Does anybody else have some mixed feelings about Zappa Plays Zappa? I mean, I'm all about paying tribute to awesome artists, but I kind of feel that Dweezil is overplaying his hand and mooching off his fathers fame.

Then on the other hand, why don't I feel this way about DSO? Probably because it is a band made up of fans, not children of the members of the GD. I think I'd feel the same way if one of Phil's sons started a band that just played a bunch of Me and My Uncle's and jammed out Eyes like it was 1974.

I dunno... Anybody have similar feelings or ideas in regards to this?

I don't have any qualms with the quality of the band. I think they play the music well, albeit not with the same energy and flair that Frank was able to squeeze from his bands.

Zappa Plays Zappa has come to Milwaukee and Madison a few times and never disappoints. Dweezil always plays with a talented ensemble, sometimes with original Zappa members Flo and Eddie, Ray White, Terry Bozzio, and more. For someone that is too young to have ever experienced Frank in the flesh, these shows have given me a taste of what the live Zappa experience was like and have always been extremely memorable and uplifting. Dweezil definitely has the chops and technical skill to pay justice to his dad's legacy, and I think that he is touring for that reason; to extend Frank's legacy and allow his music to continually be enjoyed by the fans. I have no problem with musicians' children playing their parents music when it is obvious that it means so much more to them than just serving as a meal ticket. Saw Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience a few weeks ago and that was stellar as well.

No mixed feelings here. I've seen them live three times, and they've absolutely DELIVERED each and every time.

You can count on one hand the number of groups that exist who are commited to performing Zappa's music live, and I believe ZPZ is the most consistently rehearsed of all of them, while allowing the music to breathe a lot more than Zappa himself ever did for the sake of both the crowd's and the band's enjoyment. Every member of the group can play the shiz out of his or her instrument, and they bring a refreshing youthful energy and sense of 'reverent irreverence' to the music.

For their commitment to faithfully performing some seriously mind-bending, finger-bruising tunes written by a legitimate genius, and their consistent ability to both satisfy longtime fans and generate new ones, I cannot fault them. I think it's touching that the dude's son values his father's legacy enough to pour his own heart, soul, and work ethic into it. If you perceive it as a cash grab, I feel like you're missing something important.

They should start writing originals and then do a tour. The single reason I say this is that then they could call their tour Zappa plays Zappa plays Zappa plays Zappa.

Oh god, that was a terrible joke and I'm very sorry. I'll show myself out.

Really enjoyed them when I say them. Dweez does a good job, as does the rest of the band.

You guys are missing my point. I think they do a good job too. I've checked them out and seen them once, and yes, they play Franks music well. As I previously stated, I don't think it has the same energy (or spark or charisma or whatever word best describes it) as any of Frank's bands did, but the energy (or spark or charisma or whatever word best describes it) isn't bad.

The mixed feelings I have are in regards to what his motives are. It seems to me he is just taking his fathers music and running it into the ground. The reason Frank Zappa was awesome was not because he led such kick-ass bands that played his music in such a kick-ass way (although that certainly didn't hurt), he was awesome because he wrote such kick-ass music to begin with. Even if Zappa had been no less of a guitarist, if his music wasn't as freaking sweet as it his he wouldn't have been as popular. This is where my reservations come from. It feels like Dweezil is just living off what is essentially his fathers work. Obviously there is work in putting together and rehearsing a band that can play Frank's music. But Frank's music is far from impossible.

As I said in my OP I'm all for giving tribute to awesome artists. I think when someone takes someone else's art and reproduces it as a tribute it is very respectful and a meaningful, but coming from that person's son? It just seems contrived.

I dunno, It really does just seem like a cash grab to me @Roofless_Sheds. He certainly isn't doing anything of much artistic value, there's a reason nobody really cares about replica's of the Mona Lisa, ya know? And @jerryguscia, when I saw them it seemed to me like Dweezil was incredibly bored, that was just my subjective impression though.

This is all just musings on some thoughts I've been having. I'm not saying this is fact or anything, but it is what I feel is right. The only way to really legitimize anything I've said would be to actually hang out with Dweezil and see how sincere he is about it. If he actually is a super-fan and sincere I don't have any qualms, but I am skeptical.

@spaced

I guess I'm just more cynical and not sold on his sincerity.

I think Zappa's legacy was already well cemented. He'll always be a cult figure because his music, despite its awesomeness, isn't that listener friendly, and it is vulgar and very politically charged. However, any new fans created through his efforts certainly isn't a bad thing.

@Penn42 said:

You guys are missing my point. The mixed feelings I have are in regards to what his motives are. . . . If he actually is a super-fan and sincere I don't have any qualms, but I am skeptical.

WTF. Your "point" has not been missed, it is simply being disagreed with.

Dweezil is "a super fan" and is "sincere." Why are you skeptical? Do you think musicians shouldn't be allowed to make money performing cover songs? What has Dweezil done that makes you think he's insincerely exploiting his dad's legacy?

Phish plays a ton of cover songs. Does that make you skeptical of their motives? I'd rather see Dweezil make money off of performing his dad's music live with excellent musicians, frankly, than anyone else. He plays it well and with passion and -- in my opinion - with sincerity.

@Icculus said:

WTF. Your "point" has not been missed, it is simply being disagreed with

You couldn't have been disagreeing with it because my OP had nothing to do with whether or not ZPZ performs the music well. Yet everyone came in here and told me they do a good job, which has nothing to do with this sentence:

@Penn42 said:

but I kind of feel that Dweezil is overplaying his hand and mooching off his fathers fame

Your OP did adress that sentence, but I didn't see it till after I'd posted my post.

And no, I'm not skeptical of Phish's motives because their career doesn't hinge on their cover songs. Nobody gave a shit about Dweezil during the time he released his five solo albums. I've checked out the last two and I think their incredibly mediocre. So what's he do after his fifth one released on 2006 flops? Throws in the towel and starts ZPZ because he knows that that music is better.

I don't think this scenario is wholly implausible. Maybe this isn't the case, but it sure smells funny as far as I'm concerned.

I agree that Dweezil gives off that "exploiting" type vibe. I've thought it before.

I also feel the same way about DSO. Especially DSO

It comes down to writing music. If you can play complicated stuff, writing something good is just a few steps away.
You just gotta figure it out, and yes it is that easy. Some people got "it", and others need to work harder to get there, but to be making money as a touring musician without any originals= hella lame.
Irregardless making money playing good music > making money playing shit music

Not to say I wouldn't go see ZPZ, but that doesn't mean I like Dweezil. I feel like he's getting back at frank for sticking him with the name.