A Good Soak...

My Photos

I have added a link at the right to my photographs at flickr.
I have only just begun to upload and arrange so, check back often.

www.flickr.com More of block_dog's photos

Badges ( Part IV )

My final post on Badges.

In 2001 I traveled to Chicago to attend my first ever "House Concert".

I posted about this event back in September which can be

found Here.

David Wilcox , the one from Asheville, not Canada, came to entertain a

group of about 45 Internet "list" fans from all over the country and beyond.

We had a couple that came from The Netherlands and another from Berlin.

David performed at a nearby college on Friday night, which most

of us attended. Saturday evening was our turn and David had done his

homework and managed to engage the audience on a personal level, knowing

a little something about most of the people in the room, he would write

people into the lyrics or he would pretend to forget lyrics and bring

people up to sing. I, for obvious reasons, was called on to sing

the song Block Dog. I was very nervous but I think I got through it okay.

We were treated to a show that lasted around 4.5 hours and

you couldn't have asked for a greater experience.

Badges? We didn't need no stinkin' badges, but, we had them

for fun. Above is my badge, signed and the pick that

David used at both shows that weekend.

Yes but Block, why does that badge have a pair

of briefs in the center, you may wonder.

Well, our hostess with the mostest, Paula The Music Junkie,

came up with an idea to make the event a little *more* by

contacting a local shelter and asking them what they

most needed. Underwear was the reply so, we gathered new packs

of various styles of undies in a 55 gallon barrel for

to deliver to the shelter.

A grand time was had by all and I have become a fan

of house concerts with a desire to one day start my own.

Anyway, if you have a band or a festival or any event and

would like someone to design a "pass" for same...

Drop me a line and let's work something out. ;-)

Badges ( Part III )

2001 rolls around and it's back to 12th & Porter

for another round of warm up shows for

The Power to Believe.

I saw K.C. a few more times that year

and it was fun to watch the material morph

and come together.

Sam's Gap

Badges (Part II)

So, also in 2000, after the positive outcome from

my King Crimson badge effort, I whipped up this one

for a show in Knoxville, TN for the same reasons.

I did not create these badges for to create chaos at these events.

A friend who went with, despite my protesting, decided to try

the badge out for it's power of confusion.

He got up and headed straight for the curtains leading to backstage,

with security in place, he breezed right through.

Next thing I know he strolls out on stage during the set change with

Tull's stage crew and tour manager all around him, he stands at Ian Anderson's

mic and stage position.

I have a picture of him up there but, I don't know if I should post it here

without asking him first.

10 Items Or Less

The Thanksgiving holiday allows for some "catch up" movie viewing.

One of my favorites from the selection, "10 Items Or Less".

The critics aren't kind to this Indy film for the most part.

They say it is about nothing which couldn't be farther from the truth.

Sure, it lacks side splitting slapstick for the most part, it doesn't have

a special effects budget that could have fed a small third world country

for a week, but, it represents a slice of life where two

people from different worlds take a moment in time to

experience some human contact, encourage a stranger and

examine the human condition.

If "Pieces of April" is in your list of Holiday viewing then I think

you will appreciate this movie as I did.

About an actor who hasn't worked in four years, gets an offer

to star in a low budget, Indy film and travels out of

his realm to scout and study for a part in a part of town that

isn't his regular level of stomping grounds.

The film company is shaky at best and when Morgan's character

is dropped at a grocery store to study for his part, he finds himself

stuck there as his ride never returns to collect him.

He befriends a young and pretty Spanish girl who

is in charge of the 10 items or less register.

This develops into a relationship by which both characters

find themselves helping the other in ways that each needed

at the time.

In one segment they discuss 10 items or less that

you would keep in your life if you could only keep 10.

This makes for a good discussion for Thanksgiving, no ?

If you require huge explosions and car chases in your entertainment, then,

this film may not be for you.

If you are open to inspiration towards helping others, then, by all means...

Badges

In the year 2000 a few internet friends, whom I had never met, were gathering in NashVegas, TN for to witness King Crimson "Warm Up" shows for their subsequent World Tour for The "Construction of Light". They were performing for three nights in a small club, which was a treat, indeed. (12th & Porter)

It was decided that we needed a way to spot one another and the Badge was born. I decided to try my hand at creating something for the occasion, having enough knowledge in Photoshop to be dangerous. Little did I know that my badge would be decent enough to confuse security.

It is rare to never that KC performs a "cover" but we were treated to this awesome version
of "Heroes" as an encore.
This is not the Nashville performance but, you get the idea. ( Video courtesy of Bootleg TV )
Robert Fripp played this lead guitar part on the original with Bowie. Adrian Belew became David's band director for the "Sound & Vision" tour so, he also had previous experience with this song.

65

Taken several years ago at Asheville Recyclers

when they were on Biltmore Ave. I don't think

they *are* at all these days.

Adrian Belew - Side Four Live ORDER NOW !!!

photo by Mark Colman

Click on Cover Art to place your order today

(available in Signed or Not So Signed )

here are the delicious treats awaiting you when

you sit down to feast on side four (live)

writing on the wall

dinosaur

ampersand

young lions

beat box guitar

matchless man

a little madness

drive

of bow and drum

big electric cat

three of a perfect pair

thela hun ginjeet

the pumpkin pie is optional.

happy thanksgiving everyone.

( From Adrian's Elephant Blog )

Craig Ferguson

This video has been around for a while but bears repeating...

Adrian Belew - Side Four Live Update Update !!!

Pre-orders for Side Four will be taken on Tuesday, November 20th !

You heard it here first folks...

Adrian Belew - Side Four Live Update

From Elephant Blog

the parts for side four (live) were sent to the pressing plant to begin the manufacture thereof.in two weeks we will begin accepting orders.I'm told they will make lovely Christmas giftsfor unsuspecting sucker...er, friends and relatives.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007

a little madness...
looking over the color proof for the artwork for side four (live) eric commented on the name change I've made for the song madness from side one. on the live record the title is now a little madness. there are two reasons why: first, on the live version I say "a little madness" over eric's drum intro, but second and more importantly it's a money saving device. how so? you might ask. when I was writing madness I considered singing a lyric about a young musician who believes he is being "visited"in his dreams by aliens, who are teaching him ways to do incredible things with the healing sounds of music. he believes he is learning to cure certain diseases just by playing specific sounds which radically affectand alter the listener's molecular makeup. the problem is: it's driving him crazy! as part of the lyric I had written a speaking part as an intro before the massive blast of music begins. fittingly I remembered a scene in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey the music in the scene had a profound effect on me. it was a piece by Katchaturian. so for the intro with the spoken voiceI decided to play a small portion of the Katchaturian piece on guitar with a bed of synthesizer "space" sound beneath it. the whole bit was 50 seconds long. the song was nearly 7 minutes. eventually the vocal/lyric idea didn't pan out. I guess I'm not a good enough actor. but martha was convinced the music was my masterpiece. whether or not you agree with that assessment trust me, it is much better without my vocal idea. I dropped the vocal but I still liked the 17-second guitar intro so I left it that way. I didn't even think the Katchaturian music might not be public domain. just before side one was to be released we received a call from the dead Mr. Katchaturian's publishing company. it was too late just to leave off the 50 seconds of Katchaturian (the record was already mastered) so we had to bow to their demands for 50% of the publishing on my seven-minute masterpiecefor the privilege of 50-seconds of the dead Mr. Katchaturian's music. evidently the afterlife must be an expensive place. and that is why there is a new piece on side four (live) called a little madness.

-adrian belew from elephant blog

TOUR DE FRANK - SECOND CHANCE

UPDATE: Zappa Plays Zappa Live DVD - Available NOW

Get your's here: Barfko Swill

Zappa Plays Zappa is back on the road, check the tour dates at Zappa Plays Zappa. Do not miss them if you can manage. They are off to the land down under after these U.S. dates...

IT'S TIME FOR...

NEW RULES !

Our Torturing Ways...

Do you write to your congress personalities ? It's a good time to start. Especially to Senators Feinstein and Schumer, whether you're in their state or not.

What are they thinking ?