Fast 'n Bulbous

Hear new instrumental arrangements of Captain Beefheart classics from this tribute project created by former Magic Band guitarist Gary Lucas and saxophonist Phillip Johnston (of The Microscopic Septet).

"I fell completely for their rampant party spirit...the band's joyful noises did justice to Beefheart's nature-boy ardor for flesh and grit."--Village Voice

It's been two decades since cantankerous American art rock icon Don Van Vliet-aka Captain Beefheart-abandoned making vanguard mutant blues with The Magic Band to dedicate himself to his growing career as a painter. (Van Vliet is acknowledged as a forerunner of neoexpressionism.) Yet his musical legacy and cult status have continued to grow as successive generations have thrilled to the discovery of Beefheart and his influential group's seemingly anarchic (though carefully structured) explosion of gutbucket rhythms, free jazz, and skewed surrealist lyrics.

Former Magic Band guitarist Gary Lucas and saxophonist Phillip Johnston (of The Microscopic Septet) recently created the tribute project Fast 'n Bulbous to perform exciting new instrumental arrangements of Beefheart classics. Rolling Stone lauded the group's debut at New York's Knitting Factory: "Johnston's brass scores hit the R and B meat and twisted swing that Beefheart embedded in spidery guitars... Lucas on searing bottleneck guitar celebrated the rock in Beefheart's extremes."

Before Fast 'n Bulbous's set here, Gary Lucas will share a generous selection of rare vintage video clips of Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band culled from his extensive personal collection.