Lindsey Buckingham – Under the Skin

Posted on May 25, 2008 by urbangraffito

Continuing on with the theme of great, underrated guitarists is this video of Lindsey Buckingham performing “Shut Us Down” from his 2006 solo album, Under the Skin. This album features Buckingham on almost all instruments, with the exception of two tracks that feature John McVie and Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac. Unlike many rock guitarists, Buckingham does not use a plectrum, or a pick. Instead, he uses his fingers and fingernails, which is showcased in this video. Another solo album is expected sometime in 2008. A CD/DVD combo of his Fort Worth concert in January 2007, entitled Live at the Bass Performance Hall, was released on March 25 2008.

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The Big Laurel Canyon Conspiracy

Posted on May 24, 2008 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory, right? How about one that exposes Frank Zappa (among others) as being part of a huge undercover operation run by The Military-Industrial Complex™, the goal of which was to infiltrate, and subsequently neutralize the “hippie movement”? Oh yeah!

And so it goes as one scrolls through the roster of Laurel Canyon superstars. What one finds, far more often than not, are the sons and daughters of the military/intelligence complex and the sons and daughters of extreme wealth and privilege – and oftentimes, you’ll find both rolled into one convenient package. […] You might also encounter some former mental patients, such as James Taylor, who spent time in two different mental institutions in Massachusetts before hitting the Laurel Canyon scene, or Larry “Wild Man” Fischer, who was institutionalized repeatedly during his teen years, once for attacking his mother with a knife (an act that was gleefully mocked by Zappa on the cover of Fischer’s first album). Finally, you might find the offspring of an organized crime figure, like Warren Zevon, the son of William “Stumpy” Zevon, a lieutenant for infamous LA crimelord Mickey Cohen.

There’s more, if by now you’re having a craving.

(Thx Kevin)

Posted in Frank Zappa, Insane, Pop Cult | Tagged , , , , | 26 Comments

Beard Quest

Posted on May 23, 2008 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

It would appear I’m not the only one to be experimenting with facial hair. Introducing Jon Dyers Beard Quest:

I’ve been growing a beard every winter for some years now, and every spring, I try to see how many facial hair variations as I can check off from the chart of facial hair types. Listed below are descriptions of the 34 facial hair types from the chart, including examples of the 19 24 variations that I’ve been able to attain so far.

Cool Klingon, dude!

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Frampton’s Fingerprints Revisited

Posted on May 22, 2008 by urbangraffito

Anyone who had written off Peter Frampton after his excesses of the 70s, should really check out his 2006 release, Fingerprints. Accompanied by an array of talented musicians, including Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, and the Rolling Stones’ Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, Frampton explores various combinations of jazz, blues, and rock on this completely instrumental album. And you thought only Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, and Al Di Meola made albums like this…

Posted in Miscellany | 10 Comments

Meet The Über-Fans

Posted on May 21, 2008 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Chuck Klosterman has a look at those kooks who attempt to physically resemble their musical idol, and comes to a conclusion which I think reaches beyond just that phenomenon:

My suspicion is that highly prolific artists – especially ones slagged off by cultural elitists – unknowingly present themselves in such a way that audiences recognise elements of themselves within the sonic iconography. If a musician a) ignores public criticism while b) producing a substantial body of work, an unwavering fanbase will self-select itself. They will see the artist as extra-human, will feel they “understand” how that artist’s music reflects (and replicates) their own experience, and will immerse themselves in the musician’s catalogue.

Don’t miss the photo gallery.

Posted in Music, Pop Cult | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

The Real Thing

Posted on May 20, 2008 by urbangraffito

Long before there were air guitarists, there was the real thing: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Buddy Guy, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Guitar Slim, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, and of course, Brian May.

1991 Hollywood Records remix of “Tie Your Mother Down” with a video mix made by Dave R. Fuller. Released on the A Day At The Races US CD. Remixed by Matt Wallace.

Posted in Miscellany, Music, Pop Cult, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Turn Your Peter Green

Posted on May 20, 2008 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Although I hardly ever contribute to the wiki anymore (yes, shame on me), I am still subscribed to the “Recent Changes” feed. Not only is it a delight to see the site grow at such an amazing speed (4,098 articles and counting), there’s also some highly entertaining stuff going on behind the curtains at times. Take this discussion for instance, regarding CC Clues for “In France”:

I’m behaving like an over-enthusiastic fido at the moment, but I think I’m getting the hang of it. Take the point on ‘some fans’ being unqualified. I based it on the ‘fact’ that among about 3 distinctly different social groups of people (fans) I knew at the time this album was released, all of them picked up on the notion that this was another Zappa leitmotiv- a ‘dig’ (using the phonetic of Peter Green) by the inbuilt Zappa nose that could sniff out the negatives that can result (by public elevation) from plain virtuosity appreciation to the ‘sucking dry’ or ‘ejaculations’ of repetitive stardom. Perhaps in the same vein as FZ’s ref to Clapton? e.g. Nasal Retentive Calliope Music.

Yes, I knew some Weird People then. Some of them had Short Hair.

Is this simply a shallow verse about a blow job? Why a ‘mystery’ blow job… a ref to some French glory-hole…or the setting up of the next line?

I did attempt some research. I shall do more.
–Tonefish 15:48, 18 May 2008 (PDT)

To which Duncan, ever the thorough researcher, responds:

I suspect it means what it says. Peter is a slang nickname for the penis. It was nothing more than infelicitous fellatio which turned peter green.
–Duncan 10:52, 19 May 2008 (PDT)

Posted in Community, Frank Zappa, Heh Heh, Zappa Wiki Jawaka | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Air Guitar Nation

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Got an hour and 20 minutes to spend? Here you go:

Posted in Movies, Music, Pop Cult | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Jean-Luc Ponty – Live & New

Posted on May 18, 2008 by urbangraffito

In this video, Jean-Luc Ponty and his Band perform “No Absolute Time.” In June of last year, Ponty released his latest studio album entitled, The Atacama Experience, from Koch Records. Check out Ponty’s webpage for samples.

Posted in In The News, Jean-Luc Ponty, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

水に煙 (Smoke On The Water)

Posted on May 16, 2008 by Balint

Posted in Heh Heh, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , | 10 Comments