Zappa.com

Did you see ZPZ at Gateshead The Sage?

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

Fabulous end to the tour with apparently a festival in Japan next, then a well earned rest. One of the extras at this gig included Bamboozled by Love and although some others were dropped from the set list from previous gigs, this still weighed in at a good two and a half hours. Highlight of the night for me was "Little House I used to Live In" which showed the ensemble's strengths in interpreting Frank's magisterial composition. Jazz tinged classics like Blessed Relief were a joy to hear and all of this less than a mile from where I was born!

I have given tonight's gig much thought since it ended just a couple of hours ago and have concluded that as much as we all love Dweezil's guitar soloing, it is most powerful in the context of an arrangement rather than in a song built around a riff and a solo.... for example; as much as I love Muffin Man, it does nothing for the rest of the amazing musicians in the band as they basically provide a backing for the solos, whereas Inca Roads might show all the usual Frank Hallmarks of snazzy arrangements but with the solo within it's place. No two Zappa solos ever seemed the same and even the most tight arrangement always offers much for improvisation.

Please don't think I didn't have an amazing night; we all did and we hope to see the band many more times in future. If I could bottle the joy felt in the auditorium tonight I would be a rich man indeed!

I must respectfully disagree with the previous post... and dare I say go against the grain of virtually every review I've read here.... I saw ZPZ on their first tour and again at Manchester a couple of years ago and was blown away with the performance, the musicianship and the choice of songs on both occasions. Last night at Gateshead, the musicians just didn't gel for me (awesome musicians though..) and - in my opinion - the first half song choice was atrocious. I brought two friends with me (to introduce them to Zappa's music) - We walked out after an hour on my insistence and to their 'Blessed Relief' - (pun intended) and I can safely say that I have turned them OFF Zappas music for life. I was so embarrassed I refused to go back in. Up until that point - Bamboozled by Love and Blessed Relief were highlights but most other song just represented everything I really detest about Zappa. The Blue Light? What Kind of Girl? Please - give me a break.

I realise that if I stayed in it probably would have got better. However, I can only liken it - at the point I walked out - as equivalent to being 35-nil down at a football match with the players looking extremely unlikely to score a single goal to come back. I was already 'neg'd out...

Before I get 'pounced on' let me tell you that I own every one of the 80+ albums he produced (and been a fan for 30+ years) - plus the new ones that come out from Zappa family trust every 6 or 10 months. Dweezil said last night that he wasn't going to perform Frank's 'joke' songs, but, for me, that's precisely what he did...I missed most of the show, however, based on the first hour I saw - I'm glad I did. Never again for me I'm afraid. Can I get my money back? The worst £90 I have ever spent.. I have no doubt that this post will get removed by the administrator as it isn't a positive one...

I respect that most people there were enjoying it and this is only just my opinion, but two potential new fans have been permanently turned off....However - respect to all and 'peace'. Keep rockin' Dweezil. :-/

The day after the show and second time i have seen Dweezil in two years I really enjoyed the night.

The Sage is an amazing venue but for me would have been better if standing. We saw Dweezil last year in Edinburgh H.M.V picture house there was a different atmosphere altogether. Again I also respectfully disagree with previous but one post, I doubt that spending £90 plus on a service and M.O.T the motor brings more joy.
Sorry it was that bad for you. I personally take pleasure in the fact that Dweezil did it different this time.
My sixteen year old daughter loves Frank's music and was delighted to be a " Gateshead Lady" when Dweezil asked for volunteers to dance onstage. He is always so gracious after playing a long set, thank you for the great photograph. At this point i would like to mention that in the sheer joy of the moment i forgot to take a photo of said daughter on stage. So if anyone did take a snap I would beg for a copy!
"The Little House I Used To Live In" was the first track I ever heard. Hearing it again played live was for me amazing, I was lucky enough to see Frank three times.
I hope every one enjoyed last night, I have listened to hundreds of bands over the years, but there are few that can make me feel so good, you know the feeling, money well spent. Hope the band are not too exhausted after Japan.

Please add Carolina Hardcore to set list, just when you get a minute, if your not too busy.

Thoroughly enjoyed the gig. The Sage was a great venue. Can't believe I've been living in Newcastle for 5 years now and it was the first time I've seen anything there. Sounded great.

Been a Zappa fan for around 10 years now but this is the first time I've seen ZPZ. Gotta say that I loved it. Even my girlfriend who is a Zappa noob totally enjoyed it. Definitely not money wasted. Not once was I bored or wanting songs to hurry up.

And Dweezil at the end of the show was a true gent spending ages signing bits n bobs and chatting to members of the crowd.

PS the Gateshead Ladies where great!!

Really enjoyed this show. Having never seen ZPZ before I had no idea what to expect in terms of performance. I was impressed with the great band and the singer was fantastic. All brought a great sense of fun to the show (and the bass player even looked like a bass player should!!-impressed he could replicate the 'drone' on 'Wild Love'!!). I'm completely biased but the D. was great, there were times on T'Mershi when I had to blink to take in what was going on between his fingers and the guitar neck!! It also needs to be said what a nice bunch of people they are too. The band took time out after the show to sign autographs and chat and D made a great effort to make sure everyone was included and got an autograph (I managed to shake hands and out went all my questions on the Utility Muffin Kitchen etc and I just managed to state 'brilliant.' ahhh....).

I have been following the threads about tribute bands etc. I do see Gail's point now and by the way I was holding off buying 'Ruben aka Greasy Love Songs' for a while due to all the costs with importing, shipping etc etc which tends to bump the price up a lot but they sell the cds at the venue without all those costs so I got my copy of Ruben there and saved a fortune (stunning packaging).

I hope D keeps his promise and comes back!! I will most def be there

I can't believe someone went to a Zappa concert and didn't expect to hear any of Frank's "joke" songs being played! A sensible Geordie eh, just like Gazza himself. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

@ bogusman. nice lucid comment brains... i really almost can't be bothered to reply other than to refer you to my comment that the worst joke songs were played - -not the best ones. I fully expected - nay - even more than that - I was looking forward to 'joke' songs - just not the REALLY teeth grindingly annoying ones (Yes I know it's subjective and my opinion but hey...) anything from Lather, Joes Garage (anything except the annoying Central Scrutinizer tracks), More from Sheik Yerbouti except the agreed 'joke songs' like Jewish Princess, etc (I know we had Wild Love and Yo Mama later which I missed by walking out), Apostrophe, Over-nite Sensation, Waka/Jawaka, (more from..) The Grand Wazoo other than Blessed Relief, You are what you is (Anything)..blah blah blah

Anyway- the first hour was excruciating (bar around 6 or 7 minutes) for me, my friends and at least a couple of dozen other people we met outside in the bar area ...

I'm in the minority, I know, but I'm still entitled to my opinion..

Still love Frank and Dweezil :-D

Peace

Hi I too was at the Sage concert. This was my second ZPZ gig (I also saw them in Edinburgh last year). On both occassions I have enjoyed the gig; however I also understand the comments on here from those who felt the choice of songs could be better. I am a long standing Zappa fan from the 60s and saw Frank several times in the 70s. I long to see Dweezil play more from the early days. My favourite albums are Freak Out, Only in it for the Money, Lumpy Gravy, Uncle Meat and Hot Rats. I would leave to see a set which is drawn largely from those early days. As it is, I am pleased that Dweezil is out there doing it, and will settle for what I get, which always seems to include a few really old ones!

Peter

http://vintagerock.wordpress.com/

After 6 Frank and 3 Dweezil gigs I would say that this one was well up there, better then Manchester last year. Yes the opening was disappointing as were some of the song choices but it all got better and better as it went on. Shame on those who left early. I took my folk-loving brother who really enjoyed his first Zappa especially when Peaches kicked in and good stuff followed. The new keyboard player made a big difference and the musicianship throughout was outstanding. My main criticism is technical. The pa system (like last year) was rubbish. We could hardly hear a word of the lead singer against the depth of the band and so those funny songs were inaudible anyway. Please try and sort this out - it was never like this with Frank, his vocals were always clear. I could do with a more definitive play list including encore if anyone has one. Can't wait for the next tour. Thanks Dweezil and co.

Harry and Lloyd were speeding down the road. A police car

pulled them over.

‘Why on earth were you driving so fast?’ the policeman yelled. ’

Our brakes are no good-so we wanted to get there before we had an accident![url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/nike-hommes-chaussures-nike-air-max-tn-net-c-42_45.html]nike air max tn[/url]

[size=0][url=http://www.365acheter.com]nike air max tn[/url]
[url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/nike-hommes-chaussures-nike-air-max-tn-net-c-42_45.html]nike air max[/url]

[url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/]nike air max 95[/url]

[url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/]puma chaussures[/url][/size]

Son: Papa, what' s the meaning of " Like father, like son"?[url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/nike-hommes-chaussures-nike-air-max-tn-net-c-42_45.html]nike air max tn[/url]
　　Father: Bastard. What another scandalous thing have you done in the school?[url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/]puma chaussures[/url]
[url=http://www.365acheter.com]nike air max tn[/url]
[url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/nike-hommes-chaussures-nike-air-max-tn-net-c-42_45.html]nike air max[/url]
[url=http://www.chaussurespuma.net/]nike air max 95[/url]