11/06 @ The Palace Theatre, Albany
Photos provided
“I wanted to reduce it down to the feeling of, what if you saw the Mothers of Invention at the Whiskey a Go Go in 1966, but they also knew how to play songs like ‘Wild Love’ and other songs from the mid-’70s?”
Frank Zappa’s music was a profound discovery for my brother and I, even resulting in us getting matching tattoos of Zappa’s iconic moustache and soul patch imagery. Zappa, considered by some to be one of the first shock rockers, was more than that.
The breadth of his work is massive, with countless live concerts and over 62 albums released before he passed away, ranging in styles from rock-’n’-roll, doo wop, avante garde jazz, jazz fusion, and even classic compositions he would see played by world class orchestras. He was a brilliant composer, musician, and even studio aficionado, utilizing recording techniques far ahead of their time.
His son Dweezil has now been carrying that torch for 20 years and is celebrating with the Like Father, Like Son Tour which comes to the Palace Theatre this Friday, November 6. In anticipation of the show, I had the honor of speaking with Zappa (on Halloween nonetheless) to chat about the tour.
Zappa grew up watching his dad operate on a level that most musicians can only aspire to. Having been an accomplished guitarist himself, releasing his first full length album at the age of 15, Havin’ A Bad Day, taking on his dad’s music was still a challenge. It saw him essentially lock himself away for a year to not only learn how to play guitar like his dad, but also perform the music in a way which is commensurate with the way he did. Zappa tells me it's more akin to preparing to perform classical music.
“A lot of people have had this idea that if I'm going to play somebody else’s music, I need to put my mark on it,” he elaborates. “It's not like when orchestras play Beethoven or Mozart, they go, ‘yeah, let me put my mark on it. Let me change this, let me do that. Let me reharmonize this.’ I think you have to be more of a steward [of Frank’s music].”
Over the past 20 years, Zappa’s journey honoring his father has also acted as continuing education. As shocking as it may seem, Zappa never studied music theory, nor had any formalized training one might acquire through a conservatory of music or the like. Instead, it’s been on-the-job training, not just learning how to play the music, but ultimately understanding the approach and complexities of the compositions. It’s even allowed him the opportunity to rework some of his old music for the tour.
“One of the songs that we're playing on this tour is one of my own off my first album called ‘Electric Hoedown’ that my dad produced,” he tells me. “It has a different orchestral arrangement than the original and shows the progression of things that I've been able to do through performing my dad’s music.”
Of course, arguably a larger part of the musical evolution Zappa has gone through from those early days to now is his transformation from being a rock guitar player, heavily influenced by the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhodes, to now creating something entirely new. There was the obvious challenge of learning how to play in a style that was reminiscent of his dad’s, while still maintaining his own identity as a guitar player. It led him to a whole new style of playing, melding the components of his style as a composer with his ability to use some of those tools as an improvising guitar player.
“I was able to create my own style of playing, and it's kind of backwards to what people would think,” he admits. “I was, in a way, put into a position where you have a deliberate opportunity for an audience to judge you based squarely against A or B — my dad's playing versus my playing. My playing of his music versus his. To be able to get enough of his vocabulary into my playing, but then still be able to play as myself at the speed of thought — that was the challenge.
“Ultimately, I had to learn another language to be able to play in a style that's reminiscent or evocative enough of his playing, but then still allow me to have my own ideas that I could filter and interpret as I felt in an improvisational way… almost like a sophisticated stew.”
A sophisticated stew could also describe Frank’s catalogue of music, which featured a variety of musicians and lineups, something that Zappa has also implemented. Whether touring on specific albums like Apostrophe, Hot Rats, or Roxy & Elsewhere, Zappa has frequently changed touring lineups. This current tour features a five-piece band, something he’s never done before.
“I wanted to reduce it down to the feeling of, what if you saw the Mothers of Invention at the Whiskey a Go Go in 1966, but they also knew how to play songs like ‘Wild Love’ and other songs from the mid-’70s?”
A key element to every lineup of Zappa’s bands is multi-instrumentalist, Scheila Gonzales. The flautist, saxophonist, keyboardist, and auxiliary percussionist is practically a super-human when it comes to playing music, adding incredible flexibility and depth to the lineup.
“One of her tunes that she was supposed to audition on was ‘Peaches En’ Regalia.’ I made the audition challenging in the sense that they only played with the drummer, so they didn't play with the full band and it was all on them to perform their parts. She learned the flute part, the keyboard part, and the saxophone part, but she gave herself just enough time to pick up each instrument. She played the song from top to bottom on all three separately. So seeing that she could compartmentalize and move from instrument to instrument in that way, I hadn't thought anybody would ever think to even do that.”
Gonzales has become a fan favorite and If you are someone who wants to hear her more in the mix, there’s a new technology being utilized on this tour via one of the many VIP upgrades available. Utilizing PEEX live audio, fans can purchase the ability to use an app with an accompanying headset that will allow you to change the way you’re listening. Whether you want to hear more of Gonzales or Zappa’s guitar, you’ll have the ability at the touch of your phone screen. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also have the chance to have a unique watching experience.
“The people that get the special package get to watch some of the show from the side of the stage, access to the PEEX experience, and also get a chance to have a picture taken on stage in front of the audience with the band at the end of the show — another unique feature that I don't think I've ever seen anybody offer.”
Of course, the live setting is the best way to discover and engage with the music. However, the age-old question for those interested in discovering music from a catalog as vast as Frank’s is always, “Which album should I start with?” For Zappa, there’s an easy-to-follow guide:
“I would say Apostrophe is the gateway album. Then from there, go back to the early Mothers stuff because in that 10-year period from 1966 — which is when Freakout came out — until 1976, there's a huge change in my dad's compositional style and his guitar playing. So, just within that 10 year period, you can see exactly who he was as a composer and guitarist.”
Tickets and VIP Packages are still available for the show, this Friday, November 6 here!
