| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Sir Rockabye |
Posted - 04/13/2005 : 14:11:02
Back in Black: Frank Gets Religion, Without the Catholics
Some guys just can't kick out the jams fast enough. After spending most of 2004 touring with the Pixies, Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV is coming out with yet another record. On July 19th, Back Porch Records, a primarily rock/roots/Americana imprint owned by EMI, releases Frank Black's latest offering, Honeycomb. Honeycomb comes on the heels of his 2-disc opus Frank Black Francis, which featured original and re-worked Come On Pilgrim-era Pixies demos dating back to a time when there was a little less Black Francis to love.
For his return to the Frank Black nom de guerre, Black assembled a bevy of legends from the worlds of folk, blues, roots, and Nashville soul. Among the many players, Honeycomb features Steve "the Colonel" Cropper, Buddy Miller, and Reggie Young on guitars; Chester Thompson, Anton Fig, Billy Block, and Akil Thompson playing drums; David Hood on bass; and Spooner Oldham on keyboard. For those to whom these names mean little, you should at least recognize Anton Fig, who's been Paul Shaffer's drummer dating back to Late Night, when Dave was still funny. Perhaps he only plays with bald frontmen. To be fair, the list of hitmakers that Black's troupe has played with is remarkable. Blues Brother-vet Cropper played on countless Stax hits, collaborating with Booker T. and Otis Redding, while Young played on Elvis Presley records and toured with Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison. David Hood played with Traffic, and Spooner Oldham's resume includes recordings with Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, and Bob Dylan.
Not surprisingly, the album's sound bears the distinct imprint of this heralded assemblage of roots rockers, so it's probably best not to go in expecting a bunch of Pixies retreads or outtakes from Teenager of the Year. The record is primarily comprised of Black-penned originals, with three covers mixed in. "Mellow" is how Black describes the project, saying "this was the only time that I have ever been in a studio and had the strange feeling that I was witnessing something spiritual." The record was recorded in Nashville and produced by John Tiven who's worked in the past with B.B. King and Wilson Pickett, and who has previously produced Black's Headache EP from 1994. In further describing the recording experience, Black gushed "I can say without a doubt that the Honeycomb session was the most moving and mind-blowing experience I've ever had in my musical career." No word on how Kim Deal feels about all this gushing.
Reportedly, a tour in support of Honeycomb is being discussed, but plans have not yet been finalized. Meanwhile, alter-ego Black Francis has already committed to a handful of 2005 dates with his "other" band, including the four-show, two-night stand in Portland reported here earlier:
More Pixie dust, at the risk of overexposure:
05.26.05 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater (2 shows)
05.27.05 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater (2 shows)
05.28.05 - George, WA - Sasquatch! Festival
06.02.05 - Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern Theatre (two shows, times TBA)
06.05.05 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks
06.08.05 - Cleveland, OH - CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest
06.08.05 - Cleveland, OH - Scene Pavilion
06.11.05 - Atlanta, GA - Music Midtown Festival
06.13.05 - Washington, DC - Merriweather Post Pavilion
06.14.05 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach
08.17.05 - Paredes de Coura, Portugal - Paredes de Coura Festival
08.25.05 - Domaine National de St. Cloud, France - Rock en Seine Festival
08.26.05 - Reading, England - Reading Festival
08.27.05 - Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
Tiny Mixtapes
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do. |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| VoVat |
Posted - 04/15/2005 : 18:33:42
I'm sure "To Be Frank" has been used a few times, too.
"Reunion? Shit union!" |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/15/2005 : 17:13:41
how about, "Black to Basics"
thats better isn't it, off the top of my head and everything, why I haven't already got an impressive journalistic career already I do not know
Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. |
| Sir Rockabye |
Posted - 04/15/2005 : 14:06:14
Yeah, the title leaves more than a bit to be desired. But I think the content makes up for the shoddy name.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do. |
| Ziggy |
Posted - 04/14/2005 : 02:00:32
Very good news. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 04/14/2005 : 01:01:43
Nice article. Does anyone else think the lame-o pun "Back In Black" has been used in articles about Frank even more than the Nirvana reference in articles about the Pixies? Last week French mag Les Inrocks talked about Honeycomb and guess what the title was? That's right, "Black In Black".
Denis
"I believe in your perfect face..." |
| prozacrat |
Posted - 04/13/2005 : 23:00:46
I really hope to see Frank supporting this album. If I can catch Pixies at Red Rocks and Frank elsewhere within the same year, I'll be a mighty happy camper. |
| Daisy Girl |
Posted - 04/13/2005 : 19:50:51
Thanks Sir Rock!!! Kitty... I am with you!!!! |
| shineoftheever |
Posted - 04/13/2005 : 19:21:07
nice fat jab in the first paragraph there.
the quote kitty quoted makes up for it though. |
| fbc |
Posted - 04/13/2005 : 18:33:47
nice post sir Roc
now i go to bed happy |
| kathryn |
Posted - 04/13/2005 : 17:55:49
At the dark end of the street
 I still believe in the excellent joy of the Catholics |
| starmekitten |
Posted - 04/13/2005 : 14:21:05
quote:
Originally posted by Sir Rockabye
Back in Black: Frank Gets Religion, Without the Catholics
Reportedly, a tour in support of Honeycomb is being discussed, but plans have not yet been finalized.
Some brains just work that way, that's what chemicals can do.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!
am I allowed to get excited?
where's Kathryn!
Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something. |
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