I was already a big Zappa fan, but this record was clearly better than all his others and it didn't take me long to figure out the reason was the new bass player, Scott Thunes. That tape was the mainstay of my playlist for years, I made duplicates so I wouldn't wear it out. I still have it.
It has been said that Zappa band members have often done their best work in Zappa's band and then done nothing noteworthy after. Well, here is an exception to that rule: Scott Thunes is doing his best work now. I caught his set Saturday night with the Mother Hips at a little music festival at Big Sur called the Hipnic. This is a great jam band setting to see Scott just shine.
His awesome command of the instrument and great taste brings funk, punk, jazz and rock to a point of just blowing my mind. I have not seen bass playing as good as that since I saw Mike Watt playing with Firehose in 1991. Part of what makes it so good is that the band is obviously in the process of growing musically into new and farther out spaces. So, that makes it sound really fresh. They are playing on the edge.
I am going to catch the Mother Hips show any time I can; they are a solid act, and a great way to see one of the world's best bass players at his best.
It has been said that Zappa band members have often done their best work in Zappa's band and then done nothing noteworthy after. Well, here is an exception to that rule: Scott Thunes is doing his best work now. I caught his set Saturday night with the Mother Hips at a little music festival at Big Sur called the Hipnic. This is a great jam band setting to see Scott just shine.
His awesome command of the instrument and great taste brings funk, punk, jazz and rock to a point of just blowing my mind. I have not seen bass playing as good as that since I saw Mike Watt playing with Firehose in 1991. Part of what makes it so good is that the band is obviously in the process of growing musically into new and farther out spaces. So, that makes it sound really fresh. They are playing on the edge.
I am going to catch the Mother Hips show any time I can; they are a solid act, and a great way to see one of the world's best bass players at his best.
