Feb 2 & 3 - Abstractions

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While on tour for Close To The Edge with new drummer Alan White, Yes struck upon an abstract concept for their next album Tales From Topographic Oceans ('75), everything. Well, not exactly everything but as much as they could get in four parts from the Shastrick Scriptures. Stretching beyond 20 minutes in three of the four pieces, Tales From Topographic Oceans has been cited by critics as the height of pomposity and over-indulgence in progressive rock. Someone needs to find a new fatted calf for the slaughter. While Tales does go off in different directions, each piece keeps its central theme. While it isn't completely accessible, this is hardly the "bloated corpse" of progressive rock.

Yes - Tales From Topographic Oceans (@ Allmusic.com)

After Primus went on "hiatus" last, Les Claypool put ads out for eclectic musicians to form his Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. And eclectic music they played, rounding out the set with Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and a few Les related points in-between on Live Frogs Set 1. I saw these freaks at Mardi Gras in 2001, and they blew the roof off. This performance isn't quite to that level, but I'm still amazed by how much fun it is. Live Frogs: Set 2, released after the first, is one of the performances of Pink Floyd's Animals album that the Frog Brigade did on tour. If I don't get hate mail for this, maybe I'll pull that one out as well in the following weeks.

Les Claypool's Frog Brigade - Live Frogs: Set 1(@ Allmusic.com)

Following up his breakthrough album Over-Nite Sensation, Frank Zappa scored another gold album with Apostrophe. It goes from the absurdity of the yellow snow saga on the first side to instrumental brilliance and social critique on the second. While I make the second side sound pretty stuffy, it's still Zappa with a winking smile and a finger in the ear (and Jack Bruce on the bass on Apostrophe).

Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (*) (@ Allmusic.com)

[zvinki]

You are a brave man stretching our musical patience with Les Claypool. I, personally, can't get enough of Les' bass playing. I saw Primus live on numerous occasions and am always astounded by the results of his seemingly, or is that seamlessly, casual playing. You go guy!!!

[Powerslave]

I own both of the Flying Frog Brigade live sets, and they are sensational! I find the 14-minute rendition of KC's "Thela Hun Ginjeet" more enjoyable than the original, especially with outstanding abilities of Claypool's musicians. The "Shine On Crazy Diamond" cover is well-done, also. While the rest of the set, coming from Claypool's own catalog of songs from his pre- and post-Primus bands, might not be everyone's cup of tea, I think most AM listeners will be delighted to hear 20+ minutes of prog classics redone so originally.

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I'm glad to see such good word about Les & The Frogs so soon after I posted the show summary for this weekend. Although the songs he plays other than Shine On and Thela Hun Ginjeet aren't necessarily as accessible, they're definitely worth your time to listen (even though the song with the single string bass isn't on here, damn them! [but it is on Purple Onion.

The amount of people listening may drop off slightly, but this show is about taking the time to sit and listen to a whole work. You may not get it at first, but when you catch the music, there's never a better feeling than that of discovery (well, other than really good sex, or maybe a really nice steak . . . ). Of course, it's a given that the listeners here have a much higher tollerance for experimentation than your average Clearchannel listener

Thanks y'all, you make the show worth doing.

Extended Playa

[zvinki]

Since this has turned into a Les Claypool board, I had read some interesting information at www.toolshed.down.net:

"First off, word surfaced yesterday that Danny has headed up to the Bay Area to begin a new recording project with Adrian Belew (uber-guitarist from King Crimson) and Les Claypool (uber-bassist from Primus). "

Danny is Tool's drummer. KC backed up Tool during their last tour. From all accounts the bands complemented each other well. I, for one, am very excited to hear what comes out of this.

[Yesspaz]

A band made of Tool's drummer, Primus' bassist, and the Crimson King's guitarist!!!

Dang...