Zappa.com

Did you attend the ZPZ show at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester?

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

Looking forward to it. Well be good to hear Franks music played live again.
Row F Seat 12 8.00pm its a date.

WOW ... My first ZPZ but i really hope it's not my last!!!

I'm too young to have seen Frank live but have been listening to his music for a number of years. That is THE BEST gig i have seen. To see such talent on one stage that make performing the music look easy (which it obviously isn't) is an experience i will never forget. To think 1000's of people were blocking up the road the road to see Britney Spears, when 5 minutes down the road there's ZPZ rocking the Bridgewater Hall!!

I was one of those that really wanted a Zappa alumni as the new singer ... BUT ... So glad it isn't. To think Mr Ben Thomas has been thrown in at the deep end and is pulling off songs like that but more importantly with his own style is fantastic. Scheila sounding Miles Davis-esq, looking amazing, showing so much energy and enjoyment and playing a sax solo whilst accompanying herself on keys!?! MARRY ME PLEASE!! Saw Chad Wackermann a couple of months back but never seen a drummer as smooth and make drumming look so easy than Joe Travers. Joe Travers rendition of Cosmik Debris was certainly one of my favourites!! Billy Hulting & Pete Griffin fantastic. Jamie Kime not overshadowed by Dweez ... A different style of player and has blues running through his veins!!

Went with two other guys, experienced and very talented musos who again felt that gig was one of the best they've seen. One of the guys had seen Frank in '77 and said there wasn't much difference from the real thing except this band was probably tighter!!!

Finally Dweezil ... I hope you read these reviews ... Thankyou for the enjoyment you are bringing to thousands of people young and old. I guess the tours (europe) probably aren't hugely profitable but it goes to show how much you love doing what you're doing, and it shows on stage. I didn't get to say hello at the end of the show but it also looks pretty clear that you're a humble and nice guy. You can rest assured that the students of Morecambe (West coast of England) are exposed to Franks music regularly ... I'm their music teacher!! He he he

Please please please come back to Manchester and thankyou for such a memorable experience. I am already looking forward to the next one .... Please don't leave it too long!!

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU

AWESOME!!!

Had the honour of dancing onstage at the end too. Awesome awesome awesome.

Wow, we agreed it was better than last time although the Bridgewater hardly lends itself to a rock band. My son (who knows about these things) reckoned the initial songs were too echoey. However, lets get to the good stuff. The new singer is superb. Song 3 was a really excellent close harmony Carolina, followed up by a superbly timed Montana. Many of the songs segued into others so we'd be going 20 - 25 minutes before we could applaud. The band are really tight and Dweezils picking is much improved. In fact at times when I focused on his left hand, I'd swear it was his dads..... The crew obviously got to grips with the echo and for the rest of the night the sound was good.

We finished up with a classic Willie, which was unfortunately swamped by the antics of the invited crowd on stage. Afterwards Dweezil stayed to sign autographs very patiently and chat to people. Top gig, don't leave it so long next time guys, we miss you

Alan

I first heard Apostrophe when I was 10 and have been a fan ever since - now 42.
Thoroughly enjoyed last night. Did they work hard! 2.5 hours with no interval - it was awesome.

Not sure the Bridgewater was the best venue - I was only there a few weeks ago watching the Halle - couldn't have been a more different atmosphere. Although for an orchestra the acoustics are excellent, I was on the lhs of the circle and thought the sound quality wasn't fab but those who were more central may think differently. The audience were in great spirits but I've not witnessed a miserable audience at a gig in Mcr. We're a friendly lot!

I thought Scheila was an amazingly versatile musician and the guy on marimba was incredible. I thought the armpit farting by the vocalist was inspirational - wonder how long he practised for.

The drummer was superb and from where I was - his kit sounded spot on. The bassist and guitarist were faultless.

Dweezil - what can I say? He's not only inherited his father's talent for playing the guitar but he's also very easy on the eye.

Could anybody be kind enough to post the full set list please.
Good luck with the rest of the tour....
x

APOSTROPHE
PURPLE LAGOON
MAGIC FINGERS
CAROLINA HARDCORE
LUMPY GRAVY
MONTANA
VILLAGE OF THE SUN
ECHIDNA'S ARF
DONT YOU EVER WASH THAT THING?
DIRTY LOVE
GAS STATION
INCA ROADS
OUTSIDE NOW
BAMBOOZLED BY LOVE
POUND FOR A BROWN
ZOMBY WOOF

---

PEACHES EN REGALIA
COSMIK DEBRIS
YELLOW SNOW
WILLIE THE PIMP

So fantastic to be able to see this again. I last went in 2007 to the Shepherd's Bush Empire.

Superb to start with Apostrophe' and dazzling displays on Pound for a Brown, Echidna's Arf and Don't You Ever Wash That thing.

For someone to young to have been able to see Frank live it means a lot to me to be able to come and see this. To watch such superb musicianship as well so that Frank's music is played authentically is awesome. To all the band - you play superbly.

PLEASE make sure you come back next year to the UK - I have friends who really want to go the next one. As you said Dweezil last time I saw you - I'm spreading the word.

Also, thanks loads Dweezil (and the other band members) who stayed behind and signed autographs etc. It means a lot to us.

This was my 2nd show of this European Tour as I saw ZPZ in Hamburg a couple of weeks ago. This time round I was lucky enough to be sitting front row, stage centre (thanks Clint!). It is difficult to find words to explain the whole experiance as awesome hardly comes close. This band are truly excellent and the set list a great representation of DZ's dads work. I have read the comments on the sound but from where we were sat it was crystal clear and pin sharpe. It is difficult to pick out highlights as it was all wonderful but i will have ago:

Inca Road - a beautiful solo....closed my eyes and it was Frank playing
Outside Now - again beautiful... and i did feel a little prick of tears in my eyes at this point
Bamboozled by Love - never my Fav FZ song but this really rocked...amazing
Village of the Sun (and the rest of 73 /74 Roxy tunes) ....simply spellblinding playing

Thank you so much to DZ and everyone in band for another fantastic show, your playing and love of the music is just great to see for the 1000's of us for whom Franks music has not only meant so much over the years but has indeed been away of life.

Best wishes to everyone in the band and please do come to the UK soon.

It's obvious from the posts above that ZPZ have just got it so right. It's already going the way of FZ's ensembles, in that every one of the guys (and gal) on stage is not only a world class musician, but they also bring style and character to the performance.

I was a bit nervous for them, having seen Frank on several occasions, but this band are in control and Frank's music couldn't be in better hands. It was a fantastic choice of songs, and even though a few "big" numbers were left out last night, the quality of the show was still 100%.

Dweezil, you're gonna have to take a leaf out of Frank's book and give us 2 shows a night!

Finally, how humble are these guys after the show? Dweezil stayed to chat and sign things until the very last person left the hall, and Pete Griffin went to fetch Joe Travers for me to sign my DVD box !!!!!!

Can't wait 'til next time guys, hope it's soon.

Great show last night took my 15 year old Daughter and she loved it too.

I watched Frank at the Manchester Appolo back in 1978 (i think) Dweezel and the band just as good.

I got some great photos too, i was one of the photographers down at the front getting in your way :-)

absolutely great show,

the whole band played really well, great setlist,great atmosphere,
great solos from every member dweezil's guitar tones were awesome
i noticed jamie played the solo's from fifty-fifty within his solo section during pound for a brown
which i thought was amazing.

i've seen zappa plays zappa 3 time and it's been different every tour,
i think they played for about two and a half hours it was totally mesmerising.

dweezil and the band stayed behind and spoke to fans and signed autographs,
which was cool.

dweezil i spoke to you about the zappacaster and purple les paul,
thanks for a great show and please come back to manchester soon.

We are still on a high and think we will be untill the end of our days, wow...amazing....
Thank you guys sooooooo much for yet another fantastic gig (saw you in London, posted review)
Was fortunate enough to get on stage this time and rock out with all of you, was a fantastic experience, we were the hairy cossack dancer dude and the blue haired dancing zebragirl.
Please come back to europe asap (we know you need a rest) but we love you and appreciate what you do from the bottom of our hearts. Failing that, we will get on a plane and come see u guys, we owe u a visit.
Also, what a great bunch of people we met on the night. all the best to the Manchester Zappa massive.
Ultimatley,how fantastic that something so magical is still alive and available for all of us to enjoy, learn from and be inspired by and thank you to all of ZPZ for creating a really open and inclusive vibe, we wont forget it.
Have a couple of requests for next time..... RDNZL is a truly awesome tune and needs the zpz teatment. The other would have to be the gumbo variations.... never heard a live version of this from Franks lineups, but we believe you'd pull off the job once more. YOU ALL RULE XXXXXXXXXX

What an amazing night !

I saw ZPZ at Manchester last time, which was stunning with Napoleon M-B, Steve Vai and the spinetingling Chunga's Revenge video, this was totally different and showcased Dweezil's playing and the rest of the band in a different way in a different venue to great effect.

Really looking forward to the next time.

Err, can I get my requests in early:- Yo-Mama, Stick it Out, Big Swifty, King Kong, the Gumbo Variations, the Grand Wazoo and Eat that Question - that's all for now.

*if you need a dose of Live FZ music and ZPZ aren't around, I've managed it fairly recently here in the North West courtesy of the Grandmothers of Invention and the Muffin Men (JCB - RIP)

.....and finally, what about the fella in the tie-dye t-shirt robot dancing then doing air guitar to Willy the Pimp - I'm going to be telling the grandchildren about that one !