The latest reincarnation of Z.E.R.O., The Zãþþã Éårlý Rênáissánçê Ørçhêstrå, will perform three shows in March. Founded by Kevin Crosby in 2012 the rock/comedy band with a variable line-up takes on the towering catalog of Frank Zappa. FZ alumni Ike Willis and Craig Twister Steward take part in this latest incarnation.
Anglo-Dutch freak funk band SPOONFiSH embrace steamy Delta blues on their new single The Hammer. Former Frank Zappa harmonica master Craig "Twister" Steward came on board to make it truly scary, sounding like a man possessed but in a good way. It's a foot stompin' song about a guy who will get even if he gets angry again, using his favourite tool in a way that's not in the manual.
ZAPPATiKA have posted a stream stream of Watermelon in Easter Hay, a track from the Welcome to the Starlight Lounge album, recorded during their tour European tour with Zappa alumni Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward.
The Ike Willis & ZAPPATiKA European tour was a special one. They were joined by two Frank Zappa alumni: Jeff Hollie (sax) and Craig Twister Steward (harp). The new live album Welcome to the Starlight Lounge, recorded during shows in the UK and Germany, is a consolation for those who could not attend in person and a nice souvenir for those who did. The songs are served as one huge single continuous file, just like an actual concert. With the presence of Willis, Hollie and Steward three of the musicians of Joe's Garage were on hand, so it made sense that a sizeable slice of the show consisted of songs taken from one of Frank Zappa's finest albums.
Willis' voice is fine form and Steward's bluesy harp and Hollie's sax are spot on. Anglo-Dutch tribute band ZAPPATiKA are one of the top acts on the circuit, with guitar player Zap Mcinnes comes close to FZ's tone. Percussionist/synth player Hieronymus Bongo also takes care of the background vocals notes, drummer Diego Mocci is a master of any time signature that is put in from of him, Fred Händl's keyboards are playful and bass player Joep Oosterbaan is obviously an avid student of Scott Tunes.
Zap Mcinnes has posted of a stream of his new song Do You Really Need to See Me Bleed?, featuring Emanuela Panisberghi (vocals) and Hieronymus Bongo (drum pads). The song was recorded live @ Vrijplaats in Leiden, The Netherlands on August 20. First ever live performance of this tune, with his ex-wife on the receiving end of the lyrics.
ZAPPATiKA have put up More Trouble Every Day, a track of their forthcoming live album Welcome to the Starlight Lounge, recorded during their European tour with Zappa alumni Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward. The album will be released in August.
HCTF review of The Pony Suite.
ZAPPATiKA have put up a teaser track of their forthcoming live album Welcome to the Starlight Lounge, zecorded during their European tour with Zappa alumni Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward. The album will be released in August.
HCTF review of The Pony Suite.
ZAPPATiKA and blues harmonica ace Craig Twister Steward laid down a mean and dirty cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic Are You Experienced. Note the tinkling jazzy keyboards, adding a gentle touch to the loud guitar and in-your-face drums.
Zap Mcinnes & Craig Twister Steward recorded See What The Day Brings, an old school blues ditty. The ZAPPATiKA main man sang and played acoustic and Twister worked his magic on the harmonica. Basic stuff, but catchy as Hell.
Recipe for a blues song: set up an open mic in a studio in Holland, press "rec", mix and share on Soundcloud.
» Zap Mcinnes on Facebook
» Craig Twister Steward on Facebook
ZAPPATiKA and Craig Twister Steward ran through three sets during a dress rehearsal for the European Spring tour @ QBUS in Leiden, The Netherlands. They have worked up 35+ songs. every night. Singer/guitarist Zap Mcinnes explains: "'We've got eight shows in England and the Zappateers are attending multiple shows, and they don't want to hear the same set every night. Depending on if were are having a support act the shows wil run for 2.5 or 3 hours". Changes that you will hear Crew Slut, Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?, City of Tiny Lites, Broken Hearts are for Assholes, I'm the Slime, The Torture Never Stops, Bamboozled By Love, More Trouble Everyday, Black Napkins, Outside Now, Andy, Catholic Girls, Lucille, Apostrophe and much, much more. They may even throw in Hendrix' Are You Experienced?
Frank Zappa alumni Ike Willis, who had missed his flight from the States, and sax player Jeff Hollie, were not a present at the rehearsal, but harmonica (and sometimes) guitar player Craig Twister Steward was there, sharing stories about landing the job with Frank. During their 1972 tour The Mothers walked into a bar called Caesar's Palace in Wichita, KS, where Steward was performing with the blues band Bliss. Frank liked his playing and wanted to sit in. He invited him to audition for the 1973 touring band.
ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. The London show (03/26) has been moved to Under The Bridge. The gig in Paris (03/18) is cancelled due to "Unresolvable Contractual Circumstance", but they hope to announce another Parisian gig soon.
Live dates:
ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. They have added three shows in Germany (Frankfurt, Halle and Dresden).
Live dates:
ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. They have added shows in the UK (03/21), Germany (03/28) and The Netherlands (04/01)
Live dates:HCTF review of The Pony Suite.
Watch the grainy, trippy video for The Pony Suite, a collaborative effort by ZAPPATiKA, Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward.
They will be on tour in Europe, playing shows in Germany, France and the UK.
Live dates:HCTF review of The Pony Suite.
ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour, playing shows in Germany, France and the UK.
Live dates:HCTF review of The Pony Suite.
ZAPPATiKA have posted a full stream of The Pony Suite, an avant-prog mini-opera about Eastern European prostitutes in the Amsterdam Red Light District co-written by Zap Mcinnes and Ike Willis. It can be bought via all the usual digital outlets: CD Baby, Amazon, iTunes and Spotify.
ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis are putting together an European Spring 2016 tour.
» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook
» ikewillis.com
HCTF review of The Pony Suite.
ZAPPATiKA main man Zap Mcinnes and Ike Willis joined forces for The Pony Suite, with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward. McInnes toyed with the concept of a composition about Eastern European prostitutes who end up in the darkness of the red light district in Amsterdam, but never got around to finish it. Enter Ike Willis to share the burden and the presto: a full-on suite now sees the light of day.
Prostitutes, the pimp and the randy clientele all have their own voice and things get quite nasty lyrically (Tipper Gore and her ilk will hate it), but it is the music that drives home the horror behind this sorry tale. Sax player Jeff Hollie tears it up and Fred Händl provides a deceptively gentle piano part.
ZAPPATiKA main man Zap Mcinnes and Ike Willis joined forces for The Pony Suite, with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward. McInnes explains:
I once wrote an original concept surrounding My Little Pony . The pony is actually representative of the Eastern European prostitutes who end up in the darkness of the red light district in Amsterdam, never to return to the forests of Lithuania and Rumania having been trapped into this lifestyle by manipulative pimps. Now, in our first ever collaboration, Ike Willis and I have orchestrated a completely new work incorporating elements of that original pony concept mixed with some newer ideas and some of Frank Zappa's lyrics. The music is written & orchestrated by Mr Willis and myself. It is performed by ZAPPATiKA, featuring both Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward. Ike Willis also features very strongly of course. The Pony Suite is pompous comedy, it is even operatic in parts but can best be described as prog-jazz-classical-rock. This new recording both evolves the Pony concept to fruition and also introduces some new characters such as the Beastial Boys and the Black Ninja. The PONY SUITE has now gone into final mixing and will be released on September 1st!
Digital Mastering will be done at Electric City in Brussels by award-winning engineer/producer Alan Ward.
» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook
» ikewillis.com
HCTF review of "Live in Liverpool".
