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Did you see ZPZ at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in Wolverhampton, UK?

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

Saw the show (for the 1st time) last night - amazing. Good diverse mix of songs and top atmosphere. The spontaneous dance session was interesting as well…

Drove up from South Wales to see this and was well worth it. Dweezil, any chance of playing in Cardiff next time?

The show was absolutely amazing! Thanks to Dweezil and the the band, a stellar bunch of musicians who truly brought Frank's music to life last night. Dweezil's guitar work was mesmerizing and I love the interpretations he gives to FZ's songs. Ben and Sheila put on quite a show in themselves with the vocals and a lot of instruments between them, the rest of the band all did there turn to amaze and entertain without exception. Although the crowd was initially typically reserved as most U.K. audiences tend to be, by the end of the show there was dancing in the isles, which led to dancing on stage by about thirty audience members at the invitation of DZ, This was a really fun show to watch! The venue was crappy though and acoustics were horrible (sorry, but I think they should burn that place down!) but, as the show progressed, the sound techs compensated and it got better and better (well done to them, quite a challenge I am sure!). But the Civic Hall is the place to play for most decent bands coming through this area, so it's all we've got apparently! I am sure the sound guys took notes so when they come back next year, they will know what to do from the beginning.
Anyway, I made the mistake of coming by myself and saw some others who did the same, most likely because, like me, they were thinking that the show was for Zappa fans only, but this is far from the case. Dweezil and the band have really made the music more accessible to anyone who truly loves music, I think. The big difference might be that while a FZ show was known for being a happening, an event and a freak-out!, this show was all about the music and was presented as such. Next year I am promising to bring at least two people with me who are not already FZ fans and I would urge everyone in the U.K. to do the same, let's do our part to keep the music alive!

Thanks for playing Blessed Relief! Grand Wazoo is an amazing piece of work, it was the first album I owned given to me by my brother for my 12th birthday when it had just come out and shaped my musical tastes and appreciation for the rest of my life. It was a joy to hear it truly brought to life. I would love to hear more from Grand Wazoo one of FZ greatest works.

I was there, stalls row H11. I went all the way from the Cheshire and it was well worth it, I'm seriously considering going to the Liverpol gig tomorrow.
I didn't think the sound was bad at all, the room reverb distracted a little but the sound quality was superb. The skill and musicianship of the band was second to none, were there really only 8 people on that stage??

I loved Frank's albums but this concert "put the eyebrows" on all his compositions for me, I don't think it could have been bettered by Frank and a band of all of his most favourite players. I didn't hear many of my favourites (nothing from Zoot Allures?) but I didn't hear one duff song all night. Thanks to Dweezil and all of the band for what was one of the best musical experiences of my life. If I'm not there tomorrow night I will definitely be going to at least one night on the next tour.

Thanx

BBN

This was a truly amazing experience.Thankyou Dweezil and the guys (and gal) in the band for giving me and my wife one of the best shows we have seen ever! I saw ZPZ in Bristol last year which was equally awesome but this time,even though you were battling against a cavernous reverb the difference in how as players you are transforming the music of Frank into something of your own is really starting to happen. I would say Dweezil that your guitar accomplishment far outshines your dad,and i don't say that lightly - but your skill and ease at playing in many different forms was self evident - I love the way you do that too - no trace of ego just firmly rooted and grounded in what you do. i wonder if you and the band ever feel the spirit of Frank as you play? - there were times when Frank's "Big Note" theory seemed to happen - I firmly believe in the vibrational power of music to transform - at times during the solos we both felt as if our molecules in our bodies were being realigned, we could feel the energy shooting up our spines, blowing out through our heads and connecting with the universe (and no drugs were involved!). The power and energy of music is huge in being capable of connecting us to something greater than ourselves and thank you so much for giving us that wonderful opportunity to experience that through your interpretation of Frank's music. A spiritual orgasm (and far less messy).

Awesome Show..Wonderful playing.Having witnessed the Birmingham show last year.. i thought ' How could you top that !!!!!!!.
well guys You did.
Dare I say for you guys it's " another day in the Office "..But for us..
Another show in paradise...
You are truly the Best Band on the Planet....( tRANSATLANTIC ) Being the Other...
I thought the sound was great ..Mind you we were in the froont Row A 20..So >>>>>>

Really Hope you play The Midlands next year..Why Not try the Birmingham Town Hall ..Frank played there afew times 1968-73..
Cheers
Paul .

Hi all,

Well me and MrsU went to see The Dweez and co: @ our local venue here.

Comments on notes above:

"The venue was crappy though and acoustics were horrible (sorry, but I think they should burn that place down!) " etc.

This is not actually the case, as Dweezil said @ the beginning " if you all bunched up a little then we could get rid of the echo".

Actually The Civic Hall, "when full" is quite amazing, seen about 2/300 shows there since 1970 "ELP" & when full they are a very appreciative audience and generally bands love playing there. (talk to Steve Vai Dweezil he loves it)..even in 1970 King Crimson did there ONLY encore of the tour there. nuff said.

Reasoning behind the small audience Dweezil is simply because friday was the beginning of the UK national holiday period for 2 weeks so people were travelling. Perhaps your'e management should be aware of all that for next years booking....COME AGAIN.

Now the concert:
superb folks.....saw you in 2006 in Manchester the day you put the screen on ........unashamedly admit to tears that day seeing Frank literally larger than life on stage, yes and I saw your expression as well.

As I said when I spoke to you tonight, youve come a long way from that Day and from The Hammersmith in London (18th & 19th late show) with your Dad & Steve Vai.........memories Dweezil that's what you give me and many of us oldies in the audience....in fact all audiences all over the world.

For the youth, as you said on stage you're doing all you can to introduce them to your Dad's music..........fantastic.......I took my son to see you in manchester in 2006.......he & his friends (circa 15/16 years old then) said it was the most amazing thing theyd ever seen/heard.....and my son Rob still does.

Inca Roads........wonderful
Blessed Relief.........wow...youre right Ive never found a performance of your dad playing that....."Joe keep looking".
Big Swifty..........well done, nice individual impros....love percussive work.
Fillmore medley introduced as "Little House I Used To Live In".........well performed, very meaty "Willi The Pimp " section.
Pick Me I'm Clean........thought solo was really good in that added to an almost regified riff....smiles all round.
Advance Romance.......excellent.
Wild Love to Yo Mama.........I was back at the Hammersmith in 1979 @ that point (went to all those shows).......this was the best song of the night....absolutely superb.
Peaches En Regalia........that's where I came into your Dad's music in november 1969 when we'd obtained an import copy of "Hot Rats" (those days folks you had to wait 6 months before european releases)....3 bars of Peaches En Regalia back then changed my life forever.

So how do I conclude Dweezil.................PLEASE PLEASE don't be put of by small audiences and Civic Hall acoustics...........time it right and youll fill this place up and then you'll see what I mean.

Keep up the good work and come back soon.

"Music Is the Best..........they're pretty good musicians"

Thankyou Thankyou a n d thankyou

I've been a zappanesian for about a million years, so expectations are always high but I've never been dissapointed, the RAH gig a few years ago being possibly the best gig of my life.
At the Wolvo gig, the reverb malarky was somehow sorted, although I was very near the front so not much of a problem anyway, but sadly I couldn't hear any of the percussion - Was Billy really playing or was he merely flailing his arms around like Robbie Robot throwing a wobbler?
Could hardly hear any drums, except bass and snare - the toms were a vague rumbling somewhere in the background.
On a positive note, as my brother commented NO IRRITATING BASS BOOM which is still rare even in these bass-enlightened times.
Incidentally, is it a bass player thing that they always seem to sing in a high pitch?....alright then, Roy Estrada and Pete do...that's two.
Moving onwards - the playing and vox were all spot on, even if Dweez looked bored....to be fair you can't ALWAYS be in the mood for work....I never am.
The new kid on the keyboards was fine from what I could determine and Ben (Who I haven't seen live before) was magnificent.....alright Scheila, sit back down, you were good as well.....don't let your limitations of only playing Sax, Keyboards, Flute and Vox hold you back, everyone has to start somewhere.
I would agree with someone earlier who suggested Birmingham Town Hall as a future venue, as Frank recorded the title track of Weasels Ripped My Flesh there.....and it's much nearer to where I live....In fact why not make it the Oak n' Ash pub in Sutton Coldfield?
Over and Out,
Kwaze

Hey folks,thanks for posts.It is 3:16 am here in Glasgow n i'm goin to the show tonite in the fabulouso royal concert hall,n i cant sleep!!....Seen Frank three times Live;Seen Dweezil n Ahmet as "Z",..Twice,...Seen the "Grandmothers"...n played so many Zappa toons n my Zappa covers band!...Sooo why cant I SLEEP,..is it the dirt!?...Jeez, cant wait....Blessing's to all,....once you hear Frank you just cannot forget him.....

Sound aside, this was a fab gig at a great venue - no hassle getting seats and beer, super long show and not a dull moment. I've never known three hours to shoot by so enjoyably.
Frank was rather disparaging about the Midlands when he played the dreadful Bingley Hall near Stafford. I trust the dancing fools at Wolverhampton helped ensure Dweezil and co. will return.
I travelled from the Bahamas to see this gig, and it was worth it. Here's to the next time.

WOW, what can I say, superlative upon superlative. I can't speak for any negative reviews which may have been posted, but this gig was amazing in spite of everything - half empty, reverberant hall etc. I'm a musician, a musician who has long appreciated the quality and kudos that a tenure in one of Frank's bands brings to bear. That I either misssed or never took the opportunity to see Frank live, was something that I bitterly regret, but to witness the gig at Wolverhampton, to have travelled up from Bristol - where, I mised the band last year - and to have enjoyed so much, this incredible and heartwarming performance, means I no longer feel bereft of any of it.

My knowledge of Frank's music falls well behind that of some of my other friends, whose encyclopedic knowledge of tracks, albums and trivia, sometimes borders on the obsessive, but since first hearing Apostrphe (in late 1981) and 'getting it', I have had nothing but marvel for the way in which he worked, wrote and performed. Perhaps those who've only heard and don't like the jokier songs, never get to hear or even understand the incredible volume of the guy's work, the sheer craft of the writing and the consumate knowledge of styles and approaches he took. They will never, as I have, enjoyed those lengthy studio-based albums, with all it's intendant varied and exotic music forms, wonderous aural soundscapes and magnificent colourful and imaginative characterisations. They probably won't appreciate how Frank took the idea of the extended guitar solo and created something fresh, unique, something brilliant and truly expressive.

OK, so I'm driftimg into reverie, somewhat, but after the gig last Friday, I came away so mentally and physically enriched, I felt an inspiring clamour to go back to my own music and find and create something to the level I saw on Friday. I did not know the band and, given that Youtube is littered with vids of various ZpZ outings, I might have expected an appearance from at least one former Zappa alumni. I needn't have worried, the band were fantastic and heaven knows what Dweezil has been doing with all that time at the UMRK, but my god was his performance staggering, or what? In fact, let me be up front, everybody's performance was. I heard tracks from albums that I know and love, Apostrophe, Overnite Sensation, Tinseltown Rebellion, Sheik Yerbouti, One Size fits All etc, etc, etc Some of these performances were so true to the original release that I was left wodering how the hell, you managed them. Not only that, but you delivered everything I could ever ask of hearing them. Thank you, Dweezil, Scheila, Pete,, Billy, Jamie, Joe and Ben - thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

If I could only convey the sheer joy I experienced, my body thrilling with excitement and happiness as I danced in my chair, through each new tune. For those that love Frank's music; it's like being part of special club, it's as if we have been party to some great revealing, but it is impossible to put into words exactly what it was we saw revealed. When you meet someone you don't know and discover that they like Frank Zappa, it's as if being shown a badge and suddenly realising this guy's a good guy. This being the case, it is so good to know that the legacy of music continues. For it to come through the talents of his eldest son, is indeed something wonderfully enriching. Long live Frank, Long Live Dweezil, Long live the players. My deepest thanks and best wishes. See you next tour

Yeah!!!! This was one hell of a gig! Like others have said (including Dweezil at the beginning of the show) the acoustics were awful! But despite all this it was a great experience to see such great musicians playing some of the best modern music about!

Was a great experience for me, as I had bought these tickets for my dad as a birthday present. After many years of my dad playing Zappa to me I finally gave in to the greatness last year and being too young to have ever seen FZ (I am only 29) It was great to see this live!

I drove nearly 200 miles to see this, and I would say, despite the acoustics, that this was the best gig I have ever seen!

Was also really cool to have been allowed to take my camera into the venue (cheers to the stewards!) got some great shots to remember the gig. Not to mention getting Dweezils autograph. :-)

Hopefully there will be another UK tour next year? Also, another vote here for a Cardiff gig!

Cheers,
Gawain

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Last time I felt this good was on the home Honker tour back in 1980 something. The band were mint !
Dweezil’s has got to be the most laid back gentleman ever. Schedule a gig in Swansea Wales next time around.
PS - Yo mama blew me away !….thanks for coming to the concert…..