― yaeger, Wednesday, 1 October 2003 11:15 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 12:41 (9 years ago) Permalink
― thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 13:49 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 13:51 (9 years ago) Permalink
― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 16:09 (9 years ago) Permalink
― george gosset (gegoss), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 16:27 (9 years ago) Permalink
just like a penguin in bondage boy!
― Jack Battery-Pack (Jack Battery-Pack), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 16:30 (9 years ago) Permalink
― chaki (chaki), Wednesday, 1 October 2003 17:29 (9 years ago) Permalink
― bahtology, Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:00 (9 years ago) Permalink
get ALL of the live studio stuff. and a few choice boots.
― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:36 (9 years ago) Permalink
― retort pouch (retort pouch), Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:39 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Thursday, 2 October 2003 02:42 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Whitman Mayonnaise (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 29 July 2006 19:31 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marmot 4-Tay: I'll sip from his well without hesitation. (marmotwolof), Saturday, 29 July 2006 19:53 (6 years ago) Permalink
I really liked Zappa's jazz big band (kinda) records The Grand Wazoo and Waka Jawaka, so I investigated a recent live record called Wazoo.
It's really good. The parts of "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary" kind of reminds me of the spacey parts in Mingus more moody epics like the "Orange was the Color of Her Dress" or "The I of Hurricane Sue". It would probably be even more so if the Mingus records didn't have the piano.
Beyond the music, which is fine, I got to say they did a killer job on the artwork on this disk too. It's really nicely done.
Anyway, you don't dig Zappa, but you like some jazz in that Mingus w/Dolphy kind of vein, you might be surprised on this one, although there is no big blower in the bnad like those Mingus groups. (Although I did read that RR Kirk did play with Zappa's band and killed it one time.)
― earlnash, Saturday, 5 May 2012 02:50 (1 year ago) Permalink
http://www.dangerousminds.net/.../freak_out_over_20_minutes_of_frank_zappa_the_original_mothers_of_inventionthis is great
― tylerw, Saturday, 5 May 2012 20:31 (1 year ago) Permalink
oops here's a link that will work http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/freak_out_over_20_minutes_of_frank_zappa_the_original_mothers_of_invention
― tylerw, Saturday, 5 May 2012 20:32 (1 year ago) Permalink
It's really good.
Wow, really? I love those albums. Will look for this.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Sunday, 6 May 2012 06:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
Man that video is so *boring*, that 'lets swing' bit is fkn tasteless.
― xyzzzz__, Sunday, 6 May 2012 10:33 (1 year ago) Permalink
Just watched it. I think there's a lot of great stuff in it.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Sunday, 6 May 2012 11:55 (1 year ago) Permalink
fave live is Piquantique - Stockholm '73 included in Beat the Boots - killer heavy jamz w/ Jean-Luc Ponty
― llurk, Sunday, 6 May 2012 13:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
I've been listening to a lot of Zappa and watching Baby Snakes this week and I have to say that I'm often frustrated by Zappa's lead guitar playing. He plays so many long solos at climactic moments. I get all geared up for them and then as often as not they disappoint, starting out with promise, then noodling around without really going anywhere. He was not terrible by any means but he was clearly not a virtuoso like the guys he hired: his technical weaknesses are evident when watching him on video. I don't know why he didn't just let his hired guns handle lead guitar as well. Everything else in the Dangerous Minds clip above is fantastic but that first long distorted solo seems like a dry gulch. In fact, I was paying more attention to the rhythm section while he was playing. (I don't mind the clean leads and the more heavily processed lines later on though.) Great composer and bandleader though. I don't know if there's something about his playing that I'm missing.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Monday, 7 May 2012 00:52 (1 year ago) Permalink
"played so many"
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Monday, 7 May 2012 00:53 (1 year ago) Permalink
sund4r - agree there is some good stuff at ponts (sorry for my prev comment) - he got some good musicians to play together but it ends up somewhat disjointed.
― xyzzzz__, Monday, 7 May 2012 10:43 (1 year ago) Permalink
was there an album of the Does Humour Belong In Music show? or whatever tour that was taken from? i saw that on VHS as a teen and loved it but never investigated further.
― piscesx, Monday, 7 May 2012 11:27 (1 year ago) Permalink
Agreed that his live solos don't reflect his compositional genius (i.e. they don't go anywhere for the most part), but I think that's what make them great in a way. It's like a whole different side of him is let loose: searching, experimenting, etc.
I think his solos in a studio setting were much more taut and to the point, stuff like "Zombie Woof"
― Johnny Hotcox, Monday, 7 May 2012 15:00 (1 year ago) Permalink
Yeah, for a guy who released a 3 LP set of guitar solos, that's not an aspect of Zappa that thrills me a lot, particularly on his earlier stuff. Three I like a lot:
Don't You Ever Wash That Thing? The whole band brought their A game for this, and Frank's solo is hot and concise.
Watermelon In Easter Hay Pretty much a consensus fan fave, I think.
Yo Mama I dunno, maybe not a lot different than many of his, but I love this one.
― Advanced Uncle Meat recovery system (Dan Peterson), Monday, 7 May 2012 15:19 (1 year ago) Permalink
It's like a whole different side of him is let loose: searching, experimenting, etc.
I think this is key. He called his live soloing "spontaneous composition." What's really interesting is what he could do with those solos after he got back to the studio -- one of the most fascinating things for me in FZ lore is comparing the full length "Black Napkins" from the Eyes of Osaka boot (10:40) to the 4:15 version he put on Zoot Allures. Brock's terrible saxophone solo is gone completely. FZ himself played a lot of crap in that 10:40, but he edited and reordered what was left into a tight shiny diamond.
― improvised explosive advice (WmC), Monday, 7 May 2012 15:24 (1 year ago) Permalink
Going back to the live <i>Wazoo</i>, I was inevitably disappointed with that release as I've been a massive fan of those two big-band studio LPs for a long time (I think 'Blessed Relief' might be my all time fav track of his). I should probably go back to it now but I don't remember being blown away or whatever compared to the studio recs.
― Johnny Hotcox, Monday, 7 May 2012 15:36 (1 year ago) Permalink
I'm listening to one of the "Petit Wazoo" shows on youtube this morning, digging it a lot.
― Advanced Uncle Meat recovery system (Dan Peterson), Monday, 7 May 2012 15:46 (1 year ago) Permalink
Has anyone seen The Grandmothers Of Invention? It's Brock and Fowler, and on this tour, Preston, with some non-Zappa related guys. They're currently touring "Roxy and Elsewhere and More" and are coming through town. I'm very tempted.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 14:38 (11 months ago) Permalink
strongly thinking of going to Dallas to see these guys
― Moodles, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:05 (11 months ago) Permalink
I have, twice. (Once Roy Estrada was also along.) At Winnipeg Folk Fest ("folk music" ha!!) they did the "Echidna's Arf/Don't You Ever Wash That Thing" medley. I had a great, great time.
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:05 (11 months ago) Permalink
Thanks for the first hand report Dan!
Moodles - if you're coming to the show at the Kessler let me know. My wife's not a fan so I'll be on my own.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:10 (11 months ago) Permalink
I just found out they were here in Minneapolis three weeks ago. Totally missed my radar!
― Soccer mom, hopeless and lost, in utter despair (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:12 (11 months ago) Permalink
ez:
sure thing, going to try to figure out with my wife whether we can get up there. Tricky part is managing my work schedule and making sure my son has somewhere to go for the night.
― Moodles, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:20 (11 months ago) Permalink
gotcha. I may try to cajole my wife into going but I think I'll get a raised eyebrow for my effort.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:33 (11 months ago) Permalink
Might shoot for Birmingham, August 12
― Trey Imaginary Songz (WmC), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:34 (11 months ago) Permalink
Come to Dallas! It's only a nine hour drive.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:37 (11 months ago) Permalink
I'd do it for a September show, but my work schedule will be too hairy in mid-August to be away that many days.
― Trey Imaginary Songz (WmC), Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:39 (11 months ago) Permalink
Some day I'll catch a Zappa family concert with you. If only to be regaled with all your Zappa stories.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 6 June 2012 15:42 (11 months ago) Permalink
Turns out I'm not going to be able to catch the Grandmothers show next week. Pretty bummed.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 8 August 2012 01:41 (9 months ago) Permalink
Here's 30 minutes from the 1973 Roxy performances. Catch it before ZFT lawyers find out about it.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 13:57 (7 months ago) Permalink
^^^ still on youtube as of today. Kinda surprising, or maybe the estate just thinks it's good advertising for when the DVD finally surfaces.
Here's one I had never heard before today - I was off the FZ bus by the time of Joe's Garage II and III - but this is "Watermelon in Easter Hay'-level beautiful, if only it weren't for Frank's stupid lyrics.
― Naked webcam celebrity (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 6 December 2012 20:15 (5 months ago) Permalink
Just found out the 1981 show at the Palladium is on youtube:
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 16:37 (4 months ago) Permalink
I'm stuck in a Zappahole. Went straight from the '81 show into this 1973 Stockholm one. Video quality isn't great, but the show itself is a corker. I've heard it many times but watching it, even in low quality, is great. Franks outfit is something else.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:03 (4 months ago) Permalink
Yeah, that Stockholm show is a fun one. Just discovered that recently myself.
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:17 (4 months ago) Permalink
It's so cool to watch after having had years of listening to the audio from it. And it seems so incredibly alive when compared to the '81 show which is technically better -- almost note perfect -- but a bit soulless.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:23 (4 months ago) Permalink
Visuals add so much, esp. the Roxy footage, which is amazeballs. I'll try to watch that '81 show at some point, but while those guys are technically brilliant, that band and that setlist are really not up my alley.
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:34 (4 months ago) Permalink
The only time I ever saw him was 1974, and I wish more I had more than the vague, fuzzy memories I'm left with. Damn teenage drinking. Kinda wish I would have seen him later too, although I was so far off the Zappatrain in the 80s.
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:39 (4 months ago) Permalink
I think all his 80s bands suffered from that soullessness. He had a harder and harder time reconciling conflicting desires -- he wanted that note-perfect execution, but he would also tell the players to "put some eyebrows on it" or "put some garlic in it." He never achieved better than the 73-74 bands, imo.xxpost
― WilliamC, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 19:48 (4 months ago) Permalink
Dan, I would say the '81 show is mainly worth watching for the solos. Steve and Frank really pushed each other into some crazy spaces. But yeah, the setlist is a bit of a shame. Pretty much every show post '78 or so is, as William put it, about conflicting desires. The perfectionist drove the life from his own work.
One of these days, William, we will find a way to meet halfway between our respective abodes and just chat over coffee or beer or something. Well worth the hours of driving to get you to wax eloquent about Zappa. Dan, your welcome to join too, wherever you may be coming from.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 20:13 (4 months ago) Permalink
watched a bit of that 73 clip (75 is about as far as I go w/ frank) -- great stuff! being in zappa's band must've been hard.
― tylerw, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 20:16 (4 months ago) Permalink
Wow, just when I say I can't remember my only Zappa show, I discover there's a soundboard recording:
http://www.discogs.com/Frank-Zappa-Saint-Mothers-In-Saint-Paul/release/2203684
and I'm listening to part of it as I type. Lots of spoken word tomfoolery so far, which is basically one of my only memories of the show.
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 2 January 2013 20:19 (4 months ago) Permalink
That's amazing!
I found a better looking version of the Stockholm show I embedded above:
http://youtu.be/yqfx2cTeCFk
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 20:29 (4 months ago) Permalink
Sounds like fun! Maybe in NYC for an Ed Palermo show, and we can heckle him for not getting it just right.
― WilliamC, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 22:51 (4 months ago) Permalink
Sure! NYC sounds better than the probable middle points of Little Rock or Shreveport.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 2 January 2013 23:11 (4 months ago) Permalink
I'm in St. Paul, MN. Triangulate that...
I believe I've convinced myself to see Zappa Plays Zappa next time they come through.
― Rocking Disco Santa (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 3 January 2013 00:34 (4 months ago) Permalink
So, when are we all going to Kansas City?
― EZ Snappin, Thursday, 3 January 2013 00:44 (4 months ago) Permalink
http://www.jambands.com/news/2013/04/30/zappa-plays-zappa-to-celebrate-roxy-elsewhere-with-tour/
I might roadtrip to one of these dates.
― What makes a man start threads? (WilliamC), Wednesday, 1 May 2013 15:31 (2 weeks ago) Permalink
I can't believe they're skipping the whole South. They were just here but not playing Roxy material. Grr.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 1 May 2013 15:46 (2 weeks ago) Permalink
Easily my most played Zappa album. Roadtrip to Eau Claire, WI might be in the offing.
― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 1 May 2013 16:04 (2 weeks ago) Permalink
It's tempting to go back to Eau Claire, why because the Norske Nook and 837 kinds of pie.
― What makes a man start threads? (WilliamC), Wednesday, 1 May 2013 16:16 (2 weeks ago) Permalink
^^^ truthbomb
― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 1 May 2013 17:10 (2 weeks ago) Permalink