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Becki diGregorio
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Becki's new CD, "God's Empty Chair" features
longtime XTC guitar guru Dave Gregory and Lyle Workman
(Todd Rundgren, Frank Black, Beck). It also features one
of Andy Partridge's many unreleased gems - "Susan
Revolving" - dolled up in true Duke fashion! Becki
says, "the music is a mixture of rock and heavy-pop,
with a touch of psychedelia and middle-eastern influences
nestled in between." Her debut album - "Seven
Worthies of the Bamboo Grove" - also features the
talents of Dave Gregory... nuff said. (Click on the cover
of "God's Empty Chair" - above - to pay a visit
to Becki's website, and pick up a copy for yourself) It's
a great disc.
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The Multicolored Sections of Optimism's Flames
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Here are the main sections of the site, which can be
accessed by the faintly colored bars on the left of the
site - or by using the colored balls beneath the image
of The Shed. Or just click on these links below... A digital
connection is highly recommended for viewing the site.
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Access these links from the icons
on the bottom of the main page. Or, again - just
click on the links provided below...
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You're on your own for the hidden pages.
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~ The Latest On Swindon's Finest ~
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| Ape Releases
~ (8/8/04) Not much happenin'
on the XTC front, right? Well - sort of, drop by Andy's
Ape site
and pick up some great tunes... his fantastic disc with
Peter Blegvad, Orpheus... the new release by The
Milk & Honey Band... and get ready for the latest edition
of Warbles, coming very soon... stay on the look-see for
some Pugwash,
who will release a disc on Ape in the future. They currently
have Dave Gregory working on some backing tracks for 'em
at Abbey Road, for an album that should see light this year...
check the Pugwash link I provided for more info. |
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| Wonderfalls
Video! & Fano & More ~ (12/12/03) Andy
penned the theme song for the new Fox TV show called Wonderfalls.
He created several versions, but in the end it was his first
work that was chosen; "I Wonder Why the Wonderfalls."
The show debuts March 12, 2004. And if you visit the link
above, you can see the video - AND HEAR THE SONG!! Also
- check out the Fano
guitar site for the new Oranges & Lemons guitar. (Sadly,
Wonderfalls has fallen... damn, TV sucks.) |
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| DVD Coming!
~ (12/12/03) (Update -
the DVD is on hold for a spell, bit of legal shite going
on with Virgin again... arghhhhhhhh!) Spoke with Colin today
- found him editing footage for a new XTC DVD release that
will be at least two discs large, and will include all the
Virgin vids - exclusive footage from recording sessions
& stuff from Holland & Australia - as well as whatever
else they can get hold of. If you've got an original copy
of Look Look - you should consider Ebay about now. |
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| APE Site
~ (4/12/03) Andy's new
APE site
is up and running - for the latest on the next two Fuzzy
Warbles releases, including track listings - as well as
info on the new album with Peter Blegvad and info on the
band Andy's wanting to sign and promote: The
Milk and Honey Band - while there be sure to check out
the links section and read Andy's description of Optimism's
Flames. Aw - shucks. |
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| The
XTC Gig Guru ~ (July '02) Dave Gregory supplied
me with hundreds of dates for the Optimism's Flames list
of all the known XTC live shows. In most cases he provided
me information on venue, set list & the acts to shar
the stage with the lads. In some cases he offered memories
of specific shows. Thanks to Dave - Optimism's Flames is
home to the most exhaustive list of XTC live gigs yet compiled.
You can find the GIG LIST in
the My
bird performed section of the site. |
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SITE UPDATES ~
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OPTIMISMSFLAMES NEWS ~
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April
28, 2004 - The
ever-kind Andy Partridge provided me with yet another
amazing box of goodies for the site... I've just upped
four exclusive, one-of-a-kind sketches from the stack
he sent. Many, many more coming over the next months...
Visit the
Big box of paint, now!
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Wonder
Box - Got
a box full of items from Andy yesterday - stacks of
sketches and test pressings - and some other amazing
goodies that I'll be sure to upload to the site over
the coming months. Thanks again Andy!
Colin
Chat -
Interviewed Colin 6/16/03 - plan on having the entire
interview transcribed quickly and offered in text form.
Little
Express -
We now offer many back issues of the famed LE fanzine,
and you can find them in A
little tribute. There are only 20 or so of
some issues, so you'd better grab 'em up. Optimism's
Flames makes no money off the sale - we're just happy
to be able to bring the fantastic LE to the fantastic
XTC fans. Oh - did I mention?... one issue is about
the Dukes!
Andy
Speaks - I
spent a bit more than 3 hours on the phone with Andy,
9/12/02, and the majority of the conversation will be
featured in the It's
nearly audio section. We spent a great deal
of time chatting about XTCover art - and I got the inside
story on *every* XTCover, including some of the singles.
A text version of this will be run in Big
box of paint.
Neil
& Adrian Warren Go 2 Swindon ~ Neil
and Adrian Warren, brothers in life and XTC fandom,
have contributed to OF's in the past - see the dandy
photos of Ken White's
once famed, now defunct Swindon
mural in the GALLERY of the OUR
HISTORY BENDS section.
The brothers Warren recently wandered the streets of
Swindon with the Moulding's Swindon Street Plan, from
the Go 2 release, and photographed all the major points
of interest. We are currently putting together an interactive
version of the map.
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Feb 28,
2004 - There
are now two sweet Dukes interviews, in MP3 audio, for
you in the Dukes portion of the site. You've found it,
right? Look for the little lighthouse. I've also added
to the cover art section - Big Express and Oranges &
Lemons - in the Big
box of paint
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Jan 11,
2004 - The Gig List just got deeper!
There are 50+ updates to the list of all the known gigs
the band played (list
of dates) - and you can find it all in the GIG LIST,
found in the My
bird performed
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Dec 12,
2003 - The poster section of The
good things has been updated. There are 36
XTC posters represented - 6 new ones, and much better
shots of the old ones. Flats added next!
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July 2,
2003 - The 6/16/03 OF's interview with
Colin Moulding is now up and running - and opens outside
the site for easy viewing. Click HERE
for now, text chat page coming soon.
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June 5,
2003 - The Little Express is now selling
many back issues of their famed fanzine at $5 a pop US
(including shipping!) - so you better grab 'em up while
you can, supplies are limited - find the sales page under
Peter & June in the A
little tribute section.
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| June
3, 2003 - Exclusive chats with Andy Partridge
on XTCover art - this time it's the singles. You can find
it in the Big
box of paint section, in Cover ARt... and there
is much more to come. |
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| May
3, 2003 - Larry Miller sent in stubs from
the following gigs in New York: 1/20/80; 3/1480; 10/15/80;
12/4/80; 4/18/81 in the Gig List: My
bird performed |
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| April
27, 2003 - New info on live gigs: 3/14/80,
3/15/80 & 10/15/80 - as well as links to 40 venues XTC
played: My
bird performed |
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January
24, 2003 - Sir John Johns tells all
on Dukes cover art... surely you've found the Dukes section?
FEB ~ Exclusive, Andy Partridge
tells the history of 8 more of XTC's album covers. This
time, compilations and EP's, in the Big
box of paint section. We've covered most of
the album covers... need to address the Fuzzy Warbles
series and some other singles...
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Mitch Friedman
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Mitch's music is goofy - quirky - fun - and, well...
good. Much like his first album - "The Importance
of Sauce" - "Fred" delivers well-penned
tunes with both thought provoking and downright hilarious
lyrics. Our own Dave Gregory appears - as does the demo-guru
R. Stevie Moore. My six-year-old daughter enjoys this
album as much as I do, and there are only a few bands
I can say that about - XTC included. (Click on the cover
of "Fred" - above - to pay a visit to Mitch's
website, and pick up a copy for yourself)
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Latest
XTC
Release
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Coat of many Cupboards is XTC's latest release.
This 4 disc set is a must have for the XTCgeeks and features
a damn good XTC essay by our pal Harrison Sherwood. (Hey,
it's in the library now, so it must be good!)
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Future
XTC
Release
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10/26/02 - Fuzzy Warbles to be released in the next
few weeks. It will feature songs done completely by Andy,
as well as some full band versions of unreleased material.
Though it's not an "official" XTC release, it's
going to be every bit as good.
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