Friday, June 24, 2011

European Trek, 2011

ZZ begins their summer European jaunt tomorrow (June 25th) in what I believe is Switzerland. Comprising 16 shows, the focus is heavy on France with three shows in Spain at the end, including Madrid on July 14th. There has been some criticism regarding the lack of U.K. dates and to be honest it would likely have been better to encompass a greater area. But ZZ hit some spots last year that they rarely go to so it apparently wasn't in the cards this time around.

I do not anticipate any of the upcoming album's songs will be played. It is hoped however that they mix it up; there has been a two and a week gap since the last U.S. show and they flew over to Europe several days ago. Hopefully they took some time to rehearse some different songs. One can hope.

I am hopeful a few recordings surface as well. ZZ is well received in Europe and always put on a good performance. A good friend in France plans to record one show so that will be great. If anyone gets a copy of the set list from the first few shows please post it here. Thanks!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Home Sweet Home

I thought I would share this since its kind of cool. Also Dusty no longer lives there so it is not an invasion of privacy or anything like that.

Pretty sweet place if I say so myself. San Leon is a small community southeast of Houston on Galveston Bay. The pictures don't show it but Dusty apparently had a great view of the water as well.

http://swamplot.com/for-sale-in-san-leon-dusty-hill-estate/2007-09-05/

Sunday, June 19, 2011

!! Request for Video or Audio of ZZ TOP 2007-03-18 HOUSTON, TX RODEO!!

Please let it be known that I would be very thankful and appreciative if any ZZ Top traders or collectors would contact me with any information or knowledge on how I can obtain a copy of ZZ Top at the Houston Rodeo in 2007. I am very interested in hearing this show in its entirety and would be grateful to anyone that can help me.

I WILL TRADE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SHOWS IN EXCHANGE FOR A COPY OF THE 2007 HOUSTON TX RODEO SHOW.

I CAN BE REACHED AT:      TRUCKFAN81@YAHOO.COM

Information that I am aware of:

- A fan / collector in Germany apparently has a full video copy of the show, which features an audience member recording the video monitors that played as the show took place. If this collector reads the blog please contact me. If anyone knows this collector please contact me.
- Jan-Erik, a fan with a large live collection of ZZ and possibly a full video of the Rodeo show, has contacted me before but never e-mailed again after I responded. Jan-Erik, please contact me to discuss a trade.
- There are believed to be two audio sources available. One was recorded by Greg Deeter. The other recorder is unknown but quality is rumored to be good. If anyone has any information please contact me.
- There are believed to be two video sources available. If anyone has any information please contact me.

Again I would be thankful for any help in acquiring this show. THANK YOU!

Billy Gibbons Interview Broadcast June 20th, 2011

A local Houston, TX newscast will be airing a Billy Gibbons interview the morning of June 20th. This will likely be a five to ten minute segment during which Billy may discuss his influences and takes on music, ZZ Top's current tour schedule and, hopefully, some details on the forthcoming new album. This is likely not the forum for "huge" details, such as a release date, but maybe we'll get lucky just the same.

Here is the link to the promo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrxLuVZioas

Here is the description attached to the promo video:

Airs THIS MONDAY JUNE 20th on FOX 26 in HOUSTON, TEXAS..Dave Morales interviews Billy Gibbons and talks about the upcoming album (yes, there is FINALLY one) and Billy's overall take on music..and his brand new tequila Pura Vida!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

New Song "Flyin' High" now available online; Thoughts on "Flyin High"

Not to worry, some kind individuals have posted a link to "Flyin High" on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn7boyyKHQA

Obviously the ZZ fan community has been very excited to hear this new song. A lot of discussion has taken place, a little bit negative but mostly very positive. While some have noted the high production and slickness of the track there is also enough rock influence and traditional ZZ Top aspects to make the song a winner.

Over the past six years the group has worked with multiple people with varying intensity as songs were slowly built for the forever forming new album. To that end it is likely that some songs will have the influence of The Black Keys, some will have Rick Rubin's influence and others will be impacted by Jimi Jamison, who apparently has worked rather extensively with the group in the past.

For what it's worth, and this is merely my unprofessional opinion and I have no specific or inside knowledge, I believe this to be a collaboration more or less between Billy and perhaps Jamison. The song seemingly has very little evidence of Dusty or Frank. Perhaps they are the rhythm section and perhaps they are not. Billy has been known to play bass on songs in the past, and the drums, even if the basic tracking is Frank, definetly have some drum machine help. Similar to some Mescalero songs, this sounds more like a Billy solo composition than a ZZ Top song. Don't get me wrong, I really like the song. I just tend to analyze things.

I really hope we get at least 5-7 songs where Billy, Dusty and Frank sat in a room together, wrote some music and lyrics, and recorded it live in the studio.

---

There is also talk that this may indeed be ZZ's last album. There is some evidence to support this. I'll save the topic for a future blog entry.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

ZZ Top - Charlottesville, VA May 29th

Here is video footage of the May 29th show I attended in Charlottesville, VA. Starts about 30 seconds into "La Grange" and shows how the song received a very short rendition before transitioning into "Tush". I wish I had been able to capture the fake walk-off by Dusty and Frank but I was too caught off guard. Obviously the video does not show it but it was about 94 degrees fahrenheit with about 90% humidity, even though it was about 9:30. Just past dusk, gets dark in the area about 9:00 pm this time of year. Keep in mind the video footage is not perfect, I had to tape up high at an angle as the guy in front of me had a rather large head. Oh well, it is in HD and still pretty cool I think. I have two other videos which I will post later in the week. Enjoy



Wednesday, June 8, 2011

!!! Link to "FLYIN' HIGH" is gone...

Looks like the content under NASA's page has changed. The clean MP3 of "Flyin' High" is no longer available. Now there are two links: one to a video of the rocket take-off with Flyin High in the background, and the second with the audio of the take-off with Flyin High in the background. Hope everyone saved the MP3 to their computer prior to the change.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

!!!! LINK TO ZZ'S NEW SONG

"Flyin' High"

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition28/exp28_zztop.html

Wow...a New Song! "Flyin' High"

Appears that at least one person outside of the group and their associated producers has gotten to hear a brand new ZZ Top song. Astronaut Michael Fossum, a friend of ZZ, was provided a copy of the Top's new song "Flyin High" from their still untitled new album prior to his depature into space. No word on when the general public will be given a chance to listen.

Note the article indicates the song is set at 120 beats per minute, which is the exact pace and speed of many of Eliminator's tracks.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2011/06/zz_top_debuts_new_song_in_spac.php

This entry is courtesy of an excellent find by potential future blog contributor J. Lescott. Thanks go to him.