Zappa's Universe

[@JoeContiMusic]

Wow - just Wow! I played in a band with Ike Willis and worked for Frank on 84 tour. This is one of the best representations of Frank’s music I’ve heard. Well done Mr. Mike Keneally.🙏🙏🙏👍♥️

[@josephwolosz2522]

Was it the PROJECT: OBJET?

[@kenmurphy6792]

Session guitarist Mike Keneally has opened up about his experience working with Frank Zappa and the toll the music legend’s artistic philosophy eventually took on him. - In a new interview with Devin Townsend, Keneally, who’s earned his stripes as Zappa’s guitarist/keyboardist during his 1988 tour, says of the late musician [via Killer Guitar Rigs]: “He had such an impact on my life, even before I ever met him or played with him.” “I was fascinated by his humor, I was fascinated by his attitude, his bloody-mindedness, his individualism and individuality, and the fact that there was nothing else like him.” “I loved the fact that he seemed to be unimpressed by everything,” Keneally explains. “That manifested in a lyrical attitude that was frequently very funny, and, for me, very entertaining.” “He tied things together conceptually from album to album with little snatches of music or little snatches of lyric or lyrical concepts that would be repeated from album to album. You could plot what he called ‘conceptual continuity’ over the course of years, and that was like being a part of a secret club where you would find these little references and be able to piece all of these works together.” That said, as much as Keneally “loved trying to figure it out and trying to learn how to play” Zappa’s music, the artist’s cynical worldview soon started to take a toll. - “As time goes on, I realized there were aspects of it that had such a strong hold on me,” he recounts. “There was a certain negativity to a lot of it, and there was a certain cynicism to it, and he was proudly cynical. He thought that it was insane to not be cynical.” ~~ guitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/[e-mail]

[@cemegonuts]

I've said for years that Keneally caught the zappa virus before he passed away. Mike Keneally is incredibly underrated. I've been running to him ever since Zappa passed. If you aren't familiar, I encourage a good listening. 😊

[@robbelk6465]

Damn,without Zappa and those to keep it real...thing are bleak......nothing else to say about it,we'll all see

[@ericskinner7355]

Saw Mike doing keys and guitar with Vai a while back and have heard some of his solo stuff, he is fantastic.

[@Superstacco]

Totally agree.

[@JukeboxOddities]

Afaik mikes still alive 😮

[@user-wx2ek3uv1i]

0:00 Night School excerpt 0:31 "The Way I See It, Barry" 0:37 Elvis Has Just Left The Building 3:09 Any Kind Of Pain 8:53 Brown Shoes Don't Make It 16:40 The Jazz Discharge Party Hats 21:21 The Idiot Bastard Son 24:41 The Black Page 27:43 Echidna's Arf (Of You) 31:32 Hungry Freaks, Daddy 34:55 Uncle Meat 37:19 Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt 39:55 Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk 48:45 Heavenly Bank Account 52:55 The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing 55:47 Waka/Jawaka 1:07:05 Dirty Love 1:14:21 Chunga's Revenge 1:21:09 Packard Goose excerpt 1:22:10 Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel

[@DukeofPrunes11]

wow... the tall task of Mike Keneally playing Frank for one night. he nails it. love it. such a nice tribute to go on with this show. shows the power of zappas music... didn't even have to be present at his own concert yet he still reached the audience

[@jeanpoincelet]

Everybody eats here, but I want to give flowers to Scott Thunes on bass. Not a single bum note, no sheet music, just positively savage basslines.

[@theo9952]

M. Keneally is a phenomenal musician. To be able to play all those increadibly difficult parts and sing at the same time ! Fantastic !

[@soeffingwhat]

He literally carried thw whole show and got very little credit for it, whereas Steve Vai won an award and he played on just a tiny section of the performance.

[@theo9952]

@@soeffingwhat True

[@jeanpoincelet]

@@soeffingwhat Had to be the outfit

[@lock4rock]

I had this DVD! Watched it many times. Absolutely superb. The quality of the musicians is incredible and Mike puts on a formidable display. I think he's tragically underrated. To think the guitar is not even his first instrument.....🤯

[@simonpepper9721]

I had the video,lol.

[@cosmikdebris4950]

No shit, really?

[@simonpepper9721]

@@cosmikdebris4950 yeah,still got it.

[@wheels845]

I was there and was really feeling it. Amazing show. It was sad that Frank was too sick to perform but he and his music will live on forever. Great job to all!

[@Carl-im9gh]

I bought this on fideo when fideo's existed. Was Frank still alive when this concert was performed?

[@Baribrotzer]

@@Carl-im9gh Yes he was. In fact, this was when and where the Zappa family first went public about how sick he was.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

When and where was this concert?

[@wheels845]

@@paulinebutcherbird wow Pauline, that was a long time ago. I do believe it was at the Ritz in NYC. I may still have the T- Shirt from the show. Full orchestra and Mike Kennelly was on “ stunt “ guitar!

[@boblatzer]

Tremendously talented people.

[@Superstacco]

On Mike Keneally: His solo discography is exemplary. This dude is so humble. I mean consider this man's super powers and how he speaks and works with other people. If you're not familiar with Keneally/BFD do yourself a favour and dive into the marvel that is Kenealy's own music. What he does here is... I think Zappa was still alive at this point but very sick and couldn't make it. And Mats and Morgan! Amazing experience.

[@erikmaronde2244]

Mike Keneally is a legend in himself Saw him in 2019 and recently (03/2023) with Devin Townsend. This performance I know by heart, because I watched it so many times. A fantastic performance of all 🎉🖖

[@cfaibah]

Keneally is the type of guy to play rhythm guitar for musicians that can't even match him

[@krsna1961]

Keneally is a mad man...great talent... respect 🙏

[@justsomeguy1074]

Wow! That was quite a show! Great playing and great sound.

[@EczilaSF]

A young Morgan Ågren on the drums and Mats Öberg on synths, awesome to see!

[@heavymetalheretic5386]

Saw both Keneally and Morgan with Devin Townsend, just before the pandemic. All three are fucking legends.

[@davidbsvc255]

morgan, nunca tuve el tiempo y las oportunidades para estudiar la musica a full time en mi pais... tuve q trabajar para comer... pero hoy, los dolores desparecieron y solo valoro la informacion que hay en el aire y los libros. siempre fuiste mi idolo, con mats y frank zappa... esto me emociona cada vez que lo escucho. gracias por todo. te percibo intesamente... eres mi idolo. y contigo aprendi de que la musica es lo mejor. gracias eternamente a ti y a frank zappa.

[@hippydippy]

Amazing Show! Every musician on that stage was giving 100% & then some.

[@stephensuddens9146]

Only just found this(3 years late). Great job. Pure bliss.

[@larstornqvist8731]

From my view in Sweden this a wonderful document of Zappas music and intelligence. I often return to this with joy.

[@jammygitt]

Incredible performance. Amazing what FZ achieved in his 52 years. If you have not watched Alex Winters doc Zappa I urge you to.

[@kelvinwilson9217]

Mr. Mike Keneally was very respected by Zappa, and he rated Mr. Mike Keneally as his top pick for many reasons. Beautiful concert, and you can't forget Matt's on keyboards, as he should have been going on tour on the Witches album , which is not bad for a blind person. It was always 'only best for dear Frank', and what joy he brought in his craft.

[@jmarvosa6x3]

Wow even The Persuasions on board. Superb!! These vocal parts CANNOT BE EASY, plus hearing each other over this orchestra?! Top Tier work, baby snake!

[@davejames885]

Mike should form a band with Weird Al Yankovich

[@urielsmachine997]

Great tribute to the maestro FZ. What other musician/ composer has had bacterium, streets, jellyfish and asteroids named after him? You left a great legacy Frank! Frunobulax.. fetch the slippers, good puppy.

[@christopherdavidson6717]

Funny stuff!

[@ericskinner7355]

I got this on VHS when it came out. Great show.

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

What a beautiful tribute!

[@theo9952]

Fantastic show this one. I have it on HiFi stereo VHS but my trusty old HiFi stereo video machine, after nearly 3 decades of service, finally went kaput a few months ago and still have not found someone to fix it. But I will watch it here. Great upload, cheers !

[@heavymetalbebop]

I used to watch this vid years ago and have just found it here,I'd totally forgotten how damn good it is,one of the best versions of,"Dirty Love",ever

[@splattie_]

Really really cool to see the a capella groups up there with the live orchestra and rock setup.

[@seancoady2486]

brought my goose bumps to tears

[@semanj]

Black Page right on into Echidna. God damn.

[@arfshesaid4325]

jazz discharge is just great man

[@bigbass421]

This is absolutely fantastic! Every one of these musicians- is simply at the top of their game. Anyone familiar with the music of Frank Zappa, knows that to play it, requires virtuostic level of ability.. the intricacy and precision of the music, is pretty much incomparable with anything else. Would someone please post the names of the musicians playing here?

[@timbohae]

Wow, the hair, it's like the 80's came back. They did. THis is from last century. Look how young Dweezil and Vai are. Mike, you put the eyebrows on it! Loved the gospel singers. Wish you coulda brought Johnny Guitar back for Andy! I'd take another hour of this, with a Camarillo/Muffin Man finish. I can't get enough.

[@gustavoamilcarlopez8698]

Absolutamente increible y maravillosa recreación!!!

[@michaelstubenvoll142]

Saw this cat back in 93 at the new studio 54. F Z s birthday celebration

[@makeadeathwishproductions]

holy shit!! rockapella is there! nice to see them doing some zappa stuff.

[@davecornelius3883]

Excellent recreation of the originals.

[@tomn9094]

Please flood the world with this.

[@Rasenschneider]

The outfit looks strictly commercial at the beginning. Great performance!

[@tomstiel7576]

this gives me chills

[@zaperfan]

Not a day does by I need to listen to FZ Amazing

[@jublaim]

This is sooooo good!

[@jeanpoincelet]

LOL 5:06 “woaahh my NAME isn’t Bobby”

[@blzbob7936]

All of Franks musicians were exceptional, but Mike has the ability to memorize every note Frank played and wrote, and sing the lyrics, which is super human in my book. Is that Scott Thunes on bass?

[@jeanpoincelet]

That is indeed Scott Thunes!

[@augustohenriques1753]

FZ, the best of the Universe!

[@rafaeldefraga]

Sapiranga!

[@augustohenriques1753]

🐍 👁 🚬

[@christophersleight19]

Greatest American composer in history. And I believe he belongs in the same discussion with Any Composer from anytime in history.

[@user-xi3tq1fy9f]

Невероятно блестяще. Спасибо Фрэнку Заппа за его фантастические композиции.

[@gennadyivanov2614]

Слушаю уже 40 лет и каждый раз поражаешься глубине его таланта

[@shawnbruce6934]

Zappa Was The Original Anarchist Truth Teller.

[@jean-mariedecostre9614]

Je l'ai sur un support vhs, étonnant que cela ne soit pas rééditer sur dvd (enfin, je pense...)

[@Bapuji42]

For a Zappa novice, could someone post a list of the songs played in order? Thanks!

[@paulinebutcherbird]

I think there needs to be more than just a list of the songs. I want to know who all the people are.

[@user-wx2ek3uv1i]

0:00 Night School excerpt 0:31 "The Way I See It, Barry" 0:37 Elvis Has Just Left The Building 3:09 Any Kind Of Pain 8:53 Brown Shoes Don't Make It 16:40 The Jazz Discharge Party Hats 21:21 The Idiot Bastard Son 24:41 The Black Page 27:43 Echidna's Arf (Of You) 31:32 Hungry Freaks, Daddy 34:55 Uncle Meat 37:19 Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt 39:55 Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk 48:45 Heavenly Bank Account 52:55 The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing 55:47 Waka/Jawaka 1:07:05 Dirty Love 1:14:21 Chunga's Revenge 1:21:09 Packard Goose excerpt 1:22:10 Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel ...but you probably figured that out about 10 months ago.

[@Bapuji42]

@@user-wx2ek3uv1i I actually didn't and I appreciate it. Thank you.

[@Baribrotzer]

I've known for years how good a musician Mike Keneally is. I'd never realized he was this good a singer - and I've seen him play half-a-dozen times. It's also interesting to see Dweezil as the Eighties hair-metal kid he started out as, already able to play quite well but still heavily in the shadow of Steve Vai and EVH

[@darrenbennion6086]

Saw Mike again last night with One Shot Deal.....mindblown again

[@seanmurphy26]

My goodness! That horn section on Waka jawaka! Mike keneally is like Weird Al Yankovic on bull semen steroids! I'm 37 years old. 2021 this is the first time I've ever seen this! I never knew Mike keneally was that good, I had only seen or heard stuff from him with Frank's son's band, Z. Z is garbage compared to this! Much respect to Dweezil and Travers

[@rafaeldefraga]

FZ, the best!

[@stevedixon8567]

shame Keneally could only get one tour in with Frank

[@christervainio]

Kick Ass musicians.👏 Too bad they have edited out "Can't afford shoes", wich was the first song they did with Steve Vai.😔

[@eddiebranden1]

In the late 80s/early 90s, I was WAY into Dweezil's music. This show was my gateway to Frank.

[@davenelson8187]

Holy…! ❤

[@magnusbnordh9624]

Another favourite 🤙

[@trevorcarlisle5447]

I've never heard a better Zappa "cover band". With Rockapella?!

[@jfffjl]

Don't know what Frank would think about those marathon giriie whirlie twirlers.

[@cfaibah]

well he had strippers on Roxy

[@jfffjl]

@@cfaibah Pretty sure the strippers didn't do the same thing for an hour and a half.

[@alancumming6407]

Mike Keneally was picked by Frank to play in his band and got the lead gig in Zappa's Universe. I find it hard to see why anyone could describe him as being "incredibly" or "tragically" underrated.

[@ericskinner7355]

We are all have opinions, don't we.

[@alancumming6407]

@@ericskinner7355 Perhaps you can explain the use of the word underrated in this context since I was/am perplexed and curious by its use in relation to musicians who are in the public domain and are demonstrably brilliant.

[@ericskinner7355]

Was referring to whoever said underrated. Underrated is a word that is "tragically" over used, especially on youtube.

[@alancumming6407]

@@ericskinner7355 Sorry Eric. I misunderstood, my apologies. I am also tired of the use of the word 'underrated'. It is lazy and trite.

[@ericskinner7355]

@@alancumming6407 sometimes my sarcasm comes through my words, I think we both must be Zappa fans and are a bit tired of a certain word. And are also impressed by Keneallys ability to fill some really big shoes. I heard that he was pretty nervous about doing this without Frank.

[@stepanstepanov253]

👍👍👍🎹🎼🎸🎷

[@tonyboneful]

Where Has This Been All Your Life?!

[@ronburk7570]

Are there more shows planned with this line up (minus the orchestra of course ?

[@paulinebutcherbird]

Why doesn't anyone reply?

[@user-wx2ek3uv1i]

It was performed four consecutive nights in 1993, always with the orchestra of course.

[@Zappafantrust]

​@@user-wx2ek3uv1i this performance is from 1991 though. They did one performance in 1993 in the Avery Fisher Hall though

[@paulinebutcherbird]

Why are there no credits on this? Where, when was it performed? Who are the singers, etc. I can't believe there is not a full description.

[@user-wx2ek3uv1i]

It was at the Ritz, NYC somewhere in 1993, and the performers are... Joel Thome - conductor Sal Scarpa - assistant conductor The Persuasions (Jay Otis Washington, Jerry Lawson, Jimmy Hayes, Joe Russell) - choir Rockapella (Barry Carl, Elliot Kerman, Scott Leonard, Sean Altman) - choir Dweezil Zappa - guitar Steve Vai - guitar Mike Keneally - guitar, keyboards, vocals Scott Thunes - Bass, vocals Dale Bozzio - vocals Mats Öberg - keyboards, piano, vocals Marc Ziegenhagen - keyboards Morgan Ågren - drums Abe Appleman - violin Alvin Rogers - violin Joyce Hammann - violin Ming Yeh - violin Peter Vanderwater - violin Sandra Billingstea - violin Sanford Allen - violin Sheila Reinhold - violin Stan Hunte - violin Al Brown - viola John Dexter - viola Richard Spencer - viola Bruce Wang - cello Fred Zlotkin - cello John Beal - double bass Cynthia Otis - harp Marvin Stamm - trumpet, flugelhorn Ron Sell - horn Jim Pugh - trombone Dave Taylor - bass trombone, tuba Virgil Blackwell - clarinet, bass clarinet Dave Tofani - flute, piccolo, soprano saxophone Robert Magnuson - oboe, alto saxophone John Campo - bassoon, tenor saxophone Roger Rosenberg - baritone saxophone Jonathan Haas - percussion I just stole that from wikipedia, don't know much else.

[@paulinebutcherbird]

@@user-wx2ek3uv1i Thank you for taking the time and trouble to give me this information. Very kind of you. An amazing show.

[@meunier621]

Poor little girl, i can to sing a song for child ? If you want , and after you could going to sleep ! Do you want ?

[@kriswright4814]

Morgan covers Jimi Carl Black Ralph Humphrey Chester, Terri, Vinnie, Chad.

[@TheZayne34]

I always maintained that it should have been our war-cry FRANK ZAPPA FOR PRESIDENT!!!!

[@sheercerebralpower]

This meltdown is one of the highest form of guitar art.....

[@robertwilliamson8711]

Listening to Dweezil play Frank Zappa guitar pieces is painful.

[@John_13_35]

C'mon man. It's not a contest. He's growing and Frank was proud of him. And he's keeping his dad's music in public view.

[@robertwilliamson8711]

@@John_13_35 Many people around the world are keeping Zappa's music alive in innovative and interesting ways. They're musical scores and are there to be interpreted and played but Zappa's guitar playing was highly idiosyncratic and that element of his music can't be replaced by Dweezil's bland, anodyne noodlings. There are people out there doing better things with Frank's music than Dweezil. He's a child of van Halen and all that tosh.

[@John_13_35]

@@robertwilliamson8711 Orchestra Modern is one of my faves.

[@MuadDib1402]

where is the whole of night school??

[@tomuzziy8004]

良音楽及最良演奏、雑把、雑把、大雑把！！

[@gianlucaramundo3284]

I have the VHS😂

[@townshendshean]

This is just fucking amazing! Just saw Progject with Mike Kenealey and Marc Bonilla last night. This is just as insane!

[@theboraxbandit9563]

Awesome! where did you find this in such quality! I want :D

[@aadvanherk1271]

INDEED, that is he question.

[@theboraxbandit9563]

@@aadvanherk1271 When Zappateers is back up and running, i'm sure someone will post it there :)

[@aadvanherk1271]

@@theboraxbandit9563 might be me :-)

[@theboraxbandit9563]

@@aadvanherk1271 :O :O

[@michaelledford4751]

This was only released on CD and VHS but the VHS is high rez,as to not wear out my original VHS copy of Baby Snakes and Zappas Universe i upconverted both VHS to 1080 DVD ,my grandkids can see the difference on the upconverted DVD's but to my eyes i can only see a major difference in quality on the Baby Snakes video,the high rez VHS Zappas Universe tape looks just as clear & crisp ,most young peole who werent adults when VHS was the big format dont realize that there was a high resolution tape that gave a better picture than Video Disc .

[@lestermobley1551]

Nice but you can do without all the extras. The twirly girls were an annoyance.

[@sandwichtv2164]

I am at the same time laughin' my ass off because of the ridiculous lack of good beats/emphazis, and so proud to see that they tried. That's so cool to see people TRYING, in a world of no-careness. And by the way : the class and respect was there ! Everything is not destroyed here. Keep it guys, keep it. Keep the flamme, work it.

[@sandwichtv2164]

Ok, 14 min after, I have to admit that this is very good. I'm so IN IT.

[@sandwichtv2164]

Jazz Panty's sniffin festival -> HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I'm sure that Frank totally approved this. 👌

[@jxnglxst6874]

What a mess…..

[@nahhmean]

How so?

[@athenajadegossett385]

what's the setlist for this?

[@user-wx2ek3uv1i]

0:00 Night School excerpt 0:31 "The Way I See It, Barry" 0:37 Elvis Has Just Left The Building 3:09 Any Kind Of Pain 8:53 Brown Shoes Don't Make It 16:40 The Jazz Discharge Party Hats 21:21 The Idiot Bastard Son 24:41 The Black Page 27:43 Echidna's Arf (Of You) 31:32 Hungry Freaks, Daddy 34:55 Uncle Meat 37:19 Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt 39:55 Jesus Thinks You're A Jerk 48:45 Heavenly Bank Account 52:55 The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing 55:47 Waka/Jawaka 1:07:05 Dirty Love 1:14:21 Chunga's Revenge 1:21:09 Packard Goose excerpt 1:22:10 Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel

[@benjaminsantiagosstuff]

Are Kineally and Dweezil friendly? They seem like they would work well together

[@stevebinning977]

They played together in 1993 in a band called Z (AKA AZ/DZ) which was fronted by Dweezil and Ahmet and had Scott Thunes on bass. They released an album called "Shampoohorn" and toured during that period.

[@jerrykisling8814]

Is that Steve V?

[@TimHaillay]

Mike Keneally

[@cheyneallen7186]

On Dirty Love, yes.

[@BillM1960]

@@cheyneallen7186 & Dweeze!

[@gm7551]

@jerry Kisling 1:07:00 yes

[@bigtone1348]

I heard that Mike fell foul of Gail. Not sure of the story, except that he took advantage of her generosity?

[@eddiebranden1]

Well took advantage of Frank's name. So, karma.

[@John_13_35]

So did half her kids. A messed up family sadly

[@3rdPlaya0709]

Why is keneally so weird. God I think his dresses so odd. Good musician but he dress like he just won a bunch of a swag from an arcade and he is trying to invent a new style with. Its just really weird

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Stfu

[@chickenbeek]

well first off it's the 90's and a lot of people dressed somewhat similar. and second. why does it matter. Why does anyone do anything? Why play weird music. Why read weird books. What's "weird" anyway? What's "normal" anyway for that matter.

[@stevebinning977]

It's showbiz. You can dress how you like. WTF does it matter if you deliver the goods music wise.

[@garytitone853]

@@chickenbeek I concur, Ironically I had also wore a purple suit to these performances.

[@MixMastaCopyCat]

I find this comment funny because it's on a video of a FRANK ZAPPA show, seems like weird should be on par for course

[@manolokonosko2868]

Excellent musicians, but without Zappa, it's just a cover band.

[@stevewiser9662]

Without Mozart the Vienna Mozart Orchestra is just a cover band.