Immaculate Voodoo Butter Mix — Part Two

Posted on April 16, 2010 by urbangraffito

Part Two will certainly be a treat for both new and old freaks alike. New freaks will get to hear some Zappa standards in entirely unique and often extended versions while old freaks are reminded just how much of a showcase these songs were – not only for Zappa’s virtuoso guitar ability, but for every musician that played in his various ensembles (in this case, 1975 to 1982). Albeit, some of these audience recordings are more raw and raunchy than others (sound drop-outs, cut-ins, cut-outs, tape flips — all of which I have left intact), I have chosen only those that showcase exceptional ability, technical and creative prowess, as well as historical and educational value.

That said, place your headphones to oblivion back on – raise the volume a notch or two – sit back, let Frank transport you into another place, another time…

Click here to listen to the mixtape.

Note: Part Three will be posted on or around May 15th, 2010.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

The Lost Patio

Posted on April 16, 2010 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

As patios go, The Zappa Patio is a pretty heavily consulted one among Zappa fans. So when it goes offline for whatever reason, Zapheads with funny names such as Knut Skogstad jump to the rescue. The Patio appears to be back online again now, but I wanted to inform everyone that KUR has a recent mirror available at all time, just in case something goes awry. Now, to figure out what to do when KUR itself goes offline for whatever reason…

Posted in Community, Frank Zappa, Miscellany | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mothers In Da House – The Don & Bunk Show

Posted on April 15, 2010 by urbangraffito

In the last few years, with the cost of touring becoming so high, musical acts (to my knowledge Mike Keneally is also performing these intimate concerts) have had to innovate, playing whenever and wherever feasibly possible – including community halls, church basements, and, yes, fans’ living rooms.

On March 28th, 2010, The Don & Bunk Show – Don Preston and Bunk Gardner performed an intimate concert at Maclean Studio (aka his living room).

In macleanstudio’s words:

“If you ever get the chance to host a concert at your house with these guys, take it. Such genuinely nice fellows bringing with them musicianship from another dimension. It was great hearing those Zappa tunes. We were all pretty much spellbound. We can’t wait to have them back here on Cape Cod. I hope I’m that cool when I’m 77 !!!”

Note: The Don & Bunk Show, A Zappa Retrospective, Sullivan Hall, New York City, NY, 1 Apr 2010 is available to torrent at Zappateers here.

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tunes, Treats & Torrents – The Grandmothers

Posted on April 12, 2010 by urbangraffito

The first version of The Grandmothers came into being in 1980, formed by original Mothers of Invention and Soul Giants alumni Don Preston, Jimmy Carl Black and Bunk Gardner. From almost the start, the group was a thorn in Zappa‘s side (who’d probably thought he’d seen the last of his former bandmates when he forced them into the cold when he disbanded the original Mothers in 1970) when Zappa himself became the target of the new band’s on-stage satire and was apparently particularly upset over a dummy of himself that was being used in various provocative ways. Thus began a pattern of the Zappa family and its legal minions fighting with various members of the Grandmothers over the right to perform and record original Mothers of Invention compositions. At one point in the early ’90s, the Zappa estate quashed a new recording deal for the Grandmothers with a major label that was unfortunately not interested in working with the band unless it was allowed to use the name of the Mothers of Invention.
Continue reading →

Posted in Alumni, Interview, Music, Pop Cult | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Malcolm McLaren: A Belated RIP

Posted on April 10, 2010 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

For one thing, he did manage to make this happen:

Posted in In The News, Music, Pop Cult | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Dweezil Zappa – Dodge Theater, Phoenix, AZ

Posted on April 7, 2010 by urbangraffito

While Zappa Plays Zappa were performing at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Arizona on February 26th, 2009, Dweezil Zappa spoke about his early influence – Eddie Van Halen – the day Eddie called up the Zappa family home wanting to meet Frank Zappa – before performing his cover of “Eruption“.

Posted in Music, Pop Cult, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

WUSB-FM’s Zappathon Returns

Posted on April 3, 2010 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that us here at KUR have supported wusb.fm‘s Zappathon ever since we first heard of it. The last edition featured KUR-pal SOFA live on air, as well as a bunch of soundbites which had been recorded and sent in by KUR-readers. Great fun! That was 2006…
Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Frank Zappa | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Greasy Love Songs: “Cruising With Ruben & The Jets” Vinyl Version Re-released

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Email from the ZFT, christal clear and full of detail as usual (click to enlarge):

The blurb at Barfko Swill:

Yum & Cheap Thrills together at last. It’s 40+ years later for this Anniversary FZ AudioDocumentary in the project/object series. Cruise again with Ruben & The Jets playing all your favorite greasy love songs.

Pre-order at $21 a pop.

Update: This press-release has more info (thx Tim!):

Among additional tracks included are alternate mono mixes, an unreleased cover of “Valerie” which enjoyed heavy rotation in the Mothers’ concerts circa 1967 and a version of “Love of My Life” from Studio Z, bringing this CD from 40 minutes in the vinyl release to well over an hour of “the stuff of teen-age legend,” according to Gail Zappa’s text. “The thrall, the threnodies, the three and four part harmonies, the keys to the kingdom of sociological and panchromatic sexual edification.” The package, #3 in the FZ Audio Documentary Series, also contains Cheech Marin’s highly evocative liner notes recalling his 1968 audition for Zappa.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, Official Releases | Tagged , , , | 63 Comments

Tunes, Treats & Torrents – The Muffin Men

Posted on March 31, 2010 by urbangraffito

Anyone who has followed my posts knows that I’m a avid downloader of torrents from Zappateers (and a fantastic bunch of freaks they are – I tip my hat to them for all the excellent Zappa torrents I’ve downloaded through the years). That said, I am also an avid collector of many exceptional Zappa tribute bands (far too numerous to name here, though). Periodically, though, I come across a particular group of musicians that I feel I just have to share. For that purpose, I’ve begun an irregular series entitled, “Tunes, Treats & Torrents” to highlight these groups and their exceptional covers of Zappa compositions.

The first of those bands in this series are The Muffin Men, an incredible group of musicians from Liverpool, UK. When I recently downloaded a torrent of an excerpt of their Kirchheim Tech, Germany show on April 24th, 1993 featuring guests Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, and Jimmy Carl Black I knew I had to share it (especially since live recordings of Bunk Gardner are so incredibly rare anyway). Give these covers a listen and decide what you think:

King Kong – The Muffin Men (Kirchheim Teck, Germany, 24 Apr 1993)
[audio:20100331_01 King Kong.mp3]

Don Whanks It Out – The Muffin Men (Kirchheim Teck, Germany, 24 Apr 1993)
[audio:20100331_02 Don Whanks It Out.mp3]

Son of Mr Green Genes – The Muffin Men (Kirchheim Teck, Germany, 24 Apr 1993)
[audio:20100331_03 Son Of Mr Green Genes.mp3]

Willie the Pimp – The Muffin Men (Kirchheim Teck, Germany, 24 Apr 1993)
[audio:20100331_04 Willie The Pimp.mp3]

The Muffin Men (circa Spring/Summer 1993):

Roddie Gilliard: guitar, vocals
Ian Jump: stunt guitar
Andy Jacobson: keyboard
Mike Kidson: sax, toys, vocals
Andy Frizell: bass, vocals
Steve Belger: drums

Download torrent from Zappateers here.

P.S. Denny Walley has confirmed he is joining The Muffin Men for their performance at Zappanale in August, 2010.

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Miscellany, Music, Zappanale | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Varèse At The Southbank

Posted on March 28, 2010 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Our pal MagicFingers writes:

Any of you KUR afficionados who happen to be in the London area over the weekend of April 16-18 might be in for a bit of a treat. There’s something rather special happening down at the Southbank.

He continues:

The awful irony being that it also happens to be Mrs MF’s birthday that weekend, so on the Friday night, rather than Deserts for wind, piano, percussion and tape, I am destined for an evening of Priscilla Queen of the bloody Desert. Life’s an ironic bitch. Still, I shall be there on the Sunday, so mustn’t grumble…

Heee!

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music | Tagged | 4 Comments