Bluefinger

[Batman Jones]

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2010/06/28/black-francis-bluefinger-rock-opera-abbabubba-b-sides-album-tour-dates/

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
Sept. 4: Joe’s Pub, New York, NY

[homeboy1]

Cuando es el play?

[CrazyDave]

Work in a Houston or Austin tour date and I will. In voodoopope's words, bow down to your greatness.

Seriously, cool post and info. Rep.

[DaDakota]

AUSTIN DANG IT !!

DD

[VooDooPope]

Work your magic batman. Get us some Texas shows.

[Batman Jones]

Work your magic batman. Get us some Texas shows.

He's playing with Pixies in Houston and Austin in September. That's pretty cool, no? As for solo shows, that's up to him. The two I just saw in L.A. were really great.

DD: If you want to see the rock opera, you'll have to come to Houston. It's not that far.

[VooDooPope]

He's playing with Pixies in Houston and Austin in September. That's pretty cool, no? As for solo shows, that's up to him. The two I just saw in L.A. were really great.

DD: If you want to see the rock opera, you'll have to come to Houston. It's not that far.

Yeah Pixies shows are great, and I already have my tickets for the Austin show, but as a serious fan I love the small solo shows. Last time he toured Texas after fastman raiderman, I saw him play twice in one day, once at waterloo records then at la zona Rosa in Austin, then the next night at warehouse live in Houston. After bluefinger he opened for STP at the woodlands and it was just him with the strat, and that was too long ago.

I saw the pixies before they broke up, I've seen them 3 times since they got back together and I've seen just about every solo tour be it frank black, with or without Catholics, or again as black Francis... Just let him know he needs to play more Texas shows.

[VooDooPope]

Not to mention we need a tour after non-stop erotik and grand duchy.

[CrazyDave]

He's playing with Pixies in Houston and Austin in September. That's pretty cool, no? As for solo shows, that's up to him. The two I just saw in L.A. were really great.

DD: If you want to see the rock opera, you'll have to come to Houston. It's not that far.

Rub it in. ;)

Yes, we are seeing the Pixies show(s) of course, but as you state above, the solo and "Frank Black" shows are great, and it's been too long. BTW a second Austin show for the Pixies was announced yesterday due to demand for those who didn't get tickets and are interested.

and DD, he's right, it isn't that far of course, and there will be some of us Clutch fans there, some of us coming from the Austin area, even.

[Batman Jones]

I hope he'll play solo dates in Texas too. We have a lot to discuss regarding the play, as its just being written now, but I'll certainly bring this up at some point.

[VooDooPope]

I hope he'll play solo dates in Texas too. We have a lot to discuss regarding the play, as its just being written now, but I'll certainly bring this up at some point.

Awesome.

I'll definitely be coming to see the play regardless of if I'm living in Houston or Austin when it opens.

Can I reserve 2nd row center stage now? :grin:

[oomp]

Captain Pasty, please report to the tarmac for a very important assignment ... godspeed.


Great album. Look forward to the show Batman.

[DonkeyMagic]

thought this was going to be about making out with Smurfette :(

[DaDakota]

DD: If you want to see the rock opera, you'll have to come to Houston. It's not that far.

I hear ya BM, but with kids it is a little tougher....

DD

[Ziggy]

Maybe not the best name for the thread. I feel like people are missing it.

[thegary]

spanish cocaine, solemn vows, and poor choices.
is there anything else?
good luck with the project.
cheers.

[CrazyDave]

woohoo, it's official, will be at the Friday show! Wanted Saturday tickets for the final show, but sold out! Really looking forward to it.

[Batman Jones]

Will be great to see VooDoo Pope and CrazyDave at the show. moestavern and Jeff came too, both with gf's in tow, and it was great to have them there as well.

Very proud of the way this one has turned out. We've been sold out nearly every night of our six-week, 22-show run and have had people fly or drive in from Austin, NY, California, Chicago, Nashville, Detroit, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma just to see the show. Plus tons of Dutch people. Several that flew in from The Netherlands to see it plus several who live here. All gave enthusiastic thumbs up.

And the press we've had has been amazing. Cover feature in Houston Press, cover of Zest, reviews and features in every other Houston media outlet (the Press said it should be on Broadway) and mentions in papers and websites from dozens of foreign countries, from Japan to Serbia.

If anyone else here wants to see it, act fast. Our closing weekend is sold out so the only tickets remaining are for this Wednesday and Thursday night. Click the link in my sig for tickets.

[across110thstreet]

I hear you guys might get a 1 week extension?

[Batman Jones]

I hear you guys might get a 1 week extension?

Nope. We certainly have the demand for an extension. In fact, we could probably run for months based on demand. But we can't. Next weekend will be Christmas Eve (Friday) and Christmas (Saturday), neither of which are particularly good nights for a rock theatre show. And also our lead lives in Austin. He took a leave from a great day job (H.S. English teacher) and gave up a lot of money for three months to do the show. That's all he can do. Also, we have another show to get up in February. This one's gone after this week.

[RoxSqaud]

Blue waffle

[moestavern19]

If you're a fan of music, go see this immediately.


Loved every minute of it.

[CrazyDave]

how many seats are there in that place? I've seen small concerts there long ago in the past, but I'm guessing it's changed.

Are my cheap seats going to suck?

[moestavern19]

how many seats are there in that place? I've seen small concerts there long ago in the past, but I'm guessing it's changed.

Are my cheap seats going to suck?


Its a fairly intimate venue. No bad seats.

[CrazyDave]

Show's at 8. What time should I get there?

[Batman Jones]

Show's at 8. What time should I get there?

7:30 would be good. Bar opens at 7. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time to find it and don't arrive after 8 sharp or your tickets will have to go to standbys (every night is sold out now and we have long waiting lists). A lot of people get lost their first time and, though it's only blocks from downtown, GPS is unreliable. Best way to find it is through the maps on our website. So glad you're able to make it.

Also, in response to last post about seating, the seating is general admission. And it's a small theatre; there are no bad seats.

[Batman Jones]

If you're a fan of music, go see this immediately.


Loved every minute of it.

Thanks, man.

[VooDooPope]

I saw the statue of Herman Brood
It had a lump way down in it's throat
That's because it's heart was broke in two

He played piano really ****ing good
West Berlin to West Hollywood
Prettier than Brando, he was punker than punk
Slave to rock 'n' roll and a slave to junk

Angels come to comfort you, yeah they do
And here they come
They'll lead you by the hand
They'll take you down the hall
And they will break your fall

He was no saint but he was Dutch
So he could paint, yeah, he had the touch
He felt the angels kiss him on the head
Whispering the name that rhymes with dead

Now the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam
Good enough for John and Yoko, man
Now you got the key to 902

Hey, angels come to comfort you
Here they come, here they come
They'll lead you by the hand
They'll take you down the hall
And they will break your fall

[VooDooPope]

I've never seen any of Fatty Fat Bastards work but I doubt any of it is worthy of driving from Austin to see.

Bluefinger on the other hand was well worth the trip.

An awesome play, based on and incredible album, by my generations most underrated singer song writer, about an artist I knew too little about.

In the words of the great commissioner Gordon, "great work Batman."

[CrazyDave]

Mag ik Engels spreken?

We drove from Austin for this, and I must say we REALLY enjoyed the show, Batman. Thanks a bunch, we expected to enjoy it and it was even better than we expected... we all were very impressed. Saw you a couple of times, and half waved you down once but you were pretty busy and we didn't think a brush with clutch fans was important enough to interrupt much.

So I saw the schwag at the intermission in the entrance and was asking about why there were Dead Horse stickers on sale there (loved me some Dead Horse, and Sprawl as well), among other things, and the person at the table explained Michael Haaga's part in the play. After reading through the playbook I saw there are/were a lot of people involved, from performers to donors, with whom I was very familiar.... aware of, a fan of, and some I know personally. Overall, it's really amazing how many connections I had with the production. It made a memorable event incredibly personal and just resonated with me on many levels.

Congratulations to you and your cast and crew and everyone else involved, you really pulled it off and made something beautiful. We could not have had a better time, or been more impressed with the entire production. Fine work

[Batman Jones]

Thanks, fellas. For making the trip and for the kind words too. I'm glad you got to see it.

CrazyDave: I had an experience akin to yours while making the play, though it lasted several months. Getting to work with so many of my music heroes from the 90s (in addition to my usual all-star group and all the new actors, designers, etc. I got to work with) was an incredible treat. And Matt Kelly, Michael Haaga, Scott Ayers and Charles Thompson were all a delight, start to finish.

[rocketsjudoka]

Any possibility of bringing this show to Minneapolis? We've got a pretty good theater scene here and there isn't much else to do when its 20 below.

[CrazyDave]

Thanks, fellas. For making the trip and for the kind words too. I'm glad you got to see it.

CrazyDave: I had an experience akin to yours while making the play, though it lasted several months. Getting to work with so many of my music heroes from the 90s (in addition to my usual all-star group and all the new actors, designers, etc. I got to work with) was an incredible treat. And Matt Kelly, Michael Haaga, Scott Ayers and Charles Thompson were all a delight, start to finish.

I can imagine so. A great production, and the personal connections I/we had were really just icing on the cake. Fantastic.

[Batman Jones]

Any possibility of bringing this show to Minneapolis? We've got a pretty good theater scene here and there isn't much else to do when its 20 below.

You do have a good scene there. Not as good as before Jeune Leune went away, but good still. But the show doesn't travel easily. There are 27 in the cast and it takes another 5 backstage to run it. Plus all the gear (including set ups for two very large bands). If it travels it will likely be to Amsterdam, Austin or NYC. MN would be more of a tour destination, but this show is too big and too expensive to tour.

[Batman Jones]

That said, if I ever get around to making a show about Dylan, Hibbing and/or Duluth will definitely be on our schedule.

[mc mark]

You go Boi!

http://www.29-95.com/art/story/year%E2%80%99s-top-theater-shows-were-tough-narrow-down