The State of Things....

Well, ZZ finished up the Australian leg last month. It went well, but ZZ was the middle act, playing before Guns N' Roses. Unfortunate that more often than not they are the opening band vs. the headliner these days.

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The set list was unremarkable. They did play a full set show on 2013/03/15 in which they brought back Pincushion and Vincent Price Blues.

The highlight of the shows have been an even more expanded La Grange medley, with new variations and jamming from Billy.

The lowlights are the continued lack of support for La Futura, with only Gotsta and Chartreuse (and sometimes just Gotsta) being played. The group is lazy when it comes to challenging themselves to learn new songs. A significant lowlight is the fact the very vast majority of Dusty's vocals are lip-synched, including Tush. His voice seems to have left him more or less for good. It might be time for ZZ to pack it in...

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The Sidewalks show was well received, and its nice to hear Billy playing something besides Jesus Just Left Chicago. Interesting that he is willing to challenge himself with different bandmates, but very little changes with ZZ. Let's hope Billy focuses his efforts on his solo work and possibly more Sidewalks events.

ZZ is slowly fading over the West Texas horizon......so like a sunset, watch it while its still here...

Well here comes Lola....

Right then. Spring time is beginning here in the Northern Hemisphere, and Autumn is starting in the Southern. Better gets those Australian gigs underway....

ZZ, with another album under their belt, returns to the stage beginning March 9th. Few details have leaked out in the form of pictures and preparations info regarding the set list, so its anyone's guess. Squally contributed a great proposal - Driving While Blind, She's Just Killing Me and especially Mescalero (anything from the album would be wonderful) would be fantastic additions. Over You and Lose, Lose You would be very nice selections from La Futura as well. Let's hope they have approached rehearsals with the same open mindedness they had last year.

I anticipate having a recording of the Melbourne show. If they play anything unusual I'm gonna try to figure out how to post a sound clip here on the site - it'd be cool for everyone to be able to hear the music.

I predicted Billy would focus on his solo album in 2013 and 2014, well it looks like it ain't gonna be this year. No idea what he did over the winter, maybe he recorded, maybe he traveled? Things were pretty quiet.

I encourage those on facebook to friend Mr. Hill. Last year he and Mrs. Dust frequently posted live shots as well as backstage photos as the tour progressed. Pretty cool stuff and gives an insider's look at what the band does in their free time. Word on the street says they like to play with remote control airplanes, at least in the old days...

I'll try to shed some light on the Moving Sidewalks gigs (2 for now) as well and post details like set lists, sound clips, etc. 2012 was indeed a very exciting year, but it looks like 2013 will be full of surprises too.

Ever onward...

R.I.P. Greig... / Springs coming

Sad to learn of a founding member of ZZ passing away:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Greig-early-ZZ-Top-member-dies-at-64-4284956.php


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Had a very busy past month or so, apologize for the lack of activity here on the blog. Look for a post in the next week or so detailing plans for 2013. Also any ideas for new features or what you would like to see on the blog just let me know. Thanks

When They Were Young

To have existed as a unit for 43 years means many changes, twists and turns have taken place. Even as a seasoned fan I often think of the group as 1983 and after. To put it starkly when I look at photos of the group from the 1970's, in the Nudie Suits, the thin waist lines, no sunglasses, stretched poses and rose tinted glasses, its almost like a different group. And it kind of is.

ZZ in the 70's were young, hungry, focused, energetic and driven - all the time. After 1983, they were some of these things here and there, but never all of those things all of the time. It is truly a shame that more recordings from the 70's don't exist, yet we have literally 75 tapes from the Afterburner tour, which sounded the same year after year.

I would like for Billy, and Dusty and Frank, to be asked when was it the best time to be a member of ZZ Top. I'm willing to wager the high fame was good and all in its place, but the subsequent inevitable pressure and fall, and the fade into middle age and general obscurity, combined with ghosts of MTV and 120 bpm that are chained around your neck, tarnishes a good amount of your past.

I mean, ZZ was HUGE for a number of years, having one of the first albums to be noted as reaching platinum sales status - and then it all goes away. But the band is still here, 30 years later! Its crazy.

In the early days the band operated as a unit. It was Top + Ham, Pearly, a van, and word of mouth. Damn I bet it was fun. Look at the pictures, look how much fun their having. I can't see the fun as much with those sunglasses on. I'm not looking at you when there are lasers in my eyes. And then when the lasers go away and you stop doing Paula Abdul dance moves long enough for me to see, your older, slower, unfocused, lost, tepid, and confused. Gone are the roadtrips, gone is the unit, gone is the excitment, gone is the van.

ZZ Top were a rock n' roll band in the 1970's. When they were young.

Garth Brooks sang about the....

....Rodeo.

Appears that the full Houston Rodeo 2013 music lineup will be announced this upcoming Monday (01/07/13). I'm gonna guess there is a 40% chance ZZ will play.

Good looking out Senor...

Much Ado About Stuff

Well, as is the usual developments for 2013 are already forming. An Australian tour with GnR, a European tour and a handful of US dates have already been announced. They are playing Sturgis again I believe; the show they played there in 1993 really was an amazing event. The rare songs (two of which have never been played anywhere else) and old chestnuts they broke out really were amazing. They went back a few years ago and didn't do crap. Lets hope the surprise of new songs in the set list this year repeats itself in the New Year.

As previously mentioned Billy is also playing with Moving Sidewalks in NY, and it appears a mini tour is likely. Plus he wants to work on his new solo LP. Billy has also been playing live with other bands all month. I don't understand - what did he do with his free time back when Bill Ham wouldn't let them play with anybody else.

Speaking of the old days, does anybody miss the mystery about ZZ that Ham used to encourage and enforce? I actually kind of do. Now when the band does dumb stuff it's just frustrating. Back in the day you just had to wonder and never could know the answer. Does that make sense? It was also more about the music back when Ham was in charge, now there appears to be little direction, with little purpose and no endgame. Kind of like a ship with no rudder. But I digress...

Static...Transmission

Picking up something on the Antenna from Senor Volto:

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"I've Lost My Friends"

So ZZ Top was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame recently.  Each band member was given an award, but Dusty was the only one there from ZZ to accept an award.   My first thought was that it would have been nice to see the others there with the Dust, but BFG has been everywhere, and Frank seems to prefer to be out of the spotlight.  Maybe Dust walked out on stage, and upon realizing he was alone for the first time quoted the famous line “I've lost my friends". On second thought, maybe it’s nice to let the Dust grab center stage for a change.

 

Rodeo 2013

With a great new album and a recharged live setlist, ZZ top should continue to ride the wave of success into 2013.   There’s no other better way to keep it going than the play the Houston Rodeo for the second straight year.  With no facts to support this, I will predict that ZZ will play the Rodeo on Monday, 04 March. 

 

Moving Sidewalks!!  Not just a one-off show?

Even if ZZ plays the Rodeo, the surprise reunion of the Moving Sidewalks in March 2013 proves to be a very interesting diversion.  We know all about Billy’s ever sharp musical chops, but have the others been playing?  I have to imagine they will rehearse for this show.  Also, Elwood mentioned “gigs” on his Facebook page - it was either a typo, or this won’t be the only chance to see the Sidewalks.  Stay tuned.