So how do kids today feel about Zappa Plays Zappa? Well…
Dad and I went to the Zappa Plays Zappa concert and holy hell was it scary. 3500 people my father’s age screaming the dumbest crap ever. They stood up and clapped at the most random times. Oh, and the air bands. The air bands. Fifty-year-old men playing air guitar.
Dweezil has a new album out entitled Go With What You Know (click some squares on the picture to hear excerpts). How’s that for timing?
Hot on the heels of the ZPZ tour, here’s some pictures from the Paris Zenith gig (June 5). No news from Athens (June 7) or Reykjavik (June 9) though… Hello? Did these shows actually take place? Next: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US! I’ll be most interested to read reviews from our American friends. The place to comment being of course right over here.
Some comments on ZPZ on this Pat Metheny page.
Man I’m so pleased for Dweezil. He’s got such a hard act to follow, (his Dad.. probably the most important person in contemporary music. Don’t slate me ’cause I don’t think it’s Pat!) I found it killer, can’t wait to hear more of Dweezil’s own stuff.
Ready? Here we go…
The funny thing about these Friday Boots is that often times I don’t know which one’s going to be next myself, until I check mail on Friday morning! Such was the case today. Uploaded by Gilles late last night for your listening pleasure: Selby Field, May 22 1971.
More YouTube nuggets!
Hank writes:
that bloke interviewing fz is the norman gunston/gary macdonald, the same guy who turned up at the hordern gigs and played harp with frank. he appears on FZOZ.
Thanks Hank! In this clip, Frank is playing an accoustic guitar — something I’d have loved to hear/see him do more. I know there’s some splendid accoustic guitar on “The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution” from Läther, but apart from that?
Aside: there’s a handy online tool called KeepVid which allows you to download all these YouTube or GoogleVideo clips. Just so you’d know.
Edit: it would appear some people think that I originally created this petition. That is not the case. I just linked, that’s all.
Two years ago I asked what your “favorite pieces of songs” were, and mentioned Michael McDonald’s backing vocals on Steely Dan’s Peg myself. Why? See for yourself. The making of Peg:
Jeezis, what a great ad! Some say they tried it 605 times – this was nr. 606. Oh yes, and here’s another one with a choir. Nice.
As Gilles would put it: “Et hop, c’est parti!” Here’s part two of San Carlos, July 20 ’74.
Here at Barry Towers we subscribe to De Morgen, a “quality newspaper”, or so the ads say. To be fair: it is a good newspaper, but reading the review of ZPZ Brussels today written by one Gunter Van Assche, I felt a “Blow It Out Your Ass, Newspaper Person” was in order.
The article, in all its Flemish glory (click to enlarge):
Shall we begin? Please follow your guide…
As an amuse-gueule there was a performance from 1973. Among other things, Frank played “Dental Floss”, a pars pro toto of what you can expect from Zappa.
You probably meant “Montana” Gunter but then, you didn’t really bother to check the discography, did you? “Amuse gueule” and “pars pro toto” sounds awesome though. Didja get any onya?
Music that is as brilliant as it is hilarious, but just as often allows itself to be muffled by incredibly irritating passages. Dweezil’s performance offered more of the same, without the humor of his father.
Okay, Gunter, so you expected Dweezil to come up with the type of wit that was typical of Frank. Too bad it was all about the music, and not the funny intermezzi — but wait! You hate the “incredibly irritating passages”! Just what is it you want, Gunter Van Assche, you hip clueless person you?
We were a lot less wild about Napoleon Murphy Brock, once Frank’s right hand.
Frank, dear Gunter, never had any right hands apart from his own. NMB was an employee, as was every other single member of every other single line-up FZ ever played with. If you would have taken some time to consult the right resources, you would know about this. Pars Pro Toto though!
Too bad there was not a single bit of emotion to be observed. […] Brock has a superb voice but put so much soul into Frank’s phrasing, your toes started to curl faster than shaved wood.
Hey, I know some Latin too! How’s this: contradictio in terminis!
Where and when: Vorst Nationaal, 29 May
It was May 30, Gunter.
Why don’t you go and listen to some Toto. Their 80s hit-single “Africa” should appeal to your musical taste.
Last post about ZPZ in Brussels, promise! Here’s what they’re thinking about the show over at zappa.com’s tourlog:
Tonight’s show in Belgium was totally amazing. Over 4000 screaming fans packed into the Forest National and the show was spectacular. The band played one of their best shows of the tour thus far. Dweezil was in top form despite finger injury; Steve laid waste with some incredible solos, and Terry, fresh for a few days away from the ZPZ tour, was exceptional.
He’s the ‘eavy bass player of ZPZ. Did you know he has his own homepage – kind of a blog? ZPZ from the inside. Fine.
Moving on, here’s everything you always wanted to know about David Bowie’s teeth throughout the years.
