I saw Zappa in Santa Barbara.. it was his dirty underwear tour. Like u I was blown away. We arrived a tad late and standing in line. I thought the sound was from recording warming up the audience. To my utter shock it was him playing. General I don't like concerts, cuz it sounds like they are singing in a trash can. Not his sound. Yup know his symphony. It's ok. I prefer his three albums of "shut up and play your guitar".I saw Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention perform their Susie Cream-cheese album in the Village Vanguard in 1968. Blew me away. He was an excellent guitarist and composer. You may know he wrote a symphony or two in addition to satirical rock.
I consider he was a musical genius. Very few artist could release a new album every year.
I think his best work was "You are what you is" and "Joe's garage" but that's just me.
The one thing that astonishes me is these genX have really no clue about the music that was the foundation for their stuff now.
Have a great weekend.