ZZ Top to tour Brazil on May 2010

Well, someone at zztop.com has woken up and finally announced the High Voltage festival headlining date, along with the South American tour, which they list for May (not March) 2010. We only beat them to the scoop by a week, that's better than they have been.

Anywhooo since both of these tours are now confirmed we ask our readers to let us know when any new dates are announced in their areas.

New European Tour set for Summer 2010

OK, on the heels of the (unconfirmed) postponement of the (unconfirmed) 2009 South American Tour, our sources tell us that ZZ Top may be doing yet another European tour (weak dollar--let's go to Europe!) in the Summer of 2010. A London festival date is already rumored, who knows what else will be out there.

So the year for ZZ could look something like this:

March 2010--South America (rumored Sao Paulo [March 10, 2010])
July 2010--Europe (rumored London [July 24. 2010])
August 2010--USA (confirmed for Sturgis [August 9, 2010] and Wisconsin Dells [August 7, 2010])

ZZ Top Brazil and South American Tour Postponed?

Supposedly ZZ Top's (never officially announced) South American tour that was originally scheduled for December 2009 has been pushed back to March 2010 because their European set (which was going to be shipped to S.A. for the shows) was somehow damaged. Sounds funny but with this band you never know what's going on.

Bill Narum R.I.P.

Sad news in ZZ land, Bill Narum passed away. Bill worked with the band for many many years, and designed many of their classic album covers and tour backdrops. He also was the first webmaster for the official ZZ Top web site, and still ran the scrawl board at z-2-z.com.

Bill was always happy to talk with ZZ fans from around the world, and was even gracious enough to provide his original artwork, free of charge, for the recent ZZ Top Fanzz tribute cd.

He will be missed by many.

Headed up to Milwaukee

We are headed up to Milwaukee for the show tonight.

We doubt that we will see anything new or that there will be any changes
to the set list, but we will file a full report tomorrow.

Have Mercy.

ZZ Top to play at Country Music Awards

Rumor has it that the band -- maybe not the whole band, but at least
Billy Gibbons -- will be playing at the CMAs this Wednesday, likely with
Brooks & Dunn. Should be pretty cool.

ZZ Top on NASCAR today

Just a reminder for all of our U.S. readers to check out the NASCAR race from Texas right now on ABC. The Boyzz played a pre-race concert and they already showed footage on tv of a few of the songs. They also gave the "Genmtlemen, start your engines" instruction to begin the race. They will probably be interviewed during the race as well.

ZZ Top Brazil dates confirmed

It looks like the S.A. tour is now confirmed. One additional date to
add to the three we mentioned is December 12 in Rio at the HSBC Arena.

ZZ To Tour South America?

There are rumors floating around on the web that ZZ Top will do a short South American tour this December. We have not heard any confirmation on this but it wouldn't surprise us. We're waiting for them to play Japan again, too.

Here are some of the *tentative* S.A. dates:

Thursday 10 December 2009
ZZ Top Via Funchal
São Paulo, Brazil

Sunday 13 December 2009
ZZ Top Espaço das Américas
São Paulo, Brazil

Thursday 17 December 2009
ZZ Top Movistar Arena
Santiago, Chile



We'll let you know if we hear anything more.

In other touring news, we will be seeing the Boyzz at a small theater in Milwaukee on November 10 before they head up to Canada.

ZZ Top Meets With Prime Minister of Macedonia

We kid you not.

ZZ Top gets a great welcome into Bulgaria

Now, this is cool.

Set List from Budapest Hungary, October 15, 2009

Under Pressure
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Pincushion
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
Future Blues
Cheap Sunglasses
Mexican Blackbird
My Head's in Mississippi(partial)
I Need You Tonight
I Loved A Woman
Foxy Lady
Party on the Patio
Just Got Paid
Gimme All Your Lovin
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs

First Encore:
LaGrange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ
Tush

Second Encore:
Tube Snake Boogie

Notes: Frank banged his gong for the "Blues Technicians.". Patio sounded really bad. A few obnoxious drunks but overall a cool crowd and another great show.
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Last show!

Hello everyone!

This trip has been fantastic, but tonight in Budapest will
be our last show before we head back home to Chicago.

We hope everyone in Europe enjoys the rest of this tour, go to the shows, you will not be disappointed!

Set List from Bratislava Slovakia October 14, 2009

Under Pressure
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Pincushion
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
Future Blues
Cheap Sunglasses
Mexican Blackbird
My Head's in Mississippi(partial)
I Need You Tonight
I Loved A Woman
Foxy Lady
Party on the Patio
Just Got Paid
Gimme All Your Lovin
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs

First Encore:
LaGrange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ
Tush

Second Encore:
Tube Snake Boogie

Notes: Billy didn't say where Bratislava or Slovakia during "Jesus Just Left Chicago.". When Billy threw the bottle of Jack to Pablo he dropped it and it slide off the stage, but Pablo jumped off the stage (like 3-4 feet high) into the pit to grab it. Crowd was pretty into the show.
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Set List from Vienna Austria October 12, 2009

Under Pressure
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Pincushion
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
Future Blues
Cheap Sunglasses
Mexican Blackbird
My Head's in Mississippi(partial)
I Need You Tonight
I Loved A Woman
Foxy Lady
Party on the Patio
Just Got Paid
Gimme All Your Lovin
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs

First Encore:
LaGrange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ
Tush

Second Encore:
Tube Snake Boogie

Notes: Billy missed a few lyrics and I heard some complaints about the sound but it sounded pretty good from the front. There was a pretty big crowd.
No One Bourbon tonight, maybe that was a one-time deal?

On to Bratislava!
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ZZ Top Live in Vienna

Set list from Mannheim Germany

Under Pressure
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Pincushion
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
Future Blues
Cheap Sunglasses
Mexican Blackbird
My Head's in Mississippi(partial)
I Need You Tonight
I Loved A Woman
Foxy Lady
Party on the Patio
Just Got Paid
Gimme All Your Lovin,
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs

First Encore:
LaGrange/Sloppy Drunk/One Bourbon/BBQ
Tush

Second Encore:
Tube Snake Boogie

Switched it up a bit with I Loved a Woman, dropping Brown Sugar.

Between Sloppy Drunk and BBQ Billy sang a couple lines from "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer." An old John Lee Hooker song most folks in the States know by a cover of the song done by George Thorogood.
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At the show in Mannheim...

Sorry mobile photos aren't working, will post set list after the show.
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Set list from Essen Germany

We had a great time at the Grugahalle in Essen last night. Billy even brought Frank Braun and the Rockpalast promoter onstage. Here is the setlist from ZZ Top's October 9, 2009 show in Essen Germany (subject to change when we check the tape.):

Under Pressure
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Pincushion
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
Future Blues
Cheap Sunglasses
Mexican Blackbird
My Head's in Mississippi(partial)
I Need You Tonight
Foxy Lady
Brown Sugar
Party on the Patio
Just Got Paid
Gimme All Your Lovin,
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs

First Encore:
LaGrange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ
Tush

Second Encore:
Tube Snake Boogie

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We are in Germany...

...And will be in Essen soon. Watch here for updates and a set list from tonight's show.
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