Tag: video

Keneally Minnemann Beller (KMB)



In 2008, Mike Keneally (guitar, keyboards), Marco Minnemann (drums), and Bryan Beller (bass) formed the jazz rock fusion power trio, Keneally Minnemann Beller (KMB) and began touring.

Keneally cut his teeth as the stunt guitarist in Frank Zappa‘s 1988 band. He went on to record over a dozen of his own albums and appeared on dozens more by Zappa, Steve Vai, Henry Kaiser, and many more. Keneally is the National Music Director of the Paul Green School of Rock, and the Music Director of the new San Diego branch. The All Music Guide considers Keneally “the leading progressive rock genius of the post-Zappa era.”

When asked by the San Diego Reader in a recent interview to describe his music, Keneally said:

“It’s essentially rock, with equal emphasis on improvisation and strictly composed things. There’s a lot of guitar in it. I’m mainly known as a guitarist, although keyboard was my first instrument, and I play a lot of different instruments on my recordings. Dynamically, melodically, rhythmically, and lyrically, it’s real diverse and eclectic. I love a lot of different musical styles, and it all gets mashed in.”

Minnemann’s career began in his native Germany and has toured with the likes of Nina Hagen, the Buddy Rich Big Band, Necrophagist, Terry Bozzio, and now, Keneally Minnemann Beller. He is known for his amazing four-way independence, along with his unusual drum kit set up (multiple foot pedals, a gong, electronics and unique cymbal configurations).

Bryan Beller landed a gig with Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa’s tweaked rock project Z, straight out of Berklee College in 1993. Also on board was Mike Keneally, and in a lasting gesture of solidarity with his avant-garde pop/rock/fusion musical vision, Beller left Z when Keneally did in 1996. Twelve years, seven albums, and countless tours later, their musical partnership continues to this day. He still found the time to work and tour with Steve Vai and Wayne Kramer, has released two solo albums, and is a Contributing Editor for Bass Player magazine.

In the first video, (KMB) perform Keneally’s classic instrumental “Cheddar” (Hat, 1992) live at The Baked Potato in Studio City, CA on November 1, 2008. In the second and third videos, KMB perform “Dolphins” and “Bullys” (both from ‘Boil That Dust Speck‘, 1994) live at Channel-25, El Cajon, CA, July 20, 2008.

These are really quite amazing videos. To paraphrase a very famous quote, “Jazz rock fusion isn’t dead, it’s lurking somewhere in California under the name of Keneally Minnemann Beller. To view other KMB videos click here.

As an extra related tidbit of trivia, does anyone recognize the narrator in the following Chris Opperman track, “Ain’t Got No Beef”(Oppy Music Vol.1: Purple, Crayon, 1998):
[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/07-aint-got-no-beef.mp3]

Ultimate Insult: Somewhere In NYC


In the first video, Frank Zappa tells the story of how the Fillmore East incident involving John Lennon and Yoko Ono started from an exciting jam between two musical iconoclasts, to a matter to be decided between opposing lawyers.

The second video is footage of Lennon’s and Yoko’s 1971 guest appearance at the Mothers of Invention gig at the Fillmore East.

Finally, as a point of historical interest, the following is an original vinyl version of Jamrag (anyone with even a passing affinity for Frank Zappa and the Mother’s music will quickly identify this song):

[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Jamrag.mp3]

Bourbon Princess – The Waiting Noon

Deep-voiced lead singer/songwriter/bassist Monique Ortiz, who leads the group Bourbon Princess, with original Morphine drummer Jerome Deupree, Either Orchestra saxophonist/leader Russ Gershon and guitarist/pianist Jim Moran, describes their sound as “blue wave: new wave with a little bit of blues and jazz thrown in.”

At times jazzy, other times more rockin’ and hypnotic, this first video release from Dark of Days, the band’s third album (recorded at the legendary HI-N-DRY Studio) has been compared ” in spirit to The Doors, Patti Smith and Nico-era Velvet Underground, as well as the Boston band Morphine.”

Interviewed at Well-Rounded Radio by Charles McEnerney, Ortiz reveals the life of the contemporary working musician in the 21st Century.

Click here for that interview.

Dark of Days
Dark of Days

Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey

Sam Dunn, a 30-year-old anthropologist and lifelong metal fan, embarks on a trip into the heart of heavy metal in Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey. His mission is to figure out why metal music is consistently stereotyped, dismissed and condemned, even while the tribe that loves it stubbornly holds its ground – spreading the word, keeping the faith, and adopting styles and attitudes that go way beyond the music. Dunn visits heavy metal landmarks as far flung as L.A.’s Sunset Strip, the dirty streets of Birmingham, and the dark forests of Norway. Along the way, Dunn explores metal’s obsession with sex, religion, violence and death, meets his heroes, and discovers some things about the culture that even he can’t defend. Part social document, part celebration of a misunderstood art form, this documentary is a window into a culture that’s far more complex than it seems.

Sam Dunn holds a BA in anthropology and history and an MA in social anthropology from York University.

View the other parts of this documentary: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10.

The Tubes — Poland Whole/Madam I’m Adam

In this video, The Tubes are captured performing one of their classic songs from their Young and Rich album in December, 2005, in their home base: San Francisco (While the audio quality is just above average, the energy of the band and the song still come through loud and clear). As an additional treat for Tubes fans, the following is an excerpt from their April 21st, 1977 show at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco:

[audio:http://www.killuglyradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/2-11-pimp1.mp3]

Tubes Wild West Show — Mondo Bondage

Did someone mention The Tubes? For your entertainment pleasure, here is an updated theatrical version of The Tubes classic “Mondo Bondage” taken from their DVD, “Wild In London” (Recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire, Dec 2004).

Beware: An aging Fee in leather bondage attire may either offend, or perhaps even excite certain viewers. You are hereby warned.

Satisfaction Injection – Solaris (outtake)

I recently came across this new band, Satisfaction Injection, while trolling around Last.fm looking for new music. They consist of Matthijs Tuijn (guitar/tenor saxophone), Bas Warner (guitar), Kim Bots (alto saxophone/clarinet), Jonathan Roorda (bass guitar/piano) and Laurens Roorda (drums/soprano saxophone). They first began as a jamming formation that has grown to a band with own material and an extensive cover repetoire. Jazz forms the basis of their music which experiments with funk, fusion and post-rock. Jazz like John Coltrane, and progressive rock bands like The Brecker Brothers, Caravan, and Frank Zappa are also inspirations and influence. To hear more, check out their page at Last.fm.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Raising Sand

I picked up this unique duet album the other day, Raising Sand with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The album was produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett. Any preconceptions I might have had regarding Plant’s ability to perform “roots music” was blown away after my first listen to this CD. Check out this video of “Please Read The Letter” and judge for yourself:

FZ Drummers Roundtable

“It’s been a dream of mine to get my favorite Zappa drummers together and have us talk about our experiences.” – Terry Bozzio is joined by fellow former Zappa drummers, Chester Thompson, Ralph Humphrey, Chad Wackerman, and Ruth Underwood in this first episode of seven videos.

(Thanks Pierre!)