2011 and Beyond!

Merry Christmas to those of you who are still reading the once-in-a-while updates to this blog. Apaprently no one in Odessa Texas has the Internet because no set list has turned up anywhere (although there is some YouTube video out there.)

I think we are all going to have a very Happy New Year, things should be very busy in ZZ Top-Land.

A new album? Perhaps.

Touring Australia and New Zealand? Most certainly.

A lengthy U.S. Tour, with cheaper ticket prices? Definitely.

Some cool shows in Japan or someplace? Possible.

zztop.com updated more than once every three months? Not very likely.

Another surprise-filled appearance at the Houston Rodeo? I hope so, we should find out no later than January 10, if they are playing it may leak a day or two before then.

If the play the Rodeo, we will be there. If they do any west coast warm-up shows before the Aussie tour, we will be there. If they play in Europe this summer, we will be there. We will be everywhere!

How how how for now.

More December showzz???

If anyone has the scoop on additional December/Christmas shows, please
let us know. Other than the Odessa (December 9, 2010) show we have
heard a rumor of December 4 in the Dallas area but nothing more for
December. No confirmation yet on the Houston Rodeo next year, either,
which, if it's gonna happen, will probably be on March 15.

ZZ Top to tour Australia in 2011???

Well, it's just a rumor, but a pretty specific one: An Australian paper
is reporting the ZZ Top may play some shows in Australia in April 2011.
If that is true, maybe some additional Asian shows as well?

Stay tuned.

Meet Billy Gibbons!

Don't know if this is legit or not but it looks real, Billy appearing to
"sign autographs and take photos" at a motorcycle show:

Billy Gibbons will be appearing at:
Louisville, Kentucky on November 13
Kentucky International Convention Center
221 South 4th Street, Louisville, KY
(502) 595-3141
www.kyconvention.org

Supposedly Billy will also be at the same show in Georgia on November
20.

European notes???

OK, the Tom Petty tour is over and the Boyzz are back in Europe again. We had hoped to make some of these shows but it looks like that may not be possible now.

If anyone is going to the European shows, please send us a report. We know a few of the regulars will be there, so far it seems like the set list is unchanged. Billy appears to be using a new guitar. No further details yet.

So, what's next after they finish up this very brief tour in Europe. Work on the new album? Do some Christmas shows as they traditionally do in Colorado or Florida? We'll keep out eyes and ears open.

For those of you who doubt that ZZ Top is working on a new album...

...check out the Twitter feed of NotRickRubin. Last show of the Petty tour was Sept. 27 in Phoenix, they could actually be in LA with Rubin today like he implies:

It is so hot in LA right now, I almost shaved my head and beard. The ZZ Top guys were in tears, so I reconsidered.
6:41 PM Sep 27th via Twitterrific .@thesilvermullet thank you for the tip. Namaste.
6:39 PM Sep 27th via Twitterrific in reply to thesilvermullet
.Relaxing Friday night: Sorting sea shells and listening to old RHCP demos.
6:19 PM Sep 24th via Twitterrific .@marisab67 preach on, sister. Thanks for sharing. Namaste.
6:17 PM Sep 24th via Twitterrific in reply to marisab67
.Considering making ZZ Top record in a Texas roadhouse, but having trouble finding one that isn't a tourist trap.
11:43 AM Sep 22nd via Twitterrific .Will the new Kid Rock album help? RT @iammrsid Can someone call @NotRickRubin?!? Tell him hip-hop is calling and it needs his help BADLY!!!
11:42 AM Sep 22nd via Twitterrific .Contemplating a distorted harmonica solo on this ZZ Top song. May be too much.
10:58 PM Sep 8th via Twitterrific

We're still here!

We've been busy but will be posting a bit more after the ZZ/Tom Petty tour is over. European dates are all set for October, then maybe more work on the new album by Christmas?

Howdy, Comrades?

Is it true? We have heard that our Lil' Ol Band from Texas, USA, them ZZ TOPS will be playing their first ever shows in Russia this October...specifically October 27 in St. Petersburg!

This is very exciting, I hope that a Moscow date is also announced soon! Where else will they go on this tour? Poland perhaps?

Shoulda just checked YouTube first...

...my favorite ZZ Top setup of recent times, Frank's green spinning
drums with the green bass and guitar -- has returned. Too bad they
weren't wearing the green suits as well.

Jeff Beck with ZZ Top:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idv8tk9Bf5Q

ZZ + Jeff Beck

We heard that Jeff Beck got up and played with ZZ for the encore at one
of the Italian shows. Luca or anyone, do you have an update on that for
us?

Billy Gibbons plays Foxy Lady on the back of a truck with Jeff Beck and Jimmie Vaughn!

Very cool:

http://www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/festival-of-speed/VIDEO-Famous-guit
arists-perform-trackside.6411037.jp

Netherlands date

Here is what we have for the Netherlands date:

Tuesday 19 October 2010
ZZ Top
with Doobie Brothers at Go Planet
Go Planet
Enschede, Netherlands

European date officially announced

Well, zztop.com has the new October European tour dates officially
announced. There are more to follow, we have heard of at least one more
in the Netherlands and possibly a Dusseldorf date, not sure how long
this tour will be but there are at least a few more shows to be
announced.

10.14.10 Graz AT Stadthalle (0)
10.16.10 Paris Ile-de-France (Paris) FR Paris Fra Bercy (0)
10.21.10 Copenhagen DK Forum (0)
10.22.10 Gothenburg SE Scandinavium (0)
10.23.10 Oslo NO Spektrum

It's (almost) Official -- ZZ Top returns to Europe October 2010

There may not be any official announcement for some time, but tickets have now actually gone on sale for the October 16 Paris Bercy date, so it appears that the October European tour (just like last year, nice time to visit) is officially on.

ZZ Top Returns to Europe October 2010?

OK, since our last post we have also heard of a rumored concert at the Oslo Spektrum in October 2010. So that's two possible dates in a Fall European Tour.

This is a great chance for our readers to help us out. If there is a local European date announced in your country, please let us know!

October dates?

We had great fun at three different shows this week but, as always, we are looking for info on the future. Does anyone have a hint as to where they are playing this October after their dates poening for Tom Petty have been completed?

We have heard two rumors, that they are either heading over to Australia or that they are going back to Europe, with a rumored (or mistaken?) date of Paris Bercy on October 16.

Anyone have any clue?

M3 Festival here we come!

If the weather cooperates, we will be headed east tonight for the M3
Rock Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland. The Scorpions
are headlining (only their second show so far in the U.S. on their
"farewell" tour) and we're looking forward to Cinderella, Kix, etc etc.

Next week we should be seeing ZZ Top at least three times, so stay tuned
for set lists and reviews.

Possible Replacement for Frank Beard

Enjoy:

Reports from South America

Well, some good reports and video are showing up from South America. It
looks like Francine is back in the set, sometimes half in Spanish. (In
recent years they have been doing it half in Spanish but early in this
tour it was all in English.)

It looks like they replaced Beer Drinkers (which was played in Atlanta)
with Francine, possibly to have at least one Spanish sogn in S.A.?
Thunderbird is apapretnly out of the set for good.

My Head's in Mississippi has been showing up on set lists but I assume
this is just the intro? Anyone have video or audio to confirm? What is
on YouTube already indicates they are just playing the intro as usual
but who knows.

The band finished up in in Argentina last night and plays at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday.

Fall touring planzz changed

We had heard that all of the September and October ZZ Top tour dates had been moved or cancelled, and now we appear to know why...the band will be on tour as an opening act for Tom Petty in September and October because of a cancellation by Joe Cocker.

As always, subject to change, but that's the plan for now. Not sure exactly which shows are cancelled yet, hopefully there will be an official announcement on zztop.com soon.

Headed to the show in Beaumont at Ford Park

A bit late, as always, but we will have plenty of time to catch ZZ.

We will offer updates if anything interesting happens. Which is doubtful, who knows. My guess is the set list will be the same except Dust My Broom will be dropped.

Videos from Tyler Texas show

Sloppy/BBQ then Tush

The End!

What a show! It was hot as hell in here....by my count 24 songs, a rapid fire set that sounded spectacular! Billy did almost no talking, they just let 'er rip.
--------------------------

And the encore is:

Viva Las Vegas
LaGrange
--------------------------

Legs

Chance for maybe one more rarirty opening the encore...
--------------------------

The classics

Gimme
Sharp Dressed Man

Dusty is using a black bass with a littlle Antenna-era sticker of himself on the front.
--------------------------

Mega surprise!

Dust My Broom
Just Got Paid
--------------------------

And the Hendrix song is...

Hey Joe; followed by
Brown Sugar
Party on the Patio
--------------------------

Next up

Mississippi (intro only)
Need You Tonight
Battery on phone running low!

Rock Me Baby -- whatever variation they played, check YouTube later -- was killer. Think that is the first time they have played that in public.
--------------------------

Unknown song

Roll me baby like a wagon wheel
--------------------------

Nationwide Pressure

--------------------------

Next three songs

Bus
Jesus
Pincushion
--------------------------

First songs

Thunderbird
Francene
--------------------------

Opening act was pretty good, Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights.

ZZ up next!
--------------------------

Update from Tyler

Doors opened late. This place is square and a total sellout. Dry county so membership drinking only.

Had a great visit with Robin Hood Brians at his studio today. More on that later. Stay tuned for updates.
--------------------------

The Eagle Has Landed

We are now in Texas and have already eaten at Whataburger. Tomorrow we head to the first show in Tyler. We will have the new set list, photos, and some live blogging during the show, so stay tuned tomorrow.

In the afternoon we also hope to make a quick visit to a little piece of ZZ Top history, tomorrow should be an exciting day!

2010 Tour Is Almost Here!

I've been out of the country and have also been a bit sick so blog updates have been scarce but the thought of the 2010 tour starting this week in Tejas has revitalized me a bit. Barbecue and the Top, a perfect weekend in the Lone Star State. Hopefully I will be able to make it to the Tyler and Beaumont shows, if anyone else is going please give me a holler.

Set List Contest

OK, we only have a couple of entries, you have until the concert in Tyler begins this Friday to post or e-mail me your set list entries. If I am able to attend the Tyler show, I will post the "official" set list used to determine the contest winner. If I can't make it to Tyler, I will use the first set list for this tour posted at lowpft.com (or anotehr reputable source if necessary) as the "official" set list.

Tour starts in Texas--Adding Europe dates from zztop.com -- ZZ Top 2010 Tour Dates -- new rumored dates being added

Looks like the boooking agents have been busy. We have heard about posible dates in the Spring in the U.S., possibly as a warm-up for the South American tour. Here is what we have tentatively been able to put together:

NOTE: What we have pieced together for the Europe shows the Boyzz playing 20 shows or more in a single month, including *nine* days in a row. This would be a crazy thing for their booking agent to do and we suspect that some of these shows may drop out along the way. New dates in Helsinki and Monte Carlo.


U.S.
April 23 Tyler, TEXAS
April 24 Ford Park, Beaumont TEXAS
April 25 The Backyard, Austin TEXAS
April 29 Sunfest, West Palm Beach FLORIDA
April 30 King Center, Melbourne FLORIDA (confirmed)
May 1 Tampa Devil Rays game, Tampa FLORIDA
May 4 Moran Theatre, Jacksonville FLORIDA (confirmed)
May 5 Civic Center, Columbus GEORGIA (confirmed)
May 7 Hilton Head SOUTH CAROLINA
May 8 Chastain Park, Atlanta GEORGIA
May 9 Tupelo MISSISSIPPI
May 14 Belton TEXAS

SOUTH AMERICA
May 18 Santiago, CHILE(confirmed)
May 20 Sao Paolo, BRAZIL (confirmed)
May 21 Sao Paolo, BRAZIL (confirmed)
May 23 Puerto Alegre, BRAZIL
May 26 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA

USA
May 28 Rocklahoma, Pryor OKALHOMA (note: some sources list this date as the first day of the festival, but it would be difficult to think they could play in Argentina on May 26 and Oklahoma on the 28th)

June 16 Thunder Bay, Ontario CANADA
June 19 Belleville, Ontario CANADA
June 25 Summerfest Milwaukee WISCONSIN (w/Tom Petty)
June 26 Summerfest Milwaukee WISCONSIN (w/Tom Petty)(conflicts with Crossroads??)
June 26 Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago ILLINOIS (confirmed)

EUROPE
June 30 Jarvenpaa, FINLAND
July 2 Skanevik Blues Fest NORWAY
July 3 Helsinki FINLAND
July 5 Royal Palace, MONTE CARLO
July 6 Le Zenith, Toulouse, FRANCE
July 8 Arenes de Bayonne, FRANCE
July 9 Arenes de Nimes, FRANCE
July 10 Moon and Stars Festival, Locarno, SWITZERLAND
July 12 Ippodromo Capannelle, Rome ITALY
July 13 Piazza Napoleone, Lucca ITALY
July 14 Villa Contarini, Padova ITALY
July 15 Castello Sforzesco, Vigevano ITALY
July 16 Musilac at Esplanade du Lac, FRANCE (confirmed by venue)
July 17 Lyon, FRANCE
July 18 Kempten, GERMANY
July 19 Zenith de Strasbourg, FRANCE
July 20 Suikkerrock, Tienen BELGIUM
July 22 Zenith Nantes Metropole, FRANCE
July 24 High Voltage Festival, London UK (confirmed)
July 30 ???? FRANCE

U.S.
July 31 Stillwater, OKLAHOMA
August 4 Clearfield, PENNSYLVANIA
August 6 Mississippi Valley Fair, Davenport IOWA
August 7 Wisconsin Dells, WISCONSIN
August 9 Buffalo Chip/Sturgis
August 10 Sioux Falls, SOUTH DAKOTA
August 13 Peppermill Casino, West Wendover NEVADA
August 15 Costa Mesa, CALIFORNIA
August 20 Las Vegas Hilton, NEVADA
August 21 Las Vegas Hilton, NEVADA
August 24 LAncaster CALIFORNIA

Other rumors: Moncton N.B. in Canada, Rocklahoma in late May, Michigan in June, Rome in the summer, who knows where else.

ZZ Top to play at Indy 500

At carb day, to be exact, I think it's May 28 this year.

ZZ Top to guest star on Two an a Half Men

The taping should be today. They are appearing in a dream sequence with Chrlie Sheen.

Set List Contest

OK, let's have some fun here. We are going to have a contest to guess the Top's set list for their first show of the year, in Tyler Texas in April.

Here are the rules: You pick between 12-20 songs. You can only enter once. For each song you pick that is in the set list at the Tyler show, you get ten points. For each song you pick that isn't in the set, subtract five points. Person with the most points wins. LaGrange counts as one song and the Sloppy Drunk/BBQ medley counts as one song. Except for Sloppy/BBQ, they must play the whole song for it to count. Post your predictions here or send them to:

zztopeurope2007@yahoo.com

I will come up with some kind of prize. It won't be anything big but it will be cool.

Look out Austin!

ZZ Top is coming to the Backyard on April 25!

Very interesting new datezz added...

...in Tyler Texas and Thunder Bay, Ontario!

Check the schedule later.

New dates being updated tomorrow...

Texas, Oklahoma, and Canada.

Viva Las Vegas

New shows announced at the historic Las Vegas Hilton for August 20 and 21, 2010.

Is ZZ Top still playing the Crossroads guitar festival?

Can someone out there let us know if ZZ is still playing Crossroads? They are not listed on Pollstar or zztop.com for that show, but zztop.com does list the second Tom Petty show at Summerfest on June 26.

So what's the deal?

Second Summerfest show added???

Summerfest just announced ZZ will play a second show with Tom Petty on
June 26...which is interesting because they are scheduled to play in
Chicago that day at Crossroads.

Is this a mistake, or are they actually going to play two shows in one
day in different cities?

New dates added

We have tried to keep our concert "rumors" section (see post below) updated and we think we have everything that has been sent to us so far. Some of these dates are only rumors so far but they are pretty well-sourced. We still find it hard to believe that they will play in Buenos Aires on May 26 and headline Rocklahoma on May 28 but we'll see.

This schedule is pushing it pretty hard for the band, we hope it's not too much for them to handle.

Newest additions are California and Florida.

More more more...

...dates are being announced, including another in Brazil and an Argentina date. None of these new dates work for me yet, but let's wait and see!

ZZ to play Tampa May 1

The dates are coming in fast and furious. Next up is a show after the Tampa Devil Rays game on May 1. I am at the Olympics now and will update the full schedule when I get a chance.

ZZ Top to Play Finland!!!!!

Thanks to a tip from a reader, we can tell you that ZZ Top will be playing Finland this summer! More details to follow.

There will be a lot of Finnish fanzz who are happy about this.
--------------------------

ZZ Top to Headline Rocklahoma

We hinted at it last night, but multiple sources are saying that ZZ will
headline one day at Rocklahoma this year over the Memorial day weekend.
Too bad the rest of the lineup sucks.

ZZ Top to Play Norway and Italy Summer 2010

Our friend Luca in Italy says that ZZ Top will be playing Rome sometime this summer, and lowpft.com has also listed a Norway blues festival date, which one of our commenters predicted a month or two ago. Good stuff.

New French dates

Also, lowpft.com has some additional French dates added for this summer.
We will update our calendar when we get a chance.

New dates in Florida

ZZTOP.com has just announced a few new dates in Florida--April 30
(Melbourne) and May 4 (Jacksonville). These look good as warm-up shows
for the South American dates. Hopefully there will be a few more and
we'll get some changes in the set list.

ZZ Top returns to Eric Clapton's Crossroads--in Chicago!

Just announced today: ZZ Top will be playing (with many others) at the 2010 version of Crossroads, this time at Toyota Park in Bridgeview (Chicago) Illinois on June 26.

ZZ Top to rock France in July!

More summer dates are leaking out, they are scheduled for a festival on or about July 16. Check prior posts for the tentative 2010 summer tour info.

Billy Gibbons to Guest Star on CSI: Miami

Rob Zombie is directing an episode of CSI: Miami which will have a number of cool guest stars, supposedly including the Reverend himself, Billy F. Gibbons. Should air on or around March 1, keep your eyes open for this one.

Thrill Seekers and Hell Raisers

That the was the ZZ Top-inspired title of this week's episode of "Psych" (one of my favorite shows) on the USA Network here in the States. The episode hs nothing to do with the band, though.

In other news, another rumored (NOT confirmed yet) date for the band is a spring date at the Tumbleweed in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Stay tuned...

ZZ Top Live Recordings (mainly video)

This post will list most of my ZZ Top live recordings. Right now I am not trading but hope that others who are keeping lists will find this useful, in case there is anything I have that is not known to other collectors. In chronological order:

1976-1983 "Old Stuff" Houba Houba etc DVD
March 16, 1977 Boston Garden MA (Audio) CD

Recycler Tour
??? 1990 Reno NV VHS Connecticut??? (confusion on date/location)
??? 1990 Toronto CN VHS
January 28, 1991 New York??? VHS
April 11, 1991? Lakeland FL VHS

Rhythmeen Tour
October 25, 1996 Radio City Music Hall NY VHS
1996? Johannasburg South Africa (interviews+clips) VHS
September 19, 1997 Phoenix AZ VHS

XXX Tour
October 19, 1999 Moline IL DVD
December 9, 1999 Tuscon AZ VHS
January 18, 2000 Wilkes-Barre, PA DVD
February 29, 2000 Peoria IL VHS and DVD

May 10, 2003 Charlotte NC DVD
November 11, 2005 Beacon Theatre NY DVD
??? Camden NJ DVD

unknown "Sharp Dressed Man" Special from Houston tv show
Have but currently lost" Milan DVD

Billy Gibbons on Conan O'Brien NOW...

...playing FreeBird with Will Ferrell and...can't exactly describe it, it will be all over YouTube tomorrow morning.

Rumor: ZZ to play at Moncton this year.

Rumor floating around is that ZZ may play (possibly with Bruce Springsteen) at Moncton in Canada this summer. Just a rumor at this point.

No ZZ at Houston Rodeo in 2010.

The headine says it all. The 2010 concert lineup for the HLSR has been announced and no ZZ. No rock at all, for that matter. Wait 'til next year.
--------------------------

Houston Rodeo 2010?

The next big event to look for is the Houston Rodeo. It is our guess,
based on past experience, that ZZ Top will not be playing this year, but
at least one Houston-area music blogger has implied that they will. We
kinda doubt that since they usually don't play two years in a row and
there do not appear to be any "classic rock" days on the calendar, but
thye don't have anything else currently booked, you never know. We
should hear something either way in the next week or two as the Rodeo
makes their final announcements.

Mexican Blackbird in Japan!

Been quiet lately, but there is some cool video/photos of Billy showing
off his new car at a classic car show in Japan in December:

http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2009/12/29/703378.aspx

http://www.mooneyes.co.jp/hcs/09/report/e/index.html