UPDATED: ZZ Top's Got Nothing To Prove, But What's In The Tank?
By Casey Moffitt in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 26, 2014 6:00PM
from ZZ Top's Facebook page
When a band has been playing together for nearly 45 years, can it still provide a rock'n'roll punch that's worthy of staying up late on a school night? Well, that's what we're going to find out when we head to Ravinia Thursday night to check out ZZ Top.
It was way back in 1971 when ZZ Top's First Album was released, and since then the band has maintained its Texas boogie roots while exploding as one of the biggest rock acts. Even if you're not a fan of ZZ Top, you know all their big hits after listening to classic rock radio stations for just a couple of hours. You know their look. The band is like a rock'n'roll security blanket. ZZ Top just always has been there when you want them.
So when they embark on yet another tour, will ZZ Top have any surprises for us? They have a huge catalogue of great songs and it will be interesting to see just how deep they dig into it. Hopefully it won't be like taking a long drive at the mercy of over the air FM radio.
Not only is the material so familiar and deeply woven into the rock cannon, they've maintained the same lineup through their whole career. It's weird and unusual. There aren't too many bands that have stayed together for so long like ZZ Top. Members usually fight and split, egos get in the way of creating great music, or unfortunately someone in the bands finds a way to meet their maker. But not ZZ Top. It's still Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard like it was on Day One.
Even the band's longtime manager and producer, Bill Ham, stuck with the act for more than 40 years until they split ways in 2006. Loyalty must run deep in camp ZZ Top.
So how does that longevity affect a performance? Do they know each so well that one guy can take a leap, go off script and know the rest of the band will follow along? Or is it just a stale old performance that's based on muscle memory and sticks to a tried and true formula? Could they possibly get away with hitting the road again with the same old routine and still get people to come see the show?
Musically, ZZ Top wasn't particularly revolutionary. How many acts came before them playing blues-based boogie tunes? You could go crazy trying to count them all. Certainly, what separates ZZ Top from the rest is their incredible skills. Listen to the first guitar solo on ZZ Top's First Album in "(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree." You can hear excellence in Gibbons' playing and right away you know you aren't listening to just another boogie band. The exhausting rhythms laid down by Hill and Beard keeps the tunes cooking. Beard's playing seems simple, but he is deceptively tireless. Try playing the ride out to "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" and find out how relentless is really is.
If you want to argue that without the beards ZZ Top is just another boogie band, don't try it here. That dog won't hunt.
But, after playing for 45 years together, do they still have the chops to keep playing that way? It's a long time and a lot of miles on those fingers and arms. How much is left there?
The whole time, ZZ Top paid close attention to detail on their records, as well as on stage. The tones the captured are carefully thought out and expertly created. Combined with good songwriting, it's difficult to argue with the results.
ZZ Top has little to prove, but they keep churning out albums and maintain a healthy touring schedule. It will be interesting to see what they have left to offer as a live act.
We are expecting a lot of great guitar playing up on Ravinia's stage Thursday night. Gibbons might not be regarded as one of the greats, but in our book he is. Plus Jeff Beck, another true guitar playing innovator and rock veteran, will open. That alone gives us great anticipation for the show.
ZZ Top performs with Jeff Beck and Tyler Bryant on Thursday, August 28, at Ravinia, 6:30 p.m.,$38 - $90
UPDATE: We just got word that the ZZ Top show has been canceled due to an injury sustained by bassist Dusty Hill.