| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Carl |
Posted - 06/29/2010 : 10:17:50
slicing up eyeballs.
Pixies’ Black Francis lining up
‘Bluefinger’ rock opera, new B-sides
album, solo tour
The Houston, Texas-based Catastrophic Theatre is working with Pixies
frontman Black Francis to adapt his 2007 solo album Bluefinger — a concept
record about the life and death of drug-addled Dutch rocker and painter
Herman Brood — into a rock opera set to debut this fall.
That news comes as the artist formerly known as Frank Black also announces plans for
Abbabubba, a new compilation of B-sides and “other oddball tracks which have never
been formally released,” which will be available via BlackFrancis.net in a few weeks (the
tracklist hasn’t yet been revealed). He’s also mapped out intermittent North American solo
concerts in between his touring commitments with the Pixies (see dates below).
As for the upcoming “Bluefinger” musical, Catastrophic Theatre’s Jason Nodler won’t run
into the same rights issues that recently derailed a planned Depeche Mode stage
production — Nodler, the rock opera’s director, doesn’t just have permission to use
Francis’ music, he’s working directly with the head Pixie on the project.
Set to debut Nov. 12 at Houston’s DiverseWorks Artspace and run through Dec. 18, the
“Bluefinger” production will feature songs from Francis’ album alongside Brood’s own
compositions. Unable to kick a long-running drug habit, the Dutch musician and artist —
considered the Netherlands’ greatest (and, really, only) rock ‘n’ roll star — took his own
life in 2001 by jumping off the roof of an Amsterdam hotel.
See Black Francis’ tour dates after the jump…
Black Francis tour dates:
July 8: McNear’s Mystic Theatre & Music Hall, Petaluma, CA
Aug. 15: Henry Miller Library, Big Sur, CA
Aug. 18: Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA
Aug. 19: Mountain Winery, Saratoga, CA
Aug. 20: Portland Zoo Amphitheatre, Portland, OR (with Swell Season)
Aug. 21: Triple Door, Seattle, WA (two shows)
Aug. 22: The Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, BC (with Swell Season)
Sept. 2: Beachcomber, Wellfleet, MA
Sept. 3: Joe’s Pub, New York, NY |
| 35 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Wade |
Posted - 01/05/2011 : 17:37:44
Interesting links. I wonder if the writer/director, who posted above, was aware of them. I suppose any publicity is good publicity. |
| OLDMANOTY |
Posted - 01/05/2011 : 08:02:00
I found this page with 6 songs from the show and a 25 min interview with the writer/director.
http://www.downloads.nl/music/Catastrophic+Theatre |
| Wade |
Posted - 12/30/2010 : 12:02:59
quote:
let us know how it was. i'm hoping they may take the show on the road one day. i'll love to get a chance to see it. i'm curious on how many songs they play off of bluefinger and how many are straight herman brood songs.
It was really amazing. Jason Nodler and his theatre really put together something beautiful. I can't tell you how fortunate I feel having had an opportunity to see it. Turns out many of the people involved were performers I'd been aware of, or a fan of, from other projects. It was a really personal and moving experience on many levels for me and my group. My wife still goes on about how much we enjoyed ourselves. The cast was outstanding, the bands, yes bands, were fantastic.
From beginning to end, it was engaging, entertaining, provocative... and the music was just precision top drawer performance through and through.
The way the story unfolded in and around the music, and vice versa, was incredibly well thought out and inspiring. Having been to the Netherlands, and actually seen FB play there, and being such a big fan in general, the whole thing was really just moving. Great actors/performers, great music, well thought out presentation of an intriguing story of another culture's rock star.
Oh, and I got me a Dead Horse sticker. Probably could have gotten some Sprawl schwag but didn't see it. Lots of awesome Houston area music roots/ties in this.
And yes, Jason, if you haven't guessed, it's CrazyD here.
|
| billgoodman |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 23:34:52
quote:
Originally posted by Jason Nodler
quote:
Originally posted by fumanbru
i'm curious on how many songs they play off of bluefinger and how many are straight herman brood songs.
8 from Bluefinger and 8 by Brood (though one is his rewrite of a Nick Cave song). Plus small nods to The Pixies, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Golden Earring and The Bangles.
nice to see Golden Earring in here. Not that Brood was a fan that I'm aware off. But still, a dutch band from the same era.
---------------------------
BF: Mag ik Engels spreken? |
| trobrianders |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 22:41:14
quote:
Originally posted by Jason Nodler
8 by Brood (though one is his rewrite of a Nick Cave song).
Really, which one?
_______________
Ed is the hoo hoo |
| Grotesque |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 15:36:26
This version of treshold apprehension sounds interesting, with those strange percussive noises. I'd like to hear more BF songs with that kind of arrangements. |
| Jason Nodler |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 10:26:11
quote:
Originally posted by 999
Take it nationwide! I would love to be able to go see this somewhere in the southeast.
Would like nothing more, but it's an expensive show to tour. There are 27 in the cast (including two full bands) plus 5 backstage crew. Add that to all the gear it takes (music, lights, sound, video, set, costumes, wigs, props) and it's more likely to be revived in another city than to go on tour. |
| Jason Nodler |
Posted - 12/20/2010 : 10:23:48
quote:
Originally posted by fumanbru
i'm curious on how many songs they play off of bluefinger and how many are straight herman brood songs.
8 from Bluefinger and 8 by Brood (though one is his rewrite of a Nick Cave song). Plus small nods to The Pixies, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Golden Earring and The Bangles. |
| fumanbru |
Posted - 12/16/2010 : 17:18:02
quote:
Originally posted by Wade
Attending the Catastrophic Theatre Bluefinger play/rockopera this weekend, the last weekend if it does not get extended, which it should I think... based on the reviews.
let us know how it was. i'm hoping they may take the show on the road one day. i'll love to get a chance to see it. i'm curious on how many songs they play off of bluefinger and how many are straight herman brood songs.
 "I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
| 999 |
Posted - 12/15/2010 : 03:45:40
Take it nationwide! I would love to be able to go see this somewhere in the southeast. |
| Wade |
Posted - 12/13/2010 : 09:14:12
Attending the Catastrophic Theatre Bluefinger play/rockopera this weekend, the last weekend if it does not get extended, which it should I think... based on the reviews. |
| 1965 |
Posted - 12/03/2010 : 10:23:54
quote:
Originally posted by fumanbru
looks pretty interesting...anyone see the bluefinger opera?
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=459507843455
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!!
That clip does make me a lot more interested to see it - where as before, I could easily have given it a wide berth.
I have the key to #902 |
| fumanbru |
Posted - 12/03/2010 : 02:34:57
looks pretty interesting...anyone see the bluefinger opera?
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=459507843455
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
| pixie punk |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 10:33:16
http://www.29-95.com/art/story/houstons-connection-black-francis-and-rise-fall-and-rise-herman-brood
PUERTO RICO PIXIE |
| pixie punk |
Posted - 11/08/2010 : 11:17:54
http://tagsgf.com/2010/11/08/mr-and-mrs-black-francis-pay-tribute-to-springfield/
PUERTO RICO PIXIE |
| pixie punk |
Posted - 11/08/2010 : 01:30:11
http://www.catastrophictheatre.com/
PUERTO RICO PIXIE |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/04/2010 : 06:23:18
Altsounds.com - Black Francis Rock Opera Premieres This Fall.
ITC Magazine - Pixies' Black Francis' Rock Opera Debuts In Houston In November.
Contactmusic.com - The Pixies - Pixies Star To Launch Rock Opera In Houston.
NME.COM - Black Francis' rock opera to open in November.
AceShowbiz.com - Black Francis of Pixies to Launch Rock Opera in November.
Vamban News - Pixies Star To Launch Rock Opera In Houston.
CDInsight.com - Frank Black To Open Rock Opera. |
| fumanbru |
Posted - 09/25/2010 : 05:17:26
here's something on the upcoming bluefinger opera...
http://blogs.houstonpress.com/artattack/2010/09/bluefinger.php
"I joined the Cult of Frank/ cause I'm a real go-getter!"...long live snitz!! |
| ruzom |
Posted - 09/24/2010 : 01:35:12
They're indeed very direct but I kind of appreciated that at the time(didn't listen to those tracks much since, apart from...), Rocket USA was great in my opinion. I never heard Lost mi Love. |
| Ziggy |
Posted - 09/23/2010 : 08:16:53
I didn't think the NSE bonus tracks were up to much. Sounded like something he'd knocked out over lunch really. |
| ruzom |
Posted - 09/23/2010 : 07:32:03
abbubabbA ? |
| matto |
Posted - 09/23/2010 : 05:40:14
re: missing tracks, it's probably safe to say there will be an Abbabubba 2.
sminki pinki |
| ruzom |
Posted - 09/23/2010 : 05:31:35
I think that's the one the producer or manager at the time hated(who cares?) so he convinced Black to record the alternate version that is on Christmass. Don't know if I'm 100% correct but I remember reading something like that. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 09/23/2010 : 04:27:01
There is a guitar version of Radio Lizards?
Denis
"Can you hear me? I aint got shit to say." |
| 1965 |
Posted - 09/23/2010 : 04:04:06
Why no Radio Lizards (alt/guitar version)???
Maybe it's Frank Black and not Black Francis 
I have the key to #902 |
| vilainde |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 22:36:10
Absolutely. And having the other NSE bonus tracks on there wouldn't have hurt either. Plus Brooklyn Piledriver.
Denis
"Can you hear me? I aint got shit to say." |
| MajorKey |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 21:29:29
I'm happy with most of the tracks listed here--it'll be nice to finally have lossless copies of "Serious Curious," "Virginia Reel" and "Polly's Into Me." However...
Instead of the "Seus" remixes I'd rather have seen "Blizzard 1989," "Skip This Part" (or whatever the official title is) and "Lost Mi Love" which I don't think is available on a physical CD. Still, can't really complain for $8. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 21:09:03
I could be wrong but I don't think you save on shipping by making large orders on bf.net. I bought a bunch of stuff last week and the shipping price was huge.
Denis
"Can you hear me? I aint got shit to say." |
| emptyreality |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 17:26:13
dang. just ordered the golem cd a couple days ago. i even hesitated a bit instead of buying it on release day, thinking abbabubba might be out soon and i could save on shipping. guess i should have waited another week. now i probably won't bother to get it for a while, since there aren't too many "must haves" on here for me. |
| Daisy Girl |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 14:07:11
Good, thaks ruzom! I never check bf.net anymore. |
| ruzom |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 13:38:14
It is, as it was added in the news section of the Black Francis website. Oh, and to the store too, it's available for 8$! |
| Daisy Girl |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 13:22:43
If that is the list, it's too bad Blizzard 1989 isn't on there. |
| MajorKey |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 00:11:19
Yeah, the Seus remixes and Gyaneshwar would be kinda redundant. The other stuff looks pretty good though. |
| vilainde |
Posted - 09/22/2010 : 00:04:56
I have this setlist but no idea if it's official or not. Can't remember where I read that. (In fact I hope it's fake, I'd hate to see the Seus mixes on it)
1. Abbabubba
2. Serious Curious
3. Il Cuchaiao
4. Alabaster
5. Rabbits
6. Dead Man's Curve
7. The Seus (Infadels Remix)
8. Ghost Coming
9. Polly's Into Me
10. The Seus (Charles Normal Remix)
11. Get Away Oil
12. Do What You Want (Gyaneshwar)
13. The Water
14. The Seus (Bloc Party Remix)
15. Virginia Reel
Denis
"Can you hear me? I aint got shit to say." |
| MajorKey |
Posted - 09/21/2010 : 23:09:09
Has the track list been revealed yet? Looking forward to this. |
