Live Review: The Frank Zappa Hologram Tour Is as Trippy as the Man Himself (4/19)

Consequence of Sound ^ | April 20, 2019 | Spencer Kaufman

[DoodleBob]

Setting the Stage: It’s been more than a quarter century since the physical world lost Frank Zappa, the experimental rocker whose avant-garde music was as trippy as it was innovative. Now, 25-plus years later, the late legend has rematerialized in “The Bizarre World of Frank Zappa” hologram tour, which kicked off last night at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. With a collective hologram experience consisting mostly of Princess Leia telling Obi-Wan Kenobi he’s our only hope, fans filed into the venue with a high sense of curiosity. The technology for the Zappa tour was developed by Eyellusion, the same company that created the Ronnie James Dio hologram, which debuted a couple years ago and will embark on a US tour of its own late next month.

As press materials informed us, the audio for the Zappa hologram was culled from footage of a 1974 performance in which he turned his Los Angeles rehearsal space into a soundstage. For this tour, the hologram is joined by an impressive lineup of live musicians, including a number of past members of his band. The touring unit consists of guitarists Ray White and Mike Keneally, bassist Scott Thunes, multi-instrumentalist Robert Martin, percussionist Ed Mann, and drummer Joe Travers.

[nothingnew]

but it is necessary...music is the best, after all...

So true. I'm 68....started plaing guitar when I was 9.

Best thing that ever happened, and I'm still playing.

FMCDH(BITS)

[dfwgator]

What’s funny is that when Frank was on “Crossfire” it was the “liberal” Tom Braden that was more harsh on Zappa than the “Conservative” Robert Novak.

[a fool in paradise]

Frank Zappa with Pink Floyd, live 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz9bn24rxrI

[HandyDandy]

In that case, I might recommend a band called Ruben and the Jets.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I’d much rather pay money to see Dweezil Zappa playing his father’s music (and playing it very well) than see this travesty.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I have tried my best to get into Zappa, but it has not worked.

Get yourself a vinyl copy of "Sleep Dirt" (the CD has completely unnecessary vocals added) and see if listening to "The Ocean Is The Ultimate Solution" doesn't take care of that.

Zappa was a terrific guitarist but an even better composer and best of all, he had a killer eye for talent - his bands were awesome.

[DoodleBob]

Dweezil is likely more responsible for Frank's music remaining "alive" than anyone else. I've seen Dweezil about eight times and none of the shows were clunkers ("It was a singles bar, a Tuesday night The moon was dim, the band was tight"). I will continue seeing Dweezil and buying his merch and albums.

That said, if Mike Keneally, Ray White, Bobby Martin, Scott Thunes, Ed Mann, and Vaultmeister Joe Travers are playing, then I'm going...Frank's Hologram is almost secondary.

[Beowulf9]

I was at my home on Long Island where I grew up and about 17. I was on the side of the road in front of our house when down the street comes this white convertible, top down. Suddenly, letting go of the wheel and with both hands wildly waving (I guess you could call them jazz hands so you know what I mean) madly and leaning out the window was Frank Zappa. Even then I recognized him with his long hair, and that signature goatee and mustache.