Peaches en Regalia over Buxton tonight

Tonight I came out of hibernation to go and see the Zappatistas in Buxton. Booked for the Four Four Time festival, the band features some amazing musicians, led by John Etheridge. Any concert that starts with Peaches en Regalia is guaranteed to please.I want it played at my funeral, because at some point in my existence - I nearly wrote life - I have to go down an aisle to that triumphant sound. Watching such amazing musicians perform Frank Zappa's music was a real treat. I remember watching Robyn Hitchcock cover Captain Beefheart songs.There was a moment of doubt - can he do them justice? And then I relaxed into hearing my favourite songs played live. Tonight was a similar experience. Music I had forgotten I knew came back to me in all its glory. Memories of French friends in Casablanca, who were desperate to have me explain the lyrics of Moving to Montana Soon - raising my lonely dental floss, riding a pygmy pony, zircon encrusted tweezers. I did wonder if, as a musician playing Zappa or Beefheart, you have to resist channelling the artist, or actively try to be possessed by their spirit. They were both such individual and powerful performers, composers,musical mavericks, stage presences, artists in every sense. I enjoyed every minute of tonight's concert. The music of Frank Zappa shouldn't be trapped in digital downloads, vinyl grooves, or even sheet music. It needs to be played live and released back into the wild where it belongs.