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THE MAGIC BAND reunion / project

THIS is BAND #3 and #4 live album - go to the main page

the MAGIC BAND * 21ST CENTURY MIRROR MEN
[selected live recordings from 2003 and 2004]

cd+dvd england 2005 proper music prpcd 026 picture plates

the magic band reunion - line up #3 and #4 - cd/dvd '21st century mirror men' - live 2003 and 2004

TRACK LISTING CD

all tomorrow's parties pacific usa 2003 - queen mary, long beach, ca, usa 8 november 2003:
MATT GROENING SPOKEN INTRODUCTION 1:40
liquid rooms, edinburgh, scotland 24 january 2004:
MOONLIGHT ON VERMONT 3:50 trout mask replica 1969
royal festival hall, london, england 23 january 2004:
THE FLOPPY BOOT STOMP 3:59 shiny beast (bat chain puller) 1978
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE BLUES (OR THE BIG DIG) 2:26 lick my decals off, baby 1970
liquid rooms, edinburgh, scotland 24 january 2004:
'DRUM SOLO' [= GONE BOPS OVER MOUNT KILIMANJARO instrumental john french composition] /
instrumental ABBA ZABA (total) 5:12 safe as milk 1967 originally a song
rescue rooms, nottingham, england 6 july 2004:
CIRCUMSTANCES 3:41 clear spot 1972
liquid rooms, edinburgh, scotland 24 january 2004:
instrumental ON TOMORROW 4:00 strictly personal 1968 song
rescue rooms, nottingham, england 6 july 2004:
instrumental STEAL SOFTLY THRU SNOW 2:25 trout mask replica 1969 song
instrumental MY HUMAN GETS ME BLUES 3:08 trout mask replica 1969 song
instrumental ALICE IN BLUNDERLAND 2:40 the spotlight kid 1972
instrumental HAIR PIE: BAKE TWO 2:20 trout mask replica 1969
royal festival hall, london, england 23 january 2004:
GROW FINS 4:59 the spotlight kid 1972
liquid rooms, edinburgh, scotland 24 january 2004:
instrumental VETERAN'S DAY POPPY 4:25 trout mask replica 1969 song
MIRROR MAN 6:59 mirror man 1968
rescue rooms, nottingham, england 6 july 2004:
WHEN IT BLOWS ITS STACKS 5:14 the spotlight kid 1972
all tomorrow's parties pacific usa 2003 - queen mary, long beach, ca, usa 8 november 2003:
ELECTRICITY 4:12 safe as milk 1967
BIG EYED BEANS FROM VENUS 4:27 clear spot 1972
total time 65:37

the BAND (#4)
MARK BOSTON rockette morton * bass guitar
JOHN FRENCH drumbo * drums * vocals * harmonica
GARY LUCAS * (left ear) guitar
DENNY WALLEY feeler's rebo / walla walla * (right ear) guitar
MICHAEL TRAYLOR * drums

*

TRACK LISTING bonus DVD

all tomorrow parties uk 2003 - camber sands, england 6 april 2003:
instrumental MY HUMAN GETS ME BLUES trout mask replica 1969 originally a song
instrumental ABBA ZABA safe as milk 1967 song
instrumental HAIR PIE: BAKE TWO trout mask replica 1969
instrumental STEAL SOFTLY THRU SNOW trout mask replica 1969 song
instrumental ON TOMORROW strictly personal 1968 song
instrumental ALICE IN BLUNDERLAND the spotlight kid 1972
instrumental I WANNA FIND A WOMAN THAT'LL HOLD MY BIG TOE TILL I HAVE TO GO lick my decals off, baby 1970 song
[time unknown]

the BAND (#3)
MARK BOSTON rockette morton * bass guitar
JOHN FRENCH drumbo * drums * percussion * vocals * harmonica
GARY LUCAS * guitar
DENNY WALLEY feeler's rebo / walla walla * guitar
not in action: ROBERT WILLIAMS wait for me * drums * percussion

INFO

some edited liner notes:
"These shows will astonish you. I had tears of joy in my eyes". This was the standout line from a Five Star review run by The Guardian newspaper last year of the live shows by The Magic Band [...]. Recorded [...] during [2003 and] 2004, the material bursts with new life, and the band achieve a near-impossible task - not just playing the notes as they are on the records (hard enough in itself in some cases) but playing them convincingly enough to send a sold-out London audience into ovation after ovation. These are the players who were inducted into the Captain's secret musical universe, and who transformed his unique ideas into works of unfathomable and inimitable beauty, and live in 2005 they do that same thing again.

released by and (online) for sale at:
proper music * the new powerhouse * gateway business centre * london se26 5an * england * tel +44 (0)20 8676 5186 * fax +44 (0)20 8676 5190 * email proper music * price: gbp 13.99 (plus shipping and handling)

REVIEW

andrew greenaway - the idiot bastard son of t mershi duween uk frank zappa news site - ?? may 2005

'Trout Mask Replication' is the headline I would probably apply to this review if I wrote such things. Since their reunion in 2003, the Magic Band have released two CDs, both of which include ten of the same songs – and all of which also appear on the two DVDs they have issued. (OK, 'Hair Pie' is a different bake on the Camber DVD that comes free with this here live disc, but…). Why couldn't they find room for 'Diddy Wah Diddy', 'Evening Bell', 'The Sky Is Full Of [Wine Not] Whiskey And Rye', Gary Lucas's poem, 'China Pig' or 'Well'?

And why does Robert Williams get a credit when his only appearance in the Camber DVD comes at the very end of 'Big Toe' as he rushes to replace Drumbo? His photo also appears in the packaging, unlike his successor Michael Traylor. I only mention this in passing, as all of this stuff actually sounds great to me. But when certain other UK companies are issuing shoddy Beefheart material, the rightful keepers of the flame should surely strive to steer clear of any criticism?

The free DVD (of all instrumental tracks) is mainly filmed from one stationary camera at the back of the hall that zooms into Rockette Morton a couple of times. But there are a few handheld clasp shots from the front row from 'On Tomorrow' on (which starts with Drumbo's uncredited 'Gone Bops Over Mount Kilimanjaro' drum solo). And all of the music throughout both discs is beautifully played, with 'Mirror Man' and 'Electricity' (two of the 'new' songs) deserving of special mention.

So, I guess this willl do till they get around to finally recording that real one.

*

[250505]

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 captain beefheart electricity
as felt by teejo

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