"The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa" 2019 Tour Notes/Reviews

[pb2015]

So from the two video links they have a hologram of FZ circa 1974 in a black t-shirt performing "Apostrophe" and "Camarillo Brillo." From the unreleased TV special I guess?

[Steve F.]

Definite sensory overload.

That's so they hope you don't notice that in the 'molecular changer' that FZ's body got replaced with Ronnie James Dio's!!

[Mr.Krautman]

Here's a clip with setlist I ran across on FB- https://www.facebook.com/john.oppel/...28815688/?t=60

From the clip it looks more like a projection on a screen than a hologram. My only question is, why is he so short? Is it just the angle this clip was taken from?

Because it'just that (a projection on a screen) and NOT a real hologram.

It should be mentioned that the techniques used in these "holographic" stage representations (Dio, Gorillaz, FZ and others) don't resort to holography and the resulting pictures can't (and shouldn't) actually be called "holograms". It's a much simpler holographic-illusion effect consisting of rear (or reflected) projection on a flat semi-transparent screen without real 3-D depth, also called Pepper's Ghost effect,or "fauxlography". It's not 3-D either. These techniques were already know (and used) a century ago by magicians,etc... Thus don't expect Frank coming front stage to shake your hands... True holography is a much more involved (laboratory) process using lasers and at this stage of the art can't be adapted for bigger stage/theater use. Holograms are (mostly) monochromatic and reproducing moving subjects extremely difficult. Using the terms "Hologram" and "Holography" in this context is both technically false and misleading.

But like (many ?) of us I don't really care about the (so-called) holograms and other visual effects as long as the musicians and performance are top notch, which from the few reports so far they definitely are.

I would be much more interested by some actual reports about the announced "special guests" (Steve Vai, Ian Underwood, Napoleon Murphy Brock, etc...) : were they present (in real) on stage ? I already have my tickets for the European tour next month but really wouldn' like to be cheated twice...

[Wah3]

Review of last nights show
https://www.google.com/amp/s/consequ...koff-2019/amp/

[Mr.Krautman]

Review of last nights show
https://www.google.com/amp/s/consequ...koff-2019/amp/

Mmmmm.... very nice but not a single word about the (announced) "Special Guests". And the report/pictures of the "hologram" matches my description a few posts above. Not the strongest point of the show anyway...

[mkeneally]

The special guests will only pop up on selected shows, Mr. Krautman, but none of them are on this first leg of the tour (we’re doing a lot more touring later) - I think it was advertised that the guests wouldn’t be at every show but I’m real sorry you got that impression. I gotta say though that from where I’m standing it is a hugely fun show and I think you’ll enjoy it, at least I hope so.

[wilcox660]

The special guests will only pop up on selected shows, Mr. Krautman, but none of them are on this first leg of the tour (we’re doing a lot more touring later) - I think it was advertised that the guests wouldn’t be at every show but I’m real sorry you got that impression. I gotta say though that from where I’m standing it is a hugely fun show and I think you’ll enjoy it, at least I hope so.

Hiya Mike! Do the setlists rotate in the Zappa tradition?

[mkeneally]

Not yet - and the majority of the show won’t be because of the visual elements - but we will eventually be moving songs around in the sections of the show where we’re not specifically synced to visuals. During soundchecks we’ve been running other material that will be worked into the show in time, but it’s such an elaborate and ambitious show, we want to make sure we’re rock solid with the basic structure before we begin shifting (although the show this Monday in Red Bank will premiere an unreleased instrumental piece we haven’t done in the tour yet). Many moving parts in this thing! Good news is that it gets smoother every night, the gig tonight in Rochester was a freaking blast. I’m seriously excited about this show, it’s so much dang fun.

[moecurlythanu]

Have any dates been added beyond those in the OP? Pollstar isn't showing any.

[Skeptrick]

I'm going to the show in Baltimore next week, and am looking forward to it!

[wilcox660]

Not yet - and the majority of the show won’t be because of the visual elements - but we will eventually be moving songs around in the sections of the show where we’re not specifically synced to visuals. During soundchecks we’ve been running other material that will be worked into the show in time, but it’s such an elaborate and ambitious show, we want to make sure we’re rock solid with the basic structure before we begin shifting (although the show this Monday in Red Bank will premiere an unreleased instrumental piece we haven’t done in the tour yet). Many moving parts in this thing! Good news is that it gets smoother every night, the gig tonight in Rochester was a freaking blast. I’m seriously excited about this show, it’s so much dang fun.

Glad to hear it! My love to you & the band.

[pulse]

I'm with Steve on this. It's about seeing these alumni play Frank's music live, not the hologram. The amount of self righteous indignation some folks have voiced over it is.....amusing. As if they are somehow staying true to Frank by boycotting it. He even suggested the idea in his book. So...

Some people may be drawn to attend out of curiosity about his ‘bizarre world,’ and the holography. Part of the righteous indignation expressed here arises from the perception that the hologram may reduce FZ’s legacy to that Disney level. I’m glad if I’m wrong. I’m glad if the music prevails for those who are not so familiar with FZ.

[Baribrotzer]

Not sure if I'd go. The band is top-notch, of course, but the material just isn't my favorite of Frank's

[mkeneally]

I think the ratio of accessible stuff to meaty stuff is not dissimilar to that of a Frank show. Farther, Alien and the unreleased orchestral pieces are really powerful. I think Evil Prince is outrageous, and I’m happy to have worked up an interpretation of the original Weasels arrangement of My Guitar, because I don’t think that gets played very often. And it’s ALL layered thanks to the varied visuals and the inclusion of a huge amount of unreleased Frank improvised guitar solos, which we’re all responding to completely reflexively every night (I mean, it really feels like we’re accompanying a live guitar solo while it’s happening. The vibe onstage is STRONG).

[Progatron]

I thought the set list looked reasonably varied, myself! Some obvious choices for sure, but nobody is safe from "Aqualung syndrome" if you want to please as many people as possible and draw crowds. Which you probably wouldn't succeed at if you were replicating a Grand Wazoo band show or something (as much as I would love that myself).

But yeah, some great choices in there IMO!

[mkeneally]

Cool :-) Yeah the show feels really balanced and well-paced to me.

[zorknapp]

Looking forward to this tonight in Red Bank!

Mike

[Mascodagama]

Which you probably wouldn't succeed at if you were replicating a Grand Wazoo band show or something (as much as I would love that myself).

Now yer talkin'!

But only if they can get Earl Dumler back to reprise his contrabass sarrusophone parts.

[Polypet]

Not yet - and the majority of the show won’t be because of the visual elements - but we will eventually be moving songs around in the sections of the show where we’re not specifically synced to visuals. During soundchecks we’ve been running other material that will be worked into the show in time, but it’s such an elaborate and ambitious show, we want to make sure we’re rock solid with the basic structure before we begin shifting (although the show this Monday in Red Bank will premiere an unreleased instrumental piece we haven’t done in the tour yet). Many moving parts in this thing! Good news is that it gets smoother every night, the gig tonight in Rochester was a freaking blast. I’m seriously excited about this show, it’s so much dang fun.

So glad to know you guys are having fun! And i trust you're getting good attendance. I sure hope y'all make it out our way someday.

Rock on, man

[infandous]

Some people may be drawn to attend out of curiosity about his ‘bizarre world,’ and the holography. Part of the righteous indignation expressed here arises from the perception that the hologram may reduce FZ’s legacy to that Disney level. I’m glad if I’m wrong. I’m glad if the music prevails for those who are not so familiar with FZ.

This is my view, and I'm not really indignant about it anyway. I just think it's silly. However, based on Mike Keneally's replies here, it sounds like it's musically outstanding and I think that's all that matters anyway. I would love to see this show now that I'm hearing reviews and comments from MK, but unfortunately for me, this leg is out (just can't do any of the dates/places). If there are more US dates in the future, somewhat close to home (NYC is not too far for me) and I can make one, I'll certainly check it out.

[Sterbus]

And it’s ALL layered thanks to the varied visuals and the inclusion of a huge amount of unreleased Frank improvised guitar solos, which we’re all responding to completely reflexively every night (I mean, it really feels like we’re accompanying a live guitar solo while it’s happening. The vibe onstage is STRONG).

In the end is like we're having "live xenochrony".... responding in real time to a past recorded performance!
I think if we look closely to FZ discography, we'll find plenty of examples of that, just take "Theme From The 3rd Movement Of Sinister Footwear" where David Logeman was asked to play to a solo recorded two years before...

[FrippWire]

I hope to goodness this show comes to Detroit. In the beginning I was on the fence but now I'm all in. There's a promo video on FB featuring Keneally, Vai. etc that convinced me this is a must see for any Zappa fan especially a long time Zappa obsessive like myself. Pleeeeease come to Detroit!

[pb2015]

In the end is like we're having "live xenochrony".... responding in real time to a past recorded performance!
I think if we look closely to FZ discography, we'll find plenty of examples of that, just take "Theme From The 3rd Movement Of Sinister Footwear" where David Logeman was asked to play to a solo recorded two years before...

Similarly, the album versions of "Whipping Post" (Them Or Us) and "What's New In Baltimore" (Mothers of Prevention) have live guitar solos with drums redone in the studio.

[Trane]

Mmmmm.... very nice but not a single word about the (announced) "Special Guests". And the report/pictures of the "hologram" matches my description a few posts above. Not the strongest point of the show anyway...

Definitely thinking of going

https://www.kursaaloostende.be/fr/FrankZappa

but the same day starts the Liège Jazz festival (until 19th) with :
- Kamasi Washington
- The Wrong Object plays Zappa
- Nubya Garcia + Maisha
- Sun Ra Arkestra
- Condor Gruppe

[Mister Triscuits]

but the same day starts the Liège Jazz festival (until 19th) with :
- Kamasi Washington
- The Wrong Object plays Zappa

Wrong Object the same day as the Hologram show! Dweezil should come over to Belgium and make it a hat trick.