GIG OF THE MONTH

JIMMY CARL BLACK & THE MUFFIN MEN at THE TORRINGTON, N.FINCHLEY N12

Sat 22nd Apr 2000

Since when have we has a gig of the month you may ask? The answer is we didn't have one until this amazing night came along.

An obvious must for all Zappa fans, this gig also included Jimmy paying homage to his good friend - or as he called him, "The other genius". Captain Beefheart.

But first things first. The capacity crowd were at fever pitch by the time the superb Muffin Men took the stage. Three quarters Scouse, and one part German, The Muffin's were awesome in both their application and inspiration. And this my friends was a truly inspirational gig.

By the time Jimmy joined the band The Muffin Men had already treated the crowd to to a good half hour of solid Zappa fare, including a dazzling version of the instrumental "Big Swifty", and an unlikely version of "The Torture Never Stops".

With former Zappa drummer and all round humourist Jimmy Carl fronting the band, things moved from the inspired to the sublime. Aside from taking an occasional step back to announce; "What a great audience, we sure got some friends in here tonight"; Jimmy relived some of the truly great moments of the 70's. There was his spoof cowboy routine, as he took over the Lonesome Cowboy Burt persona. There were a couple of lowdown blues highlights as Jimmy slipped into Beefheart mode for a dazzling "Safe As Milk"; and "Drop Out Boogie".

By the second set, Jimmy was in to reminiscing about the big hit that never was for the Mothers, as the band went into a rocking version of "Big Leg Emma", before hitting a truly magical phase of the evening with Jimmy rasping out a blinding version of "Willy The Pimp".

And aside from another half an hour of encores, and the biggest ovation the old venue has ever witnessed, that was that.

Frank Zappa has sadly passed away, and Beefheart is in poor health, but their music lives on thanks to one of the most remarkable combo's in the land.

P.F.