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Returning late last evening from a 5 day family holiday in the Green Mountain & Lake Champlain
regions of Vermont may I preclude my ReView with a word of thanks to all those who made this trip
an N'Lightening experience. Particularity in speaking of the night in question here, while the music
performance within itself was as close to nirvana that one could ever expect in 2009 the
red carpet treatment that the Higher Ground staff extended on behalf of DZ & Co was most certainly
met with my inner most appreciation.
SOUNDCHECK
So, some may be wondering what the band has been doing at sound checks.
One such track I will comment on here is where G Spot Tornado was given a workout.
While not performed all that frequently since the departure of Aaron Arntz it was good to hear
that the band is working to get this to sound as good as it possibly can sans one keyboard player.
A little more on how the band has tweaked some of the arrangements later.
FANS ON THE LINE
I wanted to spend time on the line so I could get some pre-show feedback.
xxxander69 from Maine is a fairly new listener to Zappa's music but in only three
years he has seemingly collected just about every Official FZ Catalog item. As you can
read by his ReView above I can only add in the time that we were talking before the show he
is a fine young gentleman. These are the type of new breed Zappa fans I feel very good about.
If he happens to be reading this it was a pleasure to meet you and your friend.
If I had mentioned to you before the show if you want the best in live concert fidelity follow
the sound board. More on that later. Keep in touch where you can PM Trendmonger at the
Zappa.com News Group.
The Venue
There is a nice youtube vid of the venue that one can find. A nice size ballroom with a raised
area behind the sound board. Our seats had been reserved directly behind ZPZs sound man Glynn.
It was not only a pleasure talking to Glynn before and after the show but closely watching him in action.
While ZPZ traditionally has toured with their own mixing console for the Prognation Shows all bands are sharing
a console. On this particular occasion which is a one of the one night off middle of tour ZPZ Only Shows
the house console and PA system was used. None of this got in the way of Glynn delivering anything less
than spectacular sound. Now here is a funny moment. As me and a friend were
directed to our reserved seat location by the house manager, by whom was set up together after sound check,
I told my friend that we were seating in the best possible audio fidelity location in the house.
I thought I had picked the best possible location, and then suddenly, well knowingly at only an arm length away
Glynn immediately turned to us and responded in literal but humorous tone. "No your not, the best sound is right here".
Occasionally throughout the show Glynn would make an EQ adjustment and some other console adjustments.
While there is a computer that Glynn has that gives him ques for solos he obviously knows these arrangements better than a mosquito
searching for his next meal on your arm. From the live sound and gestures Glynn made during the performance Zappa's music
was sounding as good as it ever had. YES Glynn Better than Frank. Best of continued success to Glynn for his work with ZPZ and elsewhere.
The Show
The Set List, Segue, Rhythmic Gymnastic, Band Solo and special additions give some clues as to
program. For those who may have not yet seen ZPZ in 2009 they may not be all that familiar as to some of the arrangement
changes that have taken place for the band is sans one keyboard player and also has a new vocalist.
May I first note that while the changes may obviously display a lack of a virtuoso keyboard player that would
traditionally play given arrangement and solo sections the core band is sounding not only as good as they
ever have sounded but on the whole FZs music is sounding as good as it ever has. For the skeptical ones,
beware of your thoughts where you may tell yourself I am some religious zealot. Please bear in mind that due diligence
and top notch professional equipment standards of 2009 are delivering FZs music where ZPZ are redefining
Unexpected Perfection One Day At A Time.
Dweezil Zappa's new rig has him playing sans amplifiers directly into the PA. His solos are sculpting the air as good as anyone who has ever picked up a guitar.
It seems as if at this point there is no need for Dweeezil to take all of FZs reconditioned effects with him on the road for his Rig not only replicates
all the effects but the overall efficiency of maintenance and day to day operations are streamlined to perfection.
Eddie Clothier's work on the Twin Towers was amazing as heard in 2008 but 2009 is a different ballgame in one of if not finest
newly modeled ballparks. Be it written parts, specific solos, a wide variety of specific arrangements from the composers canon
or where Dweezil at times in a given solo is taking a little deviation from FZs specific tonal palate, I reiterate DZ is giving the finest overall concert performance in the history of the guitar. The front of the stage is not to be folks. He has no amps adn teh majority of stage MIX musicians are using in ear devices. Some common sense goes a long way so you want to hear the best sound you need to be out in the audience and and not directly
on DZ footsteps. While one can not always be directly by the sound board with little to no stage monitors these days being directly up front one misses out on stereo hi fidelity and proper MIX of the sonic landscape.
So in getting a balanced viewers perspective a friend who had attended the show with me had always admired DZs playing since DZ first picked up the guitar but he from a critical perspective he always had felt something was missing when DZ preformed did Franks work. Be it that he had not seen DZ perform live since his days with Z and only had of recent times based his opinion on watching ZPZs 2006 DVD to come to his pre-show conclusion I knew well to just let him watch the performance and not say anything. So as the show moves forward he is engulfed with what he termed the finest tonalities of FZs music ever. While he as many at times may be searching for some additional keyboard work in regards to performance and the overall arrangements he not only stated that each musician but that FZs music sounded as good as it ever has. He noted that not only
did DZ sound exactly like FZ but there were those occasional moments in the show where DZ not only sounded better
at Eddie Van Halen than Eddie Van Halen but displayed he could do the same with Jimmy Page & Randy Rhodes.
Dweezil not only emulates these guitarists throwing bits of their compositions and styling into some of DZs solos
but as to the effect it was all Dweezlized above the clone of perfection. Never during the show did I feel
this deviation of tonal palate was too much of this outside influence.
The majority of the show was all DZ doing FZ. Dweezil's solo on Inca Roads is definitive of becoming the hallmark calling card
for Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar. It's everything the Franks KCETV Inca Roads solo and SUAPYG February 17, 1979
Hammersmith Odeon(Inca Roads) solos are as prepared by an Artisan Dweezil Zappa Blender.
Schelia Gonzalez remains a standout modern day John Coltrane in a woman's body. She even as had been asked by DZ
has duly given her due diligence in learning the keyboard part to Eat That Question. From the opening bass solo in Apostrophe Pete Griffin
shows you why he is the man. His fretted and frettless Lakland bass work continue to bring it full throttle. Joe Travers on Drums
night in and night out brings the rock. Speaking of artisan blenders. In the past I had noted he was possessed by every Zappa
Drummer and John Bonham. For good measure during a given moment Joe even threw in some Alex Van Halen. My friend who is
a Mike Keneally fanatic had previously thought Joe's drumming on Keneally's Guitar Therapy tour was the definition of power drumming
tour de force but after this show Joe has redefined where the avalanche drops. Jammie Kime continues to bring
the Allan Holdsworth on Steroids to his solo sections and does a fine job backing in the rhythm department. Billy Hulting
continues to be the finest double handed mallet and percussionist for the gig. While on this particular occasion
we did not get to see Billy up front doing his I'm The Slime vocalizations his overall presence is an element the fits the arrangements so well.
Before getting on to the new guy it is a real pleasure to see how the band has adjusted to the lack of one keyboard player.
Firstly DZs guitar in sound and performance is as good as ever. The conducting and solo sections are the sections of the show
that bring that sense of FZs instant composition. I am not saying this is how Frank would have done it but how Dweezil does
it sound really fine without it all overtaking the entire show. Some other cover acts that are out there are just too
much totally engulfed in mediocrity or drastically rearranging the music for their own agenda. I feel Dweezl has kept a fine balance
between authentic arrangements and bringing in some of the finest solo and conducting sections ever done with FZs music.
The musician and core direction do FZs music proud.
The new guy Ben Thomas. Firstly some objective criticism. While Ben at times does not project his voice
on the level of a Ray White where Rays voice seems fittingly enough for twice the size of the hall
Ben continues to do a very good job voice matching of the theatrical variety. I am really hearing how Ben can
at times sound like Frank. I continue to hear the soulfulness of a Ray Charles but the FZs vocal tones at times
seem to be getting out there where more and more people are noting that. As I noted to Ben's sister, Ben Keep talking
to DZ, the sound man and the band for daily feedback. You did a fine job with Bobby Brown Goes Down
and to quote someone from the backstage in response to that performance You Passed The Audition.
Mind you that some mistakes will be made during Ben's harmonica solo in San Beradino he kept it going a bit too long
as the band moved the song forward. Folks, Johny Guitar Watson is no longer with us but good god damn it Ben did a fine job with that vocal part originally sung by JGW on One Size Fits All.
Aftershow
Once again thanks to those previously duly noted for the VIP passes.
I am sorry I could not stay and chat with everyone but I would like to give some generalities
on a conversation I had with Dweezil. Firstly some of the comments on a personal level,
may I note that the integrity of Dweezil Zappa not only to the music but to a given fan
who appreciates what he does has been redefined of the highest magnitude.
Folks at this time I may not feel at liberty to divulge the details of our discussion
but I will alert you that there are some great projects in the works. Those that are alarmed
as has been displayed through some unfortunate fanatical behavior, in time some of these
works in progress should be met with fanatical enthusiasm that make all proud of what they enjoy in the results.
Keep your eyes and ears open folks and as we know it FZ had a favorite holiday.
Each of these musicians have created some side venture projects that are well worth investigating.
Disclaimer
Folks please take my commentary with a grain of salt.
Please do not over read into any of my commentary.
I have an opinion on the performance and works in progress I talk
in the most minor of generalities.
If you have weaved through this commentary this far you obviously have an attention for something
a bit deeper than the pedestrian short attention span focal point.
Moving forward I will attempt to the best of my abilities, to be concise and controlled
as that delegated to a sovereign of diplomacy.
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