Might this only UK show on their current and ongoing Elevation tour be ZZ Top’s swan song to these isles? Maybe, maybe not. Well, only time will tell, and time is something it seems that, as a group, they must gradually be aware is finite.
WORDS: Paul Davies
Thankfully, they are back and at the business end of tonight’s triple bill. They were set up firstly by Those Damn Crows who banged out a thirty-minute set of get out of your seats tuneful hard rock to the gathered glee of this slowly filling arena. Following which and rising to the occasion in the main support slot, Rival Sons registered a blistering set of deeply considered and Impressive rock bangers throughout which the dapper pink suited barefooted singer, Jay Buchanan, powerfully hollered. Driving the riffs, guitarist Scott Holiday, just because he can, changed guitars with each new song as though he owns a shop full of them. He must have kept his guitar tech on his tiptoes as another thirty minutes flashed by with considerable bang and wallop. Then with a vintage cool swagger, the ‘little ole band from Texas’ ZZ Top finally loped onstage and revved up their bluesy engine to maximum volume.
These bearded veterans delivered most of their hits with a helluva lot of class at this one-off UK show. Newish member, Elwood Francis, humorously strapped on a humongous bass for opener Under Pressure which alerted ZZ’s fans that their onstage antics reassuringly continue. As 110% proof, they bunny hopped during Deguello’s I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (from which they also gave a groove-some run out of Sam & Dave cover, I Thank You), displayed bandy legged moves on Sharp Dressed Man and a repertoire of further comical synchronised cool moments, not forgetting uncasing the furry guitars on Legs. Ever the showman, Billy Gibbons ran the stage giving cues to both band and audience as Gimme All Your Lovin’ reverberated around the arena. He also touchingly dedicated a cover of Sixteen Tons to Jeff Beck who guested with them at this arena five years ago. If the 75-minute set was a tad on the short side, ZZ Top nevertheless provided top entertainment value as the blues boogie encores of debut album deep cut Brown Sugar then Tube Snake Boogie and La Grange became their finale.
“Billy Gibbons ran the stage giving cues to both band and audience as Gimme All Your Lovin’ reverberated around the arena”
There’s no denying that the band, as they now are, can still cut it to the overall expected standard and have plenty left in the tank. More half full than half empty. However, I can’t help but agree with a whiskery punter in my earshot who declared ‘I paid £90 for my ticket, at least they could have played a pound a minute for that’. Fair dos and gumbo for thought or is that splitting fine beard hairs following such a spectacular show?
