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Did you attend the first ZPZ show at the Blender Theatre in New York, NY?

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

MERDA QUEST'ANNO NON SONO A NYC PER ZPZ ON HALLOWEEN!
If only I coulda, I would be there for my third halloween set...and even the two before, cazzo! But I'm here in Rome readin' all the fantastic reviews from Youz Guyz...and I know that's it all true cause I've been to four ZPZ sets.
Just writin' to say, once again, THANK YOU DWEEZIL for the TOUR DE FRANK...the whole tour is fantastic and the Band is even more fantastic! But what we have to thank more is the Maestro's Compositions without which all of this couldn't be true.
Wish all of Youz the best...music is the best...Frank's Music is the Best.
Ciao a tutti, un abbraccio.

I have seen every ZPZ tour that has come through NY and I have been a Zappa fan since 1968 - saw the shows at the Garrick (once) Felt Forum, Palladium, Capitol Theatre (Portchester), all the Halloween shows from 1972 on. Sat in the first row last night, in front of the right side subwoofer. I was blown away (though it might have been Joe's kick drum and Pete's bass). The band was incredibly tight and watching the hand signals and facial expressions during the numbers made it seem as if telepathy was added into the mix. Joe's drum solo, with the pause to replace the broken snare, was magical -- when the new snare was plopped down, Joe went right back to the superhuman speed of his solo. Jamie's solos and fills really stood out. I must admit that I didn't look forward to Billy the Mountain, in my mind I always reduced it to Frank's riff on Alice's Restaurant, but it was great to hear the "music" of it over the humour. Enchidna's Arf into G-Spot was stunning. As I was as far to the right, and in the first row, I couldnt hear Ray's vocals or Sheila's sax very well -- but when Ray belted (Bamboozled) the house shook. Sheila's solo during Chunga's Revenge, with Dweezil changing keys up a half-step several times, was phenomenal. All I could see of Aaron was his hat moving up and down. I just wish that Dweezil's beautiful looking guitar rack could have been put to the side so that we could see Aaron and Joe, but 'you can't fit that on stage anymore' is the theme of the show (I wish the "that" wasn't Aaron). Finally, Dweezil -- you have learned all of Franks most complex lines (many of which were written for George and Ruth) -- you play them with grace and nail every note ----- BUT -- YOU MAKE IT LOOK TOO EASY -- one expects to see flames leaping from your fingers. Instead, with a calm demeanor you pull off runs that would have any great guitarist running scared.
Thanks to Glenn for the set list -- can't wait for tonight -- and tomorrow -- another Halloween well spent with Frank's music and the best band that ever played it.

here's the setlist from wednesday's awesome awesome show!!

Florentine Pogen
Pygmy Twylyte - Roxy version
Idiot Bastard Son
Inca Roads*
Billy the Mountain (awesome!!!!)
Chunga's Revenge
Guitar Giveaway (a suit named brad won it, he didn't know how to play)
Zoomy Woof*
Echidna's Arf
G-Spot Tornado
Flakes
Broken Hearts are for Assholes
Bamboozled by Love
Outside Now
Packard Goose

Encore
few licks of montana for the 8 year old
Black Napkins*
Muffin Man*

all straight off the setlist.

Awesome show, that's all i can say, I'm still in awe.

I was initially wary of the inclusion of Billy The Mountain thinking it too personality based to succeed. I am delighted to report that I was wrong (mimicing of the original voices not withstanding) and that it proved to be the absolute centerpiece of the evening. At first it was merely amusingly draw dropping. And then, unexpectedly, this so-called comedy piece opened up a floodgate of emotion, rekindling the deepest of awe for my childhood hero, Frank Zappa. Here I was witness to something entirely unique, something (outside of a rare case of experimental theater) entirely extinct. Something so ridiculous that it shouldn’t work. Something so preposterous that you gotta have the balls of King Kong to even consider presenting it to the public. A lesser man than Frank Zappa would surely live in infamy for this piece alone. Or be run out of town. And that’s what I call GREAT ART. Yep, the stoopid, juvenile, over-played by teens Billy The Mountain has been reborn as a profound and moving theatrical performance.

Other thoughts: I had not seen the band since the early days. June, 2006, I believe. Joe Travers has outdone himself in the process, he seemed like a different (superior) drummer. All players shined in their solo CHUNGA spots enough that I cannot fairly mention one without praising all. I thought Dweezil was at his best on the Joe’s material. One weird turn: was that Frank’s actual voice leading the chorus on FLAKES? Talk about a belly rumbling I’m In You.

oops, I forgot to say something about Ray. Just great! The man emanates positive vibrations and Lord knows we need that now more than ever.

I came from England just to see the first show on the 29th at Gramercy, then flew home the next day (work commitments) but the benefit of the smaller more intimate venue was awesome and provided a clarity of sound which could not be achieved at the Royal Albert Hall in London 2006 - when I last saw the band. N.M.B'S replacement 'Ray White' was just as soulfull and enthusiastic as ever and contributed magnificently. Sheila was on song as usual with sax, keys and vox alike, her solo in 'Chunga's Revenge' was just insaine! Also great performances from Joe (made up for snare-snap like Nick Mason in Pompei!), Jamie (chunga's) Billy (mountain) Pete (chunga's 'n' packard) and Aron - albeit in a hidden capacity, sounded fat. Dweezil is just awesome though, his solo's are, dare I say it... more technically challenging and articulate than any other Zappa axeman could ever have achieved (even Frank himself).
'Black Napkins' as an example; all Franks parts and then some! But it's the style and taste with which he plays, making all parts appear easy and comfortable. His amplitude and fx management is simply stunning! Also, his admission that; he often forgets what part's are coming next - came as a blessed relief to me. My own Zappa tribute band 'Strictly Commercial' (based in Norwich England) usually finish a rehearsal or a gig with a headache due to the immense concentration levels required to perform most of Frank's material. One expects musicians who are capable of this type of performance, to be arrogant or obnoxious - not so.
All the ZPZ band were very down to earth and accomodating off stage, which was a nice compensation for being treated like excrement by some of the house people at the Blender theatre. Despite the fact that each act appearing in such venues are regarded as 'headliners' and in effect; pay the house staff wages, most small people in small theatres do not acknowledge this fact and tend to have enormous ego's and LOVE to exercise THEIR authority on act's, visitors and customers alike. They don't discriminate either, I saw a peverse individual ask the band for their I.D.'s when they returned from lunch - knowing perfectly well who they were, he just wanted to illustrate the IMPORTANCE of his own position - typical of such pedantic, ugly and justifiably un-loved idiots.
I totally enjoyed pointing in the direction of one particular 'security operative' (right in his face) and singing along with "you're an ass hole - you're an ass hole - thats right! you're an ass hole - you're an ass hole yes! yes!" Because I was merely exercising my right to 'participate' there was absolutely nothing he could do about my retorts and mockery!
Other than the fetted house fascist, I really enjoyed my whole evening and band were smoking! I hope we can see these fantastic muso's in more intimate venues in England next year!

Thanks for the changing set lists. I typically go to 3-4 shows in a row on a tour, and when you first started out in 2006, the shows were basically the same set lists with rearranged order. Only 2 songs the same between The Birchmere and Harrisburg, and lots of new stuff for this show means I will keep coming back for multiple shows in a given tour.

Thanks to all the band members and staff for a great and truely professional production.