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This was the 4th time seeing ZPZ, last time was the tour with Dream Theater, and they only played a shorter set. I expected it to be in the new Mac Hall, but it was in the old Ballroom. Looking around, there wasn't as many people as I thought there would have been, maybe 250.
I must say, I enjoyed the hell out of most of the songs, and my wife, who reluctantly came along, was at least entertained by all the old nerdy men and their ability to stand motionless for the entire show. Technically, I am always amazed at how precise they are at playing these complicated songs. DZ's solos were inspired by his Dad, but I never felt that they were trying to copy anything FZ would have done. The whole band was tight, and the Roxy set was fantastic.
My only complaints would be, and this might be because it was the start of the tour, the songs felt a little bit rigid at times, like they weren't completely comfortable playing them, and were trying to stick so very close to exactly how they sounded on record. I remember seeing a Zappa tribute show here in town years ago, and when they played "Illinois Enema Bandit", they kept all the same banter from the end of the song that was in the ZINY version. I always thought "well, they could have embellished it a little, made it their own". So when I see Ben putting all the same vocal inflections that Napoleon did on the Roxy recordings, I thought the same thing. I've never ever liked "Dummy Up", and I usually skip over it whenever I listen to R&E, so seeing it re-enacted on stage, didn't do anything for me. Maybe the rest of the audience was really into it (or really, really high, and trying not to freak out over the giant prop doobie), but for me, it was stupid. I realize they couldn't have done the whole R&E without it, but whatever.
Ben seems like he has a great voice, but most of the time, I felt like he was trying to do an impression of Napoleon, instead of just singing the songs in his own voice. Even "Teenage Wind", with Chris singing just like Bob Harris, was kind of annoying.
That said, I really appreciate them trying to play many different songs from the different Zappa eras. I know most of the older "medium to hardcore" fans didn't really like anything made past Joe's Garage, so to include songs from YAWYI and SATLTSADW is very refreshing. I love all eras of Zappa (except maybe the classical stuff), so I like that they are learning these different songs. I would have died to hear "Drowning Witch", but maybe someday.
So, very great show, loved The Black Page, loved the Price is Right theme song bit, loved the enthusiasm from the whole band. I would see them again if they came back to Calgary.
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