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Did you attend the ZPZ show at the House Of Blues in San Diego?

Dweezil and the band love reading your reviews.

Please do not post in this thread if you did not attend the show.

Mikey
Zappa.com Webmeister

Hi,,

Going to first zpz show in santa cruz. Is there an opening act?

I saw FZ once circa Joe's Garage, and always loved and respected his genius and weirdness. Being my first ZPZ show, I didn't know what to expect. I was was also afraid I wouldn't know much of the music, Frank's catalogue being so huge. But I knew about half the songs, including Penguin In Bondage, Village of the Sun, Peaches En Regalia, Cletus Awretus Alrightus, Zombie Wolf, Illinois Enima Bandit, Cosmic Debris, Lumpy Gravy. And the stuff I didn't know - it didn't matter. What great set list, as both an evening's performance and a representation of FZ's body of work. The songs ranged from Just Great Music By Any Standard, to Kinda Quirky, to Downright Bizarre Yet Wildly Entertaining (Billy the Mountain)

I was pretty sure DZ would have the chops to pull off the Ol' Man's guitar bits... that turned out to be an understatement. I didn't know who else was in the band, figured they'd be capable hired hands. Again, a gross underestimate.

I had to keep picking my jaw up off the floor as I watched eight legitimate virtouosos just GO OFF for three solid hours. I couldn't have been more thoroughly entertained. Since Dweezil didn't introduce them too well, I will be researching the band members here on the inter-tube, so I can become their #1 stalker. Seriously, great vocals, incredible solos all around, and fantastic ensemble playing. I just can't understand how that many people can play that many notes with that many time changes and yet it all sounded tight as a duck's arse. Normally you'd think that the rhythm section was holding it together, which was true, but they were going off too! And the mind boggling thing is they're all doing it from memory, folks.

Dweezil's soloing went from the sublime to the shred-diculous. He kept it true to Frank's style, yet he made it his own and took it to a very high level. What a great night!

As a hack musician, I will be taking my guitars and basses to the shop today because mine JUST DON'T SOUND LIKE THAT! Hell, the guys in my band need music stands just to get the lyrics right.... kinda lame, d'ya think?

Frank would be so proud. Please keep the tour going! I want more! and will drag a bunch of people with me next time!

Yeah, I went and I fully agree it was amazing as expected, not only Dweezil but the band is dare I say on par with his Dad's bands! I haven't as many as some, but I did see Frank several times in both the 70's and 80's including at the North Hollywood Universal Amphitheatre in 1984 when Dweezil came out and they played The Allman Brothers' "Wimpin' Post" which was later released on an album, (which one?)! I asked Dweezil afterwards what he played that Frank didn't or rarely because I didn't think I had seen all that before? I did get a set list too from the soundman but I don't have it with me now, yet Dweezil did confirm that one of the tunes I'm guessing was about a third of the way through had not been performed ever by Frank!
I also asked him if he was ever, not only going to release more live stuff since they obviously improvised quite a bit not only instrumentally but vocally too, for example on "Billy the Mountain" etc. but I told him that there used to be, that is if is ain't stolen since much of the stuff that was once there has been, that is at the Glendale Brand Library which is specifically for art and music had the older of the two, (that I'm aware of), of Frank's released sheat music, (hard as hell to play but not impossible), so I asked him if he would consider releasing that since even if that copy is still there it is certainly out of print?
And of course a bunch of other stuff etc. Does anyone have any tapes, for trade but not sale?

Enjoyed thoroughly,

Augy

This is my 4th ZPZ show but I tell ya, these shows just keep getting better each time I go!

I don't like House of Blues as it's age 21 + up which I think prevents a lot of exposure to the younger generations (including but not limited to my 19 yr old son) and I think that's important.

But for those of us who could attend, Dweezil & Co gave us our money's worth and more. Playing for almost 3 hours solid, they continue to update the setlist for every show and continue to present a fine sampling of FZ's vast compositional landscape. FZ wrote so many songs, they could play for weeks without having to repeat. Each time I see them, I am noticing a new layer to my perception.

The first time I saw them, I was really astounded that anyone was playing FZ's music, it was just a pure joy.

The next time I saw them, I was focused on at how incredibly well these players execute and interpret this music.

My 3rd time was at the Roxy and I there was enthralled at the connection with the audience in that small, intimate venue.

Last night, in my 4th time, I was amazed at 2 things:

1) These folks are playing largely by memory - you don't see a lot of sheet music on stage and yet these songs are so much more complex than your average R&R tunes. Fer cryin' out loud, Billy The Mountain has nearly 3,000 words in it! There's only one way to get 8 musicians to learn all the parts for music like that - and that's a bunch of hard work practicing. I'm tellin' ya, nobody rolls out of bed and plays like these folks do, there had to be a lot of sweat that went into making a performance like this happen.

2) They really walk a fine line between pure representation of FZ's original works and the need to distinguish their own interpretation and demonstrate their improvisational abilities. I think they've got this just about right. All the signature licks/changes/noises/etc are there in the right places and yet they are still able to customize (as FZ would of course do) and makes it their own.

As I have noted in earlier posts, these are 8 of the finest musicians you will get to see live anywhere, and we are really blessed that they all share a love of FZ's works enough to devote themselves to playing it.

Check out their tour schedule - pretty brutal. Check out their continually changing set lists, they are always having to learn new material and none of it simple. I don't think they're in it for the fame, despite the well deserved Grammy they are still well under the radar of mainstream music's attention (well, FZ was under that radar his entire career). And I don't think they're only in it for the money either ;-) So why do they do it? I think it's a love of the music, because when you see them perform, none of them look like they are working, they look like they're having a great time up there, rockin' away and it's certainly infectious.

These are exceptional musicians playing exceptional music, and I hope they never get tired of it because I never get tired of seeing them !

Thanks ZPZ, can't wait until next time !

P.S. Keep Ray's guitar playing in the show, it's great!

Robert

Howdy this is for the guy who is bumped about the age limit at clubs. I recommend, asumming the policy is still the same, as it was back when I was in high school, but I haven't lived in Hermosa Beach or Redondo in quite a while. Anyway "The Lighthouse" on Pier Ave. 1/2 a block from the Hermosa Pier is a famous jazz and sometimes rock club that even though they serve alcohol doesn't have an age limit! It is famous because both Miles Davis and the Crusaders recorded live albums there!

I'll see you in Anahiem tonight

Augy
San Diego

what a great show,what a great band.
my 3rd zpz show and they just keep getting better.
Dweezil, hang on to this bunch, you got a winner.
every time I saw Frank he would have changes in his lineup, but
he kept Ray White as you should too , Ray is the crown jewell
of singers......amazing !!! This has got to be one of the best bands I've ever heard and seen in my life. The chemistry is so visible and it is so much fun to see a band that is making each other laugh and play so well together. Aaron's bit with the primal screams were unbelievable, through that vocal effect that had the band falling down with unexpected hysteria, I hope you didn't hurt yourself bro.
DZ you must hang on to this bunch no matter what, definite keepers. Sheila you are just a gift from the gods your beauty is only matched by your tone and technique. Being a sax player myself, I always love to hear what you have to say. Naturally I would love to hear some more horns added to the lineup to keep you company. Maybe someday.............make a jazz noise here.
Anyway all of you keep up the good work, you guys kick major ass !!
DZ thanks for signing my 1980 "crush all boxes" FZ baseball tee.
You are all first class people , and I will never miss a zpz show when you come to my town....thanks so much for coming to san diego. Be safe and have fun.

[quote="robertcw92117"]This is my 4th ZPZ show but I tell ya, these shows just keep getting better each time I go!

I don't like House of Blues as it's age 21 + up which I think prevents a lot of exposure to the younger generations (including but not limited to my 19 yr old son) and I think that's important.

Robert[/quote]

Damn it! I now hate the House OF Blues for that. I have been attending concerts in HoB for a long time now. So one day Motoread was going to play and I went and it turned out to be for 21+ and told me that every concert now was going to be 21+!!! I'm from Ensenada, Mexico (maybe some 200 km from there) so imagine my frustration when I found that out they didn't let me get in.

And for that ZPZ show I knew I was going to be able to get in so I missed what should have been my third ZPZ show.

DAMN HOB!!!

Does anyone have a setlist they could post? This was a great show of course. I love the original Billy the Mountain and I am glad I got to see it played by ZPZ, but it did not translate as well as a cover tune as the rest of the material even though they did a great job of presenting it. Willie the Pimp was the opener and some of the tunes I believe I remember, that were not mentioned in the above posts, include: Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station, Inca Roads, Echidna's, Don't You Ever Wash That Thing, Regyptian Strut, Pound For A Brown incl band solos, The Torture Never Stops. If you have the setlist please post it. Thanks!! zionic

[quote="zionic"]Does anyone have a setlist they could post? This was a great show in [url=http://sandiego.nyctourist.com/]San Diego[/url] of course. I love the original Billy the Mountain and I am glad I got to see it played by ZPZ, but it did not translate as well as a cover tune as the rest of the material even though they did a great job of presenting it. Willie the Pimp was the opener and some of the tunes I believe I remember, that were not mentioned in the above posts, include: Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station, Inca Roads, Echidna's, Don't You Ever Wash That Thing, Regyptian Strut, Pound For A Brown incl band solos, The Torture Never Stops. If you have the setlist please post it. Thanks!! zionic [/quote]

I stumbled upon this old post because I too am reminiscing about this great show and would like to know if anyone has this set list? Like the poster above it'd be nice if someone could post it!

Thanks,
-Jill

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