Bullfrog Blues Club – Portsmouth Dockyard Club
The Muffin Men
Bringing a bit of Frank Zappa to the Dockyard Club, the Muffin Men aren’t exactly your average covers band.
Apart from anything else, they’ve been at it for almost 30 years. They’ve also had numerous members of Zappa’s own band come and go over that period, including original Mothers of Invention drummer Jimmy Carl Black. In fact, the Muffin Men had a drum kit once owned by Jimmy Carl Black on stage at the Dockyard club this evening.
When it comes to playing Frank Zappa, the set mainly focussed on the Mothers of Invention era. Although let’s face it you don’t try and cover any of Frank Zappa’s arrangements (let alone a whole night of them) unless you know you’re good enough.
So when the Muffin Men at the Dockyard Club show was announced, it was always going to be of a decent standard. They are certainly a talented bunch of musicians, who aren’t playing the sort of music you’d normally hear on a Thursday night.
Review – The Muffin Men
Bullfrog Blues Club
Split into 2 sets, the evening started with the familiar tune of “Cosmic Debris” and spanned a great balance of the weird and the wonderful. Largely staying clear of those tracks that may be considered the accessible Zappa tunes, this was focussed on the more experimental side of things. Although without going completely off on a tangent, the Muffin Men proved they certainly knew the Zappa back catalogue.
More often than not songs would pick from live renditions in favour of studio versions, giving each member time to explore their own contributions. There were plenty of solos from all corners of the stage, while when songs did go a little abstract everyone knew their timings to drop back into place. It’s often the sign of a good jazz musician, after all, these aren’t exactly your standard compositions.
While Zappa clearly isn’t to everyone’s taste, this was a big draw for the Bullfrog Blues Club. Bringing the Muffin Men back to Portsmouth at the Dockyard Club, having previously made appearances on the pier several years ago.
As we showed our appreciation at the end of the night, the compare hinted at it becoming an annual event… and why forever not.
The Bullfrog Blues Club normally runs the 1st Thursday of every month, live at the Dockyard Club in Onslow Road, Southsea.
Next up being Robin Bibi on the 6th June, while future events include the Norman Beaker Band (4th July), Lil’ Jimmy Reed (1st August) and Little Toby Walker (12th September).
