jwessels
One of my favorite albums I've heard for the first time this year. Great songs and great playing.
Favorite track: Love Terror Adrenaline/Break Through.
A raw, powerful, intimate live document of the Bryan Beller Band 2010 touring lineup playing a 45-minute set at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles, plus two bonus tracks from other shows. Featuring: Rick Musallam (guitar), Griff Peters (guitar), Mike Keneally (keyboards & guitar), Bryan Beller (bass), Joe Travers (drums). Packaging: Jewel case + 6-panel color booklet designed by Mike Mesker.
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Bryan Beller - "Wednesday Night Live" - Extended Description
Bassist/composer and sideman extraordinaire (Dethklok, Steve Vai, Mike Keneally) Bryan Beller's first live album, "Wednesday Night Live", is a raw, in-your-face, up-close-and-personal recording of Beller’s 2010 live band at the world famous Baked Potato in Los Angeles, and a serious statement from an artist who’s quickly establishing himself as one of the elite bass playing and compositional voices in the rock/jazz fusion scene today.
It started modestly, with Beller’s band opening for longtime compatriot Mike Keneally’s band using the same five musicians (including themselves) for five shows in the Northeast. The plan was for the Keneally/Beller “They’re Both The Same Band” tour to then hit the west coast, but scheduling got sticky. “We were able to confirm one date that worked for everyone: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, at The Baked Potato,” says Beller, who turns 40 this May. “And I said, screw it, let’s record it and see what happens. This is what happened.”
The album is Beller’s 6-song, 45-minute live set from the tour, plus bonus material consisting of a performance of “View” from the WesFest 2 benefit concert, and a rowdy, live-to-two-track rendition of “Cave Dweller” from the Thanks In Advance record release gig.
Beller already has two critically acclaimed studio releases under his belt: 2003’s "View" (“A solo album so good it makes you wonder why he bothered doing anything else.” – Bill Leigh, Bass Player ) and 2008’s "Thanks in Advance" (“A bonafide entry for bass album of the year.” – Chris Jisi, Bass Player). With a collection of intricately composed, multi-track layered tunes in his repertoire, and a true touring band for the first time in his career, Beller saw the issue of live vs. studio arrangements as a balancing act.
“I see myself as a rock/jazz fusion artist, with the rock part coming first. And I remember going to see Pink Floyd shows and wanting to see them honor the songs and individual parts I loved so much, while at the same time digging it when they stretched out in certain spots. That’s the balance I wanted the band to strike. So you’ll hear little parts and even some solos of mine that stay close to the record version, because I consider them a part of the song to some extent, and I want to honor that. But there’s also a lot of room to push the boundaries when we want to, and having such great players and friends in the band – guys I know and trust deeply, like Rick, Griff, Joe and Mike – just makes those moments extra special.”
Though there’s plenty of intensity in the funk/fusion workouts “Greasy Wheel” and “Seven Percent Grade” (to say nothing of the emotional low-to-high rollercoaster segue of “Life Story” and “Get Things Done”), Beller’s landmark ten-minute composition “Love Terror Adrenaline/Break Through” stands out as the set’s high point. “We’re talking about a studio cut with tons of tracks and layers and overdubs, and an impossibly complex melody played by Mike Keneally, and we condensed it into a five-piece arrangement that I’m quite proud of. The band played their asses off on that. They played their asses off all night. That’s why I wanted to put this out – because I think the way they played this material really deserves to be heard.”
credits
released April 1, 2011
The Bryan Beller Band:
Rick Musallam – guitar (left channel)
Griff Peters – guitar (right channel)
Mike Keneally – keys (lead guitar on "Love Terror Adrenaline" only)
Bryan Beller – bass
Joe Travers – drums
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The only thing better than making a record with your friends is touring with them. Problem is, it costs a lot. Especially the first time out. After a long, dark night of green eyeshades, it came to me: I could tour with my own band, opening up for longtime musical compatriot Mike Keneally’s band, and they’d be…the same band. Mike let me talk him into it (kind soul, he) and the “They’re Both The Same Band” tour was born.
It was a modest enterprise: five shows in the Northeast, to be followed by a West Coast swing. The five Northeast shows happened and came off splendidly. The West Coast leg, however, didn’t materialize due to scheduling issues. We were able to confirm one date that worked for everyone: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles. And I said, screw it, let’s record it and see what happens. This is what happened.
It was everything I’d hoped this band could be: raw, powerful, intimate, and to my ears, more than worthy of sharing with you. Plus I threw in a couple of bonus thingies as well. Hope you dig it.
BB
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Produced by Bryan Beller
Recorded by Tim Pinch on 9/15/10 at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles, CA
except “Cave Dweller” – recorded live to two-track by Dave Foster at the
Thanks in Advance CD release party on 1/22/09 at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles, CA
and “View” – recorded by Tim Pinch at the WesFest 2 benefit concert on 3/6/07
at The Gig in Los Angeles, CA
Mixed and edited by Mark Niemiec at Muggytone Studio, Nashville, TN
* except “Cave Dweller” – post-production by Dave Foster (CA) and Mark Niemiec (TN)
Mastered by Dan Shike at Tone And Volume Mastering, Nashville, TN
Bryan Beller has maintained a multi-faceted career as a bassist, composer, solo artist and clinician for over 25 years,
earning his reputation as a uniquely talented yet supremely tasteful team player for instrumentally-minded artists. His first new solo studio work in 10 years - an epic-scale progressive concept double album, entitled "Scenes From The Flood" – is set for a Fall 2019 release....more
supported by 11 fans who also own “Wednesday Night Live”
The Aristocrats always grow not only as artists but also close friends singularly, collectively & collaboratively, feeding and fusing their magnificent works of art. They just keep getting better. Their 5th album DUCK shines showing off their continued exciting innovative growth, not afraid to take chances, in TOP FORM. Huge Payoff imho🩵💥🔥
Edvard Grieg! Here Come the Builders; Muddle Through; Slideshow; .. /Duck’s End; This is Not Scrotum
Album Brilliante❗️Eccezionale❗️
Thank you guys‼️
johannatucker1
supported by 10 fans who also own “Wednesday Night Live”
This album really shows The Aristocrsts at their best - live! Great collection of songs and just fabulous performance and playng from start to end. 10/10, no doubt! Matti Salminen
Anyone homesick for the classic sound of ’90s math rock will fall in love with the jagged guitars & tricky tempos on “LLC.” Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 6, 2023
Jazz, metal, post-punk, and avant-garde music all swirl together in Ecuadorian duo Don Bolo's heady, unpredictable brew. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 11, 2022
supported by 9 fans who also own “Wednesday Night Live”
i like the Rick Beato videos and he had shown the track electric sunrise in his video "How To Count Odd Meters". I was very impressed from this song and searched for the whole album and found it at bandcamp ;-) hpaydt