Concert Memories

The first Zappa concert I ever attended was on 24th September 1984.......

My wife and I went to the gig which was at London's Hammersmith Odeon. We took the train to London straight after we finished work and arrived in time for a bite to eat before going to the venue.

We had very good seats just to the right of centre stage about 7 rows back. Eventually, the band came on and then Frank, who announced that the show was being taped for French TV and that "the first song is Zoot Allures" and then proceeded to whip it out. It was a dream come true - great tune, great playing and all the superb feedback notes brilliantly controlled. We were a few seats along from a group of guys who were smoking so much dope that I'm sure we were a little bit stoned ourselves. Anyway, here's the setlist:

Zoot Allures,

Trouble Every Day,

Penguin in Bondage,

Hot Plate Heaven at the Green Hotel,

In France,

The Evil Prince,

Teenage Wind,

Truck Driver Divorce,

He's so Gay,

Bobby Brown,

Keep it Greasey,

Honey don't you want a Man like me?,

Sharleena,

Let's move to Cleveland,

Ride my Face to Chicago,

Baby take your Teeth out,

Illinois Enema Bandit,

Chana in the Bushwop,

Whippin' Post.

When the show was over, we emerged into an early Autumnal night with a real buzz. we went for a drink and then caught the late train home. What a magic night! I'm listening to a tape of the gig now, and reliving it all.......

The second and, unfortunately, the last Zappa gig I went to was at Wembley Arena  on 18th April 1988.............

I'd got hold of a couple of tickets as soon as I found out about the tour, and in the end, my wife didn't go with me, so I took my friend Brad instead . He drove us up to Wembley and we arrived in time for a drink. We took our seats, which were right at the back of the hall pretty hard stage left. Still, the sound was good, even though the stage area seemed about the size of a portable TV screen. I was amazed at the size of the band and realized that we were in for something special. Too true. Highlights of the set included the brass section playing the guitar solo part in "Stairway To Heaven" and "I am the Walrus". the set list was:

The Black Page,

Packard Goose Medley,

Mr Green Genes,

Florentine Pogen,

Andy,

Inca Roads,

Disco Boy,

Teenage Wind,

City of Tiny Lights,

Ain't Got No Heart,

Let's move to Cleveland,

Bamboozled by Love,

Big Swifty,

Who needs the Peace Corps?,

Peaches En Regalia,

Stairway to Heaven,

Bolero,

I am the Walrus,

Illinois Enema Bandit,

Strictly Genteel.

I was surprised by the lack of overlap of repertoire and blown away by the huge sound that the band generated. Brad was totally gobsmacked. He's been a Zappa fan for a long while and it was the first time he'd ever seen the man in person. Mind you, it was only my second show...... Totally different to the '84 show, but still totally amazing!