Accept No Substitutes

I didn't even look at my ticket stub until after the show had finished, when I saw something printed on it that had caught my eye. It read, " Accept No Substitutes." Feeling rather blown away and speechless at having just seen the live performance of Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa show at the State Theatre in Easton, PA, I felt just that. Accept No Substitutes!



This was the second time I had seen this act in the past eight months. My first initial indoctrination being this past December, was an experience of a new-found discovery music wise. My account of attending that amazing performance, can be found by clicking here.

The show at Easton's State Theatre, picked up right where the previous show I had attended at Glenside's Keswick Theatre, left off. Even before the performance started, the vibe amongst all those seated in house, contained an exciting buzz swirling about in anticipation of what was soon to come. When the house lights dimmed, the band immediately kicked into action, with Dweezil casually stepping out onto stage shortly there after. Almost immediately, I found myself being captivated yet once again at what was unfolding before my eyes and ears. Allowing myself to be swept up in the state of rhythmical euphoria, I sat back and soaked it all in like a sponge.        

   

One song after another, came forth as though being part of some form of musical blitzkrieg of Frank Zappa material. Some songs still remained unknown to me since there is so many to choose from, but others have become more familiar to me after sinking my teeth into past cataloged material. A personal highlight, and favorite for that matter, was the inclusion of the song "Dancin Fool," in this shows set list. This was the first song I ever heard performed by Frank Zappa back in the day when I was much younger, so it was pretty cool to hear that one orchestrated live.

You really have to attend one of these shows to get an actual appreciation of just what all goes on when attending a "Zappa Plays Zappa" performance. Listening to all the exceptional material and how it comes across now, makes me ponder back and think of just how ingeniously advanced Frank Zappa really was. I guess I would say in my own opinion that he was one truly adroit musical genius!

Of course for Mr. Dweezil Zappa to pull all this off, he is in need of a very heavy supportive cast of players surrounding him. He certainly has them already assembled and put in place. I could easily sit here and speak of each individual band members talents and contributions to this cause of enlightening and continuing on for new and old fans sake, with the recordings of Frank Zappa material, but that would take on another life in itself in this review. I must though mention two individual performing artists who just simply left me mesmerized throughout the entire show, start to finish. Main vocalist Ben Thomas, is chock full of all sorts of performing greatness. It seems that there just isn't anything he doesn't do during the course of these presentations of Zappa material. How does he remember all the stuff that he is required to know in order to contribute to his assigned part, I wonder? Having seen him perform only twice so far, I can clearly say that he is now easily one of my favorite vocalists! The same can almost be said for drummer Joe Travers as well. Why is it that this fucking guy is not more well known than he is now? It seems impossible for me right now to even get into how masterly this guy is when it comes to meticulously incorporating his own individual contribution. 

For now though another show has ended, and I am now left to once again bask in the post wave of "Zappa-ness" that quickly follows. Thankfully now though unlike in the past, I now have an assortment of various music and DVDs to feast on, until we next meet again. In the mean time, so long friends and thanks for another memorable visit...safe travels to you all and see you next time!