Posting this because I know there are many Zappa fans here at DU.
We had front row seats for the Project Object concert at the Sellersville Theater (Sellersville, PA) on 1/31/09. We were ~8 ft. from Don Preston! What a surprisingly great evening of Zappa music!
Project Object consisted of:
Ike Willis - guitar, vocals; Don Preston - keyboards, vocals; Ed Mann - vibes, percussion; Robbie Mangano - bass guitar, vocals; Eric Slick - drums; Andre Cholmondeley - guitar, vocals; Jordan Shapiro - synth, vocals.
Preston, Willis, & Mann were members of Zappa's band at one time or other. Don Preston is 76 and still touring with a rock band... fantastic! We shook his hand after the show.
Every member of the band is a great musician and very capable of performing Frank's music. They played about two and a half hours, featuring Zappa music from "Freak Out" up to newer stuff. Don Preston sang "Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder".
Of course, Frank is irreplaceable, but if you love his music and get a chance to see this group, you'll be glad you did. I would have loved to see Zappa Plays Zappa, but couldn't get tickets.
http://www.projectobject.com/