Welcome

Welcome to Fat Knuckle Freddy!

Fat Knuckle Freddy: " Long ago, Les Claypool, Captain Beefheart, Howlin' Wolf and Billy Gibbons apparently decided to have a love child. They named it Fat Knuckle Freddy."- Mainebrews N Musicreviews.  FKF composes and plays in many styles ie. Punk Blues & American Primitive. 

Fat Knuckle Freddy got his name when he broke and dislocated his fretboard pinkie at the middle knuckle. It's now the size of a thumb knuckle and points a few degrees outward. This gives FKF a little extra stretch on the fretboard but he mostly covers it with his stunning slide.


 

DEATH DON'T GET NO BLUES! CD RELEASE. 

My latest recording, "Death Don't Get No Blues" is being released 11/16/19 at The Apohadion Theater in Portland, ME. This recording consists of 6 solo blues tunes for guitar and vocals. I used my national M1 Tricone Baritone for all 6 songs and recorded the vocals through a telephone microphone. The foot stomp was my foot stomping my old college theory book. 

Topics include death, drug addiction, suicide and choking out the Devil. What more do you want in a blues record?

I will be joined by Samuel James, Jenny Lou Drew & D. Gross. 

See you there. More information under shows.

-FKF

"Hitchcock," Mainer (The New Bollard) Review 

Alfred Hitchcock Plays Guitar received a great and honest review in The Mainer.

"He shifts between the warmth of his finger-picking and the metallic wail of his slide, while using the baritone’s deep lows to frame every trip up the neck as a remarkably expressive journey. It’s just him, the whole time, yet Hitchcock is as rich and nuanced as a full-band effort.

Check out the full review below!!

https://thebollard.com/2019/06/02/fat-knuckle-freddy-2/

LIVE ON 207, NBC! 

 "Sweet For Honey" live performance and interview on 207, WCSH6, Portland, ME. Copy link below into browser. 

https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/207/207-music/cop-by-day-musician-by-night-fat-knuckle-freddy/97-68e0cc00-1037-4937-916d-76edd1140860

 

 

May 17th. New Solo Instrumental Guitar Record. 

I'll be releasing "Alfred Hitchcock Plays Guitar" On May 17th, at Blue 650A Congress St, Portland, at 10pm. Samuel James and D. Gross will be opening at 8pm, so get there early for a night of great music. All compositions on the new record are played on a National M1 Tricone Baritone Resonator Guitar. All tracks incorporate a slide except for one. This is the acoustic record I've been trying to make for years but never had the right instrument. Some of the tracks were previously recorded with a cigar box guitar or a standard acoustic without a slide. These recordings will be the definitive versions. CD's availalble at www.bullmoosemusic.com or through me. Downloads www.bandcamp.com Check out the baritone tricone below.

 

 

 

Live Videos and Updates! 

Hello Knuckleheads!

On 9/1/18, Feels Like Media filmed FKF and drummer Timothy "BB" Webber live, on the patio, at Amigos, Portland, ME. This was a long time coming and FLM captured the chaotic raw energy of our performance. There's a total of five videos. "No Love" is on the website, YouTube and Facebook. FKF is playing a fretless slide guitar, with an octave bass string. Fretless slide cigar box guitar. Fretted slide baritone cigar box guitar. Shovelcaster aka 3 string slide shovel guitar. And fretless slide cigar box guitar with octave bass string.

What is a fretless slide guitar with an octave bass string? I'm glad you asked. FKF doubles his low guitar string, with a bass string an octave lower, so it thickens the sound and gives the illusion of a bass player in a duo format. So, check out "No Love" , subscribe to FKF's Youtube page (link on website) and be ready for the next video release.

Also, FKF just finished recording his solo American Primitive tour de force. Over 60 minutes of solo acoustic guitar music on a National M1 Tricone Baritone Guitar. The most haunting and beautiful guitar in the world. This has been a work in progress for a very long time. Sample videos will be released on instagram. CD Release some time in the new year.

BONES- New EP! 

On 1/20/18, I recorded and released BONES, instrumental music for fretless 3 string guitar in 72et. What’s 72et? It stands for 72 equal temperament, meaning 72 notes to the octave, 6 notes to a half step. The 12 standard notes are still present. Why do this? Because it gives me the ability to tune my notes very closely with nature aka just intonation. I do this all the time when I play slide but since I’m playing a fretless on this recording, I can finger the adjusted notes as well.

Just because I’m using microtones, that doesn’t mean the music sounds like the greatest hits from some alien planet. Let me explain. Take the 12 notes and divide them into a 100c (cents) each. A just major third, one that sounds beautiful is 386c. An equal tempered third is 400c, 14c sharper than nature. This is usually the big problem on all guitars, the major 3rd is out of tune. The smallest interval in 72et is 16c. So, when I play a major 3rd with my slide, I flat it from ET by 16c as a guide and use my ear to tune it properly. So, most of the times, I’m probably 14c flat, but why be so specific? I just need a guide to get me there and 72et does the job.

A just minor third is 316c and an ET 3rd is 300c, 16c flat. This is why every blues guitarist bends that minor 3rd up. The so called sweet spot. Well, that sweet spot has a name, meaning a just minor 3rd, the right note. So, with my slide, I play 16c sharper than ET and I get the just minor 3rd. If you’re playing slide guitar, you can do this on a fretted guitar as well as a fretless. 

So, as a guide this is how you can adjust your notes to sound sweeter. Minor 3,6 & 7 up 16c. Major 3,6 & 7 down 16c. Augmented 4 down 16c. Diminished 5 up 33c. Depending on the melody note or chord prior and following, minor 2 up 16c. Major 2 down 16c. 

I do this to all scales, including the blues scale. 

Here’s the link to the EP on bandcamp. Stream it with the app, or buy it for $3. That’s right a whopping $3 for 72 notes to the octave. Sounds like a deal to me.

-FKF

 

 

Dig My Blues!-Available at Bandcamp 

Target On My Chest-Available at Bandcamp 

 

Hi-Fi/Lo-Fi Dual CD Release at Portland House Of Music 

Fat Knuckle Freddy will be releasing two CD's on 10/27/17 at Portland House Of Music and Events (PHOME)., Portland, ME. The Hi-Fi , "Target On My Chest" features cigar box guitars and BB Webber on drums. Recorded at Pigcat Studios, Portland, ME by Scott Webber. The Lo-Fi, "Dig My Blues" is solo with all songs on a Shovelcaster, 3 string shovel guitar, vocals through a telephone microphone and a license plate stomped for percussion. Recorded at Brass Knuckle Studios by FKF.

Special guests will be Clara Junken and her band and Meanmugg.

$8 in advance. $10 day of show. For more information click on events.

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Previous events

DUAL ALBUM RELEASE!!!!

Genos, 625 Congress St, Portland

FAT KNUCKLE FREDDY DUAL ALBUM RELEASE!!! FKF will be start the show followed by Pigboat and Johnny Cremains (also releasing an album). FKF will play new songs from his album "Trash Blues" and songs from a new EP with The Vintage Heathen "No Holds Barred!" This will be an amazing set of two new albums. Do not miss this special event.

THE FILE 5'S

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Blue, 650A Congress St, Portland, ME

Fat Knuckle Freddy will be playing with his Blues Trio, The File 5's featuring Cat Stambach on bass and Tim Webber on drums. The File 5's is a new project based off of the 50's blues style in modern times. It combines the styles of T-Bone Walker and Tom Waits. New songs and FKF tunes played in this style. It's badass and perfect to sip some Blue cocktails. Show is free with donations. Blue is a jazz/blues style club which is a perfect setting for The File 5's.

The Final Live & Undead At Amigos

 —  —

Amigos Mexican Restaurant, 9 Dana St, Portland

Fat Knuckle Freddy and BB Webber will be playing their final Live & Undead Show on the Amigos patio, weather permitting, for some Booty Shakin' Punk Blues. Cigar Boxes, Shovels, & Fretless Slide Guitars with pounding drums. The event is free. This is the last show of the season for FKF at Amigos.

Fat Knuckle Freddy @ Rick's Cafe

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Rick's Cafe, 852 Roosevelt Trail, Naples, ME

Father's Day Weekend Blues! Normally the Naples Blues Festival is held on Father's Day Weekend but was cancelled for the second year. Rick's will be hosting us ate play some Graveyard Blues. Other bars in the area will be hosting bands as well. Come out to beautiful Naples in the Sebago Lake Region. Go to the lake for a swim or hike in the area then get your blues on. There's awesome hotels and B&B's too.

Diabulous Ambientium Livestream Release

Blue, 650A Congress St, Portland, ME

Blue will be hosting Fat Knuckle Freddy's new album release, Diabulous Ambientium. This will stream via Facebook Live. FKF will be playing a fretless, sustainer guitar through various effects while creating decaying ambient loops.The music uses 72 notes to an octave. Please join us in celebrating this new musical adventure. Link below. You can also just go to FKF's Facebook page that evening and watch.

https://fb.me/e/3G0DBvBKy

Meanmugg, The Gala, Billy Midol & Fat Knuckle Freddy

Genos, 625 Congress St, Portland

Fat Knuckle Freddy will hit the stage with Young Brett on drums from 9-930. Early show. Slamming, fast set. Check out Jill Koufman's art exhibit and the bands below.

Meanmugg [The Outsiders PBR | El Grande | Not30] Maine punk with roots rhythm & dub https://meanmugg.bandcamp.com

The Gala - US Boston punk/garage/rock 'n' roll http://www.thegala.us

Billy Midol Portland punk https://billymidol.bandcamp.com/

Fat Knuckle Freddy American primitive, avante-garde & psychobilly punk blues http://www.fatknucklefreddy.com

Art Exhibit Reception: Jill Koufman 6PM-8PM [FREE] 8:30 doors | 9PM show | $10 | 21+

Death Don't Get No Blues CD release

Aphodian Theater, 107 Hanover St, Portland

"Death Don't Get No Blues" an EP of solo acoustic blues tunes played on a tricone baritone resonator guitar will be released. Songs deal with death, addiction, choking the devil, misfortune, and having fun.

Special guests are Samuel James, D. Gross and Jenny Lou Drew. FKF will open with a short set then will be joined on stage by the above for songs in the round.

$10 at door.

Doors 730pm.

Show 8-10pm.

Oct6

3rd Annual Maine Luthier's Showcase

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Old Fire Station, 124 Second St, Hallowell, ME

Cigar Box Guitar building and playing will be featured Sunday morning, 10/6 at the 3rd Annual Maine Luthier's Showcase. Tome Dube will play at 10am and FKF at 11am. CBG luthiers Martin Tauber and Burton Philbrick will be displaying their builds and pickups. Expect 3 string cigar box and shovel guitars.

For more information.

http://hallowell.org/luthiers/?fbclid=IwAR2czAq6SDaUWOwPbtd_ggXU41xsSQJSuvbKMAHpU0OcWEu49UVEHtsPvfw