reCAP :: Dweezil Zappa :: 2016.07.08
July 12 / Tuesday
I was blown away when Dweezil Zappa rolled into Port Chester on Friday July 8th to perform “Whatever The F@%k He Wants.” Despite several name changes and family drama concerning the ongoing battle with The Zappa Family Trust, Dweezil took the stage last Friday and proved to a nearly sold-out Capitol Theatre crowd that music shall prevail and that his father’s legacy overshadows these petty family disputes.
After his band nailed the complex vocal parts and unorthodox changes of “It Can’t Happen Here” from Freak Out!, Dweezil addressed the audience saying, “You can imagine, fifty years ago my dad made this piece of music, and even now, it’s one of the strangest f@%king things that ever happened!” I grew up listening to the music of Frank Zappa, but it wasn’t until seeing Dweezil perform the music live did I realize how powerful the material was in influencing some of my personal favorite musicians. Dweezil's shredding guitar solos on “Inca Roads,” from 1975’s One Size Fits All, and “Doreen,” from 1981’s You Are What You Is, were much in the style of one of my favorite guitarist- Trey Anastasio. In fact, during those quirky vocal breaks, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to the vocal jam that closes Phish's classic song- "You Enjoy Myself."
However, truth be told, I found that one of the evening's highlights had absolutely nothing to do with the music of Frank Zappa. Following a triumphant rendition of “Holiday in Berlin, Full-Blown,” off The Mothers of Invention 1970 release, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Dweezil took us on an unexpected detour down memory lane as the band busted into a 100+ song medley of every 1980s artist imaginable. The 20+ minute medley became a hilarious, yet remarkable, display of the seven piece band’s musical versatility.
As an aspiring musician, I've always admired the fact that Zappa was a defender of the freest possible expression of art and ideas. He was a long opponent of censorship who became a leader of the opposition from the PMRC, even testifying before Senate Committee to voice his opinions. 50 years after the release of Freak Out!, the music and humor of Frank Zappa sounds as fresh as ever. To experience Dweezil paying homage to his father’s legacy at The Capitol Theatre on "The Cease and Desist Tour" was truly an unforgettable experience.