Dweezil Zappa

What's new in Baltimore?  It depends on what you call new- but since I haven't lived there for over forty years- I'd say plenty.  Sunday, September 19, 2010, The City of Baltimore recognized Frank Zappa as a major twentieth century composer and favorite son beside the Enoch Pratt Free Library on newly named Frank Zappa Way.  September 19 is henceforth known in Baltimore as Frank Zappa Day.  So, yes, Dear, it really can happen here.

All this was made possible by a dedicated contingent of fans from Zilnius, Lithuania who commissioned a copy of the Zappa bust found in their city.  With permission from the Zappa family and a collaborative effort with the Creative Alliance, Enoch Pratt Free Library, and the Baltimore mayor's office the activities surrounding the dedication ceremony were smoothly executed.

What else is new in Baltimore?  The fabulous forty year old redevelopment of the Inner Harbor started by the Rouse Company with block grants from the Carter administration, has continued to grow eastward.  The drive through Little Italy, Fels Point, and Canton reveals a growing number of renovated or upscale new buildings.  The neighborhoods are mixed use with a ubiquitous Safeway and requisite parking lot immediately obvious, and  the Whole foods Grocery nestled, more Dean and Deluca like, into the urban landscape.  The edges of Highlandtown by the harbor, seem to be predominately new buildings replacing a previously squalid waterfront.  HIghlandtown proper appears to remain an enclave of well maintained, if tiny, row houses adorned with Baltimore's famous scrubbed white marble steps.  The neighborhood is dwarfed by the presence of the huge Catholic Church:  one can only wonder about it's influence on Frank's early years.  Other than a few au courant roof-top decks for harbor viewing- the neighborhood seems not to have changed radically.

We walked down to the Creative Alliance which is housed in the old Patterson Theater.  On the first floor are a gallery and auditorium.  According to the director, there is studio space above.

The Talk with Gail was held in the auditorium.  Gail, Dweezil, Ahmet, Diva, and Joe Travers fielded all manner of questions from the audience.  Sadly for Gail, very few questions concerned her dedicated work with arts advocacy and first amendment rights.  Understandably, the audience was more interested in personal family trivia and potential releases from the vault.   We all missed Moon's presence and wit but Ahmet, Diva, and Dweezil did an admirable job of feeding the hungry fans with tid-bits. I mean really, anybody's family lore, especially when told by Zappas to pining Zappa fans, is a lot more juicy than dusting off the Bill of Rights. Diva told of watching the Simpsons with her father( my husband and I have a poster that says,"Frank is my Elvis- Matt Groening"); Dweezil talked about writing sniglets with his father- a person wearing only rock t-shirts is an "insignoramous"); and Ahmet told the story of his bicycle accident at six years old which revealed an inept if ever funny reaction by Frank (well now it's funny)- thank God Gail arrived home quickly.

I spent the weekend with my oldest childhood friend.  We arrived for Zappa Day early enough for the Zappa Plays Zappa sound check.  Afterwards the always gracious Dweezil was greeting fans, shaking hands, and signing autographs.  My friend, a journalist, kept insisting I introduce myself to Dweezil.  I went from age sixty to fifteen in a half second.  Instead of a confident, articulate sixty year old, I regressed to a tongue-tied, pimpled, swooning teenager( who went to a girl's school no less) in a nano-blink.  Me- talk to Dweezil- are you serious?  Shake his hand- hell no- mine feels like Sponge Bob.  What could I possibly say that he's never heard before?  Why do I care?  What does it matter?  How can I be clever- why do I want to be?  Should I really walk up to him?  Ultimately, in spite of prodding from my friend, I decided it was more becoming to my rapidly eroding sense of self to  attend the Talk with Gail and leave the clamoring fans to look ridiculous without me.

We had VIP tickets for the concert which allowed us to stand immediately in front of the stage.  No wonder Dweezil is an avid PX90er- a nearly two hour show must be exhausting.  Florentine Pogen, Stinkfoot, What's New in Baltimore, and my favorite, Blessed Relief, were right in the groove.   The very difficult City of Tiny Lights had a bit of a rocky start but Chris pulled it out- it hard to believe he's only twenty-three (his mother told me)- I guess Pete's not much older.

Zappa plays Zappa is much more than a well executed tribute to Frank.  Perhaps it's the difference between an orchestra and a band.  The direction of an orchestra is, by definition, a dictatorship.  A band is often more democratic.  Frank's brilliant performances usually sounded like every fart was orchestrated.  Zappa Plays Zappa's musicians seem to  play off each other within the confines of the compositions.  It's a little more relaxed and less pretentious but no less competent a performance.  In other words- yeah- it might be more fun and easier to listen to.  As his father brought Stravinsky, Bartok, and Varez to a wider audience, surely, Dweezil's music will reach a wider audience than his father for his father.  Some of us think it's important that he do that.  It's remarkable that the band reaches as wide an audience as it does without the big corporations behind them.

 Anyway- I saw Frank play several times and I always felt like he was disparaging of the audience. Dweezil and the members of the band convey their devotion to music and pleasure in playing with each other.  It's really fun for the audience.

So, as a timid but appreciative fan, after forty years, I fanally met a Zappa:  and perhaps the one who is quickly becomig my favorite.  My friend bought me a backstage pass as a surprise.  In spite of my (real) protests, she queued up her Blackberry and said, "I've already paid for it so go in there and speak to Dweezil".

Once inside the gate, I recognized Beachmars and the Poodle Bites from the site.  They introduced me to Twist and Frug.  Who knew? 

They are all attractive and normal (well- who's to say).  I introduced myself to Joe and Chris and feeling braver by the moment, inched my way over to Dweezil.  I couldn't waste my friend's money so I bumbled forward and introduced myself. 

If my hand felt like Sponge Bob, dweezil didn't mention it.  He was kind about the required photo op.  He listened politely and then revealed that he is actually a human being and not a commodity managed by handlers.  He remebered my name and that my picture on the site is of my German Shepherd, Henry.  Wow- a real thinking human being- polite too! not found very often in the music business these days. 

Enjoy the shows.  Dweezil is a new interpretation of Frank- and not just in Baltimore.