A friend of mine has asked me several times to write about what I felt was the most disappointing concert I’d ever been to. I’ve already mentioned a couple, Poco at the Shakespearean Theatre in Stratford, CT, mostly because of the horrendous acoustics, and the fourth Cream concert I went to in 1967-68 at the New Haven Arena, not a terrible show but it paled in comparison with the other three.
The most disappointing? I have to pair it with an outstanding one by the same artist, but there’s little doubt that Frank Zappa at the Waterbury Palace on Oct. 29, 1975 is the one. I know the exact date because of meticulous archiving of many of Zappa’s concert dates on the Internet.
Almost one year before on Nov. 28, 1974, I had seen Zappa at the same venue with a large band, which included Ruth Underwood, vibes, xylophone and marimba, George Duke, keyboards, Tom Fowler, bass, Bruce Fowler, trombone, Walt Fowler, trumpet, Ralph Humphrey, drums, Napoleon Murphy Brock, vocals and sax, and Frank on lead guitar and vocals, essentially the Roxy & Elsewhere band. There were a few other band members. I don’t recall who they were, but it was a large ensemble. Obviously expensive to travel with.
I had always been aware of Zappa and really liked some of his material from the ’60s. But when I was living and playing with the Aiardo brothers, Tony and Peter, in New Haven, from about 1973-75, they along with an outstanding drummer from Virginia, Peter Nowlin, whom we were working with, turned me on to Overnight Sensation. That album really turned my head around about Zappa. It was brilliant.
There are still a couple of tracks I might skip over at times when I give it a listen, but on the whole, this was Zappa hitting one of his many peaks. And his guitar playing was stunning. I didn’t realize he was that proficient.
Peter Nowlin and his girlfriend took me to that ’74 Palace show. We sat in the balcony, which weren’t bad seats at all. The perspective was very high and we were looking almost straight down on to the band, so we could see the depth of the stage and the band members really well.
Zappa’s group was outrageous. The musicality and musicianship was inspiring. His guitar playing was every bit as good as the studio cuts and the precision and execution of his complex arrangements, while keeping a rocking, swinging groove happening impressed me tremendously.
The material included a lot of the Apostrophe album, including Stink-Foot, Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow and the title track, and from Overnight Sensation, Dirty Love, Zomby Woof and the overwhelming finale Montana, among others. A memorable gig.
So, a year later, I signed up for the almost-Halloween show without hesitation. I had orchestra seats about 20-25 rows back, technically closer but not as good as the balcony view. Captain Beefheart was on the show with Zappa, who was supporting the Bongo Fury release that they had collaborated on, and Duke was still in the band along with a young, dynamic drummer, Terry Bozio.
The performance was so different and so inferior to the previous year from start to finish. There are boots of this performance circulating, which I’ve never heard. A couple of the songs were the same from the ’74 show, Stink-Foot and Dirty Love, in weaker arrangements and performances for the smaller band, about eight pieces including Zappa. Seems odd to have this reaction for a Zappa gig, but that’s how it came across.
The topper to this ridiculous performance came in the sequence of Honey Don’t You Want A Man Like Me, The Illinois Enema Bandit and Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy, during which Zappa and Beefheart took a female audience member, bound her hands, had her lie on the stage floor and basically proceeded to humiliate her. One of the most tasteless things I’ve ever witnessed. The significance of this supposed humorous skit has always been lost on me.
Suffice to say when the show ended, it was a relief and the deflation from having expected a duplication of the Overnight Sensation show and band took the wind right out of me. I’ve talked with friends who were at the show but didn’t sit with me, and they had the same reaction.
I love Zappa and his music. He’s been called a genius and deservedly so. But that night, near Halloween at the Palace, there was no magic.
Hi, Paul.
Unfortunately I never saw Frank Zappa in concert. In the early ’80s I contemplated going to the Hartford Civic Center to see him (I think it was the “Crush All Boxes” tour), but for some long-forgotten reason, I didn’t go. I have regretted it since. I’m sure he played other shows in this area later during his career, but by then my concert-going days were over.
It’s too bad you happened to catch Zappa on an off night. He liked to experiment and try different things, so it sounds as though you witnessed one of his off nights. At least you managed to see him a year earlier during a much better performance.
Right Jerry,
I did get to see him on one of his extraordinary nights I believe. The good thing is the second concert almost never comes the mind when I think of him live, the first one does. And until your suggestion to come up with a concert I didn’t care for, I had kind of suppressed it. Not until I started thinking deeply about shows I’d seen did I remember ‘Oh yeah, I saw him a year later as well.’
Many thanks for the suggestion.
Paul
“And on keyboards……GEORGE DUKE…!!!!!!!!!”
‘NOUGH SAID….
LOVE YA, PAUL….
PETE
So true. I love George Duke. I saw him a few years after these shows at a club in Higganum, CT, of all places. Kind of like a dinner theater that was putting on fusion shows for a while. It was the Billy Cobham-George Duke band and they were smokin’. The bass player, Alphonso Johnson, was playing an instrument called a Stick at various times during the set. It had a very distinctive sound, not really a bass, thinner, and sort of an elastic, penetrating tone, perfect for soloing. Good show.
My favorite Zappa tune was from his live/studio album with the Roxy & Elsewhere band.
It was where he shared his love of really bad monster movies. Every time I see one on TV I think of
“Cheapness.”
Hi Paul,
A question about on Oct. 28, 1974-Waterbury.
Do you remember if the Climax Blues Band opened for FZ and if there were 2 shows (early & late) for FZ´s band.?
Also, did FZ played there on Nov. 29, 1974?
Many thanks in advance,
Al Fresco
Hi Al,
Actually the November date was a makup for the canceled October original date. The Climax Blues Band were the openers but I don’t remember much from their set. There was only one show.
A later date in ’75, right around Halloween with Captain Beefhart, had two shows with Mahivishnu as the opening act.
Paul
Thank you, Paul.
I have confirmed that FZ played on Oct. 28, 1974.
See: http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=24013
Do you think that FZ could perform on Oct. & Nov. ´74?
Regards
I also saw the 74 show at the palace and was also in the balcony.Small world.It was a great show.I could never had told the date but the description of who was there is the one I saw.
Hey Paul! Pete’s my dad. Thanks for the shout!
i promoted 1973 & 1974 double show 7&11 oclock they were all great performaces.Frank told me to offer climax 3500 for two shows even though they normally got 7500 per show they said they would be honored. tickets were printed wrong show was oct.28.I remember his 2 hr. sound checks.I put on many shows at palace from 1972 thru 1975 Renada Ltd. we were pushed out by big bucks opened Red House Cafe those were the days before corp. greed like clear channel and live nation.
Hi Rich,
Thanks so much for the information. That ’73 show was amazing, one of the best I’ve seen. I played the Red House a number of times with Napi Browne, one of our favorite venues. Also saw Derringer there. That was a great band. Thanks again.
Paul
I remember Nappi Brown one of the best bands around ,I would have you play at least twice a month.I did have Rick Derringer a few times.Also micheal bolotin ,he would get pissed when I called him officer joe bolton as a joke. little Village ,Buxs ,James Cotton,James Montgomery,and Joe Perry also played, what a party .I would have keeped putting on shows at Place but coplick & finkel along with PLR had it in for us.I brought muddy waters ,willie dixon;steve miller ;lou reed; spencer davis kinks,Blue Oster Cult ,Steely Dan,Queen;Mott ,Joe Walsh,Eagles,Dave Mason ,Lynyrd Syknyrd ,Zappa,Rolling Thunder,PinkFloyd,journey and Elvin Bishop.
Hi Enjoying this string and reading about concerts in Waterbury in general. Where was Red House Cafe? That one doesn’t ring any bells. Thanks!
Hi Tim,
Thanks. The Red House was just off Route 8, almost immediately after the Route 8 exit North on the left side of the highway. It may actually have been in Oakville or Watertown. Derringer played there along with other acts of that stature.
Paul