|
press clipping
GIG MAGAZINE
September, 2002
CURTAIN CALL
PROJECT OBJECT
Mystic Theatre, Petaluma, California
June 23, 2002
The last
Frank Zappa tour was 1988, so any Gig reader under the age of 35
came in on a ship that arrived too late to experience the master's
masterworks. Until now Project Object began humbly as an annual
celebration
of Zappa's birthday. Beyond founder Andre Cholmondeley's wildest dreams,
Project Object became a twist on the story from the recent movie Rock
Star
when Zappa alumni Ike Willis (the voice of most of Zappa's work from '78
until his passing in '93) and Napoleon Murphy Brock (the primary singer
for
Zappa's '70s bands) joined forces with this tribute to their former
band.
They still
have the skills. You'll be hard pressed to find two better
vocalits on the same stage at the same time. Brock has the energy of a
teenager, and he comes on like Sammy Davis Junior on acid. The primary
Brock
showcase of the evening is "The Evil Prince" from Zappa's
obscure Thing-Fish
album. The tune is sung opera style with "Nap" donning a black
cape and
giving a Broadway-worthy performance. (Not that they would have him.)
Willis
channels Zappa's voices and visions without breaking a sweat. He's
the original voice of Joe from the infamous Joe's Garage, and to hear
him
sing "Outside Now" and play those beautifully offensive
"imaginary guitar
notes" is a show stopper. When the two harmonize, it's as thick as
a
government scandal and yet they never step on each other's toes.
There are
three smokin' guitarists in the band: Robbie "Seahag" Mangano,
Cholmondeley, and Willis. Mangano plays the "impossible"
guitar parts of
Steve Vai with a more organic vibe. Cholmondeley plays a Steinberger,
and he
has intricate knowledge of Zappa's array of effects. Willis sounds as if
he's
channeling Zappa's tone from beyond the grave. Each has exceptional solo
chops, but watching them play together is equally interesting. At times,
they
run extended passages of single notes in unison ("Montana"),
while, other
times, they pour thick, three-part harmonies that match so well tonally
they
sound like one player striking a chord ("Inca Roads").
Watching
Project Object perform is like watching a good football team
cover a kickoff. Each man stays in his lane the entire way down the
field --
or, in this case, for the entire show. The part is played by whoever is
in
the best position to cover it, and none of the members have a problem
with
taking a break when they are not necessary to the song arrangement.
Many Zappa
alumni have joined Object on stage, so you never know who
might show up on any given night. For full details on the band's many
projects and fall tour, to go projectobject.com.
-- JIMMY
LESLIE
website
www.projectobject.com
|
