New Mike Keneally release : "Dancing Demos"

[unclemeat]

Available now for download :
http://store.keneally.com/products/m...demos-download

Mike says :
"This is a quick note to let you know we've made a new downloadable album available - Dancing Demos. This is a nine-song, 37-minute collection of the demos I recorded in 2000 to distribute to the members of Beer For Dolphins, prior to beginning the rehearsals for the album Dancing.

I did these demos, with Scott Chatfield engineering, at Chatfield Manor. These are extremely stripped down, but they aren't just one-man, live on-the-spot renditions - some songs have both guitar and keyboard parts on them, and there are some vocal harmonies present as well. Some of the tracks feature some spoken instructions as to what I'm thinking about different parts of the songs (eg. the "Stravinsky" section of "Lhai Sal") and some additional music, chordal approaches and melodic ideas that didn't make it into the final versions.

Scott found these essentially lost recordings a few months ago, and I had exactly zero recollection of having made them! I find them to be rewarding listening, and they actually reminded me of some of my original and subsequently abandoned musical ideas that I'd like to re-institute the next time I approach these pieces for performance.

The download also features an 8-page digital booklet, handsomely designed by Atticus Wolrab, featuring newly written liner notes, as well as a letter I wrote to the members of BFD at the time (which accompanied the CD of these demos which I sent to them). The letter is a good window into my mental processes at the time regarding what Dancing was supposed to become (including the listing of a running order which is quite different from what eventually happened).

All in all, a rewarding archeological dig for aficionados. And a mere seven bucks for an album length download (back when albums were forty minutes long, more or less). I hope you enjoy the holy heck out of it!"

As always with every MK release, I get all Pavlovian, me. I shall be downloading this asap, with depraved abandon.

[JKL2000]

Is it a coincidence that Beer For Dolphins is abbreviated BFD? Also, surely Wolrab is Barlow spelled backward?

[rickawakeman]

I saw the big BFD band, whose members including NDV, who had just finished his "Karma" release, barely fit the confines of the stage of the Iron Horse (Northampton MA), on the Dancing tour. Great show, great album so I'd be interested in this though I tend not to buy non-physical releases.

[chalkpie]

Just spun Dancing in its entirety. What a wonderful, wonderfully wonderful album. I remember seeing this tour in NYC and this big band was just outrageously good. The album is such a colorful ride - chock full 'o Keneally magic bits and bites that Mike sculps so well. You can get lost in the harmonic movements alone, but of course there is so much more. My fav track is still "Pretty Enough For Girls" but there are too many great moments to list here. Of special note is the gorgeously perfect bass playing of Bryan Beller - holy shit you could never ask for a more perfect player for this band/album/music.

Hey Mike, have you ever found the place you are looking for in "We'll Be Right Back"? If so, I'd like to know about it and escape there. This is a must hear album imo. Thanks again Mike for such a wonderful piece of plastique. Special Edition #231/2000.

Who are they?

[chalkpie]

[Mister Triscuits]

Special Edition #231/2000.

#191 here. We must be among the early adopters.

How did I miss the Dancing Demos release seven years ago? Dancing has long been my favorite MK album, and having come out at a time when I was one walking emotional wound, it easily found its way deep into my heart. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that the link is still good, and I have just this minute finished the download. Thanks Mike, thanks Unclemeat for the thread, and thanks Chalkpie for the bump.

Oh, perky possum!

[StarThrower]

I sure could go for a new Keneally album. Back in the day I played Dancing regularly for about five years. I just picked up Beller's latest album, Scenes From The Flood, which features a lot of guitar stuff. Mike is on one or two tracks.

[chalkpie]

#191 here. We must be among the early adopters.

How did I miss the Dancing Demos release seven years ago? Dancing has long been my favorite MK album, and having come out at a time when I was one walking emotional wound, it easily found its way deep into my heart. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that the link is still good, and I have just this minute finished the download. Thanks Mike, thanks Unclemeat for the thread, and thanks Chalkpie for the bump.

Oh, perky possum!

I sure could go for a new Keneally album. Back in the day I played Dancing regularly for about five years. I just picked up Beller's latest album, Scenes From The Flood, which features a lot of guitar stuff. Mike is on one or two tracks.

Yeah - Keneally was my driving soundtrack when I got my first real gig (teaching) on Long Island in 1996, and was coming off my huge initial Zappa discovery. This was the perfect next step and I used to play Half Alive in Hollywood basically everyday for who-knows-how-long, plus Dust Speck and Hat of course. I am going to explore the two Scambots this week - I know them but don't really "know" them. Mike signed my old version of Sluggo! after a gig in NYC and I played the creamcheese out of that disc too. That is another favorite.

Mike - if you are reading this - have any of your albums ever been isssued on vinyl, especially the olde stuff?

[pb2015]

When I saw the thread title I misread it as Dancing Demons. That would be a good album, although not Keneally's style.

[pb2015]

Just spun Dancing in its entirety. What a wonderful, wonderfully wonderful album. I remember seeing this tour in NYC and this big band was just outrageously good.

I saw the big BFD at Martyrs in Chicago but for some reason I have almost no memory of the show. I think it was a weeknight and I was tired. I might check if there's a recording out there.

Keneally was back that fall with the four-piece band and I remember more of that, especially the improv at the end of the first set where they switched instruments and I believe Keneally was playing drums by the end.

[StarThrower]

There's plenty of great stuff on the Scambot albums. Sluggo is old favorite too. Lots of rock guitar stuff and some great sounding acoustic piano. Like FZ, Mike has a gift for melody and songwriting as well as the complicated instrumental aspect. I like the fact that the guitar playing sounds very rock n roll and not cookie cutter shred like many other accomplished guitarists.

[aith01]

My fav track is still "Pretty Enough For Girls"

Same here. What an incredible piece of music.

[pb2015]

I remember seeing his band play "Pretty Enough.." in 1998 (I also remember that when the CD came out some of the obsessive fans complained that he left out a section of the live version).

[markwoll]

Skull Bubbles, Live in Japan, Kedgeree three different songs that I love.
Love Dancing. Love the arrangements. Love the production.

[StarThrower]

Skull Bubbles, Live in Japan, Kedgeree three different songs that I love.
Love Dancing. Love the arrangements. Love the production.

80s minutes of musical bliss! I guess we can all relate to a song like Skull Bubbles every now and then. About 15 years ago when I was a volunteer radio DJ I played Ragged Ass on the air. After it was over I turned the mic on to identify the song and I started laughing uncontrollably. I had to kill the mic for about 20 seconds to gain my composure.

[chalkpie]

80s minutes of musical bliss! I guess we can all relate to a song like Skull Bubbles every now and then. About 15 years ago when I was a volunteer radio DJ I played Ragged Ass on the air. After it was over I turned the mic on to identify the song and I started laughing uncontrollably. I had to kill the mic for about 20 seconds to gain my composure.

Haha - nice man! Fuckin funny.

[Polypet]

Just spun Dancing in its entirety. What a wonderful, wonderfully wonderful album. I remember seeing this tour in NYC and this big band was just outrageously good. The album is such a colorful ride - chock full 'o Keneally magic bits and bites that Mike sculps so well. You can get lost in the harmonic movements alone, but of course there is so much more. My fav track is still "Pretty Enough For Girls" but there are too many great moments to list here. Of special note is the gorgeously perfect bass playing of Bryan Beller - holy shit you could never ask for a more perfect player for this band/album/music.

Hey Mike, have you ever found the place you are looking for in "We'll Be Right Back"? If so, I'd like to know about it and escape there. This is a must hear album imo. Thanks again Mike for such a wonderful piece of plastique. Special Edition #231/2000.

Who are they?

Who are they??????

One of my favourite albums of all time. I played this constantly when i first got it - Joe is certainly one of the best tracks ever made. A perfect little jewel of a recording.

Pretty Enough, Backwards Song, oh man.. such a great record. If you've not heard it and you like adventure, beauty and a strangely surreal sort of flow of positivity, get it now.

80s minutes of musical bliss! I guess we can all relate to a song like Skull Bubbles every now and then. About 15 years ago when I was a volunteer radio DJ I played Ragged Ass on the air. After it was over I turned the mic on to identify the song and I started laughing uncontrollably. I had to kill the mic for about 20 seconds to gain my composure.

Ragged Ass, yeah. Classic

BTW, he is working on a new album, i'm pretty sure. He also has been very active with other projects such as the two fantastic MFTJ albums which are great fun and rock like nobody's, well actually, everybody's business. Check those out if you haven't already.

I'm definitely jonesin' for the new one. I'm sure it will be amazing, brilliant and, probably, slightly askew. Yay

[aith01]

^ Yeah man, I’m with ya. Totally jonesing for a new Keneally record in any shape or form.

Dancing is such a great album. So much diversity and songwriting craft on display there.

[chalkpie]

I figured you probably loved that album Kim. You too Tyler! I mean how can you not love that stuff? I did Sluggo! the other day which is another fav of mine. Mike signed my original cd copy way back when after (I think) The Bottom Line, but I know I saw Beer for Dolphins back in '98 at both The Knitting Factory and Irving Plaza. Both shows were ridiculous. The good ridiculous.

[aith01]

I mean how can you not love that stuff?

Eggzactly. It's just such great music, I can't comprehend not enjoying it. I'd be hard-pressed to find another record from the past 20 years that's so much fun while simultaneously being such a mental workout (in a good way).

I did Sluggo! the other day which is another fav of mine. Mike signed my original cd copy way back when after (I think) The Bottom Line, but I know I saw Beer for Dolphins back in '98 at both The Knitting Factory and Irving Plaza. Both shows were ridiculous. The good ridiculous.

Sluggo! is so good. Can't imagine what that must've been like seeing Beer For Dolphins back then in those venues -- I'm a bit jelly, especially since you got Mike to sign your copy.

[proggy_jazzer]

Sluggo! is so good. Can't imagine what that must've been like seeing Beer For Dolphins back then in those venues -- I'm a bit jelly, especially since you got Mike to sign your copy.

Sluggo! was my gateway into All Things Keneally several years ago, and there was a period of months when it almost literally never left my cd player. Mike, if you're reading, the next time you're touring in the flyovers and you ask for requests, I'll be the guy yelling "Egg Zooming!!"

I will gratefully gobble up any new recording MK releases from now until I can't anymore.

[chalkpie]

Sluggo! is so good. Can't imagine what that must've been like seeing Beer For Dolphins back then in those venues -- I'm a bit jelly, especially since you got Mike to sign your copy.

All of those shows were amazing. I was living on Long Island so I was constantly in the city seeing shows (and playing on occasion with FC). My fav was still the Dancing big band show, but all were special. When Mike played with Palermo's Zappa Big Band at The Bottom Line and Ed "surprised" him with an arrangement of (I think) "There have been Bad Moments", it was quite a brilliant and heartfelt moment. I'm sure Mike remembers that gig. I should check YT to see if that stuff is on there....

[chalkpie]

Sluggo! was my gateway into All Things Keneally several years ago, and there was a period of months when it almost literally never left my cd player. Mike, if you're reading, the next time you're touring in the flyovers and you ask for requests, I'll be the guy yelling "Egg Zooming!!"

I will gratefully gobble up any new recording MK releases from now until I can't anymore.

"Egg Zooming" is a top 5 Keneally tune for me! Fooking brilliant

[Polypet]

I figured you probably loved that album Kim. You too Tyler! I mean how can you not love that stuff? I did Sluggo! the other day which is another fav of mine. Mike signed my original cd copy way back when after (I think) The Bottom Line, but I know I saw Beer for Dolphins back in '98 at both The Knitting Factory and Irving Plaza. Both shows were ridiculous. The good ridiculous.

Mike really is ridiculous live. What a killer band that was, eh? I bet that was fun. And The Knitting Factory seems like a perfect venue for it, too

All of those shows were amazing. I was living on Long Island so I was constantly in the city seeing shows (and playing on occasion with FC). My fav was still the Dancing big band show, but all were special. When Mike played with Palermo's Zappa Big Band at The Bottom Line and Ed "surprised" him with an arrangement of (I think) "There have been Bad Moments", it was quite a brilliant and heartfelt moment. I'm sure Mike remembers that gig. I should check YT to see if that stuff is on there....

"There Have Been Bad Moments" ??? Really? What an excellent and quite diagonal selection to cover. It's such a powerful and beautiful tune. That could only have been astoundingly good.

I bet Mike was deeply touched. How cool.

[StarThrower]

"Egg Zooming" is a top 5 Keneally tune for me! Fooking brilliant

The intro alone is beyond my comprehension. I can't imagine trying to learn and play that in time with a band. Sluggo is one my all time favorite songwriter/composer/guitar/band albums.