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FZ Memory #2
29 March 1980
Paramount Theater
Portland, Oregon
by Sam Rouse
March 29, 1980 - Joe's Garage has recently been released (and is beginning to worm its way into my psyche), and Zappa is finally returning to Portland. My future wife Karen and I, along with Karen's brother and another couple, decide that we had better not miss this one. My friend's wife Shelley is about 8 months pregnant, and when we arrive at the Paramount we find the expected line that extends all the way around the building. After some discussion, Shelley and her husband go to the front door and get the attention of someone inside. Shelley explains (quite truthfully) that if she has to stand in line for a long time, she will probably pass out, and asks if they can be admitted early. After a brief conference, they are let inside.
Eventually the doors open and we work our way in, and find that our friends have saved us seats in the fourth row, not far from center. It is apparent that this show is going to be quite different from the last one, given the sizeable array of equipment on the stage - large drum set, full percussion section, a massive array of keyboards, and a double rack of electronic gadgetry with lots of twinkling lights in front of which is a large pedal board - obviously Franks arsenal.
As we sit expectantly, oohing and ahhing over all the nifty sound toys in the nearly-empty auditorium (most of the crowd still out in the lobby downing suds, haggling over T-shirts and making strange smells with various combustibles), we notice that there is someone tinkering with the racks. Unbelieving at first, it finally sinks in that it is Frank. He picks up a guitar and starts fiddling with it, alternately playing a few blistering licks and then tweezing the controls on his rack. By now he has attracted the attention of the growing crowd, and starts to show off his equipment. "This is two amplifiers with distortion" - barrage of notes - "This is two amplifiers out of phase with distortion" - another barrage of notes - etc. Some of the folks in the crowd start shouting questions to him. "Where's Terry?" "He's forming a band with his wife, called Mrs. B." "Where are Flo & Eddy?" "I don't know; probably eating." A couple of autographs are signed. Karen digs through her purse for a pen and paper, but by the time she finds it and starts toward the stage, Frank has finished his sound check and is leaving.
After awhile, the lights dim and the band comes to the stage. I wasn't familiar with any of the players then, but now know that it included Ike Willis, Ray White, Tommy Mars, and David Logeman. There was a bass player who also had a keyboard (and would occasionally play both at the same time), percussionist, and possibly another member or two.
The set begins with one of the "hits" - I think it was "Yellow Snow" - and then Frank addresses the crowd: "All right, now we're going to start the main part of our show, which consists of 13 songs that you've never heard before. It may seem strange at first, but don't worry - you'll adapt." What followed would eventually be the main medley on "You Are What You Is," beginning with the title song and working its way through "Jumbo Go Away" (maybe a few other selections thrown in - it was all new material, and still a long time before YAWYI would be released). During "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing," right after the line "Laugh 'til you choke on Billy Graham," I flashed the OK sign with thumb and middle finger when Frank was looking my way, and he returned the gesture. This was the only exchange of communication with Frank that I would ever have.
John Smothers, Frank's mean-looking bodyguard, was very prominent during this show. He spent the whole concert near one edge of the stage (with a small club in one hand and usually with a lit cigarette tucked behind his ear), and whenever Frank stepped to the front of the stage for a solo, would move close to Frank and kneel down, glowering at the crowd. I don't know if any trouble was expected at this show, but needless to say, there wasn't any.
Other pieces included selections from Joe's Garage - main ones I remember being the title song and "Outside Now".
When the band returned for the encore, some fans in the front row presented Frank with a long blue satin jacket with "The Central Scrutinizer" printed on the back, which he wore for the rest of the show. During one of the encores, someone's enthusiasm (or chemical enhancement) got the best of them, and they fell from the balcony. I don't know whether the band even realized it (the song continued to completion), but the show ended after that.
To this day, I don't think I've seen a better show.
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