PROJECT/OBJECT formed in the early '90s as an offshoot from an annual Frank Zappa birthday celebration that took place in guitarist Andre Cholmondeley's basement in New Jersey. As the event grew in size and popularity, PROJECT/OBJECT decided to take their show on the road, performing Zappa's music in more cities and larger venues, with a growing set list from every era of Zappa's 30-year recording career. The band strives to stay true to Frank's vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.

During Zappa's 1984 and 1988 tours, members of PROJECT/OBJECT became friendly with Ike Willis, the legendary 10-plus year Zappa vocalist and guitarist whose career with Frank began in the role of "Joe" on the quintessential Zappa album, Joe's Garage. In 1995, the members of PROJECT/OBJECT sent a tape of a live show to Ike and he was impressed enough that he agreed to come out to the East Coast to join the band onstage for a few gigs in the New York area. After that tremendous first outing, Ike agreed to repeat this experience in the future.

Ike felt the members of PROJECT/OBJECT were able to recreate the fun and excitement that he felt with Frank Zappa on stage. Many other Zappa alumni feel the same way, which has also inspired them to perform with the band, some for entire tours. Napoleon Murphy Brock has now joined the band on two national tours and in Winter 2003, Don Preston will go out for his first tour with the band. Since 1998, when the band first took their act on the road, the following alumni have performed with the band: Willis, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Jimmy Carl Black, Ray White, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Denny Walley, Mike Keneally, Arthur Barrow, Roy Estrada, Billy Mundi and even Al Malkin. Other notable artists they've collaborated with include Phish drummer Jon Fishman, Capt. Beefheart guitarist Gary Lucas, New York City big band leader and "Zappologist" Ed Palermo, Al Schnier, Chuck Garvey and Jim Loughlin of moe., and Dweezil Zappa drummer Jerry Cucurullo.

Frank Zappa was extremely influential to many musicians and bands, especially many jambands, including Phish, moe., and Deep Banana Blackout. While many jamband fans are aware that Frank Zappa was influential, they are largely unfamiliar with his music. Of those who are familiar, many were too young to have seen him in concert. PROJECT/OBJECT is the closest they will get to the live Zappa experience, and the band has been enjoying increasing support from this growing scene.

In every new market they visit, PROJECT/OBJECT converts the curious into dedicated fans. They want to remind old Zappa fans of the way it used to be and let younger fans, who never experienced a Zappa show, see and hear the way it was.

Mike Shimshack is a Brooklyn , NY-based songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Formerly the songwriter/guitarist of the independently successful 90s rock group Johny Vegas, Mike is using his vast experience to help others realize their potential. Upon his NYC arrival in 2001, his good fortune has lead him to work with some of the best known writers and artists in the music business. 

Using his gift as a writer and arranger, Mike has been forging a lucrative career as up-and-coming songwriter/producer/engineer.   In 2002, he gained invaluable experience as a producer/writer for Sheppard Music.  During his tenure with Shep and Kenny, he produced, engineered, programmed and played on tracks for the likes of pop groups such as O-Town and LFO.   In addition to working with Sheppard Music’s long list of pop artists, his stay there lead to playing guitar on Hall & Oates’ hit record, “Do It For Love”.

Mike has since embarked on a journey as that of an independent writer/producer/engineer.  His state-of-the-art studio (The Shim Shack) has been running around the clock crafting songs and productions for major labels as well as some of the finest independent artists in the country.  As the role of artist development shifts from labels to producers, Mike has been actively shaping great new artists like Granian, Deena Goodman, and Elisa Cariera. 

Click here for a list of credits!

Largely self-taught, Mike played "stunt guitar" and keyboards in Frank Zappa's last touring band and has appeared on a bunch of Zappa albums, has recorded or performed with XTC, Robert Fripp, Sting, Kevin Gilbert, Steve Vai, The Loud Family, Henry Kaiser, Michael Manring, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Andy Prieboy, The Persuasions and scads of others, and has been producing solo works since the early '90s.

"Dancing," an ambitious work released in late 2000 by Keneally and his eight-piece band, Beer For Dolphins, debuted at Number 167 on The Billboard 200 chart, Number 11 on the magazine's Independent Albums chart and Number 11 on its Heatseekers list. Critics hailed it as one of the year's best albums.

Mike's 1999 solo album, "Nonkertompf," prompted these comments by David Fricke in Rolling Stone magazine: "I saw guitarist Mike Keneally play with Frank Zappa in the 1980s, nimbly negotiating the maestro's knotty charts, and I've watched Keneally cook hard with his twisted-fusion outfit, Beer For Dolphins. But none of it prepared me for the color and density of 'Nonkertompf,' a whirl of thirty-five instrumental miniatures, played by Keneally in their entirety and advertising not only his spicy fluency on the guitar but a flair for hot melodic sabotage rooted, yet not imprisoned, in Zappology. The music flies mad and fast, but what the hell? You have a whole century to digest it."

Keneally's other releases include 1992's "hat.", 1994's "Boil That Dust Speck," 1996's "Half Alive In Hollywood" and 1997's "Sluggo!". 1995 brought the left-field classic "The Mistakes," which found Keneally teamed with Henry Kaiser, Andy West and Prairie Prince to scintillating effect. A number of things involving Keneally have been nominated for Grammies, and some of them have won. His music invokes such rabid fan response that a group of Keneally enthusiasts from around the world joined together in San Diego during the summer of 2000 to present "Nonkerstock," their own fan-produced-and-promoted tribute to all things Keneally, culminating in a performance by Mike and BFD.

About Keneally and Beer For Dolphins, Matt Resnicoff wrote in Time Out New York: "This band, with such a peculiar genius leading it, is a thing to savor."