the big nOte files - 2002/11/17

new releases: 

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somewhere early next year, a television documentary will focus on 'the song poem story'.  it will feature john trubee and his amazing "blind man's penis" adventure.

"OFF THE CHARTS: THE SONG-POEM STORY, will air nationally on the new PBS series
INDEPENDENT LENS on February 11th (2003) at 10PM.

Day of the Locust meets American Idol in Jamie Meltzer's debut film, OFF THE CHARTS: THE SONG POEM STORY, a fascinating, at times unsettling, documentary that exposes the strange underworld of the song-poem industry. In this
little known subculture, "ordinary people" respond to come-on ads on the back pages of magazines ("Send in Your Lyrics and Make $50,000 in royalties!"), mailing in their heartfelt but often bizarre poems to "music industry" companies that, for a fee, turn those poems into real recordings.
Through interviews with several song-poem writers, the jaded producers and musicians who set their words to music, and a few of the growing number of zealous song-poem connoisseurs, OFF THE CHARTS explores a truly unique, never-before-seen slice of Gothic Americana."

john trubee added: 
   This film, to be aired on PBS in February, contains the hoary Blind Man's Penis story. Jamie came up here and filmed for it--and even flew to Nashville to 'ambush' Ramsey Kearney, the country music geezer who sang it.
   I'll remind yuh when it get closer to airing...

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afroskull will be doing two shows with some funk legends:

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bruno le tohic informed me about the zapping buzz band, a band from la suisse that plays the music of frank zappa.  they have two albums out already - all zappa material - called "don't you want a man" and "does sex belong in music".  more info real soon.
http://www.zappingbuzzband.ch/
(thank you, bruno)

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german zappa-a-cappella band die beistelltische is about to give a couple of concerts in germany:

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about a year ago, ryko japan started the frank zappa paper sleeve edition cd series.  looking like mini-lp's, ryko japan is re-issueing the biggest part of the zappa catalogue.  well, one has to admit that they don't really add anything new to one's collection, but they sound really good and they look even better.
the latest 5 titles look like this:

to celebrate things a bit, ryko japan also made a promotional cd single.  the little thing looks like a mini version of the well known dancin' fool / baby snakes 12", and was given to the customers that bought the complete first series.

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and (almost) last but not least, there are some new newspaper clippings to mention (thank you, johan):

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new entries:

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john trubee's quote for the day:

  "Someone observing a tradition for the sake of tradition
   is not unlike a 30 year old clinging onto a teddy bear
   for a feeling of comfort and security.
 
   Fuck tradition.
   Fuck convention.
   Fuck social propriety.
   Fuck the rules
   and those who torture you with them."

                  --John Trubee

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in a message to 'nederzappa', a dutch zappa newsgroup, marco kalnenek wrote:

Captain Beefheart's legendary Magic Band reunites after 20 years!

The Magic Band is slated to record in Winter 2002 and perform at two upcoming All Tomorrow's Parties festivals and at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London.

After over 20 years dormant, Captain Beefheart's legendary group, the Magic Band is slated to reunite this year. The news comes after the members' decision to accept a request to perform at the upcoming All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the UK, which will be curated by notable experimental/electronic group Autechre April 6th, at London's Shepherds Bush Empire on 7th April and yet another All Tomorrow's Parties festival, this time in Los Angeles. The L.A. show, which will be curated this year by visionary animator/producer Matt Groening and was curated last year by Sonic Youth, will take place on the campus of UCLA but also at other selected venues in downtown Los Angeles. For Beefheart/Magic Band fans these are momentous occasions. For those unexposed to their genius, the shows will be a rare chance to experience the wildly influential and seminal group first hand.

Tickets for ATP LA are likely to go on sale before the end of the year. Go to www.alltomorrowsparties.co.uk for the details. The first order of biz will see the Magic Band (sans much-celebrated leader Captain Beefheart, aka Don Van Vliet who retired from music altogether over twenty years ago) re-enter the recording studio. The unexpected "next" record will essentially be a recorded rehearsal with the band playing numbers live-to-tape from heralded records like Trout Mask Replica, Safe As Milk and Lick My Decals Off, Baby at a secret studio location. The new record will be available for
purchase, among other points, at the UK All Tomorrow's Parties festival in the spring and will be widely available in early summer.

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if you want to take a look at a picture taken at a magic band reunion last year, go to the magic band.

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and here's another john trubee quote:

    "This ephemeral phantasm 'society' is merely
      majority opinion, and we well know how that
      opinion can be a manifestation of mass hysteria,
      mass delusion, mass ignorance, and mass stupidity.

      Do you base your life actions
      on the opinions of idiots
      all around you?

      What is of greater value:
      your life
      or the opinions of idiots?"

                 --John Trubee 

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project/object has a new album out.  i think it's called "dream of the dawn" or something like that.  and it looks like the rumours of their first cd were right as well.  i never saw a copy, but dr.greenaway talked about it in his zappanale review, so it must be true.  let's hope they distribute these little succers to yurrip as well...

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dweezil zappa, vinnie colaiuta and aynsley dunbar contributed to a pink floyd tribute album.  the full title goes something like"an all star line-up performing the songs of pink floyd"

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"freak show deluxe", the latest residents title should be shipped any day now.  if you don't know what i'm talking about, check out ralphamerica or euroralph.  the new dvd title, "on the outskirts" (only sold at concerts - and they're only touring the u.s.) has also found its way to euroralph.  if you want this one, you'd better hurry up.  it's my guess that these could go really fast.

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dEUS, or at least tom barman, is playing with a symphony orchestra in brugge, belgium, tonight 20021117.  didn't know about it.  sure hope they'll broadcast it on tv.

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zappanoia, a band that plays the music of frank zappa (and they're from lisbon, portugal) are looking for a record label.  if anyone has any ideas, let me know.  i heard an mp3 of zappanoia playing a sensual & laid-back version of 'i have been you' and have to admit that i want to hear more !

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the flat earth society, and please, don't say 'who?', has an official website:  www.fes.be
there's not much too see yet, but that should change soon.

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hot rats, the norwegian band that plays the music of frank zappa, has added two extra mp3s to their site.  visit http://on.to/hotrats

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reinier parengkuan mailed that the muffin men & jimmy carl black are touring again.  the next couple of days they'll do some concerts in the netherlands, and cuccurullo brillo brullo will open for them.

check the muffin men site for more info on other concerts.

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reinier also told me about the latest jimmy carl black & roy estrada collaboration.  after zappanale, roy estrade went with jimmy carl black to jimmie's house in southern germany and together with mike peany, they recorded a complete album.  it's called "hamburger midnight".
danny mathys has already heard it and he says it's great.  thanx for the info, guys.
more info about this album real soon.

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that's all for now, talk again to you soon,

peter van laarhoven