Hmmm, What A Weekend...
...and it's only the start of three glorious weeks of summer holiday for yours truly. And also a lot of house restoration and more bloody decorating! Kicking off what is (I'm sure) to be a blissful break from work, I met up with Jules yesterday at Wimbledon/Wombledon for a short journey up the "green line" to Kensington/Flensington, where we were due to take our seats at a noted institute of a huge and prestigeous Victorian concert venue called the Albert Hall. Now, it must be said that I've never been to the place before. Never even drove past it.
Once we arrived at the nearest station, we stood outside and started scratching our heads as to where we were meant to go next. Imagine if you will, two grown up adults with the look of inept puzzlement on both of our faces reminicent of Beavis and Butthead on a bad day. Fortunately, directions were asked from a nearby cafe owner and Italian instruction was given to head for Exhibition Road. Off we trudged.
As we turned the corner, a rather large and imposing building came into view, round and very ornate was it's decoration of what looked like porceline figurines that were dancing around the top of the building. Impressive indeed. And if you've never been to this place, you should see the inside. Wow!
We were there for what was to be one helluva concert. Dweezil Zappa playing the music composed by his father, Frank, featuring the Dweezil Zappa band along with two very special guests in the form of Napoleon Murphy Brock and Steve Vai.
The performance kicked off with a film of the 70's circa era Zappa band performing a thirty minute version of "Montana", from "Roxy and Elsewhere". This proved to be interesting for fifteen minutes and then the audience started getting restless. After all, it's the nearest thing that some people may get to seeing the late, great Uncle Frank in some sort of live concert experience. The film finished, the band came on, kicking off with an instrumental of considerable note and power in delivery, after which they went straight into "Hungry Freaks, Daddy". Classic song after classic song followed, including:
"Let's Make The Water Turn Black", "Florentine Pogen", "The Idiot Bastard Son", "Yellow Snow" and "Saint Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast".
During this first half, "King Kong" was played with Dweezil's version of conducting using his hand signals to influence and encourage performances from the individual musicians that were on the stage. Just like Daddy used to do. The result was delightful. The performance of "Inca Roads" was sublime.
Steve Vai (whose role as "stunt guitarist" was resurrected for tonight's performance) played his little old heart out after the intermission. "The Black Page", "Peaches En Regalia", "Montana", "Zombie Woof", "Trouble Coming Everyday" came and went all too quickly, ending up with "Sofa" as a piece to wish us all a "thank you and goodbye". Every song was performed with vigour, enthusiasm and utmost quality and respect that came from every musician that was on the stage that night. Of memorable note was Dweezil Zappa and his band performing as backing for vintage film footage of Frank playing a guitar solo (for the song "Chunga's Rvenge"). This they did perfectly, it was not only ambitious, but very special.
But what of the famous incident when Frank played at this venue way back, when the almighty Albert Hall pipe organ was used? Sure enough, The Zappa band of today used it for what it was built for: a few bars of "Louie Louie". Oh, and it was included within the performance of "Peaches En Regalia".
Any negatives from last night? Well, at £50 a pop for seats in the circle, the prices were perhaps a bit high. This may have reflected in so much as the venue was only 60% full audience-wise. That, and a re-scheduled date from six months ago into the current holiday season did not bode well for what could've been potential to fill the venue with Zappa loving freaks. However, that aside, I'm glad I attended, and on reflection, I was personally not too bothered about the high ticket price because what I received in exchange was an evening's worth of quality entertainment. I'm sure everyone who was there will spread the word for next time (if there is one), even just to say how amazed they were of how Napoleon Murphy Brock can still dance well at his age. Proof positive that listening to Zappa's music keeps you young.
In other news today, England beat Jamaica 6 - 0 at Old Trafford. Watford may have got promoted, but Marlon King didn't get to play. He's famous now, and discipline goes out of the window...or so he thought. Headlines in "The Scum" claimed that he came back to the hotel with a bird on each arm without any regard for pre-match etiquette. He was dismissed from the Jamaican squad and sent off, so to speak. Maybe he was not too bothered, as the match was only a friendly, but I still feel such a display would not have done him any favours. Same thing goes for the Reggae Boys performance on the pitch. They may have shown heart at times, but the lack of world class players and organisation reflected on the final outcome.
Blimey, look at the time! I've missed the first part of "Chicken Shack"! Good job Toppy's on the case...
...and it's only the start of three glorious weeks of summer holiday for yours truly. And also a lot of house restoration and more bloody decorating! Kicking off what is (I'm sure) to be a blissful break from work, I met up with Jules yesterday at Wimbledon/Wombledon for a short journey up the "green line" to Kensington/Flensington, where we were due to take our seats at a noted institute of a huge and prestigeous Victorian concert venue called the Albert Hall. Now, it must be said that I've never been to the place before. Never even drove past it.
Once we arrived at the nearest station, we stood outside and started scratching our heads as to where we were meant to go next. Imagine if you will, two grown up adults with the look of inept puzzlement on both of our faces reminicent of Beavis and Butthead on a bad day. Fortunately, directions were asked from a nearby cafe owner and Italian instruction was given to head for Exhibition Road. Off we trudged.
As we turned the corner, a rather large and imposing building came into view, round and very ornate was it's decoration of what looked like porceline figurines that were dancing around the top of the building. Impressive indeed. And if you've never been to this place, you should see the inside. Wow!
We were there for what was to be one helluva concert. Dweezil Zappa playing the music composed by his father, Frank, featuring the Dweezil Zappa band along with two very special guests in the form of Napoleon Murphy Brock and Steve Vai.
The performance kicked off with a film of the 70's circa era Zappa band performing a thirty minute version of "Montana", from "Roxy and Elsewhere". This proved to be interesting for fifteen minutes and then the audience started getting restless. After all, it's the nearest thing that some people may get to seeing the late, great Uncle Frank in some sort of live concert experience. The film finished, the band came on, kicking off with an instrumental of considerable note and power in delivery, after which they went straight into "Hungry Freaks, Daddy". Classic song after classic song followed, including:
"Let's Make The Water Turn Black", "Florentine Pogen", "The Idiot Bastard Son", "Yellow Snow" and "Saint Alphonso's Pancake Breakfast".
During this first half, "King Kong" was played with Dweezil's version of conducting using his hand signals to influence and encourage performances from the individual musicians that were on the stage. Just like Daddy used to do. The result was delightful. The performance of "Inca Roads" was sublime.
Steve Vai (whose role as "stunt guitarist" was resurrected for tonight's performance) played his little old heart out after the intermission. "The Black Page", "Peaches En Regalia", "Montana", "Zombie Woof", "Trouble Coming Everyday" came and went all too quickly, ending up with "Sofa" as a piece to wish us all a "thank you and goodbye". Every song was performed with vigour, enthusiasm and utmost quality and respect that came from every musician that was on the stage that night. Of memorable note was Dweezil Zappa and his band performing as backing for vintage film footage of Frank playing a guitar solo (for the song "Chunga's Rvenge"). This they did perfectly, it was not only ambitious, but very special.
But what of the famous incident when Frank played at this venue way back, when the almighty Albert Hall pipe organ was used? Sure enough, The Zappa band of today used it for what it was built for: a few bars of "Louie Louie". Oh, and it was included within the performance of "Peaches En Regalia".
Any negatives from last night? Well, at £50 a pop for seats in the circle, the prices were perhaps a bit high. This may have reflected in so much as the venue was only 60% full audience-wise. That, and a re-scheduled date from six months ago into the current holiday season did not bode well for what could've been potential to fill the venue with Zappa loving freaks. However, that aside, I'm glad I attended, and on reflection, I was personally not too bothered about the high ticket price because what I received in exchange was an evening's worth of quality entertainment. I'm sure everyone who was there will spread the word for next time (if there is one), even just to say how amazed they were of how Napoleon Murphy Brock can still dance well at his age. Proof positive that listening to Zappa's music keeps you young.
In other news today, England beat Jamaica 6 - 0 at Old Trafford. Watford may have got promoted, but Marlon King didn't get to play. He's famous now, and discipline goes out of the window...or so he thought. Headlines in "The Scum" claimed that he came back to the hotel with a bird on each arm without any regard for pre-match etiquette. He was dismissed from the Jamaican squad and sent off, so to speak. Maybe he was not too bothered, as the match was only a friendly, but I still feel such a display would not have done him any favours. Same thing goes for the Reggae Boys performance on the pitch. They may have shown heart at times, but the lack of world class players and organisation reflected on the final outcome.
Blimey, look at the time! I've missed the first part of "Chicken Shack"! Good job Toppy's on the case...
1 comment:
this boy must be pracketing witch craft!
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