Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Big Sydney; Charlottesville VA; Thoughts

As I post this (8:15 PM Eastern Standard Time) ZZ is in between the two big Australia shows, namely 27/04/2011 and 28/04/2011 in Sydney. These are the final shows of what appears to have been a very successful and enjoyable endeavor. None of the news reports / concert reviews have been very detailed however so specifics are hard to come by. The set list was posted earlier and as mentioned was not particularly exciting or inspiring.

I am hopeful that at least one of the Sydney concerts will be recorded and circulated. I am aware of a number of tapers in the area that frequent rock and hard rock concerts so it is hoped a recording from OZ, the first I am aware of since Melbourne 1987, will become available.

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I have purchased tickets to my first show of the year: May 31st in Charlottesville, VA, USA. I chose this location due to the close proximity to my home but also the fact that it is the first show in the US without Lynyrd Skynyrd. This means the set list should be longer and more exciting, hopefully including some rarities and obscurities that likely will not be played during the one hour set when co-headlining with Skynyrd. I am very hopeful, but realistic, in my anticipation of the playlist. I do not however expect any new songs from the promised new album; those will likely be played in late summer and early autumn when ZZ returns from Europe, if they are played at all.

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If anybody is attending the Charlottesville show let me know, I'm happy to meet up beforehand.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tour in Progress

Initial reviews of the Australian and New Zealand shows have been positive. This is not surprising however. Media reviews are generally done by people who see 100+ shows a year, and are highly unlikely to have an in-depth knowledge of any particular band. This is not a criticism, just a fact.

And I imagine the shows have been great for the vast majority of fans in attendance. The band gives the people what they want, which is apparently to only hear songs that were written 28 years ago or more. It is absolutely critical that the band mix up the set list when they come back to America; the main problem is it likely will not be until after they get rid of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band always plays shortened sets when they are co-headlining (or getting second billing) - thus "Cheap Sunglasses" times twelve.

As much as the band tours surely casual fans must notice how similar the shows are. Same intro music, same choreography, same fuzzy guitars, same beards (just kidding!). Seriously though, fans are not going to keep paying hard earned money to see the same thing, are they?

The band absolutely must, must change the set list later this year. And they must play songs off the promised, but as yet unseen, new album. More than two songs, not the same bullshit as Mescalero where they played only "Buck Nekkid" and "Piece"; like seven new songs, as during the "Rhythmeen" era.

Sometimes the same crap gets old...

Monday, April 18, 2011

Melbourne, Australia 2011-04-18: Setlist

Here is the setlist for the show:

01) Got Me Under Pressure
02) Waiting For The Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago
03) Pincushion
04) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
05) 2000 Blues  (this is likely to be "Future Blues")
06) Rock Me Baby
07) My Head's In Mississippi (intro)/I Need You Tonight
08) Hey Joe
09) Brown Sugar
10) Party On The Patio
11) Just Got Paid
12) Give Me All Your Lovin'
13) Sharp Dressed Man
14) Legs
Encore
15) La Grange/Sloppy Drunk Bar-B-Q
16) Tush


No changes from 2010. One could argue since the band hasn't played in Australia since 2000 any show would have been new to fans. Still, somewhat lazy in my opinion.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Hamilton, New Zealand 2011-04-16

First review of the show:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4898169/ZZ-Top-rocks-Hamilton

Far from detailed. Seems to be more self-promoting of the race event than an actual review of ZZ's performance. Mentions they played for one hour, unsure if the show was actually this short.

More details as they become available.

ZZ Top - Opening Night - Hamilton, New Zealand 2011-04-16

First video from the show has appeared on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bx5sVA7j0g

Limited details at the moment.

Some distance from camera to stage so stage setup / equipment details are hard to make out. The fake speaker stacks are now linear in appearance, rather than the somewhat foolish looking disjointed diagonal version. Video screen at the back mostly consists of colorful "images" - no footage of the members in their younger days.

I have sent a message to the uploader inquiring if he has the set list from the show.

Will update as more information becomes available.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Countdown: 3 days

                                 1987 Australian Tour Poster

Monday, April 4, 2011

ZZ Top - Launch in less than two weeks

The 2011 touring season kicks off in less than two weeks - April 16th in Hamilton, New Zealand to be exact. I have reached out to a fellow fan who will be attending the April 18th concert in Melbourne hoping he will agree to send me a set list after the show - it will be greatly appreciated.

I usually make some predictions around this time each year and will do so again. Despite multiple indications that ZZ have been in the studio I do not anticipate any new songs being played - ZZ unfortunately plays it more and more safe each year so playing something new would be a small miracle. Stranger things have happened so we can always hope. I would estimate new songs will be played after the July European shows, possibly upon a return to the US in the fall, which is supposedly when the new album is to be released.

Here are my hopes for a set list. This is an unlikely mix but nonetheless something that real fans and long time followers would love to hear:

01) Thank You
02) Gimme All Your Lovin'
03) Pincushion
04) Waitin' For the Bus
05) Jesus Just Left Chicago
06) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
07) Precious and Grace
08) Brown Sugar
09) Fool For Your Stockings
10) Dust My Broom
11) Pearl Necklace
12) Arrested for Driving While Blind
13) Sharp Dressed Man
14) Legs
15) La Grange
Encore:
16) Just Got Paid
17) Jailhouse Rock
18) Tush

Please comment with your hopes for the 2011 set list.  Thanks!