Trans-Siberian Orchestra & Grand Funk Railroad - It was the Quicker Picker Upper

A couple weeks ago I was feeling down for one reason or another. Rainy days and Mondays always get me down...

But this was neither. Anyway -

The things which picked me up before the day was over were kind of simple things, but they were good for me. Lemme s'plain.

(Don Brewer, Circa 1970)

I had been scheduled for an interview with Don Brewer, as Grand Funk Railroad was coming to play about 6-8 miles from my house. I probably could have heard it from there. And while some stations were getting a quick 10-15 minutes with him, I was scheduled for 30 minutes... or so. Some of these "or so" situations have had me in conversation for well over an hour to in a few cases, close to two hours. Sometimes artists will do a lot of interviews in one day, and I've occasionally been scheduled as the last in the time block, just in case they feel like kicking back and telling stories, or have been put at ease and are enjoying the way things are being asked - letting them give answers after a different type of exploration. I don't recall if I was scheduled like this with Don, but they were certainly ready for me to go beyond, "so how's the tour, man?" I provided links to a few shows which I though might show the kind of thing he'd end up on, while at the same time mentioning names which were perhaps big enough to drop a hint as to the background of my program. I used one of my latter interviews with Brian Hyland, my first interview with Steve Lukather, and my extended conversation with Steve Vai.

(Don Brewer, Circa 2020-2025)

Almost as soon as we were scheduled and exchanging information, they were on the verge of cancelling the show, and so they cancelled the interview. I sent an email stating that I was disappointed, but of course I understood. But I ALSO asked if he'd be up for doing something in mid-November after they're done with the current tour. I said it wouldn't be an interview to promote any performance or anything at all really. It would just be a deep-dive conversation eliciting stories looking at Terry Knight and the Pack, Grand funk Railroad, the album Frank Zappa produced and played on...

I didn't expect to hear anything back, and left it alone, moving on to other artists.

Four or five days later I got an email from the public relations rep I'd been communicating with saying, "That sounds amazing, and Don is in! What day in mid-November were you thinking?" I hope this one does indeed happen.

(Al Pitrelli)

The other pick me up came in the form of my annual conversation with Al Pitrelli, Music Director for, and lead guitarist with, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (West). I'm currently editing this one for a near-future KVC-Arts. TSO is touring "The Ghosts of Christmas Eve." This is one that's been toured often... but it's always bigger and better in some fashion. Even if this was the only album they ever toured, I'd still hope to see it year after year.

This is also the 25th anniversary of "Beethoven's Last Night," so some special attention will be paid to that as well. TSO often does "Requiem" (which starts with the iconic Fifth of Beethoven), but this tour will have them doing a very specific 5-song medley from this wonderful, wonderful album. In short, the storyline involves Beethoven trying desperately to finish his 10th symphony, with a deal with the devil hanging over his head. He wins against the Devil with a QUITE clever trick.

(Al Pitrelli, Circa close to this time last year)

I always appreciate my conversations with Al. We talk about what we're supposed to be promoting of course, but there's always more woven in. Sometimes it's little sidebars which address a particular mood of a tune. Sometimes Al brings up something from one of previous conversations - things which might've been last year, 5 or 6 or more years ago. He either takes notes and refers to them before calling, or something really has struck a chord somehow. He also asked specifically if I was coming to the show this year, as they've finally lifted Covid restrictions, and he was looking forward to finally getting a handshake and a hug... maybe some scotch.

                                

Between all of my TSO conversations with him, and of course the EXTENDED in depth conversation for my 500th show, speaking with Al is just like speaking to an old friend. I've heard this often with regard to my conversations with him and a few others. Back to the original thrust of this post... There were plenty of things which would've brought my day around and given me the proper attitude adjustment once I got home, but this took care of it before I even hit the road.

Big Swifty, Frank Zappa... and WAKA/JAWAKA

  

The map thing said, "Traffic Light, travel time 17:32." My real honest to goodness first thought was, "Big Swifty."

This is the opening track to Frank Zappa's WAKA/JAWAKA. I had lost this disc when I totaled our CR-V. It was in the cd player, and the guys at the scrap yard yanked the battery and... Well, anyway... I couldn't get it back.

And I couldn't play the album because my needle broke.

I have the cd again, and this morning after one more round of "The King Is Gone (So Are You)," as performed by The Highwaymen, I popped in WAKA/JAWAKA and went to San Ber'dino (another cool FZ tune).

"Big Swifty" is a long track, originally taking up the entirety of side one in album form. This is from one of my favorite eras, if you will, of FZ. Released in 1972, it falls right in nicely with any solid jazz-fusion collection. It's also a tune which would be most fitting on any Sal Marquez collection. It seems the cover design was his concept, and he's as dominant with the trumpet on "Big Swifty" as Frank is with the guitar, if not more so. But that's one of the nice things about a lot of FZ's music. It's not JUST a guitar player's song or tune. Also, beyond being very strict in places, his music is generally written with a LOT of room for improv. There are really only a few players on this recording. Beyond Marquez on the "many trumpets and chimes," guitars are provided by Frank and Tony Duran. The bass player is Erroneous. I'm not saying he's mistaken, nor did I capitalize where I shouldn't. The guy on electric bass is named Alex Dmochowski… but sometimes goes as Erroneous. Aynsley Dunbar plays drums, with Frank hitting various things for additional percussion. This is also a GREAT look at early George Duke with Zappa. I was thinking, "Man, this is some of the best Don Preston I've overlooked for some time now." It's more like some of the best George Duke that I'd overlooked for some time now. As mentioned, "Big Swifty" is a long piece, listed at 17:22. But if you're "not into the jam-band thing," just stop. That's an all too easy way to unfortunately dismiss some musical magic. And also, that's not what this is - jam band thing. This falls more into jazz fusion, but please don't dismiss it if you generally don't - or FLAT out don't - like jazz fusion. This is more of an extended composition divided into several distinct movements. And while these movements do go right from one to the next, they don't do it in a shocking or jolting manner - as FZ will do sometimes. Some of these movements are explorations and what may feel like odd stacking of tuplets, but they don't feel like some sort of free-jazz audio spew, while other movements are downright toe-tapping. Well, almost. With this in mind... give it a shot. But you have to allow yourself that 17:22 of focus. Next time you can, get ready as best fits you, then put on some headphones and give it a go. Or when the map thing says your drive will be 17:22. This is also prime. But give it a shot. This started as a Facebook post about a cool song on a drive to work.

The Human Canvas - Something old, something new, something borrowed...

 

I didn't have much space to work.

 

 

Courtney.

 

 

Having graced these pages many times,

quite often adorned with butterflies.

 

 

Butterflies, dogs, Steve...

 

 

These are a few of her favorite things. 

 

 

I said whenever you get married,

let me apply the"something blue."

 

 

So, sure 'nuff.

There I was on the floor,

surrounded by bridesmaids and hair

and makeup people.

 

 

And I didn't have the right blue!!!

 

I made do with a blue highlighter.

It worked quite nicely, but I think the ink

actually behaved differently somehow.

 

The final shot...

 

 

And the creep shot...

 

And a better shot.

 

 

Something old, Something new,

 

 

Something Borrowed, Something Blue.

 

 

Thank You Court!

We love you!