Kill Ugly Radio: Frank Zappa & Elsewhere

Continuing on with the theme of great, underrated guitarists is this video of Lindsey Buckingham performing “Shut Us Down” from his 2006 solo album, Under the Skin. This album features Buckingham on almost all instruments, with the exception of two tracks that feature John McVie and Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac. Unlike many rock guitarists, Buckingham does not use a plectrum, or a pick. Instead, he uses his fingers and fingernails, which is showcased in this video. Another solo album is expected sometime in 2008. A CD/DVD combo of his Fort Worth concert in January 2007, entitled Live at the Bass Performance Hall, was released on March 25 2008.

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It would appear I’m not the only one to be experimenting with facial hair. Introducing Jon Dyers Beard Quest:

I’ve been growing a beard every winter for some years now, and every spring, I try to see how many facial hair variations as I can check off from the chart of facial hair types. Listed below are descriptions of the 34 facial hair types from the chart, including examples of the 19 24 variations that I’ve been able to attain so far.

Cool Klingon, dude!

Posted in Heh Heh, Miscellany, Pop Cult | No Comments »

Anyone who had written off Peter Frampton after his excesses of the 70s, should really check out his 2006 release, Fingerprints. Accompanied by an array of talented musicians, including Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, and the Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, Frampton explores various combinations of jazz, blues, and rock on this completely instrumental album. And you thought only Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, and Al Di Meola made albums like this…

Posted in Miscellany | 10 Comments »

Long before there were air guitarists, there was the real thing: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Buddy Guy, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Guitar Slim, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, and of course, Brian May.

1991 Hollywood Records remix of “Tie Your Mother Down” with a video mix made by Dave R. Fuller. Released on the A Day At The Races US CD. Remixed by Matt Wallace.

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Jordan Zevon, son of the late Warren Zevon, has just released his debut album entitled, Insides Out, from New West Records. Sure, there are bound to be comparisons with the old man. Especially with his cover of the song, “Studebaker”, which first appeared on the 2004 tribute album to his late father, Enjoy Every Sandwich. Yet, songs like Jordan’s “The Joke’s on Me” is enough of a self-effacing romp to reveal that he has found his own territory to explore and needn’t worry about being completely overshadowed by his father’s accomplishments. Check out Jordan’s MySpace page for both songs, among others.

Posted in In The News, Miscellany, Music | 7 Comments »

Posted in In The News, Miscellany | 2 Comments »

It’s 1980 and two new bands, one American and one Canadian, emerge with a raw new sound. One, Missing Persons, with a four song 7″ EP recorded at Frank Zappa’s Utility Muffin Research Kitchen on a shoestring budget. A second, Rough Trade, releases their debut album Avoid Freud, full of themes of catastrophic power and dimestore smut, satire and parody. One band appeals to the American male’s libido and traditional boy/girl themes, while the other pokes fun at both North American sexual orientation and the myths which go along with them. Still, it is interesting to compare the styles of these two bands, and the diva/anti-diva dichotomy at play between Dale Bozzio and Carole Pope.

In 2007, Carole Pope released the solo CD, Transcend.

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Just had a look at ZPZ’s 2008 tourdates. While there’s loads of US gigs, the European chapter of the tour has been limited to this:

• Jul 13, ’08 - Rotterdam, NETHERLANDS — North Sea Jazz Festival
• Jul 15, ’08 - Milan, ITALY — Villa Arconati
• Jul 16, ’08 - Madrid, SPAIN — Veranos de la Villa
• Jul 18, ’08 - Barcelona, SPAIN — Palua de la Musica
• Jul 19, ’08 - Berne, SWITZERLAND — Gurtenfestival

Not only is it obvious that ZPZ are blissfully steering clear of Frank’s traditional European fanbase (Germany, France, the UK, Scandinavia, Belgium, the Baltics - Holland being the exception to the rule), on top of that ZPZ have chosen the safe route by playing festivals.

What’s the matter Dweez? Us Euro’s scaring you now? I wonder why.

Post Scriptum: you gotta love the way us Euro fans were basically used as guinea pigs when the first ZPZ tour was put on the rails.

- PR Guy: “Let’s see if it sticks with them Ol’ Country folk first. Like it or not: yer dad always had more of a following there, so it’s the sensible thing to do. If it sticks, we take this tour back to the US”
- Dweez: “Ya think?”
- PR Guy: “Trust me. Been there, done that. With a bit of luck, them Euro’s are gonna rave about you guys all over the internet. Then we hit the US. Money in the pocket.”
(cue appreciative GS nodding)
- Dweez: “Mom, whadda you think?”

… and the rest, as they say, is history.

Posted in Miscellany, Zappa Plays Zappa | 32 Comments »

Strange what one finds on YouTube…Is it jazz, or is it big band, or is it porn? Or is it Big Band Jazz Porn? You decide…

Posted in Bizarre, Heh Heh, Miscellany, Music, YouTubery | 9 Comments »

What is it about the music and lyrics of Tom Waits that popular culture has clung to so heartily? Has he touched upon something deep within our common unconscious, like some dimestore novel from which we are all characters?

And we’re all behaving like dogs…

Posted in Miscellany, Music, YouTubery | 4 Comments »