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I was lucky enough to have a friend who lives in Clearwater, Florida. Every year the ZPZ tour plays the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, I tell my friend he needs to keep an eye out for ZPZ shows in FLA. One year Pomona Beach.....he said too far. Evry year excuses ...excuses. This year the south east end of 09 early 10 dates were announced. "Is Ybor City near you?".......well Lo N Behold....WE HAVE A WINNER!
I have seen all the ZPZ shows that have played in PHX. 2007 featured the Vai/ Bozzio combo. Unfortunately...Bozzio ( I think) pulled an arm tendon in vegas and played a "One Armed" - Black Page. The second year had guitar solos so amazing my friend and I almost forgave Dweez for (STILL) not playing Black Napkins in PHX.
So....I arrive for a weeks VACA in FLA during the week of the coldest weather Florida has had in 85 years. Coming from PHX, we had 38 days this past summer over 110 degrees. The cold was a nice change.
If you ever get to FLA, The Ritz Ybor is a gorgeous Historically restored (I think) old Italian Bakery or Pizzareia that fed all the nationalities that came to work in Central Florida . Ybor City is the home to century old cigar rolling factories supplied by the tobacco planatations in Cuba. The Ritz looks like an old depression era Movie Theater complete with the old Marquee sign.
The set opened with Purple Lagoon. Right away we noticed the Two Tone Haired Keyboard player was gone...No Eat That Question...?... high point from 2 previous tours?!........not to worry..but Sheila (oooooooohhhh Sheila.......I told you I had a crush on you), was still there.
This year they added a new vocalist who started suffering from a sore throat near the end of the main set. The temperature in Ybor City by the end of the show was around 36 degrees.
The high points for ME were amazing performances of Apostrophe, Willie The Pimp. Ms. Pinky (with the usually required fan participation).
and a hand gesture conducted Pygmie Twilight. I got the roadie to give me the set list...and when I completey unpack, I will try to repost with the complete set list. Anyone who also was there who posted, I hope noted that the set list says they played Inca Roads. Dweezil however, noted that they needed to save the vocalistist voice for some upcoming shows (?). So what ensued was a very touching fan applause-O-Meter of, "So...Waddya' Wanna Hear?".....................Muffin Man.....Muffin Man!
After FINALLY getting a front of the stage autograph from a nicely Caribean Cruise Tanned Dweezil....and Sheila......"thanks for gaurding my camera", I started to notice an awful lot of kids at this show. I went up to one, and asked him, "Which is your favorite Zappa CD.......I almost said record.........almost 50 there..... Without even hesitating, he answered Joes Garage, I reached over and shook his hand and said, "You have been well trained." His Dad laughed and said, "He's still in training."
From the swag table, I FINALLY got a copy of Dub Room. On my flight back to PHX on Monday afternoon, I opened the jewel case and read what John Frusiante wrote in the liner notes. I started crying at the window seat of a non stop flight to PHX. In 1984, I was that same kid- in Phoenix.
I have told people for decades that Frank Zappa is our Mozart. All he ever wanted to do was draw dots on paper. He called Varese' for his birthday. Now, poor vaultmiester Joe is mining the vaults. I am pretty confident that Frank will someday FINALLY supass Elvis with Post Motrem New Material.... if what I have heard is on Franks Synclavier is true.
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