Shiny silver suits with glittering lapels, talkboxes on wheels, never-ending dance routines and multiple keytars (and keytar solos) — what a way to spend a Saturday night. Zapp came to Tokyo last weekend and showed us all why they're still together after 35 years.
From the opening of the show it was obvious that the band's founding members, Lester and Terry Troutman, have easily as much energy now as they did back in the band's early-1980s heyday. Bounding about onstage in their matching suits, the two brothers and their fellow band members started off fast and strong, leaping straight into choreographed dance routines that got the crowd on its feet.
Back in 1979, Zapp & Roger (as they were best known) were given a boost in the industry by funk legends George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, who were involved in the production of their debut album. In turn, the band has influenced artists across multiple genres with its trademark electro-funk style. Zapp has been sampled by a who's-who of hip-hop legends — you likely heard them on the talkbox for 2Pac's hit "California Love." The original song, "Dance Floor," was played note-perfect at the start of the set winning the crowd in the process. Zapp then finished its performance with a high-energy rendition of the 2Pac version.