Review: Dweezil Zappa @ Apollo
Hoodoo
Review: Dweezil Zappa @ Apollo
Manchester Evening News
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/music/livereviews/s/214/214793_review_dweezil_zappa__apollo.html
Reviewer's rating: 3 [of five] star
[Image of Dweezil with Hendrix/Zappa Strat]
http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/ContentResources/810.$plit/C_17_Articles_214793_BodyWeb_Detail_0_Image.jpg
TALK about brave. You're the son of one of music's most iconic
figures: Frank Zappa, satirist, composer and social commentator. Oh
yeah, and guitar hero.
And you kick off your tribute to one of the most eclectic musicians
ever to tread the earth with footage of him in 1973 playing to
assorted "freaks".
But it soon became apparent as Dweezil Zappa ripped into his guitar
that he and his band possessed the musical chops to pull this
outrageous concept off.
Assisted throughout by the highly-animated, highly-talented Napoleon
Murphy Brock, Dweezil and his band displayed the sort of virtuosity
that doubtless made some musos in the audience tearfully throw their
own instruments in the wheelie bin when they got home.
The question was always going to be: could Dweezil pull off the unique
sound of his father's guitar? He didn't disappoint, with a display of
fretboard histrionics with that distinctive Zappa tone.
Opener Hungry Freaks Daddy set the pace followed by the
bodily-functioned humour of Let's Make the Water Turn Black. Then the
audience was treated to time-signature playfulness with King Kong.
Unfortunately, Dweezil's ability to play notes not found on most
guitar necks - is this really the same instrument Hank Marvin plays? -
at lightning speed took its toll on his guitar rig; no sound.
Distinct
But the band played on - virtuosity has distinct advantages. Then,
when telling the audience the problem could not be solved and he would
have to bypass his effects, Dweezil got an electric shock off his mic.
Rock star bruised ego? No chance.
With a new biting tone from his Gibson, Dweezil and band launched into
the "hit" Don't Eat the Yellow Snow. Further treats were in store as
"stunt guitarist" and Zappa alumnus Steve Vai brought his
other-worldly talents to proceedings, melting fret on The Black Page,
the song that landed him the Zappa gig at the tender age of 18. And
who else could play with so much fervour that they end a blistering
solo by drooling over their guitar neck? It was a shame that during
Dweezil and Vai's guitar duels that Vai's guitar was low down in the
mix. However, this did not distract too much from such delights as
Peaches en Regalia, one of Zappa's most accessible tracks, and
Montana.
To top it all off, Dweezil established himself as possibly rock's most
polite man at the end of proceedings by shaking hands with seemingly
most of those who had dug deep to experience Zappa live, the present
day composer whose music refuses to die.
What did you think of the show? Have your say.
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