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Unlike Bob, who is a fan of Frank Zappa's, I am a superfan. I am a devotee. I have every album, as well as imports and bootlegs, and I have played them over and over and over. Some people tire of his Foley-esque Edgar Varese-inspired noise explorations, but for some reason I always found the humor in them. And I'm not usually very patient with masturbatory jams. My friend Dez and I used to listen to Zappa records all day and call 1-800-pumpkin to ask them ridiculous questions. And they were always so patient, answering every single one of them. We were beyond obsessed. It bordered on Trekkieness.
I never had the opportunity to see Frank Zappa perform. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect from tonight's performance. The song selections were definitely eclectic, from Apostrophe to Zoot Allures. I was disappointed by the extremely short medley from Absolutely Free. Son of Suzy Creamcheese slid straight into Brown Shoes Don't Make It and Plastic People. Usually with a medley, they at least do one full stanza and verse, but this was like "Absolutely Free in 3 minutes". The band soon went from this truncated medley to other extended dance mixes. Or extended tripping mixes. I was extremely pleased with Ray White's amazing performance. Although he was not the original singer, he was able to duplicate the sound flawlessly on songs like Willie the Pimp and Uncle Remus. And he can tear up that guitar.
When they finally broke into Joe's Garage, one of my favorites, the voices were so familiar, everyone was so on, that it was as if I was really seeing Frank. I never expected to hear any of these songs performed live, so it wasn't something that I even knew would mean so much to me. Seeing skilled musicians play it over a good sound system struck a chord. I have always felt the lyrics of that song contained a universal theme of nostalgia and longing for a lost era. When they hit the lyric, "I guess you only get one chance in life to play a song that goes like..." I started weeping. I felt so stupid because it is such a goofy song. Maybe part of Frank Zappa's genius was his ability to combine goofiness with genuine sentiment. It just seemed like the lost music parallelled the loss of Frank Zappa himself "...and we will never play again..."
They teased us by slipping in The Central Scrutinizer before Wind Up Workin' in a Gas Station. I thought we had more of Joe's Garage coming. But it fits the theme. I guess that's what happened after the band broke up.
Another point in the show that was strangely affecting was "Your Momma". When there are songs that you play again and again during a certain time in your life, they become inextricably linked to those feelings and experiences. Even if there is not a conscious awareness, certain songs can become strangely evocative. The band stretched out the middle of the song with one of their Yes-like jams that were testing Bob's patience. But it made me realize that all that 70s dinosaur rock was really meant to be played live. Some things just don't translate to vinyl. Robin Trower albums bore me, but I bet if I had seen Robin Trower live it would have been a totally different experience. The musicianship is what makes it work.
Like Bob, I also had mixed feelings about the big-screen duets. I guess everyone has a right to decide what is and is not appropriate for themselves. It's his father's image and art. But as an audience member, it was just a little strange at times.
Overall the performance was spectacular, and if Dweezil does return with it again next year as promised, I will go to that show as well. It is similar to watching a symphony play your favorite composer. People who love Beethoven don't complain that Beethoven isn't there to play his music for them live. Of course, if they had only had video back then, we might be seeing his great-great-great grandchildren joining him in a duet.
All photos by Elise Thompson
(Thanks to Sara Israel of Special Ops Media and Phil at the Wiltern for the photo pass and great seats. Bob was seated next to Pamela Des Barres all night, but didn't know until I told him on the way home.)
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What, no pix of Ray in the pimp had or Scheila's two-sax solo? For shame! =)
Sadly, like most venues, the Wiltern only allows photography for the first three songs. I tried snaking a pic of the sax solo with my little point-and-shoot, but I was beat down by The Man (OK, it was a skinny 18-year old usher, but he still had the power to throw me out.)
Maybe others got some shots of those. Will post if I find.
setlist:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookieduster/1222619577/
I saw this show in Tucson (at the gloriously restored FOX Theater)a few days before it hit LA, and it was magnificent.
I had the privelage of seeing Frank live on 4 separate occasions, and the one major difference was that Franks' shows NEVER STOPPED. Even between songs when there was talking or some other business going on, someone in the band (usually bass and percussion) kept up a beat, a fugue or a motif. There were no resounding resolutions at the end of songs..until the very end.
So it was odd to hear these songs..live.. being played as separate entities.
Even at that, I'll be there(somewhere)the next time around.
And I wasn't freaked out by the video duets either, mostly since the footage was from performances I hadn't seen before. Even at that, it was fun. The only sad thing....the audience was SO OLD!! Pretty odd seeing how the band is pretty young.
One of the things Dweezil mentioned in interviews was that he intentionally selected younger musicians because one of the purposes of this project was to bring his father's music to a younger generation. But it was mostly guys over 40 - they were a funny bunch of guys, though.
Eric: I saw one guy taking photographs at the side of the stage, which made me crazy. I don't know who he was with.
Hi you (& yours)!
Altogether solid reviews of the show that I saw as well. I've always considered myself a huge fan, as the first two concerts I ever saw were Frank when I was 13 years old (circa '75-6). I was however reminded how limited my real knowledge of his material is when I realized that he (dweez) only played perhaps 5 songs that I knew by heart. I'd say there were another 6 or so that I recognized, but could only name when I heard the chorus & another half dozen that I recognized but couldn't name at all. Having said that. Great show, and typical of Frank...superlative support talent.
Here's my gripe about your review. You go on and on about what a huge Zappa audiophile you are, and how you have every album. And then how one particular song ("Your Mamma") defined part of your youth. Yet the song is actually called "Yo Mamma". Hell even I know that!
Now that I've slammed you, I was hoping for a set list. The riff from the second encore song (after Cosmic Debris) is running amok through my head and I can't freaking place it. It's driving me nuts...
Please help.
Thanks,
Ed
Ahhh, right back at me. If only I paid attention! Set list is linked in the 3rd post of this thread.
Okay, What album(s) can I find this on?...searching Amazon right now...
PS: Damn, I missed Muffin Man! Oh well...
If I wasn't an ass before...
No way he played "The Slime". Set list is wrong as far as that song's concerned.
That's one of the tunes I was hoping for (along with Dirty Love, Wet T-Shirt/On The Bus, & Watermelon in Easter Hay).
No complaints, but maybe next year...
Cool thing you guys have here.
Ed
Sorry, I wrote this at 3am. I had the album right in front of me. I even checked to make sure the full title wasn't "Maybe you should stay with yo' Momma"
And no, he didn't do: I am the Slime unless he opened with it (it took awhile to get my photopass in the office). He did it at HOB in Anaheim on Wednesday night.
Okay, I swear I'm done after this...maybe...So the song I'm interested in was definitely NOT G-Spot. This was a rocker with a riff, not a fusion thingy. You guys were there! What was it? The song after Cosmic Debris with Frank prominently on the big screen...c'mon. you gotta know...Uh oh. Oh no. I'm a Zappa Trekkie (I loved that comparison). But seriously, I have a life...I swear. If I can't find an answer here I'm gonna have to call any vegetable or ask Magdalena. I just might have to go trudgin' across the tundra, mile after mile...
Help, please what is that song?
Ed(the obnoxious one)
Nope. He opened with an instrumental (not Black Napkins). It was a good pace-setter...Frank on the big vid doing solo guitar work close-up (but muted), and Dweezil aping him note for note live. Very cool. Then intro Ray & City of Tiny Lights.
But PLEASE...what was the second encore?
I am now soooo revisiting the Frank catalog!
Encore:
Inbetween Cosmik Debris and Muffin Man they did G-Spot Tornado.
This wonderfully knowledgeable review mirrors precisely how I felt after seeing the concert at the Royal Albert Hall. What a Reviewer ! What a Composer ! What a Band ! Joy for a fellow Zappa fanatic ! Brian Rochester England
Setist posted on Harmony Central here:
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1724790
Looks like the one posted earlier was accurate but they had to cut I'm The Slime, probably due to running late. Show finished at 10:58, two minutes before curfew.
Ed, whatever you think you remember happening in between Cosmik Debris & Muffin Man is a fantasy. Lay off the brown acid.
I think part of the beauty of Frank Zappa's music and Dweezil's interpretation is that we have to debate whether a 10-minute jam is actually a song or not.
I have to say, I was surprised when they finally came back into "Yo Mamma" earlier in the set. I thought that song had been over for awhile.
Hi. It's me again. The central idiot.
Here I will quote myself from earlier...
"Nope. He opened with an instrumental (not Black Napkins)"
Yes, of course it was Black Napkins. I was so obsessed with prior set lists that I idiotically assumed you were referring to Black Page. Duh.
And umm, no I didn't leave before Muffin Man.
Jeez, It's on Bongo Fury... Anyway, thanks for your review and sorry for my idiotness. I've always considered myself a huge fan, but apparently a bit smaller than big headed John.