Anybogy going to the Zappa plays Zappa show this year,they are comming to the detroit area next weekend & we are going,last years show was excellent & im glad they decided to come again.

they were here just the other day unfortunately i wasnt able to attend.

they were here just the other day unfortunately i wasnt able to attend.

Yet another act I'd love to see that just flew right on by...sigh...

I allmost missed this years tour my own self,we were planning on seeing Deep Purple & my wife spoke up & asked if Zappa was comming again this year,i checked the web site & found a new tour,im still kinda bummed that both bands are playing the same night,my wife has never seen DP & they put on one hell of a good sounding show,oh well the Zappa tour is a no miss deal for me.

Dweezil is doing fine leading the band.

That is one show I really wish I could see.....

Got tickets for the Sunday show in Indy. Hope it's like FZ's old Mother's Day shows in Fort Wayne.

Greg

I just got back from getting our tickets,im hoping that they have last years tour dvd available at the t shirt concession booth,we were in the 3rd row front & center last year & had a hell of a time.:yes:

Im counting down the days like a lil kid before xmas:D

I just got back from getting our tickets,im hoping that they have last years tour dvd available at the t shirt concession booth,we were in the 3rd row front & center last year & had a hell of a time.:yes:

Im counting down the days like a lil kid before xmas:D

I am pathetically envious...

Got tickets for the Sunday show in Indy. Hope it's like FZ's old Mother's Day shows in Fort Wayne.

Greg

Hey greg,last year after the show i thought Dweezil did a great job playing his fathers music & i also thought the new zappa show was allmost as good as the show's FZ would do,after thinking about it for a year & watching video clips, the more i thought of it the more i come to believe that Dweezil is putting on a more musical show over his father.

One thing i never liked about seeing Frank live was the total silliness interupting the music or long droning beats that went nowhere,witth Dweezil the music is more restrained but comes off as more entertaining with more of a balsy blues feel to it.

Ray White is supposed to be a special guest this tour,hopefully he'll sing The Illinois Enema Bandit.

A list of tour dates.

http://www.zappa.com/zpz/tourdates.html

I am pathetically envious...

I posted a link to the tour dates in Canada,i dont know how far you are from the active dates but the band is comming to Canada right after detroit.

Hmmm. Coming to Ashville NC. Aug 11th. Could be a road trip that Sat.

I posted a link to the tour dates in Canada,i dont know how far you are from the active dates but the band is comming to Canada right after detroit.

The closest date to me in Canada was 2 nights ago in Winnipeg...400 miles...

The closest date to me in Canada was 2 nights ago in Winnipeg...400 miles...


yep and i had to work:(

yep and i had to work:(

Some things are worth being "sick" for :naughty:

2 1/2 hours and counting. Read some reviews of earlier shows here:

http://www.zappa.com/zpz/tourdates.html

Sound like an interesting evening. Don't see anything from Grand Wazoo on the playlist though. Too bad. That album has special meaning.

Greg

2 1/2 hours and counting. Read some reviews of earlier shows here:

http://www.zappa.com/zpz/tourdates.html

Sound like an interesting evening. Don't see anything from Grand Wazoo on the playlist though. Too bad. That album has special meaning.

Greg

Cmon man,give it up:yes: how was the show????

17 August in PHX. My daughter and I hope to attend. She turned me on to Tool and I turned her on to Zappa. He passed away on my birthday and this year for my 50th we are going to pay homage to his greatness.:smoke::smoke::smoke:

Sorry for the delay. Got home at midnight and went straight to bed. Had to be at work at 7:30 this morning.

Incredible show. Amazing number of young folks in the crowd (I'd guess around 3000). It's wierd. Here I go through life knowing only 2 or 3 other people into Zappa, and then this big crowd turns out for a concert.

Ray White sings beautifully and soloed on guitar once. Sounded like the same playlist from Chicago and Milwaukee. Missed some favorites, but they can't play them all. Fun watching old geezers (like me, I'm 58) rocking to the sounds. Overall sound just a bit boomy in the bass but very acceptable and not too loud. The show was in a huge 1920s ballroom with marble floors and chair seating on one level.

Album quality performance. Some of the videos of Frank singing and playing with the current band backing him up were spectacular. Dweezil still can't play like his old man, but he's getting close. The woodwind lady played like she was born to do it. Not enough lighting on the main keyboard player (stuck way in the back). Mallet man (what other rock band uses a xylophone?) was on the money all the time.

This was a live performance that compared favorably with any concert I've ever attended (usually big Mahler symphonic works). These people are on a mission, and it shows.

Hope they come back next year. I'll be there. If they're coming to your area don't miss them.

Just to give some perspective: I don't go to rock concerts. Last one was FZ in Fort Wayne, IN in the late 70s. When I listen to rock it's usually the Beatles or Zappa.

Greg

Hey Greg,thanks for the review,im dying waiting till friday evening,the forum that they play here in detroit is outdoors & when we sit in the ampitheater its one of the best sounding shows ever.

Were hoping like he!! that it dont rain .

Its Friday,the day of the show in Detroit & it looks like rain,im bummed out severely,if they cancel the show due to bad weather were all screwed in Detroit as they have other bookings the following night.

Went to the show last evening & everything was great except for the sea hag running the t-shirt booth,what a downer that hag was,i made sure to tell her that Frank woulda made a public spectical outta her if he'd been there for acting like suck an asshole,some people freak out once they get a taste of power & the t-shirt sea hag was one of them.

Anyhow the show was fantastic,i thought that Dweezil had toned down his guitar style since last year & concentrated more on replicating his late fathers sound & playing style,the show was a bit more subdued over last years show with the abscense of Steve Vai & Terry Bozzio.

Ray White,one of my favorite all time Zappa vocalists,he played a few songs & traded licks with Dweezil which was sweet as hell but he really shined with his vocals,he has'nt lost one ounce of ability over the years & sounded fantastic,when he sang The Illinois Ennma Bandit he had the entire crowd to their feet.

Sheila Gonzales on woodwinds & keyboards,im glad to see that they moved her up front this year,last year they had her way in the back,this year Aron Arntz took her place in the back stage & she was brought to the front,what a showman this young girl is,its easy to see that she really loves doing all the silly little voices that are customary with FZ's music( I wanna wanna wanna enema),she also acts as a one man band playing flute, sax or harmonica with one hand while banging key's on the keyboards,this girl is worth going to see all by herself.

We saw quite alot of young people there who were in their late teens to early twenties,they were digging the crap outta the music which was nice to see,We took our teenage son & he freaked right out,normally he listens to Rap garbage & does not like real composed music but he loved hearing the show,he made several comments on how much different it is to see in person what the musicians were doing instead of just hearing the music,he also made a comment that he couldnt believe how much effort went into the band members making the sounds you hear on the recordings.

For me my son's comments were an eye opener,we talked about the show this afternoon & he said seeing a concert with real musicians is nothing like any of the rap shows he has seen,i spend alot of time with my children allready but now i will invite them to every concert my wife & I attend,i think kids are confused about Rap music & they think its an equal to otther forms of music,since seeing the show last night my son cant get over the difference in the talent it takes to put on a real concert as oposed to the goons he goes & see's jumping all over the stage to a guy in the back stage with 2 turntables & a microphone.

If you have kids take them to the show or any other concert & let them see & hear the difference between real music & mass produced soulless garbage.

i think kids are confused about Rap music & they think its an equal to otther forms of music,since seeing the show last night my son cant get over the difference in the talent it takes to put on a real concert as oposed to the goons he goes & see's jumping all over the stage to a guy in the back stage with 2 turntables & a microphone.



I laughed I cried and I think this is one of the best paragraphs I have ever read on AK.

Thanks for sharing your concert experience and I'm extremely happy for your son :thmbsp:

Stone in love with Frank, right up until stuff like The Illinois Enema Wonder. Went to see him every time he came within 50 miles of NYC with the original Mothers, The Flo and Eddie Mothers, and the Overnight Sensation-Live at The Roxy Mothers. The original Grand Wazoo tour? Both nights they played at Madison Square Garden's "Felt Forum" in 1973 we were there. The first night we booed The Bob Seger System off the stage before they finished their opening number. We just weren't in the mood for mediocrity and a lot of hair getting swung around on the stage. He didn't show the second night. The Grand Wazoo drummer on both nights was Crazy Jim Gordon of Derek & The Dominoes fame. Also got famous for axe-murdering his mom when the voices in his head got to him.

I miss Frank a lot, and nobody, not Dweezil, not Captain Beefheart (him and The Magic Band was something to behold live and in person as well), but nobody, will ever fill that void.

I miss Frank a lot, and nobody, not Dweezil, not Captain Beefheart (him and The Magic Band was something to behold live and in person as well), but nobody, will ever fill that void.

I agree that nobody will ever replicate FZ but its nice to know that Dweezil has enough love for his fathers music that he refuses to let it die off,its also nice for me to know that Dweezil & the others are making an attempt to expose younger people to real musicianship.

I too have saw FZ several times before his death & while he was still touring & for the last 2 years the shows that i saw Dweezil put on are not that far off from what Frank woulda done.

Frank was Frank, Dweezil is Dweezil. Wonderful that the son plays tribute to the father. Probably some great shows. To say that Dweezil is doing what Frank would've done, is putting you in a bad light. You showed up for a Mothers concert, NOBODY knew what Frank was going to do. Frank included.

"OF COURSE we'll play Petrouchka tonight!"

"OF COURSE we'll send the penguin through the flaming hoop tonight."


There's an awful lot of real musicianship around. It's unfortunate that a great deal of it today does not dwell in rock, pop, or jazz.

To say that Dweezil is doing what Frank would've done, is putting you in a bad light.

What an odd statement,espically from somebody who has not said they saw the show.

If you dont like the idea of the Zappa Plays Zappa tour thats fine but to find negatives in something good is not a plus & not putting you in a good light.

Panhead: excellent review of the concert and your son's experience. you must have done better than you thought raising him up. Otherwise he would not have had in inkling as to what the band was doing. Good job, man!

I can understand where Toasted Almond is coming from. But I can't criticize him. He, too, is obviously a true Zappa fan. I've been to a dozen of Frank's concerts. I have about 45 of his LP's and CD's. Even Dweezel couldn't begin to replicate Frank's magnificance on stage. (I've never seen Dweezel live, tho). Nobody could. Frank is Frank.

I think the most significant part of your review was that your son enjoyed the concert! There IS hope for the future, after all!!

I can't tell you how much it means to me that your son dug the concert.

Rick

Panhead: excellent review of the concert and your son's experience. you must have done better than you thought raising him up. Otherwise he would not have had in inkling as to what the band was doing. Good job, man!

I think the most significant part of your review was that your son enjoyed the concert! There IS hope for the future, after all!!

I can't tell you how much it means to me that your son dug the concert.

Rick

Hey tapehead,i was thinking pretty much the same thing,i thought my son's musical tastes were all but lost to rap nonsense but now he's thinking about why ive always told him rap is not real music,i know he will still listen to rap but since seeing the show he has borrowed several of my Zappa albums to play on his rig,he says he wants to hear the entire FZ catalog i have but we'll see,i have over 60 titles now so it'll take him a while to hear them all.

A GENERAL DISCLAIMER.

Anybody who thinks im comparing Dweezil directly to Frank has missed the point,the whole point of the Zappa plays Zappa show is not to try & be the same as Frank but to replicate as close as possible the Zappa musical experience,which the band has done very well at,the point is also to keep the music alive & to intorduce new people to Frank's compositions .

If anybody is looking for the show to be the same as one of the Mothers concerts they wont be happy,this show is like the concerts Frank did well after he disbanded the mothers & is more like the shows later on in his touring carerr ,that focused more on music instead of performance art & banter with the audience.

My opinion.

Ive seen Frank live several times & seen the ZPZ band live twice now & Dweezil is doing a hell of a job,maybe cut him some slack & pull out a few bucks & go see the show,or dont go & just remember what it used to be like seeing FZ live,its about hearing the music not about seeing a rubber chicken being tossed about the stage.

I do know that the Dweezil has my support as well as the other musicans who worked their asses off to bring back music that has been lost to live audiences for close to 30 years now.

Absolutely, Panhead. You are so right on. You aren't comparing Dweezel to Frank, I'm sure most will agree. It's Dweezel, who does not need the money, introducing creative, viable music to audiences who either know Franks music, or those searching for a new musical direction. He's providing a very needed public service.

Frank Zappa used religion, politics, society, etc. to attract attention. Once attention was achieved, he used music to bring you into his world. Into a musical universe. After he captured you with his satyrical, irreverant lyrics, you were hooked. His music can be taken at so many levels.

Your son may be at first interested in the satyre. Frank's lyrics can be so offensive and hilarious that your son may introduce the songs to his friends. That would be a good thing. Little underground Zappa cliques promoting great music as revolutionary statement. Cool as shit.

Then, Panhead, have your son Google Tipper Gore/Frank Zappa Congressional hearings. It will show him just what a true American Frank was. I don't think even Rap would exist nowdays. It's a double-edged sword.

Rick

Then, Panhead, have your son Google Tipper Gore/Frank Zappa Congressional hearings. It will show him just what a true American Frank was. I don't think even Rap would exist nowdays. It's a double-edged sword.
Rick

Hi Rick,i have all the hearings on vhs as well as all the debates Frank had with the PMRC & Tipper gore on nightline & other news programs,right now my son's interested in the music more so than the lryics or satire,what's got him freaking out is the musicanship required to play that type of music.

Next i'll introduce him to Al Di Meola & Miles Davis,he also wants me to take him with me to see the Next G-3 show when they tour again.

What a dad. And a Mother.

Its the 3rd anual Zappa plays Zappa tour in Michigan next month,anybody going,they are going to be in Lansing & in Muskegon this year.

We'll be there.