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Did you attend this ZPZ show at the Ottawa Blusefest in Ottawa, ON?

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

One of a kind show, truly inspirational.
For a moment I thought the stage was about to disappear from the small invasion of shad flies from the river. Ah the great outdoors with music to match.
Thank you for coming to Ottawa

I just want to thank Dweezil and the gang for making a stop in the nation's capital. Bluesfest provided a perfect setting for a superb show. Reviews of previous shows confirmed my suspicions that Dweezil wasn't feeling quite the best, but it was only because he wasn't smiling quite as much as usual. His guitar, however, didn't seem to notice.

Dweez and all the band pulled off some unbelievably intricate playing, without flaw. This was our fourth ZPZ show, and throughout I noticed an increased instrumental focus and intensity from the whole band. I wouldn't have thought it physically possible but....

The sound was great, and with Adrian Belew's set starting things off, it was a really good time. It was also a great opportunity to pick up the DVD. We're looking forward to rekindling memories of our jaw-dropping introduction to ZPZ in Toronto '06. We hope to catch you all again when you get back from Europe. And, enjoy Quebec City, there's a really big party going on up there.

..when you realize in the present tense that you're getting your mind blown? I got that TWICE tonight.

Belew was downright amazing, this guy takes the term "unconventional guitar player" to a whole 'nuther level. His playing was so much fun and so ridiculously technically difficult, you can't help but be in awe. His bass player played the everliving fuck outta that bass of hers, and her Brother on drums was no slouch, not by any stretch. That show was thoroughly enjoyable. They finished with Thela Hun Ginjeet so there was at least one song I could sing-along with. Adrien starts in on the "last song" and the drummer won't start playing, he keeps on motioning Belew over to him... he says something to him that none of us can hear then Belew announces "Oh.. apparently we have more time than I thought.." (Don't you just HATE it when that happens! ) so they did a different song first. Sweet-ass show.. I give it a 10 outta 10 easy. Not a single thing wrong it. The sun went down while they were playing, Adrien even told us not to miss the "spectacular sunset" that was happening behind us. The lighting was "twilighty" I wish I had a camera worthy of that magical lightshow window.

Now on to ZPZ.. what can I say.. I'm almost (I said almost) speechless. That was THE most amazing show I have ever seen. Hands-down, no contest. They nailed everything. Nailed it. The setlist was a dream (pretty much what I was expecting from the message boards) and the playing was epic. The crowd was so enthusiastic too, I think the band was a little bit overwhelmed. Scheila Gonzalez on sax was absolutely phenomenal.. she had a LOT of fun with it too. She was the "wiser Mary" at the end of Packard Goose. (The "first" Mary was a bimbo with GIGANTIC mammalian protuberances. It was all very Alice Cooper/early FZ-esque) (theatrical maybes the word I'm grappling for?) Pete Griffin was super-energetic on the bass.. I think he thought he was in a hair-metal band. He could play with Keneally in Dethklok anyday! Jamie Kime was mellow but still "on". Not the most flamboyant player but very talented just the same, a pleasure to watch. Ray White? Well what could I possibly say.. the man is legendary. Frank knew that the man's talent was boundless and now we all do too. He plays and sings as well today, probably better even, than he ever has, this guy is like fine wine. Aaron Arntz (ANOTHER double-eh) on keys was stellar. He did a few really freaky things.. reminded me so much of a Zappa show of old, there was always a little bit of keyboard tomfoolery and experimentation at some point, Frank always left a _little_ room for some inspired insanity. And finally for Dweezil... this guy's playing has come so far in the past few years, it's really unbelievable. He has matured both as a musician/guitar player AND as a performer, he doesn't seem nearly so nervous as he did in the beginning, he's really starting to own that stage. He (and the band) play Frank's music as no one else ever could. You can really tell that it's a labor of love for him. He realizes more and more every year what we've all known for years now.. his Father was an absolute musical genius.

I hope they tour forever. I never want this to stop, they could come up with a different excellent setlist every year for decades. I don't think they could ever out-do tonight's show in my mind, because they pretty much played almost every one of my favorite songs... my "dream set" if you will. I sure as hell hope that somebody taped that puppy.

I could not have asked for a better performance. Best show I've ever seen.
Do not miss this show.

Now it's time for me to put down my pencil.. and have myself a squat on the cosmic utensil... for after all, my mind is prehensile and I AM the sucker who wrote this review. I'm off to give it all I got seeking snack material near the Utensil Shrines of Greater America.

Pictures to follow... (NO, not of me sitting and spinning 'till I rot on the cosmic utensil.. of the show)

p.s. Sorry it's so long-winded but my mind is still blown and I'm having a great deal of difficulty locating the off switch!

p.s.s. I almost forgot... you could title this show "Hot bugs".. there were a shitload of bugs around, committing suicide into the lights at the front, which were angled just right so that the smoldering insects (some of them quite large) were deflecting off the lights to their fiery deaths aimed right at the musicians! Many times Dweezil had to quickly wipe hot bug goop offa his arms and hands.. I'm pretty sure that Ray White ate a few while trying to sing. It woulda been kinda funny (well, I guess it still is a little) if it didn't look so potentially hazardous, I'm guessing that smokin' bug guts in the eye wouldn't be a good thing, just a hunch.

Also.. I was the guy in front of Scheila wit de crab grass who sang every word of every song.. tall blonde with a pony-tail & the ZPZ tee.
I AM Phydeaux_3 & I am Canajun.

Awesome show 2 hours long. Superb musicianship all around as stated previously but I thought Dweezil was incredible. Highlight for me was opening with Eat That Question. Never thought I'd see that played live and it was awesome.



I sure hope he makes many retun visits to Ottawa.

Cheers

I have only been to two of the ZPZ shows in the past year but they are only the beginning. I will confess that FZ is a musical passion of my husband, Martin, and I was an indulgent partner. Notice I said was. Martin has all of the FZ music, 83 items I believe, and it is not for show or storage. If you are true fan you will know what we mean.

I bought tickets for a show in Montreal last July to ZPZ as a treat for my husband and I went along for the ride and what a ride it was. I was totally swept away by the music and the musicians. Music is the best and it could not be said any better.

BUT we went to the Ottawa Bluesfest on Saturday evening and watched/listened to/danced to/swayed to/vibrated, yes, vibrated to the most awesome show in years in this city. DZ and his group have grown in the past year beyond what anyone could have imagined. I am a jazz fan and I will confess that sometimes my eyes will roll with the FZ but I am a convert, a true convert. The ZFZ troup are more than a "band" they breath together and they are AWESOME. I cannot remember the last time, in Ottawa, that I participated in such a concert.

Keep up the excellent work and we will be watching for tour dates.

I've been a Zappa freak for years but I started too late to see Frank live. Seeing Dweezil and the gang play the music of Frank was absolutely incredible, both as an opportunity to hear Zappa music played live but also to be able to see great musicianship. The band was tight and the music was hot. Drum, bass, saxophone and guitar solos. It was what I imagine a down-and-dirty 70's rock show to have been like. Real musicians playing real music.

Took my wife and my two small kids. My daughter talked for weeks about going to see the "weasel zapper". While she didn't get to see any electrified mammal torture instruments, she did get to see an incredible show that grooved and rocked for a full 2 hours.

Thanks so much for coming to Ottawa. Do it again. I promise to come see you.

And if you want to make my daughter happy, bring your weasel zapper next time.

Thanks so much for coming to Ottawa. Incredible concert and everyone performed fantastically. It's too bad that the outdoor setting restrained how long the band could play -- 2 hours was just not enough. Another hour would have been great! Despite the reduced stage time, the experience was way more enjoyable than when I saw the band on the first tour in Montreal: being all jammed like sardines in the oversold Metropolis was not fun at all, even though the stunning music being played was wonderful.

Set list as I remember it (please correct or add to it if necessary) :

Eat that question
City of tiny lights
Illinois Enema Bandit
Flakes
Broken Hearts are for Assholes
Bamboozled by love (slow and fast versions... and did I hear the main riff from Yes's "Owner of a lonely heart" during the fast part?!?)
King Kong
Joe's Garage
Fembot in a Wet T-shirt
Outside now
He used to cut the grass
Packard Goose
Willie The Pimp
Cosmik Debris (I would have liked less soloing here in favor of another song or two... it's great that everyone in the band gets to strut their stuff, but for me this was a bit much)

Anyway, thanks again for coming to Ottawa, please come back!

Stayed up late drinking Belgium beer on the patio with Family (you know who you are!). Great conversation, great stories, a few absent members. But the bus was leaving so part of the family had to return to the bus for milk and cookies. I drove to Ottawa the next day. Checked into the Crown Plaza ahhhhh not bad! From our 19th floor window we could see the Bluesfest venue. We arrived at the River Stage just before Adrian Belew went on and helped ourselves to a front row vantage point. ADRIAN amazing, I’d heard a rumour he was going to perform with ZpZ , fingers crossed. Just after sunset ZpZ took the stage for another amazing show. The night was perfect, a nice breeze, a large crowd. The sound was much better than the night before in Kitchener. Not much I didn’t say in my Kitchener review that I can add here. Aaron continues to tempt gravity during Flakes, Ray continues to shine, Dweezil’s guitar solos (or is Dweezil making air sculptures?) get more complex and reminiscent. Adrian did not make an onstage appearance. Another excellent Zappa is Zappa show my 7th! Whoops I mean Zappa plays Zappa. Heard Dweezil’s gonna announce a fall tour soon!

Amazing show! I knew he could pull it off, and I'm so glad that the Bluesfest organizers had the balls and savy to book him..we were always known as an un-hip destination...but no more- Ottawa rocks with the best!

I was going to post some nice pics I took at the show, but it says I have to have posted at least 7 times before I can attach URL's...so someone reply and we will go back and forth until I am legal...

Come on....someone

I'm not spam or a troll..

I am a true Zappa fan, having seen Frank in 1975 at the Ottawa Civic Centre...

I wonder if this is going to work?...