The Weblog Of Dr. Dot Stein
Project Object Tour Dates:
Oct 27 Toad’s Place New Haven, CT
Oct 28 Jillians Albany, NY
Oct 30 The Met Pawtucket, RI
Oct 31 Higher Ground Burlington, VT
Nov 1 BB King’s New York, NY
Nov 2 World Café Live Philadelphia, PA
Nov 3 Regatta Bar Cambridge, MA
Project/Object with special guests… Ike Willis and Ray White !!!
The Music Of FRANK ZAPPA..and more
IKE and RAY's FIRST TOUR TOGETHER IN OVER 25 YEARS!!!
Featuring: Ike Willis, Ray White, Andre' Cholmondeley, David Johnsen, Eric Svalgard, Jim Ruffi
WINTER TOURDATES BELOW !!
Hello and how are you?!?
Hoping you had a great Christmas, Chanukah, Solstice, Kwaanza, Pagan Sun Worship day — or Atheistic hangout movie night!! Whatever you did or are doing, it's all good.
We are putting the finishing touches on what promises to be a historic and fantastic run with the two and only IKE WILLIS & RAY WHITE ….!!
Ike and Ray, as you know – remain two of Frank Zappa's most beloved and listened-to frontmen/vocalist/guitarists. Between them they appear on over 25 of Zappa's releases from 1978 onwards.
Ike and Ray have not toured together in over TWENTY FIVE (25) YEARS !!!.
The 1984 tour ended on Dec 23, 1984, Universal Ampitheater, Universal City. Since then, as you well know, Ike Willis has toured with Project/Object for nearly 15 years, and in that time Ray White has performed with us a handful of times in San Francisco and at Festivals around the country. Those occasions remain the only times these legendary performers have shared the stage since Zappa Tour 1984…..
Now… we bring you an opportunity to see them on an exclusive New Year's/Holiday tour with Project/Object.
This tour also marks the return of an old friend and Project/Object Alumnus – Drummer Jim Ruffi. Jim did a few short runs with Ike and the band back in 1999, and he and I have been involved in several live and studio projects, including recordings with Ike Willis and unsung genius songwriter Chris McKenna. Really folks, check this man's wonderful music out…. I already know you have great taste in music !!! http://www.myspace.com/chrismckennamusic
Anyway…….Jim Ruffi ably steps into the drumchair as a result of Eric Slick's leave of abscence. Come check him out !!
As always, the setlist will feature some old P/O favorites, some new items from the vast Zappa catalog, and, but, especially material that Ike and Ray are known for separately and together. Just hearing these voices together in harmony is a thing of wonder. Take a look on youtube at the clips of the famous NYC Pier, August 1984 show, immortalized on the "Does Humor Belong In Music" DVD to get an idea of the dynamic these guys whip up. We hope to see you there, say hi!!!
ALSO– as always we have our "Project/Object Local Crew Program" in effect. Many of you know what this is and have kindly participated — For those new to the idea — what we do is solicit volunteers from our fan base to be "roadie for a day" and help the band in/out of the club, assist with setup etc. In exchange the "roadie" gets a free ticket to the show, a beverage or two, access to soundcheck, pictures with the alumni, and autographs from Ike and Ray on their raggedy LP covers dug up from their basement.
We still need to fill in a couple cities on this tour — especially the new ones. If you are interested in this venture —please email me (guitartour@earthlink.net) for further details and make the subject line "P/O LOCAL CREW <city of the gig> ".
Please don't write back with the actual words <city of the gig> in there. That will, sadly, be a failed cognition test, and we need you to be able to follow simple instructions. Being a musician -or- having a knowledge of musical equipment, and a willingness to schlep gear are all you need to qualify !
ALSO — thanks again for all the well wishes and support. My partner Cheri Jiosne is still valiantly fighting her battle against breast cancer. After 6 months of a chemo program, she reached a plateau. For about 6 weeks now she has been on a very promising program specially geared towards her type of tumor. So far — so good — and we are staying upbeat and positive every day. Still — even though some kind of beginning of a change in the US health system began yesterday with the Health Bill being passed – that won't help us financially anytime soon. I will be donated all my proceeds from this tour -as well as the profits from T-Shirt sales – to her cause.
I continue to reach out to anyone that wants to help – (THANK YOU!!!)
There is info on www.projectobject.com, scroll down to the "THANK YOU" blog post, or you can just email me.
We have TWO options:
1) sending her a check directly (email me for address or check the site)
2) donating directly via PAYPAL : send it to the address "projectobject@earthlink.net". Note: my first name "Hugh (Cholmondeley)" will return in the confirmation email.
Every penny counts!! Even $5 will go to very good use for medications, travel to treatment etc. This sh*t is expensive!!
NOW…LET's CRANK SOME FRANK !!
SEE YOU ALL ON THE ROAD!!!!!!
-Andre' Cholmondeley
Project/Object with special guests… Ike Willis and Ray White !!!
The Music Of FRANK ZAPPA..and more
IKE and RAY's FIRST TOUR TOGETHER IN OVER 25 YEARS!!!
Ike Willis, Ray White, Andre' Cholmondeley, David Johnsen, Eric Svalgard, Jim Ruffi
DECEMBER 2009
SUN 27 SELLERSVILLE PA Sellersville Theatre
MON 28 BALTIMORE MD 8 x 10
TUE 29 PITTSBURGH PA Rex Theater
WED 30 CLEVELAND OH Beachland Ballroom
THU 31 EAST LANSING MI Mac's Bar
JANUARY 2010
FRI 1 CHICAGO IL Martyr's
SAT 2 CHICAGO IL Martyr's
SUN 3 MILWAUKEE WI Miramar Theater
TUE 5 HARRISBURG PA The Abbey Bar @ Appalachian Brewing Co.
WED 6 PLAINS PA River St. Jazz Club
THU 7 NEW YORK NY BB King's Blues Club
FRI 8 CAMBRIDGE MA Regatta Bar
SAT 9 TROY NY Revolution Hall
SUN 10 NEW HAVEN CT Toad's Place
And check out the new and ever-evolving website: www.projectobject.com
Pojama People featuring Ike Willis performing the music of Frank Zappa
Sep 11 Friday 8pm
The Mix
6006 12th Ave S
Seattle WA 98108
myspace.com/mixseattle
$10 Advance / $15 Day of Show
CHEAP!
Sep 13 Sunday 7pm
Roxy's Vets Club
406 N Mount Shasta Blvd
Mt Shasta CA 96067
myspace.com/roxysvetsclub
Sep 14 Monday 9pm
Elbo Room
647 Valencia St
San Francisco CA 94110
415.552.7788
elbo.com
Sep 16 Wednesday 9pm
Dante's
1 SW 3rd & Burnside
Portland OR 97209
myspace.com/dantesportland
$15 CHEAP!
Sep 17 Thursday 9pm
The Red Fox Tavern
415 5th St (5th and E)
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 269-0282
myspace.com/theredfoxtavern
Sep 18 Friday 9:30pm
Caspar Inn
14957 Caspar Rd.
Caspar CA 95420
707-964-5565
casparinn.com
$10 CHEAP!
Sep 19 Saturday 9:30pm
Luckey's
933 olive st.
Eugene OR 97402
(541) 687-4643
luckeysclub.com
$10 CHEAP!
Know any Zappafanatics on the west coast. Forward, away! 
Click link below to see in original format:
http://www.liveatdot.com/program/details.php?id=334
am 13. Aug. 2009
The members of PROJECT/OBJECT feel that Frank Zappa is one of the 20th Century's greatest and most important composers, and they are on a mission to bring his music to the masses by faithfully recreating the live Zappa experience.
PROJECT/OBJECT formed in the early '90s as an offshoot from an annual Frank Zappa birthday celebration that took place in guitarist Andre' Cholmondeley's basement in New Jersey. As the event grew in size and popularity, PROJECT/OBJECT decided to take their show on the road, performing Zappa's music in more cities and larger venues, with a growing set list from every era of Zappa's 30-year recording career. The band strives to stay true to Frank's vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.
Frank Zappa was extremely influential to many musicians and bands, especially many jambands, including Phish, moe., and Deep Banana Blackout. While many jamband fans are aware that Frank Zappa was influential, they are largely unfamiliar with his music. Of those who are familiar, many were too young to have seen him in concert. PROJECT/OBJECT is the closest they will get to the live Zappa experience, and the band has been enjoying increasing support from this growing scene.
PROJECT/OBJECT is now and always will be the world's ONLY ZAPPA TRIBUTE BAND that has played so many gigs and complete TOURS with so many of the ACTUAL PARTICIPANTS in Zappa's Musical Universe – musicians from virtually EVERY Zappa lineup…from the 1965 band all the way to the 1988 band!! Other acts may outflank them with big budgets and fancy, misleading ads, but PROJECT/OBJECT is the World's ONLY band to go to for fans that want an intimate, excellent evening with ACTUAL, AUTHENTIC, OFFICIAL ZAPPA ALUMNI…..
In every new market they visit, PROJECT/OBJECT converts the curious into dedicated fans. They want to remind old Zappa fans of the way it used to be and let younger fans, who never experienced a Zappa show, see and hear the way it was.
[trap.]: innovative international power trio shaped of :
Merlin Ettore (Canada) :: hybrid drums
Matjö Pe (france) :: explosed trumpet/mad keys
Elektremi (Germany) :: intuitive electronics
Recently based in Berlin, [trap.] have been spawning raw power and future in sound in the studio and on stage.
[trap.] is known to hand over to their audiences energy packed beat fireballs surfing on hypnotic silky sounds waves.
Expanding it’s horizons, [trap.] is know to collaborate with a wide range of instrumentalist wonders of various musical scenes.
[trap.] is currently in production recording an EP.
Release in Berlin scheduled for late May 2009.
[trap.] is endorses Yamaha Drums, Paiste Cymbals and Ableton software.
Ray White will be at the July 4th show, yay!
I have a monster blog coming up… lots of pics to crop and info to write.. but for now, check out this article in the news:
Imagine an Elvis Presley tribute show being shut down by a cease-and-desist order.
Imagine any of the hundreds of Beatles tribute bands being threatened with lawsuits.
That's what's going on in the Frank Zappa fan community now, and it raises the question of when a tribute stops being a tribute and starts being thievery of the artist in question.
The 12th annual Midwest Elvis Presley Impersonators Competition runs tonight and Saturday at the Springfield Hilton. (The event traditionally sells out, but as of Thursday morning a number of tickets were still available for tonight's show only. check out www.pietalent.com if you're interested.)
These shows – similar ones take place all around the country and lead to a national showdown among Elvis impersonators – are enjoyed by thousands. Of course, many more Elvis impersonators perform all around the world.
In the past few months, a Presley tribute act (Al Hull) and a Beatles tribute act (British Export) have played to paying crowds at Decatur's Lincoln Square Theatre. American English played Decatur Celebration's Show Stage in August, and Rain – a Beatles tribute band that aficionado Kevin Breheny says is the best he's ever seen – plays the Rosebud Theatre in Effingham on Feb. 26.
The Presley and Beatles estates are judicious about guarding their copyrights. That's one reason Beatles tribute acts work hard to wiggle their way around using the band's name.
But even those estates realize that the best way to keep the act's name alive is to have the music performed in front of people. As long as the music remains alive, the performers (and the value of their images and music) remain alive.
Frank Zappa died 14 years ago, just short of his 54th birthday. While it might be hard to believe for those who know Zappa for "Valley Girl" and "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow," his 60-plus albums represent a valuable canon to a pocket of fans (certainly considerably smaller than Presley's or The Beatles').
That music has also launched about a dozen tribute bands that play both here and in Europe. In addition, Zappa Plays Zappa, a group headed by Frank's son Dweezil, has conducted a pair of tours of the United States, recently toured Australia and is planning shows in Japan this month.
The problem is, Zappa Plays Zappa is the only group authorized by the Zappa Family Trust, the group that controls Frank Zappa's estate. And the trust spent much of December sending out cease-and-desist letters to blogs, to tribute bands and to a European memorial concert that's been going on since 1990 (one that Frank Zappa endorsed during his life).
The trust's cease-and-desist case – which has altered but not shut down any blogs, and which failed to stop at least two tribute band performances it was designed to halt – seems to rest on the interesting yet dubious assertion that, quoting the letter from trust lawyers posted on the Web site of tribute band Bogus Pomp:
" ¦ (ASCAP) licenses ¦ limit the grant of rights to nondramatic performances ¦ Many works by Frank Zappa are inherently dramatic in nature."
Carried to a logical extreme, any band that performs a tribute to another band in some "dramatic" form is performing against the law. Isn't any performance on a stage "dramatic" by definition?
In the past 10 years in Decatur, we've seen tribute bands perform sets of songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eagles, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Rod Stewart and Faces, The Beach Boys and others. Did anyone seeing them think they were seeing the real thing? Did anyone seeing them feel they reflected negatively on the original performer and have their feelings about the original performers affected as a result?
The law certainly has its place in the entertainment industry. Unreliable acts and unscrupulous promoters and venue owners need to have their feet held to the fire.
But lawyers are out of place when they begin to affect the art, and the audience's enjoyment of same.
Frank Zappa said it best during his lifetime:
"If you're a musician, play my music. If you're not a musician, play my music."
Tim Cain can be reached at timcain@herald-review.com or 421-6908.
Click HERE to see article online