Author Archives: urbangraffito

About urbangraffito

I am a writer, editor, publisher, philosopher, and foole (not necessarily in that order). Cultural activist and self-described anarchist.

Igor Stravinsky – Composer of the Week

Posted on June 27, 2009 by urbangraffito

Donald Macleod explores the life of Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) in this five part BBC Radio 3 documentary: 1. Looking West | 2. Wartime in Hollywood | 3. Craft | 4. A New Method | 5. Return to Europe

Posted in Interview, Miscellany, Music, Pop Cult | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Zappa’s Universe — Revisited

Posted on June 25, 2009 by urbangraffito

Zappa’s Universe (the album and video of the same title) documents the big tribute concert thrown for Frank Zappa over four nights (November 7-10, 1991, although the footage on the album and video are from the first two nights), organized … Continue reading →

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Mike Keneally, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Frank Zappa and Charles Bukowski

Posted on June 24, 2009 by urbangraffito

Kuiper en Berbée perform Charles Bukowski‘s poem “The Machinery of Loss” at the Leiden Poetry Festival on June 7th, 2009, accompanied by a medley of music by Frank Zappa, performed by Renk Jan Vissers (violin) and Ton Schijvens (drums and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bizarre, Frank Zappa, Heh Heh, In The News, Miscellany, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ed Palermo Big Band – Live & Kicking

Posted on June 22, 2009 by urbangraffito

Anyone who knows me, knows my affinity for Big Band Zappa, so whenever I get an opportunity to hear Ed Palermo Big Band arrangements of Frank Zappa’s compositions, it’s a real treat. Today was no different, when I uncovered Palermo’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Heh Heh, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 47 Comments

Tom Waits — Early TV Appearances

Posted on June 21, 2009 by urbangraffito

In the above clip, Tom Waits appears on Fernwood 2 Night, a parody talk show, hosted by Barth Gimble (Martin Mull) and sidekick/announcer Jerry Hubbard (Fred Willard), created by Norman Lear as a spin-off/summer replacement from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bizarre, Heh Heh, Interview, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Don “Sugarcane” Harris & Dewey Terry

Posted on June 20, 2009 by urbangraffito

Beginning his career as the guitar playing half of the 1950s rock duo, Don & Dewey, Don “Sugarcane” Harris, put down the guitar and picked up the violin after the lack of success for Don & Dewey. Recorded in 1962, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I’d Love to Be a Hippy — North Mississippi Allstars

Posted on June 19, 2009 by urbangraffito

Founded in 1996, the North Mississippi Allstars is a southern rock/jam band from Hernando, Mississippi, composed of brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, electric washboard) and Chris Chew (electric bass guitar). Their song, “I’d Love to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bizarre, Heh Heh, Music, Pop Cult, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cruising With Ruben & The Jets — Vinyl Revisited

Posted on June 18, 2009 by urbangraffito

Cruising With Ruben & The Jets is a Mothers of Invention album released in 1968, and controversially reissued in an alternate mix with newly recorded bass and percussion in 1984 by Frank Zappa (all post-1984 reissues of the album have … Continue reading →

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Music, Pop Cult, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

Musicians Who Gamble: The High-Stakes World of Frank Zappa and the Casino Industry

Posted on June 17, 2009 by urbangraffito

Frank Zappa, the enigmatic icon of avant-garde music, was no stranger to pushing boundaries. His music, much like his life, was a whirlwind of unconventional choices and daring experiments. But what if I told you that Zappa’s unpredictable genius had … Continue reading →

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Awful Ugly Parts — Crystal Zevon & Moon Zappa

Posted on June 17, 2009 by urbangraffito

In the clip above, Crystal Zevon discusses the off beat life of her late husband, Warren Zevon, his inspirations for songs like “Mohammed’s Radio” (below), as chronicled in her book about him “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead: The Dirty Life … Continue reading →

Posted in Bizarre, Heh Heh, Miscellany, Music, Pop Cult, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 41 Comments