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Having seen ZPZ in Raleigh on 6/13, I had an inkling of what to expect, however, there was nothing "cookie cutter" about this show! With the ability to pull from a huge catalog of mastered material, ZPZ is able to incorporate so many different songs. Given the complexity and demanding nature of the songs, I am amazed at the band's ability to play and memorize this music. This show reminded me that while Frank's compositions are extremely structured, they also allow for lots of improvisation that fully takes advantage of the unique talents of the individual members. There were many moments of brilliant spontaneity and improvisation in Charlotte. Dweezil conducted a bit (I particulary enjoyed Scheila and Joe trading licks!) and he even gave the audience a chance to solo, by asking Joe to lay down a beat while using sweeping hand gestures to lead us in a series of vocal swoops!
My 14 year old son and I stood front and center. Dweezil's guitar solos were terrific, as always. Also, Jamie's playing and extended solo was mind blowing. While the Raleigh show had a unique energy that really connected the band with the audience, the Charlotte show also connected and was wide open. Some guy next to me brought Ms. Pinky along for the ride and also provided some interesting props for Ray's signature Illinois Enema Bandit.
The day after the show, I could hear strains of Black Napkins emerging from my son's Les Paul/Orange Amp. He had nabbed the fan pack CD/DVD to claim for his own and was starting/stopping Black Napkins - dissecting the riffage section by section... It was definitely a proud moment.
Thank you Dweezil and ZPZ for learning and playing these beloved songs and for introducing Frank's music to the younger generations. Frank's music is indeed timeless and this band is perfect for the occasion!
Cheers and here's to the fall lineup!
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