Zappa.com

Did you attend this show at Ram's Head Live in Baltimore?

Dweezil and the band would love to read your reviews.

Please do not post in this thread if you did not attend the show.

Happy Frank Zappa Day!

Mikey
Zappa.com Webmeister

i was right in the front and center of the balcony and this performance was FANTASTIC. i was at the one in washington dc last fall as well, but i think this one was so much better. so many awesome things! as soon as one great thing happened, something else came by and topped it! i guess that's because it really was frank zappa day in baltimore! everybody sounded great, and ray's impromptu lyrics during "dupree's paradise" were hilarious as well. i only wish that this concert would make it on to cd now so i could relive it!

it was a great night started with the presentation of the Proclamation that August 9 2007 was deemed Frank Zappa Day in Baltimore. Dweezil was visibly moved, and proceeded to visibly move the roof off of the venue.
The whole band shredded for 3 hours finishing with a fine Florentine Pogen...

Hot Syphilis

ZPZ is Stunnig!

Ever since that sad day in 1993, I've despaired at the thought of never seeing Frank's music performed live by dedicated musicians. Well, happier days are here. More groups are playing his compositions and ZPZ is one of the best.

The musicians last night were superb: Arntz, Gonzalez, Griffin, Hulting, Kime, Travers, White, and of course, Zappa. How does Arntz do that stunt trumpet!

The performance of G-Spot brought tears to my eyes. You won't believe 7 people can play this gem live until you see it.

The show looked (and sounded) like a labor of love. It's worth every penny to see them perform.

Thank You

WOW,

This show was great. I really enjoyed the whole 3 hours of ZPZ's performance.

When you closed your eyes and just listened it was just like Frank was on stage.

Thanks Dweezil for bringing back your Dad's music to the stage. You and the band did an unbelievable job.

This is a tribute to Frank and his music in a way that I thought was not possible.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Intro w/ proclamation from the Mayor naming August 9, 2007 “Frank Zappa Day” in Baltimore city.
Peaches En Regalia (first time played this tour?)
City of Tiny Lights (Ray White joins band onstage)
Montana (w/DRS video trailer 74, FZ vocals & guitar solo)
Advance Romance
Dumb All Over (w/DRS video trailer 81, vocals & guitar solo tracks by FZ)
What's New in Baltimore?
Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy
Son of Suzy Creamcheese-->
Brown Shoes Don't Make It-->
America Drinks and Goes Home
Pygmy Twylight
Dupree's Paradise (w/ solos by everyone and “Hey Hon”, “You Gave Me Crabs”, “Natty Boh”, and “Hot Syphilis” vamping by Ray)
Uncle Remus
Willie the Pimp
Joe's Garage (w/ Pete and Scheila dancing during "The White Zone is for....." )
Wind up Workin' in a Gas Station
San Ber'dino
The Illinois Enema Bandit (incl. “Don Pardo” preamble by Billy)
Cosmik Debris (w/DRS video trailer 74, vocals & 2nd guitar solo by FZ)
G-Spot Tornado
Muffin Man (w/BS video trailer 77, vocals & 1st guitar solo by FZ)

ENCORE:
Florentine Pogen



All in all, I'd have to give this show a slight edge over the D.C. show they played in October. Everyone seemed more relaxed and confident in the material and I thought Dweezil's guitar playing has stepped up. Dweezil was very emotional during the presentation from the Mayor's representative, and didn't quite pull himself together until after Peaches. He was joined on stage by a former member of Frank's security crew who is from Baltimore, and he also brought out his 1 year old daughter Zola Frank Zappa and said, "I guess it's her day too." The whole thing was quite touching, and was a nice setup for the FIERCE performing that followed.

There was some audience participation before Dupree's Paradise where Dweezil asked the audience for some ideas that were not FZ references, but related to life in Baltimore. It took most of the venue yelling "Natty Boh" in unison before Ray figured out what the hell we were saying, and he then had to explain to Dweezil what it was. They also worked in "Hot Syphilis" "You gave me The Baltimore Crabs" and "Hey Hon".

Periodically, live footage of Frank was projected on a giant screen behind the stage and the band would play along with his vocals or solos. Pretty cool, but including it means that the band travels with their own sound board so the floor was significantly reduced in size. My favorite one of those segments was Dumb All Over, but I got the feeling most people weren't familiar with the tune. Also, the Frank solo in Muffin Man was totally bonkers.

My wife had been waffling on whether or not she wanted to go, and on the way home gave me permission to shake her if she ever considers skipping a ZPZ show again

Absolutely stunning!

I was at the D.C. show last year and didn't think anything could top it. Boy was I wrong. From the emotional presentation of the "Frank Zappa Day" proclamation by the mayor's assistant (too bad she couldn't have come out on stage later for a Dance Contest or something...), to Dweezil bringing out his daughter to meet everybody, it was a very special night. Even being a D.C.-area resident, I have to admit that Baltimore audiences bring an energy and passion that D.C. audiences just don't.

The mayoral proclamation was nice, but I couldn't help being a little angry that B-More didn't do this for Frank while he was alive. Better late than never, I guess.

After the preliminaries, Dweezil & Co. proceeded to tear the roof the sucka. Great setlist. Great to hear the amazing Ray White in person. Great to hear the lovely Scheila Gonzalez do a Rahsaan Roland Kirk type thing with two saxes.

And good god, was Dweezil on fire on the geetar! I know it's probably heresy to say this, but as much as I love Frank's playing, Dweezil has taken it to a whole new level. He might not get as 'greasy' as Frank, but his command of the instrument is fantastic. I, for one, would gladly pay to see Dweezil play some of his own new music at some point in the future. Of course, I also hope he keeps doing ZPZ. Am I a demanding bastard, or what?

One more thing. If I can ever find anything in life that I enjoy doing as much at Pete obviously enjoys this gig...I'll die a very very happy man. He was a blast to watch.

Also, big ups to Aaron for rocking the FZ facial hair.

One other thought from me, also:

As much as I enjoyed seeing Vai and Bozzio last year, I think this year's model worked better by just having the core ZPZ band play. It was a more tight-knit show and had less of a "revue" feel to it.

Tottally agree with all of the above. I also was at the Warner show last October and didn't think it could possibly get any better than that. WRONG.

Somehow, the band is both looser and tighter at the same time. And with only one "special guest" (Ray White), the rest of the band has to step it up both musically and vocally (Dweez sings!!!), and they do.

Again, as last year, Scheila and Pete are simply amazing. And without a doubt the unsung hero of the band is Billy Hulting. Seriously... every bit as talented as Ruth or Ed.

My only beef was with the venue, not the performance. In my humble opinion Rams Head Live sucks as a concert venue (iffy sound, no seating, smoking allowed... like seeing ZPZ in a bar). But that's just me.

There is not much I can say. I've been to A LOT of concerts in my life but this one, hands down, was the absolute best.

I was right up in the front row singing along with every song and at the same time couldn't believe I was that close to Dweezil and Ray. After the show Dweezil and Ray signed my shirt and I also got one of Dweezils pics. What a class act they both were. Ray came right out after the show and just started talking with my and my buddy. I saw Dweezil come out by the buses and got my picture with him as well.
If anyone saw, I was the guy with the white Zappa shirt that was going crazy the whole concert right up front.

The setlist was incredible and Dweezil could shred waaaaaaaaay better that I ever expected. What an amazing night. I won't ever forget it as long as I live and I hope to god they will come around again very soon.

Best night ever, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for any amazing show.

I'm not a fan of the Rams Head Live venue in Baltimore - that said, there was no way I was going to miss this show. And I really wasn't sure what to expect out of Dweezil on this effort.... suffice it to say I was nothing short of stunned. Five to ten years ago I wasn't sure if Frank's son would ever be able to do this - carry the torch, so to speak. He always seemed like a nice guy, easy-going, well-adjusted, talented, but lacking the same quiet sort of "mad-scientist-at-work" intensity and biting wry wit and humor that his dad possessed. Afterall, these were things that made FZ - FZ. Well congratulations, Dweezil - you've done it just right! Nobody's asking you to BE Frank - and to that end, the context in which this show has been organized and presented is absolutely flawless, and entirely consistent and relevent to your good intentions. FZ's music is being perpetuated and promoted. Hell, it isn't like the record company is putting this show on! Frank used to speak of his sometimes limited ability to tour, given the cost to take the show on the road. So, I'm sure Dweezil is spending a small fortune given the length of this tour and size of the band. He's obviously playing this effort from the heart. There are moments in the show where Dweezil and Frank (on video) share leads. Seeing Dweezil staring at the video and smiling in a look of appreciation and amazement while watching his dad tearing off a ridiculous run is quite telling. He's obviously his father's biggest fan, and like the rest of us - you can see how much he misses him. I'm just glad it was dark enough that nobody saw the tears in my eyes...

Specific to the show - the band is incredibly talented, and tight, but with just enough spontaneity and timing to make them seem very relaxed. It's complicated stuff to play, but they're obviously well-rehearsed and totally committed to the music. Dweezil's personal arrangements within the framework of the songs were surprising and refreshing to hear, but in no way compromised them. I wasn't sure if it was possible, but he has passionately (and adroitly) breathed new life into Frank's music! The set list was great - I'm sure it didn't make everyone happy, but it was a good cross-sampling - given the catalog of work. It was also a long show - clocking at somewhere around three hours. And, after listening to Dweezil's guitar playing over the years, I would submit that his degree of articulation on the instrument has grown by leaps and bounds. Maybe it's just maturity or the task at hand, but the man has become quite sick on guitar - as he needs to be, obviously.

In my most humble opinion, there is no way that Frank wouldn't be supremely proud of his son and of the quality of this performance. Lastly, Dweezil isn't "only in it for the money" - and that's really what makes it shine like it does.

Bravo, Dweezil - and thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!

Dweezil and the band have successfully accomplished their goals of honoring Frank's music and continuing his legacy. I was completely blown away by this performance and having seen Frank in the mid-70's, I think he'd be extremely proud as well. The audio/video duets with Frank were perfect - not too much, not too little. As others have said, the band is incredibly tight and seems to be having a blast. Ray White was incredible. Pygmy Twylyte was killer as was Muffin Man and Duprees.

This was also the first concert for my 13 year old son, an aspiring guitar player. He'd heard a couple of Frank's songs before last night but he was speechless after the show. He spent the entire day today listening to my Zappa CD collection and learning riffs. Needless to say, it will be difficult for future concerts to live up to his now lofty expectations.

Thank you for the boost in musical inspiration you provided to the younger generation and rekindling Frank's spirit in us "slightly older" folks.

And thanks to Pete for giving my son his pick too

Great Googly Moogly!!

The show was absolutely SICK!! Drove up from DC with my sons and we all had a BLAST right up in front of the stage. What a joy it is to see them share my love of Frank’s music and to be able to share this with them. I never had anything like this with my father. Thank you FZ…thank you Dweezil!! Thank you Billy for handing my younger son your copy of the setlist (even though I had to rescue it from the trash this morning…clueless Mom scooped it up from the cluttered coffee table during her morning clean….D’OH!!)

We saw the show last year in Atlantic City and are planning to go down to Richmond, VA in November too. I agree with you completely, DZ, Frank's music HAS to be heard live...THANK YOU SO MUCH for doing this!!!

Rodger in Burke, VA

[quoteIf anyone saw, I was the guy with the white Zappa shirt that was going crazy the whole concert right up front.[/quote]

Oh yeah dude, you were having a GOOOOD time!!...I'm the guy with the beard and the white FZ shirt who was more or less in front of you. My voice is shot from singing along!...That's the price you pay for knowing most of the words, right? Congrats on meeting DZ and RW! Come on down to Richmond in November...we'll see you there.