On Saturday, March 2, Neil Slade performed a concert, the likes of which you've never seen. Libraries are normally a quiet haven for the socially timid. But the Cherry Creek Branch of the Denver Public Library now has a new reputation, and broke the old stuffy mold when Neil Slade and friends came out of retirement and shattered the hallowed library silence.
Greeting audience at the entrance was the ubiquitous "Brain X", mascot and driving force behind this one man hurricane (real human brain in a jar on educational loan from Colorado's Dormant Brain Research and Development Laboratory). Assisting Neil at this show, was the rhythm devil of the day- Eric Allen Vincent, a palpitating percussion personality who magnified the effect of the music in logarithmic fashion.
Ensorcelling the audience as always were the multifaceted talents of Neil "that funky brain man" Slade, who picked up instruments as naturally as a housewife picks up ripe fruit from the produce section at Safeway. No instrument felt left out from the cornucopia of aural delicacies- acoustic and electric guitars, the mysterious "Zo" , voice, and acoustic piano. Vincent pounded out the beat on a plethora of primitive and modern drums, like a mad blacksmith forging raw steel.
The large community room was filled to the gunnels: standing room only- all seats were filled. Reactions typical of the broad based audience were: "Neil played with such vigor and enthusiasm, it was like the music exploded out of his chest!", and "My amygdalas clicked forward at the beginning of the show- and something really freaky happened to my brain!"
During the hour long set, including a short but informative brain anatomy pause, nobody was seen leaving even to go to the bathroom, despite gallons of free lemonade. There was consistant quality of performance, as well as variety, from the eerie yet sublime "Submarine" to the snappy and superlative "Shauna". Apparently the inclusion of many new songs from Slade's newest release "Tippy" hypnotized the audience into helpless submission in a most delightful manner.
After the show, library patrons were guided through the mind boggling maze of the Internet by Slade. He led ecstatic "newbies" on a journey through cyberspace, with a stop at his very own extensive World Wide Web Site, "The Amazing Neil Slade Music Adventure" (http://www.neilslade.com).
In conclusion, if you are looking for explosive musical neural pleasures, look no further than the latest offering from Neil Slade Music and Company.
Weston and Christian Wells
Denver Academy and Kent School
AMYGDALA BRAINBITES
Review by Michael Roberts
Amygdala Brainbites, the new CD from the BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES, is dominated by material reviewed several months back in this space, but it sounds fresher than before, thanks to a remix that leaves the disc sounding as crisp and impressive as many national releases. NEIL SLADE and company have come up with a pop confection that'll leave you feeling smarter for having listened to it--which, if I'm not mistaken, was the idea all along.
AMYGDALA BRAINBITES
Review by Scott Renick
It takes nuts to sing subtle tunes in the 90's--Almonds. (see Amygdala). the BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES are pasing out almond shaped abrain candy that fills you up without leaving you feeling bloated, and I want more.
This is music for rebels without a cliche. It sports all the angst necessary to qualify it as rock and roll, but with a sophistication that may put it beyond the reach of your average drooling fan-type.
Who could write a song about karma that doesn't elicit images of paisley vests and peace signs, one that even makes you squirm a little with the realization that the concept of karma might apply to you? the BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES could, and did, with "It'll Come Back".
Who could combine the feel of Jeff Beck with the frustration of the Violent Femmes and come up with a tasty concoction? You guessed it! The BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES' tune "Puzzle" fits the bill.
Who could take Alice out of Wonderland and put her in a soft, melancholy, jilted-lover neverland? Yep: The BRAIN REVOLUTIONARIES, with "Starlight".
This CD sounds so good that I had to read the credits several times as I listened to assure myself that it was indeed recorded and produced in Denver. The production gives a reverent nod to vintage Jeff Beck, the song arrangement vintage Joe Jackson, all with a contemporary feel that won't melt in your pockets. Amygdala Brainbites is fun food for thought.
(Scott Renick is a recording engineer and veteran Colorado bassist.)
TIPPY
Review by Westword Music Editor
MICHAEL ROBERTS
Tippy, from the cranium of Denver's Neil slade, reminded me of Seventies vintage Todd Rundgren in its juxtaposition of pure pop melodies, sometimes arch lyrics, challenging structural conceits and substatial ambition. "Shauna," "Couch" and several others are extrememly humable, yet they also ask for (and reward) closer inspection. So does the concluding "Concerto for Saxophone, 1st Mov.," a sprightly journey through several decades of American musical tradition.
TIPPY
by PATRICK OLIVER
TIPPY is Neil Slade's latest musical offering. This fine effort seems to be divided into two distinct programs; the first a compilation of original, contemporary pop/rock tunes incorporating tight arrangements with intereting use of instrumental textures as well as harmonic colors unusual for the genre. I particularly like the pensive Aural Exciter and the playful Cindy which seems to be a tribute to tommy James and the Shondells.
The second half of this recording is a, dare I say, more cerebral approach which includes Neil's Zappa influenced A Refined Mud Pie as well as a cooikin' version of Charlie Parker's Bloomdido and readings of two pieces by classical composers Darius Milhaud and Henri Tomasi.
This is a finely crafted work which amply demonstrates Neil's eclectic approach to music. He does some nice sax and synth solo work and really seems to know his way around the studio. by the way, Dee Netzel does some nice piano work and contributes greatly to the high level of excellence on this recording. -Patrick Oliver
(Patrick Oliver is a Denver area pianist who has performed with Hubert Laws, Bobby Shew, Bill Frisell, and Teddy Edwards among others. Back to Music Central
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A Few Short Real Reviews and Commentary About Brain Music SelectionsNEIL SLADE ROCKS THE MASSES
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The AMAZING BRAIN ADVENTURE's MOST POPULAR PAGES:
Your Amazing Brain Adventure is a web site all about Tickling Your Amygdala- i.e. turning on the best part of your brain as easy as clicking on a light switch. This is done as easily as imagining a feather inside of your head stimulating a compass, the amygdala. The amygdala is a set of twin organs, a part of your brain that sits right in between the most advance part of your brain- the frontal lobes and pre-frontal cortex- and the most primitive part of your brain- your "reptile brain" and brain stem. By tickling your amygdala you instantly and directly increase creativity, intelligence, pleasure, and also make possible a spontaneous natural processes known as "paranormal abilities", although such things as telepathy and ESP are really as natural as breathing, or as easy doing simple math in your head. The ability to self stimulate the amygdala by something as simple as thought has been proven in laboratory experiments, such as those conducted at Harvard University research labs, 1999-2009, and can be tracked with modern brain scanning machines such as fMRI and PET... Indeed, thought is faster than light.
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