“No, this is not an early April Fools prank,” writes George Varga in Wednesday’s (1/17) San Diego Union-Tribune. “Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls really is mounting an orchestral tour, entitled ‘Lukewarm Water Live: An Adventure in Loud Music.’ It’s in support of his upcoming debut solo album, ‘Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing),’ which is due out April 13 and features such songs as ‘Hell Toupee,’ ‘MRI’ and ‘Gimme Some (More) Money.’ … Smalls’ first date is April 14 with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at Saenger Theater in New Orleans. It will be followed by concerts with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and … the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C…. Smalls is, of course, the stage name of Harry Shearer, who portrayed the dim English hard rock bassist Smalls in the classic 1984 rock movie ‘mockumentary,’ ‘This is Spinal Tap.’ He is better known for his longtime work on the animated TV show ‘The Simpsons,’ for which he provides the voices of numerous characters.… The 14-song ‘Smalls Change’ features the Hungarian Studio Orchestra” and well-known rock stars. “Smalls … claims the album was made possible by a ‘major grant from the recently-launched British Fund for Ageing Rockers.’ ”
Posted January 19, 2018
