Sydney ’73 (2)

Posted on Friday, 08/11/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Part Two of Hordern Pavilion, Sidney, July 8 ’73 is available.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Friday Boots | 3 Comments

Hype Machine

Posted on Thursday, 08/10/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Cool beans: The Hype Machine, an “audio blog aggregator” which allows you to track down audio within blog-entries that mention any band/artist you enter and lets you play the audio in the player of your choice, or subscribe to the podcast even! Um… that sounded more complicated than it is. Just have a look. :)

Posted in Music | 2 Comments

A A A – D D – E E E *

Posted on Thursday, 08/10/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Are online guitar tabs soon to be a thing of the past? The US Music Publishers’ Association is doing all it can to make that happen. Already, the Online Guitar Archive and Guitar Tab Universe sites have gone black.

“It is simply wrong and unjust that many illegal Web sites are able to make money, whether from selling advertising, other products or by other means, giving away music that does not belong to them,” MPA President Lauren Keiser said in a statement on the association’s Web site, www.mpa.org.

May I suggest to Mr. Keiser that he get a life — puhlease.

* Guess that tune!

Posted in In The News, Music | 9 Comments

Sweet Dreams

Posted on Tuesday, 08/08/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Ha! Lullaby renditions of rock songs — from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd to Metallica. I can hardly wait for the Beefheart Edition! (via)

Posted in Music, Pop Cult | 1 Comment

Freak Out! Turns Forty

Posted on Tuesday, 08/08/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Quoth the zappa.com newsletter:

In commemoration of the FOURtieth Anniversary of a World That Contains Freak Out! we are so very pleased to present the FZ Audiography and Documentary Evidence (for the first time this century) of those certain recording sessions that occurred in Los Angeles between March and April of 1966. Who Could Imagine??? Well, we all know the answer to that question. This exciting and Deluxe, Limited Edition contains FOUR historically magnificent discs for your Audio Gratification. And a Gorgeous booklet – with the original art and lots of special surprises – and your name too.

Yes you heard right: four discs.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Audio/Video, Zappa News | 33 Comments

Honk 4 Frank Now

Posted on Tuesday, 08/08/06 by Dr Sharleena

Studio Z is alive!

Filmmakers Adam Fiorenza and Derek Miley are about to finish their documentary focusing on Zappa’s “Cucamonga years” and started a smart marketing campaign both for the city to pay some recognition and also for the -soon to be- release of the film . “And we were surprised by the number of cars that honked…” says Adam.
Off the Richter, dudes!

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Misc | 1 Comment

Dunbar’s Blue Whale

Posted on Tuesday, 08/08/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Plucked from an RSS-feed that wishes to remain anonymous: Aynsley Dunbar’s 1970 album “Blue Whale”, available for download. It features four jazzy progressive pieces, and a 16 minute version of Zappa’s Willie The Pimp. I’m only posting this because I couldn’t find any place on the web where the album could be purchased — not even on Dunbar’s official site — making it one of those dusty out-of-print rarities.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, Zappa Audio/Video | 2 Comments

Zappa & Ponty

Posted on Tuesday, 08/08/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Time for some live footage of my favorite MOI line-up — including Jean-Luc Ponty:

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Audio/Video | 3 Comments

Rest In Peace, David

Posted on Sunday, 08/06/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

This morning has brought some deeply saddening news. David Walley died earlier today at his house in Maine of a heart attack. He was a smart and sweet guy, and a dear friend. Dr Sharl and I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to David’s family. He will be sorely missed…

Posted in Personal | 1 Comment

Shawn’s Watermelon In Easter Hay

Posted on Saturday, 08/05/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Here’s video of the late great Shawn “The Memphis Monster” Lane playing Watermelon In Easter Hay in some noisy bar. Why he’s applauded at the end is a mystery to me (though he plays a very nice version of the tune) because throughout, nobody seems to be listening to the poor guy.

Thanks to those who sent in the link.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, Zappa Audio/Video | 4 Comments

Mission: Unlistenable

Posted on Friday, 08/04/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Getting to appreciate the music of Cpt. Beefheart (and Trout Mask Replica in particular) can be a daunting task, as this article demonstrates:

Playing it – or rather, attempting to – is a bit like being in one of those cartoons in which the principal characters cagily open a door, only to find all hell – elephants, possibly, or a speeding train – breaking loose behind it, whereupon they slam it shut again.

… while Andy Partridge of XTC explains it thusly:

You’re running around stairs and gangways and gantries – things are swinging across, and you’ve got to grab them to get to the next level. It’s like being trapped in a mad, giant watch.

As for me, to be honest, I too have yet to experience that “road to Damascus” moment where it clicks. Perhaps at the next listen…

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, Pop Cult | 8 Comments

Jim Whips It Out

Posted on Friday, 08/04/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Jim, KUR-commenter and compulsive Thing-Fish speaker, says:

Got a Webcam & am thus performing my “music” on YouTube – y’can hunt me there under “jamesmorgandavies” if yer ears’ve been extra-bad & deserve a good sound spanking.

Well: we did Jim, so get ready for your 15 minutes of fame!

Posted in Amusing, Music, Randamonium | 1 Comment

Sydney ’73

Posted on Friday, 08/04/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

This week and the next: Horden Pavillion, Sydney, July 8 ’73 — probably from around the same time as this videoclip where Zappa conducts the audience on an Australian TV-show (I’m sure you’ve all seen it before but still fun to watch!).

Posted in Frank Zappa, Friday Boots, Zappa Audio/Video | 4 Comments

Episode One

Posted on Wednesday, 08/02/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

anakin zappa

You’ll have to cross over to the dark side if you want this as a poster…

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Imagery | 3 Comments

Dead Of Summer

Posted on Wednesday, 08/02/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

I’m in the middle of another holiday week as you may have noticed. Not much to report really. So far I’ve:

Yourself?

Posted in Personal, Randamonium | 5 Comments