And the Wheel Rolls On...

Well the ZZ Top express is in full swing. After some initial concerts in the US of A in May, featuring some nice additions to the set list, the group moved on down to South America. Some reports indicated they reinserted Francine into the set list, with the final verses being in Spanish in the traditional presentation of the song; no doubt a crowd pleaser. Moving back to North America the group played a number of dates traveling east from British Columbia, reentering the States tonight in Bloomington, Illinois.

ZZ will be playing Summerfest this weekend. The festival is proclaimed to be the largest of its kind in the world, with 800+ bands in 11 days on 11 stages. It remains unclear if ZZ is playing on the 25th, the 26th, or both. Either way it should be a great show, although the Top rarely capitalizes on these expanded exposure concerts by mixing things up or being extra creative.

To date four recordings of shows from the 2010 tour have surfaced, four that I'm aware of anyway. The more recent shows reveal the early kinks and voice issues have been worked out, and once again a polished and streamlined show has emerged. I'm unsure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Sadly Thunderbird and Francine (save for South America) remain out of the set list. These songs are staples of the ZZ legend, their glaring absence is bizarre and dumbfounding. I can only assume the group does not like the sound or energy of the tracks; surely the fans are excited to hear them, and the ones that aren't are not really Top fans now are they. Hopefully a recording of the Summerfest show will surface - I would imagine a heavy handful of bands will be recorded.

*****
40+ years and counting....anyone think the goal is 50? Lots of people retire at 71, and to my knowledge recording artists don't have pensions. Wonder what 2020 will bring?

Set List Update

June 16th, 2010 - Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada

01)  Got Me Under Pressure

02)  Waitin' For The Bus

03)  Jesus Just Left Chicago

04)  Pincushion

05)   I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide

06)  Future Blues

07)  Rock Me Baby

08)  I Loved A Woman

09)  My Head's In Mississippi Intro

10) Cheap Sunglasses

11)  Hey Joe

12)  Brown Sugar

13)  Party On The Patio

14)  Just Got Paid

15)  Gimme All Your Lovin'

16)  Sharp Dressed Man

17)  Legs

18)  Viva Las Vegas

19)  La Grange 

20)  Tush


- Looks like they have dropped "I Need You Tonight" in favor of "I Loved a Woman". Good move in my opinion, "Tonight" was starting to get a little stale and methodical.

How the West Was Won

Having briefly alluded to it a few posts ago, I have decided to undertake a major writing project in discussing, analyizing and recounting the fantastic album of "Tejas" and the concurrent "World Wide Texas Tour". Likely to appear in three parts, I will be conducting extensive research for each chapter.

To this end I am requesting people e-mail me with their thoughts on the album. Accounts of the first time they
heard the record, their opinion of the music within, and their thoughts on its place within the ZZ Top catalogue
and career would be fantastic. Also it would be awesome to hear from any individuals that attended a concert
during this famous tour, and their impressions of the show.

I can be reached via e-mail at: truckfan81@yahoo.com

Thank you to those who continue to provide support and visit this page!

ZZ Top - live impressions

Despite my love for ZZ I have only seen them live a handful of times. Whether due to prior engagements, a lack of geographical convenience, or a shortage of funds (quickly becoming the primary problem) I have not been to many concerts. There are many fans who have seen the group 10, 20, even 80+ times. Having fallen in love with the music early on these individuals have made it a point to see each tour, not unlike a Grateful Dead fan from years past.

Thanks to the increased availability of clips via YouTube and videos via torrent sites newer fans have had the opportunity to see the group in each decade of their existence. Whether the spectacular footage from Maryland in 1976 or the brutal assault of Rockpalast. Through to the perfected machinery of Rhythmeen's tour, the surprise of "Stages" in 2005 and on up to Europe in 2008 and 2009.

The lack of variety and increased staleness of the group's set list in the last 10 years notwithstanding, going to see the Top in person continues to be an enjoyable experience. The addition of a few rare gems into the show this year has created some excitement, the only hope is that the band does not slowly drop them one by one as they have been known to do in the past. I can only assume they enjoy playing live, as a full year off has not been taken since 2006. That's six out of seven years of touring without a new album - that has to strike a chord with Billy at some point doesn't it?

Anyway I will be taking in one show this year, at Clearfield PA in early August. If anyone is going to this show feel free to contact me beforehand and we can meet up. I will also provide a detailed review / report on the show as well come August.

* Rocketman - I would be happy to set up a trade. Please e-mail me at truckfan81@yahoo.com  

Trading list updated

Trading list fully updated.

http://antennaheadnews.blogspot.com/2009/10/zz-top-shows-to-trade.html

Heartbreaker

In light of Joe Cocker canceling some planned openings for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers the Top has agreed to step in and fill the void. A series of six shows in September will feature the two veteran groups, surely pleasing the attending fans.

I gotta tell you, the old saying "don't over think it" is good advice. Being a dedicated fan and pursuer of all things ZZ, I of course tend to over think when it comes to news concerning the group. Here are some random thoughts that have struck me about the news concerning the tour w/ Petty:

- Have you seen the tickets for these shows? On 09/18/10 the bands will be playing in Raleigh, NC - an easy drive for me. But I'm not willing (or able) to pay $200 after fees and charges are added on. That's a lot of dough. Don't get me wrong, Tom Petty is great, I'm a big fan. But I'm not going to pay this amount of money to see any band outside of Led Zeppelin w/ Jason Bonham on drums.

- I can tell you right now - the set list will suck. Okay, that's harsh. The set list will suck for the dedicated and longtime fan. Open with "Under Pressure", straight into "Bus / Chicago", then "Cheap Sunglasses", next up "I Need You Tonight", the Eliminator trio, then "La Grange" and "Tush" to close things out. Maybe if your "lucky" they will play Pincushion. I'm not paying $200 to hear these songs, I've heard them a million times. But you know who will love them, or at least possibly recognize them - people who came to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

- Why would the band agree to be an opener for another act anyway? ZZ is certainly not as big as their prime in the '80's, but they still have a very strong following. Why constrict your playing time to one hour and take out some classic tunes? Why play in front of people that may not be able to name any song you've written in the past 25 years. Here's a hint - there is a song on Mescalero called "Stackin' Paper". The reason ZZ agreed to do this is to make the stack higher.

- The Top were scheduled to appear at the Kansas State Fair. They were leading in ticket sales for all acts associated with the Fair. I imagine many fans, many hard working blue collar fans with children were excited to see the group. The tickets were affordable and the majority of individuals in the audience would have actually been knowledgeable and appreciative of the group's songs and performance. A great fair for the family.

    ZZ Top canceled the show advising that it conflicted with a date with Tom Petty. All at once the
    band priced themselves out of the market for many fans , including me, and disappointed a lot of
    followers. They agreed to play for people who like another band rather than play for people that like ZZ
    Top. And for what? More paper.

- The last point did not actually originate in my mind. A fellow fan pointed out that ZZ and Petty will be playing in Houston. A band that sold 10 million copies of an album is willing to subject themselves to being an opener in their hometown. "Sell-out" is an ugly term, but I'm having trouble thinking of a better one.

Sadly ZZ Top has become increasingly complacent as it ages. The motivation and drive to record new music is gone. Quick and easy re-releases and live DVD's are put out one after the other, at little cost and subsequently high profit margins.

Gone is the genius, gusto and fire of the Bill Ham / Billy Gibbons team. And that is a Heartbreaker.