About three minutes in, Frank starts layering himself with a looping pedal. It instantly makes me think of newer experimental bands like Don Caballero, Tuneyards, and St. Vincent. He was so ahead of his time, it kills me to think about what it would sound like if he was still here and acted as some kind of indie/math rock uber-God who supported younger acts as he often did in his own career.
Words can't express how much I miss Frank . Saw him in concert 3 times and they were the best concerts of my life. Music is the best and so is Mr. Frank Zappa!!!!!
Yes, the 81/82 band was a different beast altogether. The version of 'City Of Tiny Lights' made by this group on YCDTOSA #5 is something else entirely.
Amazing! Loved the way Frank directed the band spontaneously while still giving his musicians tons of room for improvisation (ex Tommy Mars at 10:49). Zappa knew how to bring out the best of his teenage rockin' combo and really showcase their talents.
Honestly, for such a little guy, Chad plays with enormous power. I remember listening to Frank for a number of years, and I didn't know what his band looked like, as I hadn't seen any pictures or videos of them... I always imagined Chad Wackerman as a hulking knuckle-dragging beast of a drummer. I've since learned about his use of heavy sticks and the Spivack technique, etc.
Saw Zappa Nov 15,1981 painters mill star theater, painters mill, MD. Show was moved from Baltimore civic center to painters mill, they did 2 separate admission shows. We got in to 10:30pm show.
Was also fortunate enough to see both of the shows. I remember the encore from the first show (Bobby Brown). A girl with the biggest Mammalian Protruberances I had ever seen was invited on stage to request any song she wished.
What an amazing display of musicianship! Tight enough to play one of Frank's most challenging pieces, and creative enough to play intriguing solos! Thanks for the upload!
This is just the best footage of this group of Mars ,Via , Mann and Ray White playing RDNZL /City of tiny/lites/ RDNZL . Utopia/ Drowning witch band is very very entertaining
This is from the Digital Vault from the Zappa Kickstarter campaign. There are also studio videos from Village Recorders in 1979, Zappa in a disco TV show and the infamous live show where Scott Thunes smears rancid mayonnaise over his chest. Good God, ain't it funky now!
Holy shit!!! How'd I miss this? That Nordeg footage is the holy grail for me the ZFT should be working on a release for this stuff! This is outstanding and totally different to the Palermo version which is MIND BLOWING! Frank's solo on that version is one of my favourites. Peace. Thanks for posting this.
UMI Sony or whoever owns Zappas VAST unreleased catalog has the resources to put it out as product and has already started.its very apparent to them there's a very steady base and rapidly growing interest in his talents by new consumers as long as we ask we get and there's 10s of dozens of hours of material so keep asking and buying stuff it should come
Ray white, ladies & gentlemen.. Ray white. Ray white. Ray white. (For the life of me, I can’t remember what song/ album that Frank roll-calls Ray and just keeps repeating his name but it’s absolutely hilarious)
If you write every tune your band plays, you are likely to want to conduct them on the night to make sure it goes well for the audience. Plus, something you obviously don't know, Frank would change timing beats or musical styles at whim by hand gestures and baton pointing. This is not 'impersonating' a conductor, it is a master music writer directing his band.
