Original Publication Date: Dec. 10, 2021
Corpus Christi - There is no better way to get ready for the winter holidays than by going to see that little ole’ band from Texas. ZZ Top made there way to the Selena Auditori
um for what was billed appropriately as “A Celebration.”
Growing up in South Texas there are certain things that are accepted as a part of our culture and ZZ Top is one of them. A majority of us have grown up listening to them in large part because of our parents unyielding control of the radio, or in this reporter's case, from the womb.
Truth be told the holy trinity that is ZZ Top holds a special place in my heart due to my parents. The band was always one of my favorites, then one day as a teenager my parents recounted to me how awesome it was to see them way back in the day.
I couldn’t help but express how jealous I was that they got to see them live, then they dropped the bomb on me. “You were there” my mother matter of factly told me. Taken aback I wasn’t sure what she meant.
Then she produced it, a paper ticket from the very concert she went to with my father. The date, October 4, 1983. Thirty days later, I was born. There it is, my first concert explained why the sound of this power trio resonated with me for so many years, years before I even realized they were a band.
From the solid beat of Frank Beards drumming, the driving force that was Dusty Hills bass, to the soulful yet scorching sound of the guitar played by none other than “the reverend” Billy F. Gibbons, there is only one ZZ Top.
Seated front and center neither I nor the crowd was disappointed when the group took the stage in a modest, yet stylish set up. If you know anything about the group this shouldn’t come as a surprise as anyone will tell you, they have so much style they don’t need a flashy stage set up.
The set opened with “Waitin’ for the Bus” which was met with cheers and applause from a crowd that couldn’t have been happier. As if that wasn’t already a solid opening to a show, the next song on the setlist was “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and if you’ve ever listened to the classic album “Tres Hombres”, you know that transition between songs hits hard and in all the right places.
A good portion of the set consisted of tracks from the above mentioned album as well as hits from their catalog of music. Was that a disappointment? Not in the least. The band delivered and the audience was more than happy to be in attendance.
The only missing element from the performance, sadly, was Dusty Hill. The bassist and founding member of the band passed only five months prior and was definitely missed that evening.
Filling in for Hill was longtime associate and guitar technician Elwood Francis. Francis fit the group well and did the bass parts justice. It comes as no surprise that Francis was chosen to fill the part by none other than Hill himself before his passing.
Gibbons said to SiriusXM radio host Eddie Trunk in a message confirmed by ZZ Top publicist Bob Merlis, “Dusty Emphatically grabbed my arm and said, ‘Give Elwood the bottom end, and take it to the top.’”
Was it a different feeling not having Hill on stage, yes. Was it disappointing? Did it hurt the music or the groove? Simply put, no.
It was apparent that the band was still suffering from the loss of their longtime friend and bassist, which is to be expected. In a moment of remembrance Gibbons produced a recognizable hat and noted it was that of their good friend.
To pay respect to Hill the hat was placed on his mic stand, which was still set up on stage as if Hill had never left. The group then went into “Tush”, one of their classic hits in which Hill took up the vocals.
Though Gibbons took the lead on this song, the audience paid tribute as well, singing in unison with the group. Corpus Christi let Hill and the band know he was not forgotten in the least.
As the show concluded the band left to a well deserved standing ovation and calls for more encores. Has the group missed a step or slowed down now that they are into their seventies, not at all.
When listening to live music the tempo is always a little off. In general bands will push the tempo or be just a bit slower than what you are used to hearing on an album and this was the case for ZZ Top.
That being said, did it have a negative effect on the show? Not at all.
The songs were just as rock driven as ever as they resonated throughout the hall as if they were state anthems. For some Texas natives, they pretty much are.
Beard kept the tempo solid and his drums sound just as crisp as ever. Francis fit the bill, is a solid bassist, and vibes with the bands well known stage presence.
Then there is the front man. Gibbons has a style all his own which shows both on and off stage.
How can one man just exude “cool”? The man can do something as simple as wave his hand while playing a bluesy solo, and make it just that much cooler, as if his guitar playing wasn’t cool enough on its own.
The band is just as solid as ever collectively and individually. Should you have the chance, going to see this band will be something no one will regret.
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