Monday, March 18, 2024

NEKTAR

from GlassOnyon PR

Prog Legends Nektar To Release “Journey To The Other Side - Live At The Dunellen Theatre June 10, 2023” Through Deko Entertainment As A Fitting Tribute To Late Drummer & Founding Member Ron Howden

Stockton, NJ - Formed in Germany in 1969, Nektar favored extended compositions and concept albums over the constraints of pop. They were among the progenitors of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s as well as the jam-band scene that arose in the late 1990s. Their sound traveled well to the States, where they enjoyed Top 40 success with “A Tab in the Ocean” (1972) and “Remember the Future” (1973). Nearly 20 albums and a half-century later, the band’s artistic and personal charisma has earned them masses of devoted fans along with their latest album “The Other Side” (2020) which was Number 1 on Amazon Progressive Music.


As they begin the next 50 years of their career, they kick it off with “Journey to the Other Side – Live at The Dunellen Theatre June 10, 2023.”
Recorded during the band’s 50th anniversary tour, this release captures the band in all their glory with a 2CD/Blu-Ray set with a 5-camera shoot and multi-track recording. Clocking in at over 2 and 1/2 hours and spanning the band’s entire career with classics like “Remember the Future Parts 1 & 2,” “A Tab in the Ocean,” and many more.


This recording has become a virtual remembrance of Nektar drummer and primary member, Ron Howden, who died suddenly at the ripe old age of 78 on September 29th, 2023. As founding member Derek “Mo” Moore states, “I think you will enjoy being part of Nektar’s 50th extended Anniversary Tour and glad we captured this performance. Rest in Peace Ron.”

The band is currently hard at work on their forthcoming trilogy “Mission To Mars.” The first installment is scheduled to hit in early June to coincide with the band’s tour which kicks off in New Jersey on June 7th.

Tickets for dates: https://nektarsmusic.com/events/

JUN 7: Dunellen Theatre - Dunellen, NJ
JUN 9: Beachland Ballroom - Cleveland OH
JUN 11: Irving Theater - Indianapolis, IN
JUN 12: The Token Lounge - Westland, MI
JUN 13: The Arcada Theatre - St Charles, IL
JUN 15: The Wildey Theatre - Edwardsville, IL (2pm Matinee Show)
JUN 15: The Wildey Theatre - Edwardsville, IL (8pm Show)
JUN 18: Sellersville Theater - Sellersville, PA
JUN 19: Daryl's House - Pawling, NY
SEP 5-8: Nene Valley Rock Festival 2024 - Grimsthorpe, UK


FRANK ZAPPA SYMPOSIUM IN BREZNO, SLOVAKIA

BREZNO 19. - 21.7.2024


The first symposium on Frank Zappa, three erudite guests, Zappologi, will introduce you to the work, contribution and legacy of the phenomenal musician, artist and composer Frank Zappa. Our guests will present Zappa's work from different angles in a series of block lectures, which will also include visual and musical presentations: 

Július Fujak , Slovak composer of experimental music and musician, music aesthetician and university lecturer, organizer of unconventional musical, artistic and scientific events.

Bohumil "BOHOUŠ" Jůza , theatre artist worked for 26 years at JAMU in Brno, now stage master on musicals staged by Carusel Production Prague, graphic designer and painter, humorist. He is the founder and president of the Czechoslovak Frank Zappa Fan Club and publisher of the club fanzine ZAPPOSTROPHE (the longest running Zappa fanzine in the world).

Michal Nejtek , graduated from the Conservatory in Teplice (piano), the Faculty of Music of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (composition) and the Faculty of Music of the JAMU in Brno (doctoral studies). He writes symphonic and chamber music and is engaged in stage projects.
 
The musical guest who will beautifully complement the program is the project of the guitarist (from the well-known band Sto Múch) Martin Novák. His project is called Homo Zappiens ( Denisa Jelínková - transverse flute, Martin Novák - guitar, Vincent Andreutti - percussion) and consists of musicians who are happy to interpret in colourful instrumentation, chamber spirit and their own arrangements selected compositions by Frank Zappa in the sense of the motto "music is the best".

The motto of the symposium is a well-known statement made by Frank Zappa during his visit to Prague in 1990: "Use democracy, because you will lose it". 


Sunday, March 17, 2024

FRANK ZAPPA - MEGA BOX

The Frank Zappa 8 CD "Mega Box" that I mentioned a little while ago, presents exactly the same recordings as the 8 CD "The Best Days" set that got released two years ago.

  • CD 1 = 1978/09/09 Knebworth House Open Air Festival, Stevenage, UK
  • CD 2 & 3 = 1981/10/31 Early and Late Show Palladium, New York, NY
  • CD 4 & 5 = 1975/10/01 Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • CD 6 = 1974/11/23 Jenison Fieldhousse, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • CD 7  = 1969/02/23 Early Show Rockpile, Toronto, Canada
  • CD 8 = 1980/10/13 Early Show Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ

=

THE RESIDENTS - THE RESIDENTS' SECRET SHOW - LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO

  • the residents: the residents' secret show - live in san francisco
        (2024, cd+dvd, uk, cherry red records)
I just watched the first part of "The Residents' Secret Show - Live In San Francisco" and I was taken by surprise.
This is not just a Residents concert, this is a celebration of the music of The Residents.

When it comes to ordering a new Residents release, I never doubt. I just order it. Maybe if I had read the liner notes, I would have known what to expect, but then again, who doesn't like a nice surprise.
This "Secret Show" has a fine selection of artists (The San Francisco Girl Chorus, Sarah Cahill, Les Claypool, Ego Plum, Josh Freese, Pamela Z, and others) performing the music of The Residents.
And The Residents themselves participate as well.

I love it.
This is great.
CD (audio) and DVD (video) have a slightly different track list but they both come in the same package so who's complaining?
Also out on 2 LP.

The Residents - Semolina



J.M. SMIG - WITCH CITY STINK

J.M. Smig released "Witch City Stink" in 2016.

9 pieces and they're all quite different.
For my taste, the first track, 'Funky Laurano', is the least interesting one, but from then on, it's a remarkable listening experience.

In the liner notes, J.M. added:

A collection of unnecessarily long instrumentals for people who like that sort of thing, mixed with shorter, radio-friendly tracks including the single "Pickle Park Polka".
Many of the tracks were created by converting graphic files to sound blips in Audacity, then stretching the audio from which riffs were isolated and looped. This is the album where I stopped sequencing pre-written solos and began improvising on an M-Audio Keyrig49. 

Two incidents occurred shortly after the release. The great Keith Emerson died by suicide and my laptop broke down, leading to my library computer phase. Rumors of a curse involving Emerson's offense at my keyboard skills remain unsubstantiated.

 

MIKE KENEALLY CONCERT IN SAN DIEGO ON MARCH 28

A message from Mike Keneally


SAN DIEGO!! SAN DIEGANS!!

I'm coming to the Full Circle Saloon in El Cajon on March 28.

With me will be
  • JOE TRAVERS
  • PETE GRIFFIN
  • RICK MUSALLAM
Opening will be deep local faves
Jeff Berkley and the Banned
and
Joshua Taylor and the Unscene

Link to Full Circle website with all venue details:
https://fullcirclesaloon.com/

Returning to my good old hometown on a THURSDAY so maybe all my musician pals in town don't have gigs that night 🙂 Come hang!

My great old pal Doug Booth from the days of Drop Control will be guesting during my set!

BE WITH US!


Saturday, March 16, 2024

TREACHEROUS CRETINGS TOURDATES

Performing the music of Frank Zappa


KURT ELLING - SUPERBLUE - THE LONDON SESSIONS

  • kurt elling: superblue - the london sessions
        (2022, download, --, bandcamp)
Jazz vocalist Kurt Elling released "Superblue" in 2021.
He re-recorded several tracks live at the London Pool Studios and released these on "Superblue - The London Sessions" EP.
  • Kurt Elling - voice
  • Charlie Hunter - hybrid guitar
  • DJ Harrison - keyboards
  • Corey Fonville - drums
  • Vula Malinga - backing vocals
  • LaDonna Young - backing vocals
Excellent !!


ZAPPA SONGBOOK

A number of "Frank Zappa Songbooks" got released in The Netherlands in the late 1970's / early 1980's.
Here's the one that carried a picture of FZ by undergound artist Peter Pontiac on the cover.


PAUL ROLAND

Paul Roland released a song entitled 'Willie The Pimp' on his "Unreleased Songs" album, but it's not the piece that I expected it to be...