Live Review: The Frank Zappa Hologram Tour Is as Trippy as the Man Himself (4/19)

Consequence of Sound ^ | April 20, 2019 | Spencer Kaufman

[DoodleBob]

Setting the Stage: It’s been more than a quarter century since the physical world lost Frank Zappa, the experimental rocker whose avant-garde music was as trippy as it was innovative. Now, 25-plus years later, the late legend has rematerialized in “The Bizarre World of Frank Zappa” hologram tour, which kicked off last night at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. With a collective hologram experience consisting mostly of Princess Leia telling Obi-Wan Kenobi he’s our only hope, fans filed into the venue with a high sense of curiosity. The technology for the Zappa tour was developed by Eyellusion, the same company that created the Ronnie James Dio hologram, which debuted a couple years ago and will embark on a US tour of its own late next month.

As press materials informed us, the audio for the Zappa hologram was culled from footage of a 1974 performance in which he turned his Los Angeles rehearsal space into a soundstage. For this tour, the hologram is joined by an impressive lineup of live musicians, including a number of past members of his band. The touring unit consists of guitarists Ray White and Mike Keneally, bassist Scott Thunes, multi-instrumentalist Robert Martin, percussionist Ed Mann, and drummer Joe Travers.

[DoodleBob]

I will certainly check out this tour. Yes, it won't be like the three times I saw FZ when he was alive, nor like the oodles of times I've seen Dweezil. For me, the sidemen that are involved speak volumes to how much care has been put into the show. Keneally would not be part of a "cashing in" gig (he already backs Satriani and is an awesome musician in his own right).

This is about relevance. To wit: Elvis is now in the rear-view mirror....his Estate did noting to make him relevant to the kids...as a result, Graceland attendance is down and most people's opinions of him are based on impersonators and Lilo and Stitch.

Frank has remained relevant largely through his rabid fans (and his fans' kids being inculcated..) and Dweezil, but more is needed. It may have taken 25 years, but I am pleased to see Frank's legacy getting some shock therapy.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Bobby Brown
https://youtu.be/8C-1tcuBbOk

[hardspunned]

I don’t know about this. I think I’d rather just throw Hot Rats on my turntable if a need a Zappa fix.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I would rather enjoy some Titties and Beer.

[Lurker]

I never missed Frank on Mother’s Day in Chicago. He never, ever disappointed.

I must see this.

L

[dfwgator]

This is about relevance. To wit: Elvis is now in the rear-view mirror....his Estate did noting to make him relevant to the kids...as a result, Graceland attendance is down and most people’s opinions of him are based on impersonators and Lilo and Stitch.

But The Coat Lives On.....

https://vimeo.com/30869244

[Free in Texas]

Whenever any of the metal head musicians I know bag on Zappa I tell them to try and play one of his tunes. They also freak when I tell them that Steve Vai grew up playing lead guitar for Frank. Zappa was a real badass musically. And he gave the record labels hell, too.

[dfwgator]

Two guitarists I wished I could have seen live: Zappa and Terry Kath.

[DoodleBob]

I love that song. My good Berlin Freeper, FZ recorded perhaps his best solo, Rat Tomago (which is actually the solo from The Torture Never Stops) in Berlin in 1978. I know many FZ fans think Watermelon is his best solo, but Rat Tomago has always been #1 for me. Hearing the solo in it's entirety without the edits breathes new life into a masterpiece.

[hardspunned]

Shoot, I’d take that while listening to Hot Rats.

[Lurker]

“Whenever any of the metal head musicians I know bag on Zappa I tell them to try and play one of his tunes.”

That usually does it.

L

[DoodleBob]

These guys may be more popular than the Coat.

[dfwgator]

Inevitably, they’ll be able to recreate a Beatles Concert.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

;-)

[DoodleBob]

My experience is that most musicians, old and new, continue to revere Zappa as the genius that he was. But that is the concern...Zappa’s legacy is chiefly resident amongst players. Yea, back in the day he was generally regarded as a weirdo with a few funny songs about yellow snow, valley girls, and dancin fools. But his fan base wasn’t just musicians...in fact most of them were NOT musicIan’s but (dare I say) the not popular/island of misfit toy kids who identified with his style of humor AND knew he was a bitch on guitar. Getting a new generation of kids on that train may be hard, but it is necessary...music is the best, after all.

[Lurker]

“but (dare I say) the not popular/island of misfit toy kids who identified with his style of humor AND knew he was a bitch on guitar.”

That was me to a tee.

Frank would be horrified at what’s happened to our society. Absolutely horrified.

L

[KevinB]

I have tried my best to get into Zappa, but it has not worked.

[MV=PY]

I saw Terry Kath with Chicago in 1970 right after they recorded their first album but before it took off. They were unknown at the time.

Blew me away.

I never saw Zappa live. I wish I had.

[SunkenCiv]

Steve Vai Talks About Zappa Audition

Excerpt from Frank Scheffer's documentary "Frank Zappa, A Pioneer Of The Future Of Music"

Frank Zappa Palladium, New York 1980 (halloween concert).mpg

[dfwgator]

I regularly find myself watching the Chicago Tanglewood Concert from 1970, Terry was a force of nature.