There’s the right way and the wrong way to pay tribute to a musical genius on stage. There’s the trite, predictable Queen + Paul Rodgers way – a shuddering mess that went for pure fromage – and then there's the Dweezil Zappa and the Family Trust’s way. The Zappa ensemble’s multi-leg tour “Zappa Plays Zappa: Tour de Frank” features nary a slice of cheese. It's far more homage. Though it might have some of the hardcore Frankophiles, well, freaking out, the band sounds positively great and offers a wild ride through the composer’s fruitful career.
It’s great to hear Frank’s songs again live; to wit, Saturday’s ZPZ:TDF performance at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights was a feast for the ears without being an assault on senses and sensibilities.
The ZPZ band debuted last year, presenting a collection of the Frank’s rock compositions. Apart from Dweezil as bandleader/guitarist, last year’s rendition of the band included guest spots by Frank alums Napoleon Murphy Brock (sax, flute and vocals), Terry Bozzio (drums) and Steve Vai (guitars). This time around, vocalist/guitarist Ray White joined the band, performing in key portions of the show. Rounding out the band were Aaron Arntz (trumpet/keys), Pete Griffin (bass), Billy Hulting (percussion), Jamie Kime (guitar), Joe Travers (drums/vocals) and Scheila Gonzalez, who played just about everything else… including two saxophones simultaneously and the kitschy role of Waitress/Suzy Creamcheese.
As has been done through the entire tour, Frank himself performed posthumously (via coordinated audio/video) with the band. It was done tastefully, and at the most appropriate of moments – unlike the Queen/Rodgers show, which often devolved into some Hollywood/MTV carwreck-miasma. Leaving the music to speak for it self serves the ZPZ tour extremely well (what else would one expect from the name Zappa after all?) and left most in attendance hoping for another go-around, this reviewer included.
After a one-two punch of “Echidna’s Arf” and “My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama,” the band went for broke, jamming out with incredible spirit and precision. Some in the audience yelled early on that it was a little too precise. “Turn off the jukebox, Dweezil!” yelled the guy down the row from me. But the heckler was quickly silenced when a Mothers of Invention medley from the Absolutely Free came up next. The run of "Son of Suzy Creamcheese," "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" and “America Drinks & Goes Home" was wicked, offering up some great solo runs by Dweezil. He’s certainly an underrated axeslinger and a powerful guitar presence and proved it all night long.
Article comments
1 - Bob
going to the show this wed in philly.can't wait.thanks for the insight.