Zappa: It's Surreal Thing
By Mike Harris
LOS ANGELES – America's Bicentennial Year got off to a decidedly surrealistic start when Frank Zappa and the Mothers (DiscReet) came to town for the Forum's first concert of 1976. Looking, as always, like a caricature of himself, Zappa began by narrating his version of domestic life in the Garden of Eden: Man's mate, "Woo-man," apparently has no ability to leave well enough alone (story sound familiar?), so as her first artistic task she sculpts the shaggy coat of her poodle, and creates the snobbish looking animal that any well-to-do matron of today would instantly recognize. What does it all mean? Don't ask me, I'm not from around here.
A little while later – with his manic guitar licks serving as punctuation – Zappa told the true story of the recently apprehended "Illinois Enema Bandit," who perpetuated his novel modus operandi several times before he was caught. The song (if you can believe it) is a dramatization of the case, and may well be a new high in low taste – which for Zappa and Crew is something of an achievement, because Frank has been in the forefront of shock-rock ever since he almost singlehandedly invented the genre several years ago.
"Find Her, Find Her" and "Keep It Greasy (So It Go Down Easy)" rounded out the show with a bit of Zappa funk, as silver-clad girls with "snow queen" hairdos cavorted around the stage with the Mothers. You might say they were Frank's "Tube-ular Belles."
Dr. John (UA), filling in for Todd Rundgren's Utopia (an illness in the band was given as the reason), played a zesty but short set, including "Back By The River" from his current album, "Hollywood Be Thy Name." Spirited accomplishment was provided by his extensive Rizzum and Blues Revue band.
The evening's bill began with Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band (DiscReet), who specialize in constructive dissonance. The sound is rough – edged and metallic – and that's just Beefheart's voice. But these musicians are obviously in the business of creating avantgarde music, and they do it with a real flair.
All in all, an endearingly daffy performance from Frank Zappa's bongo partner.
Note. This article reviews Zappa's concert, which took place on 31 December 1975, at the Forum in Inglewood, California. (Setlist)