MTV: Miscellaneous Video Television

The music video for "25 Lighters" has finally appeared and can be seen here:

http://www.vevo.com/watch/zz-top/i-gotsta-get-paid/USUV71201019#/watch/zz-top/i-gotsta-get-paid/USUV71201019

Pretty cool. Usual but fail-safe formula of cars, guitars and pretty girls. Wisely the band appears to be releasing promotional material incrementally - to try to squeeze out as much hype and momentum as possible. Music videos across the board aren't much different from ZZ's - make it flashy, make it slick, and make them perky.

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"Chartreuse" debuted in the live set in Columbia, MD at FreeFest, taking the place of stages. It how has been moved to the show opener, coming in prior to "Thank You". This is the first song where all three members share writing credits to be debuted since 2000. "Piece" and "Buck Nekkid" where Gibbons compositions.

For the first time in many years the band has shown some flexibility and spontaneity in the set list. This is very welcomed indeed. Capping this great trend would be one more song from Futura (maybe "Lose Lose You"?) and an old Dusty chestnut. Come on "Teddy Bear"...

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The vinyl edition of "La Futura" has again been delayed, now scheduled for release in the U.S. on 10/22/12 (which may again be moved since this is a Monday and U.S. releases typically come out on Tuesdays). No additional word regarding bonus tracks. Fingers crossed....

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I intended to do a large "La Futura" review, but its highly likely that fans have read enough reviews in the press to get a gauge of mass opinion. I am looking forward to some reviews from readers (Volto?) but in the interest of getting to the point I will make this brief:

Hits:
"Gotsta" - Full tilt Billy imagination and creation.
"Consumption" - Awesome.
"Over You" - I may be in the minority, but this song is a fitting obligatory one track blues.
"Heartache" - harp and Dusty - perfect.
"Lose Lose You"- upbeat, group sounds like their 30 years younger.
"Threshold" - non-mainstream song that allows Billy to branch out.
"Drive-By" - Dusty dials in Elvis, just right every time.

In-betweens:
"Chartreuse" - good jam, missing something.
"It's Too Easy Manana" - good, but would rather have a song written by the three members than a cover
"Big Shiny Nine" - vocals are buried, solo and outro are too short. Song deserved more thought and time.

Misses:
"Flyin High" - AC/DC, ZZ Top, whatever....this song is too straightforward for its own good. A missed opportunity.

"The Future"....and Beyond!

ZZ gets back on the road tonight, appearing at the Chicago Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Hopes are high for a set list change - mostly a couple more additions from "La Futura" would be good - since that is the name of the tour and all.

Also "Driving While Blind" - but I'm dreaming now....

I will post a set list as soon as I can.

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"La Futura" debuted on the charts in the U.S. at number six - highest ever. They also moved 30K copies in the first week, the most albums they have sold since during the first few weeks of "Antenna". Great to see this.

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It has been discussed and agreed that if ZZ does put out another album, it likely will not be produced by Rubin. It has also been discussed that the "Texicali" songs seemed more polished and 'finished' than the remaining six (or eight) tracks. Perhaps Rubin's seemingly OCD production approach got to be too much for Billy, and the band decided it would be released in September come hell or high water. Who knows....

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Amazon shows the vinyl release date to be October 9th.
Best Buy shows the vinyl release date to be October 16th.

Which one is right? Does Best Buy have another exclusive version in the works? If you have any info please comment accordingly.

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Thanks go out to the readers. I greatly enjoyed reading everyone's comments on the recent posts and rest assured I read every one, even if I do not get a chance to comment back. Please continue to participate in discussion if the mood strikes you!

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If we see another ZZ Top release of new music, will it be called "ZZ Top's Last Album"??

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Anybody know what Bill Ham is up to? Bill, if you ever read this page, know that the fans will always respect and appreciate your countless contributions and leadership towards that "Little Ol' Band from Texas".

Bubba's Country Store

I present good friend and ZZ fanatic Rebzz's account of his trip to Bubba's Country Store, scene of the Jeremiah Weed / ZZ Top commercial. Enjoy....

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First of all, Austin is a very cool town. I decided to mapquest Buuba's today and to my amazement it was only 15 minutes from my hotel! I took to the road today and found the store very easily. It is south of Austin but not too far out. As I was turning in the parking lot a guy was filling up his car and I asked him to snap a pic of me with my iPad in front of the store. He most graciously obliged. I then made my way into the store and it is just what you would expect a southern country store would be- candy bars on the left and bread and other necessities on the right. The lady behind the counter immediately thought I was lost by the look on my face as I slowly eased in the door. She was very nice! I told her I was a ZZ Top fan and wanted the full story of the video shoot. She was actually there during the entire process.

She took me on into the back part of the store where wine and beer are sold. She said the store shut down for 4 days while the set was constructed.. You will see a a pic of me in front of the wine standing in the exact spot where the band was set up in the video. A fake wall had been built to look like a cooler but it is no longer there. She said that none of the customers were aware of the set up at all. They were all real customers with no idea what was going on. The customers made anywhere from $300 to $4000.00 for being in the video.. After they signed releases they were told that they would be paid based upon the type of reaction and participation. Of course they didn't know this until after they opened the cooler. It took 4 days to complete the video. The band was there for 2 days.

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The near future will bring another adventure story from Rebzz, this one with some real revelations...

Tennessee ZZ Top show review

At late notice I decided to head Over the Hills and Far Away yesterday to see the ZZ in northeastern Tennessee. Opening act took the stage at 7:00 pm....

Dive right in -

- Cadillac Black opened. These guys are hardcore. Long haired pencil necked blue collar sleeveless plaid wearin' 20' somethings. They were actually louder than ZZ. Just three guys....one on keyboards and bass pedals. But they rocked. Seriously rocked. My ears were bleeding but I assumed that was normal. Full of raw energy and very hungry, these guys are pure bred "don't give a damn don't tread on me" stock. Youtube and their albums don't seem to do them justice. Got to see them live....

- Skynyrd sucked. Van Zant's vocals were flat, he must have said Tennessee at least 20 times, patronizing crap. They know the formula and they work it hard. They did play two songs from the new album, which is more than I can say for ZZ. But again it was played out. They over dramatize and are struck in the '70's. ZZ looks like their from the 2000's, Skynyrd doesn't. And Rossington looks like Satan with white hair. D-

- ZZ. At this point the crowd had been drinking for almost three hours. Beer was everywhere. And with nobody checking your bags at the door there were liquor bottles, airplane bottles, and suspicious looking bottles everywhere. The crowd was young, probably a median age of 40 - half below and half above. The younger crowd were busy hot boxing cigarates and trying to suck each other's tongues out of their owners' mouth, in between screaming, pushing and yelling at each other of course. Personally the taste of cigraettes never did it for me, but hormones dull your taste buds I suppose. If you have asthma do not go to concerts in TN, you will pass out. Anyway the beer didn't stop, even though ZZ probably only had 75 minutes of playing to go. They seemed to sense the energy and kept it fired up, with little chit chat between tunes and exaggrated manerisms on stage. Dusty had a problem with his ponytail during "Bus", he walked over to a technician (not Pablo, I didn't see him once, saw Elwood of course) and had his hair did. He then walked back over to Billy, tapped him on the shoulder and shouted "I'm back", then they did some non-Paula Abdul chorographed dance moves. At this point some fans started to pass out, and you had to watch your step for fear of stepping in beer or messing up someone's mullet. Billy advised Elwood there would be no "Vincent Price Blues" - not for this crowd, they weren't in the mood.

- Billy actually plugged "La Futura", advising the crowd during the introduction to "Gotsta Get Paid". As soon as Billy started the chords the crowd cheered - they know this one and they like it. This is the new "Mississippi", this is the new "Pincushion". The first radio friendly rock friendly single they have had in 18 years. Saw La Futura debuted at number 7 on the Billboard charts this past week - the highest on the chart they have been since "Antenna", maybe even "Recycler".

- No "La Futura" shirts for sale. Dumb.

- Tube Snake, La Grange and Tush rounded it out. Based on how much people were struggling to walk up the stairs I decided to literally run to my car, take a right from the parking lot (instead of a left onto the interstate) and ride a TN 2 lane rural highway under the cover of a cloudy dark sky.....scanning the local radio stations I came upon "Sleeping Bag".....that don't happen every day....

Billy, Billy, Billy.....(shakes head)

BFG is a poor historian, I'll tell you that. This man twists and turns more than Chubby Checker.

http://beta.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-billy-gibbons-on-zz-tops-nyc-live-setlist-560234/2#!1

***So you gonna play some of those new songs huh? Really? Prove it....

Beacon / La Futura review / Things to Come

Well, the La Futura "coming out party" was last night at the Beacon in New York. Reports are in - ZZ put on a great and energetic show but failed to play any new material aside from "Gotsta Get Paid".
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Chartreuse has been played during soundchecks. They have rehearsed the song but apparently not enough. It is absolutely imperative that ZZ capitalize on the current mometum of good vibes, the good sales and good reviews, and play these new songs. People dig this album, people want to hear these new songs.
PLAY SOME OF THE NEW SONGS DAMMIT!!!

P.S. Thanks to my friend Clay G. for his detailed analysis of last night's show.

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I plan on posting a full review of the album in the next few weeks or so. I think it's important to have a decent amount of time to soak up and notice all the nuiances that make ZZ Top songs unique. I want to have a chance to listen some more before I make my final call.

I also anticipate Senor Volto will be posting his album review in the near future. We'll see where we agree and disagree.

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Never fear, there is more to write about in the world of ZZ Top beyond "La Futura".
Coming soon:
1) An indepth story of one reader's adventure to Bubba's Country Store, scene of the Jeremiah Weed / ZZ Top commercial. Thanks to good buddy Rebzz for this one.
2) A look into the highly suspect "autographed" posters received as part of the VIP ticket package. At this time all I can say is BUYER BEWARE.'
3) Continuing coverage of ZZ's fall live tour in support of "La Futura"
4) A write up on the chops and changes within ZZ from the time Mescalero was released to the present.
5) Some more stuff I come up with.....

The Future

Just kidding...

The Future is now.
Deluxe version with two additional songs, both with slide guitar and one with lead vocals by Dusty, available in stores at Best Buy in the US and on ebay internationally.

With two new songs the album feels more "complete"

Revised album score: "B+" to an "A"