FIDO WIRD 10 UND FEIERT - LIVE AT GARE DU NORD & MORE

Consisting of 11 members in total, FIDOPLAYSZAPPA, in short FIDO, is an excellent crew hailing from Basel/Switzerland. As you can imagine - the band name tells it all - they have a clear preference on interpreting Frank Zappa songs - in their own special manner of course. Manifested on a concert at Gare du Nord the band recently has celebrated its 10th anniversary, this in parallel with the 20th anniversary of the master's day of death. The line-up has not changed in any way since many years (if ever?), where bass player Pascal Grünenfelder is the driving force, besides front man Dave Muscheidt, appearing as a cool singer/entertainer and drummer Remy Sträuli, the only one whom I already know for playing with other bands too, I mean several jazz and avant incarnations basically.

I've already reviewed another concert presented by them some years ago, where I was simply fascinated by the prolific playing and interaction, which proves them a deserved Zappa follow-up. This concert is in no way inferior to that, probably even better, when counting in some more years of experience in the back. A damn tricky presence is to state in any case. The production comes as a audio/video hybrid, available as physical DVD/Blu-Ray or as a nice little stick, containing two movies and MP3 respectively FLAC files. Professionally filmed with several cameras it makes a lot of fun to follow the performance, here and there interrupted by short episodes showing them in other situations like in the studio or preparing for the gig.

FIDO is consisting of a standard rock foundation, furthermore keyboards, vibraphone, percussion and additionally several wind instruments. The song collection does not tell me much to be honest, as I'm not a Zappa specialist, by no means, only somebody who is familiar with 'Hot Rats', 'Over-Nite-Sensation', 'Sheik Yerbouti' - and that's it basically. Black Napkins impresses me much in particular, as well as the middle section starting with Father O'Blivion, followed by Echidna's Arf (Of You) and finally leading over to the highlight Zoot Allures, this all including diverse solos and a freestyled sax and drum collaboration.

Frequently they are weaving reminiscences to other bands respectively musicians in, for example Gary Moore, Steve Hackett, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and some more. And yes, the real Muffin Man offers a moving speech performance at Gare du Nord too. Overall FIDO is providing an impressing performance, for what it's worth, an excellent jazz rock and avantgarde hybrid which obviously is a must have for Zappa lovers. This band definitely needs a lot more attention.