Fans of Frank Zappa converged on Stanley’s Pub in Cincinnati
to witness the one and only Ike Willis and his band Ugly Radio Rebellion.
Buckeye Music Magazine was proud to be on hand for this opportunity to relive
some of Zappa’s best performed by Ike Willis himself. Willis joined the Zappa
band back in 1978 playing on classics like Joe’s Garage one of my favorite
albums and more recently played in the Zappa tribute band Project Object. Ike’s
new band, Ugly Radio Rebellion is a testament to Willis’s ability to find great
talent and put together a show that Zappa would be proud of. The band was still
setting up when we arrived but it was already standing room only, but luckily
Chubby found room back by the soundboard to set things up to record and I’m
glad he did. We witnessed one of the best shows of the year.
Stanley’s Pub is a great place to get up close and personal
with whoever takes the stage, so to say I was stoked to be four feet from Ike
would be putting it mildly. The band opened up with “five-five-Five” that sent
the crowd into a frenzy, then into “Camarillo Brillo” from Zappa’s Over-Night
Sensation album. The first set also included classics like “Muffin Man” and my
favorite “Joe’s Garage.” Ike was on fire and too was the band that consists of
Scott Schroen (Guitar, Vocals), Dan Paschall (Drums, Vocals), and Andrew Walley
(Bass, Vocals). These guys are tight and they proved it with every song
including “Catholic Girls” and a version of “Crew Slut” that was SICK. The set
also included the bands version of “Whipping Post” that left everyone trying to
catch their breath. The band started the second set where they left off,
somewhere in the cosmos.
The set began with “Heavy Duty Judy” and the song “Dirty
Love” that was a crowd favorite. The entire night was full of timeless Zappa
hits like “Filthy Habits” “Uncle Remus” and a version “Cosmik Debris” that tore
the roof off Stanley’s Pub. Schroen is the perfect counterpart to Ike on Guitar;
they are both flawless and Paschall is a monster on the Drum kit. Together with
Walley on Bass (whose is the grandson of Denny Walley who toured with Zappa in
1975) Ugly Radio Rebellion brings the music of Zappa alive just like Frank
wanted. It was an amazing night and one I am still talking about. If you are a
Zappa fan I’m sorry you missed this one, but not half as sorry as you are I
bet! Thanks to Ike Willis and Radio Rebellion for letting us get in their face
and record the show; you guys are GREAT! And thanks to Steve and the kind folks
at Stanley’s Pub for having us out and for their hospitality; you guys make
Stanley’s one of the best venues in the state. We’ll see ya next time!
