Big News Coming

Expect a big annoucement to come in August with regard to the new album. Prepare your markers and calendars to circle the date.

Rambling Thoughts

Appears that "Nationwide" may have replaced "Heaven..." in the set list. Let's hope not - there are people in Europe still that want to hear this rare tune, as well as in the US when the group returns later in the summer.

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Appears Dusty's vocal issues, while a little improved, are still struggling somewhat during the European jaunt. I certainly recognize the vocal cords age, but there must be a way to bring him up in the mix. Perhaps it wants to be somewhat muted, I don't know....

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With regard to correspondence:

Great article on the group [in the new issue of Classic Rock Magazine]. I appreciate the effort behind documenting the reasons for the nine year gap. Interesting that Billy went vulnerable and admitted that XXX and Mescalero did not sell, that the band's reputation had diminished, and that he wanted the band to return to prominence. Also interesting that the band admits XXX and Mescalero were not group efforts - I've said it before Mes is a Billy solo album. I wonder why they didn't record like Rhythmeen again? I think Frank just likes to play and maybe doesn't speak up, and I think Dusty is either underappreciated or intimidated in the studio.

I am excited to hear some of Billy's solo stuff, especially if Rubin works with him on it. I hope Rubin doesn't cause the big delays however - it doesn't need to have the same polish as a ZZ album. I predict something like this could come out in 2014 or 2015 - likely a year the band would take off from the road.

I predict next year will be another year of touring, hopefully in support of "La Futura".

 

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It has been lightly rumored that ZZ would do a special show in Houston towards the end of the year. Anybody else heard anything about this potentially awesome possibility? 

Stuff

Confirmed set list from Finland indicates the band added "Nationwide" prior to "X".

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Large chain bookstores have indicated the ZZ Top issue of the British publication "Classic Rock Magazine" will reach U.S. shores around August 12th.

Classic Rock Magazine - ZZ Top issue

Make sure to track down a copy of the new issue of "Classic Rock Magazine". An extensive interview featuring events from the band's past, lots about the new album, Billy's alleged solo career, and details regarding another cover song.

Coming out July 18th, 2012

Moscow, Russia SET LIST CONFIRMED

Moscow, July 16th, 2012
Set list:

01 Intro

02 Thunderbird
03 I Thank You (Sam & Dave Cover)
04 Waitin' for the Bus
05 Jesus Just Left Chicago
06 Pincushion
07 Heard It On The X
08 I Gotsta Get Paid
09 Gimme All Your Lovin'
10 Vincent Price Blues
11 Heaven, Hell Or Houston
12 My Head's in Mississippi
13 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14 Stages
15 Sharp Dressed Man
16 Legs

Encore:

17 Tube Snake Boogie
18 La Grange / Slopy Drunk Jam / Bar-B-Q
19 Tush

Showtime: 1 hour 19 minutes

***More later***

Highlights and Lowlights of the 2012 Tour - Part One

2012 Tour - Part I


Highlights:
1) Rare tunes!!! The additions of "Vincent", "Stages" and "Houston" are fantastic! Excellent to hear these rarely played gems and in the case of "Houston", a brand new and most obscure chestnut.
2) Elimination of tired tunes!!! No "Sunglasses", no "Nationwide, no "Pressure"! Finally, a band that has been together over 40 years has learned that they have written more than these three songs.
3) New video. Brand new footage shot for the vast majority of songs, with an extensive opening sequence properly setting the mood for the good time to follow.
4) Billy's vocals. They have continued to deepen and increase in raspy tones that it now sounds almost perfect, like they finally moved down a full octave back into proper key. His singing is bluesy and fitting of each tune, both live and on Texicali.
5) No trilogy sequence. Moving "Gimme" to a spot earlier in the set list is a simple, yet extremely refreshing and exciting change.

Lowlights:
1) No Texicali songs. So far. All signs point to yes when asking the question "will they play some new tunes in Europe this summer?" The rare tunes made up for this glaring omission, but upon their return to North America in the fall and the scheduled impending release date of the new album, to not play any of the new stuff would be criminally insane.
2) Dusty's vocals. This is a touchy subject. Dusty is giving it is all, like he always has, and his bass playing continues to be tone, taste and tenacious. But the sound crew is mishandling his singing - he either needs to be brought up in the mix, or needs to accept the aging of his voice and sing in a lower register.
3) Encores. They broke up the trilogy, now break up Grange>Tush. Close the main set with "Grange" - then play:  new song > "Viva" > "Tush". Or something like that. Just make the encore more unpredictable. Maybe mix it up amongst three or four songs from night to night. Keep it exciting, both for the band and the audience.

When in Europe I Gotsta Get Paid

So, if you read between the lines in the below linked article, it appears that 20 minutes of backline video footage will be added at the start of the European tour. Having disclosed the fact that footage was recorded for Texicali, it appears that the additional time will be dedicated to at least one or two of the new tracks. This is good news as many are frustrated at the lack of promotion coming from the band in support of an EP that is overwhelmingly deemed to be fantastic by the masses.

http://www.westseattleherald.com/2012/07/09/features/new-zz-top-tour-features-west-seattle-talent

I will post set lists from the Euro tour as they are confirmed.

The Tale of "25 Lighters" aka "I Gotsta Get Paid"

Courtesy of Senor Volto here is a link to an extremely interesting article, pertaining to ZZ's hit new single:

http://m.classicrockmagazine.com/news/murder-drugs-and-cough-mixture-the-hip-hop-roots-of-zz-tops-new-single-revealed/

Looks like the new issue of Classic Rock Magazine, on sale July 18th, will feature an in-depth interview with ZZ, hopefully containing lots of info about the new album. Make sure to look for it.

Pleaser...Teaser...

Check out the riff at the 0:15 second mark.....Crowd wants it but they don't play it. I can't stand it, I just can't stand it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX7Tc6X4dlk&feature=share

Caption indicates the video recorder was holding up a Texicali poster and Billy responded...sort of...