Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Danny Zelisko Presents (https://dzplive.com/ )
Venue: Celebrity Theatre (https://celebritytheatre.com/ )
Date: Thursday August 1st, 2024
Tour: ROX(POSTROPH)Y 2024 Tour
I remember seeing Dweezil Zappa back in 2017. He was touring playing his father’s, Frank Zappa’s music. Not long after that I read that there was a big dust-up between Dweezil and the trust that owned Frank Zappa’s music. They demanded that he stop performing his dad’s music and they even went as far as demanding he not longer use the name Zappa which they claimed they have copywritten. Well, it’s been 7 years and 1 pandemic later, and Dweezil is finally back out touring again. I am not sure what was the final outcome of the family name and music battle, but it seems that Dweezil is allowed to finally perform by his full name and play his father’s music.
Tonight was the opening of Dweezil’s US tour. It was at the Celebrity Theatre here in Phoenix. They only sold ½ of the venue since they did not want to have the stage turn (Celebrity Theatre is a venue in the round, where the stage can rotate). It was sold out and the crowd was into the music and Dweezil and his band did not disappoint.
Having grown up in the 60s, I was constantly exposed to pop hits on AM radio. We got the constant, Beatles, Kinks, Beach Boys, etc music. In the late 60s I discovered FM radio and my entire exposure to music changed. I got to hear the beginnings of Progressive (Prog) rock and a lot of experimental music. Also, the cuts were longer then that standard 3:30 minute songs on AM radio. This is when I discovered Frank Zappa. Over his career, Frank created 60 albums, either as a solo artist or with his band, The Mothers of Invention. In the late 60s, Frank moved to Laurel Canyon and hung out with a lot of the great Californian musicians including, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steven Stills, The Monkees, Mamas and Papas, The Birds and many others.
Dweezil Zappa was born in September of 1969. His birth name was Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa, because the nurse refused to put Dweezil on the birth Certificate. Years later, Dweezil learned that it was not his real name and demanded that it be changed. A court officially renamed him Dweezil. At an early age Dweezil learned how to play guitar from some of the greats, Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen.
I first saw Frank Zappa in 1980 at the Celebrity Theatre. At that show he introduced a new member, an 18-year-old guitar virtuoso, Steve Vai. To be honest, I don’t remember a lot about that show (it was the end of the 70s) but I remember I did enjoy it.
Zaapa’s music was considered strange in the 60s and 70s by the music critics (Snobs). It was a mixture of Rock, pop, jazz, jazz fusion. His music consisted of nonconformity with a lot of improvisation. If you went to 2 different Frank Zappa concerts in the 70s, you might have heard the same song, but its performance might have been completely different. The Grateful Dead were also known for this style of concert. People either loved Frank’s music or hated it, but the vast majority just ignored it. Frank was known to be very outspoken politically and many of his songs were satires of modern society and politics. His fan base was small, but extremely loyal.
In 2017 Dweezil decided to take his father’s music on the road again for a new generation. His 2017 tour was called, “Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa”. In response to the “cease and desist” order, Dweezil renamed the tour, “50 Years of Frank: Dweezil Zappa Plays Whatever the F@%k He Wants—the Cease and Desist Tour”.
So here we are in 2024 and Dweezil is finally back on tour performing the iconic songs of his father. From the setlist you can see that they covered most of Frank’s legacy. Dweezil even commented during the show that some of the versions of the songs were not exactly like the cut on the album, but one of the versions Frank played live.
I personally loved Frank’s music. It was strange and non-confirmative and all of the things my parents did not like or understand. But that was the way we were back in the 60s and early 70s, whatever our parents dislike, we liked.
Even if you were not a Zappa fan, there was always one song that everyone knew, “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow”. It has the timeless lyrics, “Watch out where the huskies go, and don’t you eat that yellow snow.”
Tonight’s performance was almost 3 hours long. The majority of the crowd were old long-haired hippies from the 60s. Dweezil and the band did not disappoint. They looked like they were having fun and the crowd eat it up. There was one part of the show, where all of the band members stopped playing and did a dance jig on stage as an interpretation of the song. It was very strange but funny.
If you are a Frank Zappa fan, then this show is a must to see. Will we see another musical genius like Frank Zappa again, I don’t know but I hope so. But until then we at least have the opportunity to see and hear his music. If you go you will get to hear all of Frank’s wonderful songs being performed by his son and the fantastic band he has pulled together. Check out their upcoming tour dates on Dweezil’s website. Also follow Dweezil on his social media site. You can see past performances by Dweezil on his YouTube channel. Frank Zappa music is also available on all of the music streaming channels.
Dweezil Zappa Social Media sites:
Website: https://www.dweezilzappa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DweezilZappaOfficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dweezilzappa/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dweezilzappaworld
Dweezil Zappa & Band
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2024, All Rights Reserved
Setlist: (Frank Zappa Album)
Heavy Duty Judy (Shut Up ’n Play Yer Guitar)
Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow (Apostrophe (’))
Nanook Rubs It (Apostrophe (’))
St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast (Apostrophe (’))
Approximate (Zappa in New York)
Inca Roads (One Size Fits All)
Pygmy Twylyte (Roxy & Elsewhere)
The Idiot Bastard Son (We’re Only in It for the Money)
Dickie’s Such an Asshole (Broadway the Hard Way)
Echidna’s Arf (Of You) (Roxy & Elsewhere)
Punky’s Whips (Zappa in New York)
((First time played since 2006))
200 Motels (200 Motels)
A Pound For A Brown (Beat the Boots! II)
Hungry Freaks, Daddy (Freak Out!)
You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here (Freak Out!)
Harry, You’re a Beast (We’re Only in It for the Money)
Oh No (Lumpy Gravy)
Son of Orange County (Roxy & Elsewhere)
More Trouble Every Day (Roxy & Elsewhere)
Encore:
Sharleena (Chunga’s Revenge)
Zomby Woof (Over-Nite Sensation)
