Masterclass
Still don’t understand Bitcoin? We’ve got you covered. Ever wonder what became of that shrink who sorted Metallica out? We’re on it. Want to know if the Temple Beautiful Musical is really happening? You’ve come to the right place.
After last month’s newsletter, I’ve been getting e-mails from folks who are like, “Am I to understand this correctly? You’re putting on a Temple Beautiful Musical?” Sort of, and sort of yes, and yessiree, and yes ma’am, and just plain yes, and hell yes too. Newsflash: You heard it here: In late August, Temple Beautiful: The Musical will be mounted(!) at the Alcazar Theatre in S.F. for three-count-em-three performances, before we take Manhattan and Berlin (figuratively speaking) in 2020.
Meanwhile, I’ve been watching a lot of these Masterclasses online. Hoping to hone some new skills. I mean, I’ve only been watching 30 seconds or so of each of them. [I’m on a budget!] Some of them are pretty great. Ron Howard? Yes. David Mamet? Very intense. And Santana is right on the money. It’s easy to get cynical about Guitar Center noodlers and that whole crowd but when Carlos applies his ‘wisdom of the centuries’ and describes guitar playing as “bringing light into the darkness,” I’m not going to lie, I buy it. He’s also a big believer in guitar face: “The ugliest face creates the most beautiful note.” And: “If you don’t stand like that, it ain’t gonna sound like that.” After those pearls, I can’t imagine anyone asking for their money back.
I love it.
Then again, as Jim Dickinson use to say: “The best records never get recorded.” And so the Masterclasses I want to watch will never get made. I wish GG Allin had lived long enough to do one. Or Malcolm McLaren. How about Iggy? I’d like him to help me with my golf swing.
We at CP and the Mission Express would be happy to entertain offers for a Masterclass pilot. Cooking in your room. How to load that van. Kevin T. White may or may not be willing to divulge his trade secrets for the right way to load. [And yes there is a right way, just ask Kevin T.]
Or imagine Lou Reed teaching jazz guitar. Dropping names like Ornette Coleman with total conviction. And then playing some ham-fisted barre chord. I’d watch it. Speaking of Lou (who is huge around here, so don’t get up in my grill and send me emails about under-appreciated geniuses, okay?], the producer Roger Moutenot told me that once while recording Lou, after the umpteenth attempt at a simple overdub on guitar, Lou just collapsed, hung his head and said, “Can you believe they give me money to do this sh*t?”
Okay, enough filibustering from me. And yeah, I hear you Lou. I often ask myself the same question. Come out and see for yourself. There’s gigs and more gigs listed below.
Onwards,
-CP
PS: More on the musical here: https://www.templebeautifulthemusical.com
PPS: Here’s Carlos Santana’s Masterclass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnaEs7yPXW8
WEBSITE ((((IN FULL-COLOR SOUND)))) http://chuckprophet.com
GIGSVILLE:
Chuck Prophet SOLO:
5/13/2019 Baltimore MD Function Gallery (An Evening With)
5/14/2019 Washington DC Pearl Street Warehouse
5/15/2019 Harrisburg PA Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
5/17/2019 Northampton MA The Parlor Room Workman Song to support
5/18/2019 Cambridge MA Atwood’s Tavern Jay Walsh to support
5/19/2019 Pawling NY Daryl’s House
Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express:
5/24/2019 Central City CO Grand Z Casino Hotel
5/25/2019 Central City CO Grand Z Casino Hotel
5/26/2019 Colorado Springs CO MeadowGrass Music Festival
6/7/2019 Sonoma CA Huichica Music Festival
7/12/2019 St. Louis MO Off Broadway
7/13/2019 Kansas City MO Knuckleheads Saloon
7/14/2019 Omaha NE The Sunday Roadhouse Presents
7/16/2019 Fort Wayne IN Welch’s Ale House
7/18/2019 Ferndale MI The Magic Bag
7/19/2019 Chicago IL City Winery-Chicago
