When or where in Greece am I ?
I can’t really say and now I’m getting ready to leave. The food has been wonderful and the people even more so. The rest of the band is in no hurry to move on, but Eddie says there are gigs to do elsewhere, so onward we go. I’m caught up on postcards to back home and my laundry so I’m hoping to get some sightseeing done. Meanwhile Eddie informs me that this week’s recording of note is the 1982 release “Counting The Beat” by Swingers a trio headed up by Phil Judd (ex-Split Enz) on Mushroom records. This disc yielded 2 numbers that charted down under and was the only release for this band. They can be seen in the film musical “Starstruck”to which they also contributed some of the soundtrack material. The album is slightly bent pop of the first order with the horn duties falling to the fabulous Brecker Brothers with excellent results. My favorite tracks are “More” and “True or False” which starts off with a lilting mandolin chorus only to resolve into a variation on the melody to “Staying Alive” as the tune finishes up. Overall a very solid effort you should hear. I think we’re looking to pick up a couple of dates on the way to our next confirmed booking, but I’ll post you folks as soon as we get where we’re headed. Have a good day and take care. Image courtesy of twistedpapers.com
Well that was by far…
one of the most unusual birthday parties I’ve ever played at or attended. I’ve always been somewhere between amused and amazed at some of the people Eddie counts as his friends, and the guest list for this party was full of them. Something about gentlemen in military uniforms from what are now defunct forces that makes me laugh, although quietly to myself since they tend to brandish their weapons after a few drinks to punctuate their point in conversation. Both the Headstock Brothers and myself took the opportunity to take a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine back to our room after the gig, figuring that Eddie would be out for the duration of the evening, which he was. I did get a pseudo-cryptic note from Eddie shoved under the door while I was sleeping it off, which as best as I can tell contains this week’s musical recording of note “Shoot Out The Lights” by Richard and Linda Thompson. Released in 1982 on Hannibal Records this album is a must have for anyone’s collection and features brilliant vocal and guitar work throughout. The title track alone is worth the price of admission but for me the real clincher is “Wall of Death” which stands as one of the greatest folk-rock tunes of all time. Once again Mr. Ersatz has picked a winner, do check it out if you have not already. Well thats about it from here, next stop is Greece (if it hasn’t burnt to the ground before we get there). I’ll post you when we arrive, meanwhile have a good day! image courtesy of twistedpapers.com
After an interesting week ….
here in Venice I thought I’d better catch up on blogging and more before we move on. The tour is going well so far and according to Eddie we’re actually making some money, although the band has yet to see much of it. Hank and Harold (the Headstock Brothers) managed to get out to the country to visit some friends of theirs and returned with wine and cheese of a most excellant nature which they shared with the rest of the band, much to our delight. I guess the next gig will include a private birthday party for an old business associate of Eddie, but so far no more details on location. At any rate, Eddie says the musical recording of the week is “Hommages” by Gavin Bryars released on Les Disques du Crepuscle in 1981(Belgium). This disc is a collection of four pieces performed by an ensemble including Gavin Bryars himself. The tone of three of these pieces is decidedly ambient in nature , the other track “The English Mail Coach” is a more strident but still minimalistic composition. The players on this record do a wonderful job of maintaining a delicate balance on the quieter tracks that results in what I would term “ambient acoustic jazz” or something on that order. All in all I agree with Eddie, a very nice recording indeed. One more musical note on the week. The band and Eddie would like to express their personal thanks, admiration, and respect to the one and only Les Paul, who played and invented his way into the musical fabric of the world, in a way few have or ever will. He will never be forgotten. Time to get my stuff together for the next leg of this trip, have a good day, more to come soon.
image courtesy of twistedpapers.com
Now we're off to Venice……
after a fun week in Monaco. No real news to report, just a quick update. I also wanted to give appropriate recognition to Stan and Russell over at TwistedPapers.com who are the source of the wonderful images I’m currently using in the “world tour” part of this blog. Go check out their site I think you’ll enjoy it. Meanwhile it’s time to catch a train, more soon when I get to Venice.
The weather is warm and wonderful….
here in what I guess is outer Monaco. We are booked for only 3 days but Eddie hopes to pick up another date before we go to Venice next week. Hank and Harold have a relative of some sort near Venice that they want to visit and there could be a home cooked meal in it so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. We’re going to try out some new arrangements this week and I’ve got an accordion solo worked out that will make Eddie’s ears burn. Speaking of Eddie, his musical pick for this week is an album titled ” Kaleidoscope of Rainbows” by Neil Ardley. Released on Gull records in 1976, recorded in London this album features a brilliant ensemble about a dozen strong, featuring among others the wonderful Barbara Thompson on saxes and flute. This album is great from start to finish and I believe was released on CD a couple of years back. I saw Barbara Thompson and her group Paraphanelia III at the Bulls Head Pub in London, summer of 1978 . It was a good show in a very small room as I recall. Anyway I agree with Eddie on this one so check it out if you can, I’m off to do laundry..ahh the glamour of the road. More soon.
image courtesy of twistedpapers.com
Very nice indeed…..
this city of Nice. Although Paris was lovely, it’s very pleasant on the coast here, warm and scenic. The accomodations at the hotel are more than adequate and it’s a treat not to have to haul our gear around town from gig to gig. The ballroom has a pretty good sound to it and the Headstock brothers have an in with the kitchen staff ,so we’re eating well. We’ve got a week here then it’s off to Monaco or thereabouts. Meanwhile Eddie says his musical pick of the week is “Are You Glad To Be In America” by James Blood Ulmer. Recorded Jan.17,1980 in NYC and originally released on Rough Trade Records in the UK. This recording captures some of the best aspects of “harmolodic” music of the time. The band is in great form and the production is lean and mean. Tracks like “Jazz is The Teacher (Funk is the Preacher)” and “Layout” are real gems. Yeah I have to agree with Eddie on this one, this music is like watching vintage cartoons, it never gets old, ever. Anyway I should get on with laundry if I hope to have anything to wear onstage this evening. Have a good day, more news at our next stop.
image courtesy of twistedpapers.com
Welcome to the "city of light and magic"…
also known as Paris, France. The trip here was uneventful, no luggage lost (nice thing about having to sit on it during transit). Eddie says the gig here will be a good chance to warm up before we head to Nice. I’m getting to know the Headstock brothers Hank and Harold, they’re really good players and fun to travel with besides. The weather has been warm and wet, much like back home I’m told. I told Eddie I was blogging while on tour and he wanted to horn in on the action without actually doing anything, so I’ll be persenting his musical recording “pick of the week” as we progress onward. This weeks pick is “Annette Peacock Live in Paris” recorded at the Bataclan live in January 1981 on AURA records. It features 5 tracks, 3 from her 1979 album “X Dreams”. Eddie likes the album, I think the band gets off to a slow start on the first side but warms up by side 2. I believe Annette is an aquired taste for most listeners, but so is Eddie. We’re doing one nighters in clubs here before moving on to a hotel gig in Nice. I’ll do a new post when we get there, meanwhile time to practice, have a good day.
image courtesy of twistedpapers.com
Episode 34 of At-The-Helm is now available….
and strangely enough it’s not the final “all talk” episode that was promised. That show is still in the works, I’ll let you know when it’s finished……in the meanwhile. This show is a live solo “in studio” performance from August 20,1997 of a piece called “Liquid Center”. Taken from the original master tape, no edits, no MIDI, no “undo” functions, only samples are from the PCM drumbox.
This is the third take in it’s entirety, recorded in my home studio. Originally released in 2000 by Studio Seventeen Productions.Performed and recorded by Bryan Helm, all rights reserved by the artist. Thanks to SJ and the boys of summer( including Tom G.) for their inspiration and support. For more info go to at-the-helm.us and click on the icon for “Liquid Center” at the bottom right of the page. Many thanks to those of you who have taken the time to listen to this series, I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard. FYI this show runs 50 minutes and 44 seconds. As always your comments are welcome, have a good day.
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Spring has sprung here….
after a last blast of winter in these parts. Work on Episode 34 of At-The-Helm is almost complete. The first version of the show ran too long and was really boring so I killed it and am now editing the second version, hopefully to better effect. My apologies to those few of you that are awaiting this installment, I’ll give a holler when it’s ready. Meanwhile here are some blossoms from a couple years back, take care and enjoy the season.
A Quick Production Update….
as I continue to work on the final episode in this retrospective. I hope to have it wrapped up soon. I’d like to welcome any new readers and listeners and thank you for stopping to check out my work After the final interview show there are still some other surprises to come so please stay tuned and I hope you enjoy what you hear. I’ll leave you for now with a look down the road in winter.