora Froger - flute
• Hyder Aga - guitar

Here are the first two tracks: 'Budo' & 'Hquark'. Good for 50 minutes (!!) of breathtaking music...

DANS DANS - LIVE !

• Dans Dans: Live !
      (2026, lp, Belgium, unday records)

To describe their music as a blend of rock and jazz does not do Dans Dans justice.
Sure, at first glance, the trio sounds like an instrumental and more energetic version of some of the 1970s bands that we like, but they're so much more.

The trio has a very distinctive sound. There's great interaction between the musicians, and, most important, the compositions are great and the music unfolds beautifully.

• Frederic Lyenn Jacques: bass, baritone guitar, synth
• Steven Cassiers: drums, percussion, synth
• Bert Dockx: guitar

Here's 'Naiad' :

The LP was a Record Store Day release and presents 6 tracks.
It comes with a QR code for an additional two tracks (bandcamp streaming only).

Or if you like to listen to the entire album in one go, you can get a complete download / streaming copy at iTunes.

Recommended !!

WARREN HAYNES

Out now, 'Banks of The Deep End' is the first glimpse into "Dreams & Songs", his forthcoming symphonic project blending the soul of his songwriting with the power of a full orchestra.

Originally a fan-favorite from the Gov’t Mule catalog, this reimagined version transforms the song into something entirely new— expansive, cinematic, and deeply emotional. It’s a reminder of how Warren’s music continues to evolve while staying rooted in the spirit that’s defined his career.
Dreams & Songs is now available on streaming platforms

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'ThemAhmeT',
a new piece by Eidon

ANTHONY GARONE - OK, BUT WHY?

Lobbyist and advocate for music from the other side of the fence, Anthony Garone, will be releasing an album on the MoonJune Records label.

To be released on the first of June, but you can already check out a couple of tracks !

THE GODDESS COMPLES - STARLESS

The Goddess Complex released a live recording of 'Starless', the King Crimson piece.

I like what the Goddess Complex does, although this particular performance does sound a bit off at times...

 

MIKE KENEALLY - - - UPCOMING GIGS

From Mike Keneally's latest newsletter:

I GOT SOME GIGS COMING UP, I ALSO GOTTA GO TO SLEEP SOON SO I’M GONNA TRY TO MAKE THIS QUICK

May 21 – I’m sitting in with the Florence Symphony Orchestra for FSO ROCKS, playing rude electric guitar on a bunch of classic rock tracks – I did this with them two years ago and it was a total blast, very happy to be doing it again!

June 18, 20, 21, 23, 25 and 28 I’m guest soloist at a hugely elaborate presentation of Frank Zappa’s 200 Motels at the Grand Théâtre de Genève in Switzerland, replete with orchestra, choir, percussion ensemble, rock band, vocal soloists, the works...it’s gonna be huge.

End of September throughout all of October I’m in Europe with Banned From Utopia – I’m not automatically seeing a central ticket hub for the tour online, so please reference the charming tour poster you see here for all the dates.

End of November through the beginning of December I’m going to do some shows in the UK and the Netherlands with The Mike Keneally Report (my trio with Jaan Wessman and Schroeder), with Dave Cureton opening – I’ll have a lot more to say about this in a future Keneallist but for now here's the tour poster:

• Nov 30 – Manchester – Night and Day
• Dec 1 – Birmingham – The Flapper
• Dec 3 – Zoetermeer – Poppodium de Boerderij
• Dec 4 – Helmond NL – Cacaofabriek
• Dec 7 – Sheffield – Sidney & Matilda
• Dec 8 – Southhampton – The 1865
• Dec 9 – Fletching, UK – Trading Boundaries

I got some other shows happening through the summer and into the fall that haven’t been announced yet, but let’s just say yer boy is gonna be busy.

-- Mike

MEET CULPHO DOG GYMKHANA

Culpho Dog Gymkhana.
(Experimental) surf music.
Another Alan Jenkins project

NEW RELEASE BY TRUCE

A message from TRUCE.

We are thrilled to announce the release of TRUCE Live at CTTE, a raw and completely unfiltered document of our live evolution.

Recorded on March 7, 2026, in the Atrium of the Norwegian Pearl during the legendary *Cruise to the Edge*, this album captures a truly special moment in our history: it was only our second public performance ever.

• Markus Reuter: Touch Guitars® T8, Live Looping
• Fabio Trentini: Fretless Bass
• Asaf Sirkis: Acoustic Drums

MIKE KENEALLY - OFF-BROADWAY

Recorded October 13, 2006 at a small club in St. Louis, this long-buried live document finds Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller, and a 19-year-old Eric Slick colliding for a one-off performance with almost no rehearsal.

The result? Controlled chaos. Uncontrolled energy. Total commitment. Fresh off weeks of restrained acoustic performances, Keneally and Beller plug back in and unleash a set that’s equal parts intricate composition, fearless improvisation, and full-throttle rock abandon. Slick – barely out of his teens – doesn’t just keep up; he detonates, powering through some of Keneally’s most demanding material with jaw-dropping intensity.

This isn’t a polished live album. It’s better than that. It’s raw. It’s unpredictable. It’s alive.

You can hear the room. You can feel the risk. You can sense three musicians discovering just how far they can push each other – in real time.

Unearthed nearly two decades later from original multitrack recordings and mixed in 2026, Off-Broadway is more than a live release – it’s a time capsule of a night that could never happen the same way again.

HILARY JEFFEREY - GREEN PRISM - MUSIC BY KEITH TIPPETT

Discus Music just announced "Green Prism: music by Keith Tippett" by Hilary Jefferey.
To be released on the 29th of May 2026.

Music composed by Keith Tippett, arranged by Hilary Jeffery.
Lyrics by Julie Tippetts.

• Julie Tippetts - voice
• Tobias Delius - sax and clarinet
• Paul Dunmall - saxes
• Hilary Jeffery - brass, computer
• Eleni Poulou - synthesizer

The music on “Green Prism” is rooted in the last of the many commissions Keith wrote in the latter part of his career. It is quintessentially ‘Keith music’.

The creative force behind Green Prism is Hilary Jeffery. Like many others across the years, Hilary was inspired by attending one of Keith’s jazz workshops while he was studying at Dartington College of Arts.

“Green Prism” is a tribute to a master of composition in his maturity and a sensitive re-imagining by someone from a new generation discovering a way to celebrate the spirit of Keith Tippett. It’s a recording that will engross anyone who has loved Keith’s music.”

AKA MOON - - - TAKE THE COLTRANE

Aka Moon, featuring Robin Eubank & Wajdi Riahi, will be celebrating the music of John Coltrane.

October 1, 2026, at Reflektor in Liège, BE.

https://reflektor.be/en/concert/aka-moon-take-the-coltrane/

October 3, 2026, at Le Marni in Brussels, BE

https://www.leslundisdhortense.be/en/event/aka-moon-and-guests/

SRDJAN IVANOVIC'S DISCOGRAPHY

The Moonjune record label made a nice overview of Srdjan Ivanovic's discography.

Jazz, with balkan influences.

https://srdjanovic.bandcamp.com/

Srdjan Ivanovic's latest release:

CHRISTINE GOULET'S DEBUT ALBUM FEATURES MIKE KENEALLY, TONY LEVIN & JOE TRAVERS

From Mike Keneally's newsletter

Christine Goulet is a composer, lyricist, vocalist and keyboardist, with a fascination for all kinds of music and a desire to explore all of it. I’m delighted that she asked me to work with her on her debut album, and I hope you get a chance to hear it when it releases on May 29.

Here’s pre-order information for the vinyl and CD releases.

And here’s the first video from the album, for the title song “Data Queen”. A phenomenally catchy tune with Travers and Levin tearing it up.

 

Every song on the album sounds different from every other song on the album – I hope you find a place in your brain/heart/soul for Christine’s unique musical world! This is an ambitious and accomplished debut and it sets the stage for an exceptional musical career ahead – get in on the ground floor with Christine’s music, you shall not regret it.

SN.FM - RADIO SUPERNOVA VOL.1

Sn.Fm's "Supernova Vol.1" album includes a piece entitled 'Black Napkins'.
It features German rapper Dexter.

It is not the Frank Zappa composition but it does mention FZ in the lyrics.

52 seconds into the track

Ich höre 'Black Napkins' von Zappa
(Rest In Peace)
Du hörst durch die halb geöffnete Tür eine Wutanfall von papa

The LP got released in December 2025.

NEW BOOK ABOUT FRANK ZAPPA

• Dominique Dupuis: Frank Zappa
      (2026, book, France, --) - hardcover

The promo text:
A beautiful book presenting the history and complete discography of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in this new, updated, revised, and significantly expanded edition.

Dominique Dupuis also wrote the "Zappa Cover" album, released in 2017.

DR. STRANGELY STRANGE

Dr. Strangely Strange's "Heavy Petting" is getting a 2 CD set 55th Anniversary Edition.

-

From the original album:

NEW MIKE KENEALLY RELEASE ANNOUNCED

Unhinged live Keneally album comes to Bandcamp Friday!

Hi! It’s Mike again! Hey! And look:

"OFF-BROADWAY" (a one-off 2006 live performance by Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller and Eric Slick) COMES TO BANDCAMP THIS FRIDAY, May 1!

Off-Broadway will be available at 11:59pm PDT this Thursday, April 30. And you won’t believe all the other MK treasures that you can get right now at Bandcamp!

https://mikekeneallymusic.bandcamp.com/

All the archive releases we’ve put out as Bandcamp exclusives over the past several years have held their share of revelations for me, but probably none more so than this one.

Scott Chatfield and I, the co-cap’ns of Exowax, will periodically scour our respective archives, looking for interesting stuff to release. Recently Scott unearthed a massive, stuffed package, mailed to us twenty years previously by a gentleman named Mark Leaver, and residing undisturbed in Scott’s home since then.

This package proved to contain a trove of CD-Rs, with attendant and copious documentation generously provided by Mark, of a one-time show played in St. Louis by what was billed that night as The Mike Keneally Trio – me, Bryan Beller, and Eric Slick, a drummer I’d played with at several Project/Object gigs, but I’d never played my own music with him before. Mark had wired his digital recorder into the soundboard that night and ended up with a serviceable batch of multitracks.

Bryan and I had been traveling together for three weeks prior to this show, doing a bunch of Taylor Guitars clinics in music stores, with Scott tour-managing and merch-slinging. Several months before, a MySpace friend in St. Louis named Dan Kinney had taken note of our upcoming clinic schedule, and reached out to me via the MySpace private message pipeline (the very same pipeline I’d use to secure a gig in Dethklok the following year! MySpace works!!) and proposed that we end our tour with an electric gig in a St. Louis venue, which he then proceeded to set up. It was also Dan who suggested using Eric Slick for the gig, a perfect choice – I’d heard him absolutely eat Zappa material alive, and he was only 19 years old at the time of this St. Louis gig.

Keneally, Slick and Beller post-show huddle, October 13, 2006. (Photo by Mark Leaver)

The three of us rehearsed the songs, some of my hardest stuff, for the very first time at the venue during soundcheck, and a few hours later we played this gig, and pretty much laid waste to the place. There is a really ferocious energy to this show that seems entirely connected to its one-and-done nature – we didn’t have any other gigs booked afterwards, for us to refine and hone the material further – this was IT, our one shot, and we just sank our teeth into the stuff.

After Scott had found the multitracks after their twenty years spent in a box, I spent several weeks in March and April mixing them at home (with sonic insights offered by Sarah Crochet upon request) and I was frankly flabbergasted by what I heard in the tracks. It understates the case considerably to say that the recording exceeded my expectations. I think it’s fantastic. It’s loud and raw and real and I sure do hope you enjoy it very much; I’m freaking thrilled with it.

Bryan, Eric and I all wrote liner notes for the pdf that comes with the Bandcamp download (as did Dan Kinney who made the gig happen, and Mark Leaver who recorded it). Bryan’s notes make reference to how someone might assume, given Eric’s youth and the fact that he’d never played this material before, that Bryan and I might have needed to sort of coach Eric along during the gig, and this is very much not the case – Eric unapologetically OWNS these tunes, and my unavoidable feeling when listening to this is, why didn’t the three of us do more of this?? Apart from that day’s soundcheck, this is literally the only time this trio ever played together (so far anyway - none of us are done yet), and I’m so grateful to have this recording documenting it.

The tracks:

1. “You Guys Gonna Start Right Away, or…?”
2. Snowcow
3. Father’s Day
4. Intro to Dolphins
5. Dolphins
6. Pride is a Sin
7. My Dilemma
8. Intro to 2001/The Entertainer
9. 2001
10. Intro to Supermarket People
11. Supermarket People
12. Not Really Roy/Intro to Uglytown
13. Uglytown
14. Haugseth
15. Performing Miracles
16. The Mystery Music
17. Panda
18. “Can I Get Some Water?”/Intro to Nonkerchunk
19. Nonkerchunk
20. “Eric, You Rock Tonight”
21. Potato
22. Inca Roads
23. “I Know What You Wanna Hear”/Intro to Breakfast
24. ‘Cause of Breakfast

I’ll leave this here: Bandcamp Friday is the periodic Friday wherein Bandcamp does not take a cut of artist/label proceeds, so the income from every Exowax product you purchase on Bandcamp Friday goes 100% to Exowax. We are continually grateful for the support you’ve shown us on Bandcamp Friday – thank you, friends!

SUN RA - - - HIDDEN FIRE

The Strut record label is releasing Sun Ra's "Hidden Fire" as a 2 LP set in Japan.
Release-date is set at the first of May.

NEOM - ARKANA TEMPORIS

• Neom: Arkana Temporis
      (2009, cd, France, soleil zeuhl 21)

Emerging from Valence, France, around 2005, Neom was formed as part of a new generation of "Zeuhlers" dedicated to furthering the unique style pioneered by Magma in the 1970s.
The band was a four-piece ensemble featuring: 

• Carole Duchene Sauvage - Fender Rhodes electric piano
• Yannick Duchene Sauvage - guitar and vocals
• William Pawelzik - bass
• Christophe Gratien - drums.

Released by the renowned Soleil Zeuhl record label, the album is said to act as a bridge between the intense, dark energy of pioneers Magma and a cleaner, modern aesthetic.

What a discovery.
Beautiful !!

Here's the final track of the album: 'Act II - Part 1'

FULANO - EN DIRECTO

• Fulano: ¡En Directo!
      (2017, cd, Mexico, luna negra)

Fulano's latest album got recorded live in 2010, during a concert in Mexico.
It got released in 2017.
"En Directo" showcases an unique fusion of progressive rock and jazz, with obvious Latin American influences.

Great !!

LA JUNGLE TOUR DATES

La Jungle

 Tour dates

THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW - VOLUME 7

I guess most Frank Zappa fans are familiar with his appearance on The Mike Douglas Show, October 1976.
The interview is great, but the performance of 'Black Napkins' gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

Little did I know that the show had been released officially.
On VHS video tape, by Rhino Home Video in 2000.
I'm very happy with the copy that I acquired recently.

• TV-Show: The Mike Douglas Show Vol.7
      (2000, vhs video, USA, rhino home video)

ADRIAN BELEW - ELECTRONIC GUITAR

 I recently came across a copy of this 1984 VHS tape: 
"Adrian Belew: Electronic Guitar"

25 minutes into the tape, Adrian shows a technique that Frank Zappa thought him:

the bagpipe style.
Adrian's example sounds more Scottish, whereas FZ used to get a more (and referred to it as a) Bulgarian bagpipe style, but it sounds amazing.

And YouTube wouldn't be YouTube without a digital copy of this instructional video.

BRAND X

Brand X was retired a few years ago after John Goodsall passed. Unfortunately the ex management are still running a Facebook page titled "Official Brand X".. This is completely fraudulent, so I'm posting this video to put the record straight and protect the legacy of the band They were given a lot of time to fix the problem but they did nothing. If they don't want to look bad they should not behave this way.

-- Percy Jones April 2026

- - - -
The Opening track from their first album :

• John Goodsall - Guitar
• Robin Lumley - Piano, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano, Moog
• Percy Jones - Fretless Bass
• Phil Collins - Drums

PROMO VIDEO FOR THE UPCOMING MOONJUNE FESTIVAL

Here is the first promotional video for the 4th MoonJune International Festival, which will take place in Teramo, Italy, July 22-25, 2026, celebrating 25 years of MoonJune Music, both the MoonJune Records label and the MoonJune Booking & Management boutique booking agency.

• Osanna with David Jackson
• Soft Machine with Gary Husband
• Gong with Steve Hillage
• Steve Hillage Rainbow Dome Musick feat. Miquette Giraudy
• Diego Amador Flamenco Free Jazz
• Beledo-Dharmawan MoonUnity Band
• Gary Husband One
• Markus Reuter Truce
• Dewa Budjana & Nicolas Meier
• Stephan Thelen Fractal Trio with Fabio Anile & Anthony Garone
• What's Rattlin' with Beppe Crovella & Michel Delville
• Anton Roolaart band w/ Beledo
• Vittorino Curci Sax & Poesia with Luca Calabrese
• Boris Savoldelli Psychedelic Jazz Trio Plays The Dark Side Of The Moon
• Danilo Di Paolonicola Plays Charlie Parker
• Gustavo Cerqueiras Tierra Mia
• Gómez/Balza
• Derek Shulman ('Giant Steps' Book Presentation)
• Roundtable: 60 years of Soft Machine
• Roundtable: 25 years of MoonJune Music
• MoonJune Awards
• Open Jam Session

TIEMERSMA, REYNALDO & GRANOTA

If you're wondering what Caballero Reynaldo is doing nowadays, give the Tiemersma, Reynaldo & Granota project a listen.
On their latest release, "Trombos Factory", they play the music of CCR.

THE RESIDENTS - RANDY, CHUCK AND BOB IN THE STUDIO

• The Residents: The Residents Present Randy, Chuck & Bob In The Studio
      (2026, lp, --, ralph) = RSD release

I was happy to get hold of this recent Record Store Day release from The Residents.
"Randy, Chuck & Bob In The Studio" collects unreleased studio material, demos and even jams from the so-called "Randy, Chuck and Bob" era (2009 - 2015).

Lots of details and pictures on the inner sleeve. Excellent !

Rumour has it that the band is working on a Bandcamp page where we will probably be seeing a digital / download version of this nice little item as well.

In the meantime, if you don't have the album, you can enjoy this YouTube capture:

VINCENT PRESLEY DISCUSSES THE RESIDENTS' DISCOGRAPHY

Vincent Presley, musician and Secret Records record label manager, discusses The Residents' discography.
9 parts already, but better start with part 1:

AL DIMEOLA, STEVE LUKTATHER & JOHN SCOFIELD - - - ALL BLUES

Al Di Meola, Steve Lukather, and John Scofield, performing Miles Davis' 'All Blues' at George Benson's "Breezin With the Stars" Guitar Camp.

DR. JOHN - LIVE AT ROCKPALAST 1999

• Dr. John: Live At Rockpalast 1999
      (2026, cd + dvd, --, mig music)

July 1999, Dr. John performed at the Loreley festival in Germany, delivering a potent mix of New Orleans funk, blues, and voodoo-infused rock.
The recording has now been released as a CD / DVD set by the MIG Music record label.

THREE NIGHTS OF FRED HÄNDL AT THE HAGUE, NL

BREAKFAST WITH VINNIE (COLAIUTA)

Vinnie Colaiuta talks to Dweezil Zappa.

https://www.youtube.com/live/D1FpMUp3en0

XAVI REIJA - - - NU BREED - - - LIVE (YOUTUBE) PRESENTATION ON APRIL 27

I mentioned Xavi Reija's excellent & brand-new "Nu Breed" album last week already.
It's out on MoonJune Records.
xavireija-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/nu-breed

• XAVI REIJA, drums
• DUSAN JEVTOVIC, guitar
• TOMAS FOSCH, Fender Rhodes, Mini Moog
• RAFAEL GARACÉS, sax
• BRNAT HERNANDEZ, bass

On April 27, the AClam venue in Barcelona will host a 20 minutes live presentation of the album to be streamed worldwide.

www.youtube.com/live/6I7pAKRdQvY

BEAR MCCREARY - SINGULARITY

• Bear McCreary: Singularity
      (2024, 2cd)
      (2024, 3lp)

Bear McCreary is known as a composer for movies and tv series. In 2024, however, he released "Singularity". a progressive rock album for which he collaborated with some pretty impressive names: Bryan Beller, Mike Keneally, Guthrie Govan, Joe Satriani,...

In 2025, Bear toured Australia, the U.S. and Europe with this project, featuring Pete Griffin on bass.
You can read all about it on Bear's blog:

https://bearmccreary.com/category/bears-blog/

I didn't catch the tour, but I was overly happy with the digital copy of the album that I received from one of my friends.
In the meantime, I've ordered the 2 CD set.

I love the theatrical approach, the bombastic elements,...
Ayreon comes to mind. As does Devin Townsend.
And the different musicians keep it fresh and surprising.
Love it !!

Here's 'Rallying Cry', featuring Eivør Pálsdóttir (who also co-wrote the piece)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - ROCK AND ROLL DOCTOR - LOWELL GEORGE TRIBUTE ALBUM

• Various Artists: Rock And Roll Doctor - Lowell George Tribute Album
      (2026, 2lp, --, omnivore recordings)

Omnivore Records released a 2 LP vinyl version of the 1997 "Rock And Roll Doctor - Lowell George Tribute Album" CD.
If my info is correct the album will also get a CD re-issue, and it will be made available on digital musical platforms as well.

Listen to the below YouTube clip.
Goosebumps.

FUTURE OF BAD MEN, A MELVINS TRIBUTE

The album got released a couple of years already, but one of the tracks on the digital download got a makeover.

The message from Wax Donut Records:
One of the tracks on our Melvins tribute has been updated with a new mix. More specifically, Night Goat, as performed by Doctor Monster (yours truly on vox), has an alternate vocal take. Is it better? Is it worse? Is it of no appreciable consequence? Only you can decide! It’s waiting for you here:

EUGENE CHADBOURNE IS TOURING EUROPE

Eugene Chadbourne has been touring Europe since April 16.
With recent gigs in Ghent and Brussels, and I only heard about it today...

Anyway, next up:

April 25 and April 26 Schule 21, Bremen
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER show on April 25th (unseated audience) starting 8 PM and a SUNDAY AFTERNOON SHOW (seated audience) on April 26th starting 5 pm.

DUET WITH SCHROEDER
April 27 Sonic Ballroom, Koln
April 28 Bla Stomp! Bonn, plus madcap instrument builder Harold Sack Ziegler in opening set
April 29 Volksbad Mannheim
April 30 Cafe Kairo Bern

SOLO
May 1 Atomic Cafe Biel Special May Day program

DUET WITH SCHROEDER
May 2 Schatulle Stuttgart

SOLO
May 4 Heitsu is Happening, Helsinki, Finland
May 5 Telakka, Tampere

TRIO WITH KRESTEN OSGOOD AND MATHIAS LANDAEUS, PIANO
May 6 Underground, Lund

DUET WITH KRESTEN OSGOOD
May 7 Christianshaven Ouderhaus Copenhagen

SOLO
May 8 Skack, Malmo. Address is Nobelvägen 25
May 9 KM28 Berlin

TRIO WITH SCHROEDER AND JAN FITSCHEN
May 10 Babeuf Freiburg Special arrangements, Catalog of Birds by Olivier Messiaen

SOLO
May 11 Methodist Church Via XX Settembre, Rome, Italy. Organized by Flaming Creatures, this is a double bill with the Everloving band playing the music of Henry Flynt,

May 12 Passage BDM, Magione
May 13 Bongo Santa Bridga Parma Italy
May 14 Bologna Free show in park; TBC Frida Nel Parco
May 15 Raindogs, Savona

DUET WITH SCHROEDER
May 16 Astra Kniepe, Rosenheim

SOLO
May 17 The Cobblestone, Dublin, Ireland

JOE TRAVERS - - - FRANK ZAPPA VAULTERNATIVE RECORDS SERIES EPISODE #2

Frank Zappa - Vaulternative Records Series (Episode #2: Zappa '66 Vol. 1: Live At TTG Studios)

 

PRINCE - CINNAMON GIRL

RACHEL Z, OMAR HAKIM AND JONATHAN TOSCANO

Rachel Z feat. Omar Hakim & Jonathan Toscano

 April and May will see the ZHT3io touring Europe.

CHEAP SATANISM RECORDS CELEBRATES

Cheap Satanism Records celebrates their 16 years, 6 months and 6 days anniversary.
At La Botanique in Brussels, BE, on April 25, 2026.

• 19h00 doors open
• 19h30 Marius Atherton
• 20h30 Arne Vinzon
• 21h30 LEM

Not necessarily my taste of music, but I would like to congratulate them with their 16 years, 6 months and 6 days.

Marius Atheron

Arne Vinzon

LEM

SOFT MACHINE AT ANDY EDWARDS' STUDIO

Soft Machine, playing an entire set at Andy Edwards' studio !!

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND - MARCH 20, 2026 - THE BEACON THEATRE

Nugs net keeps making these incredible concert recordings available...
I recently got hold of the March 20, 2026 Beacon Theatre concert by the Tedeschi Trucks Band.

https://www.nugs.net/tedeschi-trucks-band-concerts-live-downloads-in-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming-1/

Wonderful.

I do hope that the March 13 concert, during which the band performed Frank Zappa's 'Willie The Pimp', and with Derek Trucks playing Frank's SG guitar, will also be released one day.

PRINCE - WITH THIS TEAR

Prince's NPG Records Release Previously Unreleased Vault Single “With This Tear”.

'With This Tear' is a previously unreleased studio recording from Prince’s legendary vault. Recorded in November 1991 at Paisley Park, the track has been newly mixed and mastered by GRAMMY-nominated engineer/producer Chris James, a longtime Prince collaborator (HITnRUN Phase Two, Art Official Age, Plectrumelectrum) and features Prince producing, arranging, composing, and performing all instrumentation. Shortly after its creation, Prince offered the song to Céline Dion, who recorded her own version in 1992. This track is the beginning of a number of unreleased Prince recordings scheduled for release this year, as part of a never before released Prince album project.

JOERI CHIPSVINGERS - NEEM EN EET HIERVAN

The digital download version of Joeri Chipsvingers' new album has just been released.

A story is being told.
Literally.
In Flemish.
Accompanied by contemporary classical music.

Beautiful.

 

NEW RELEASE FROM EIDON

'A Stór'
by Eidon

Inspired by Astor Piazzolla.

SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM

Riding the momentum from their 2024 reunion, avant-prog-metal collective Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is launching a U.S. tour and teasing the news that their first three records will be reissued as a collaboration between Joyful Noise Recordings and Avant Night. Pre-orders go live on May 13th.

The band will be touring the world to celebrate their 25th anniversary and upcoming release. The Museum lineup features original members Nils Frykdahl (guitar and flute), Carla Kihlstedt (violin and percussion guitar), Dan Rathbun (bass, Pedal Action Wiggler, Sledge hammer Dulcimer) and Michael ‘Iago’ Mellender (guitar, trumpet, percussion, and an array of outlandish homemade musical devices such as the Electric Pancreas and the All New Lever-Action Lever). Joining them will be drummer Wes Anderson, who played with Nils, Carla and Dan in predecessor bands Idiot Flesh and Charming Hostess during the dubious and incendiary 1990’s.