ZZ Top and the Alamo have more than one thing in common. Aside from the obvious Texas connection, ZZ Top has rallied against all odds and set their place in history for battling the forces, and maybe not winning outright, but gaining mass respect.
For years, ZZ Top has remained true to themselves and their music. Whether it was popular in the 1970s, not popular in the early 80s, or popular again in the late 80s, ZZ Top and their historic beards have done what they always did, played great blues-rooted Southern rock.
With choreographed moves, foot-tapping and ass-grabbing riffs and fluid beats, Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard brought the Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers Tour to life in Cincinnati. And there was plenty of both going on from the thousands on hand to see these rock legends perform both their most noted hits and songs from the forth-coming RCA release Mescalero.
Opening the night was legendary blues guitarist Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Detroit madman Ted Nugent. Sheppard was able to warm the crowd with his cold blues, but it was Nugent who ignited the night. With his signature sounds and political rants, Nugent got already drunkening crowd ready for ZZ Top.
With a wide open stage and two chrome mic stands stuck in the middle of the stage, the lights go down and the screams from the crowd rise up like a phoenix from the depths of Hell. And bright like that fire are the spots that light up Hill and Gibbons and for the next hour and forty minutes, it’s a free for all in music and dance form. It was a tough call what was more entertaining, the crowd of the band. But the band was what got the crowd to get up off their feet and sway, swagger and stumble to song after song. And they did so like the proficient and accomplished band that they are.
The years of being road hogs have not slowed the band down, but rather has perfected their motions and timing. There are few bands out there today that can wear long, velvet robes, dark sunglasses, top hats and twist and turn like the hand on a watch and look cool. But ZZ Top can. They can look cool doing almost anything. It just so happens, they are best at doing it live, and there was no better name then Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers for the tour. Because that is exactly what happens at a ZZ Top show. That is the way is has been for over 30 years. And that is the way it will continue to be until the day they stop.
