UPDATED: New ZZ Top Dates Announced for 2008/9

It looks like the Boyzz are going to do a short tour for the holiday season, just like they did last year in Florida. They are playing Aspen again (450 capacity venue) and they are playing their first-ever show at the Hard Rock Joint in Vegas.

Here is the info:

December 28, 2008 in Aspen.

December 29, 2008 in Aspen.

January 3, 2009 at the Joint.

UPDATED: January 1, 2009 in Oklahoma.

ZZ Jams with Dave Grohl and Duff McKagan

What's this--Billy is wearing a new hat?

And the band is jamming on LaGrange and Tush with Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters and Duff McKagan fron G'n'R.

On the way...

OK, now that ZZ Top's 2008 tour is coming to a close, we need some new content to keep people's interest.

Look here for some footage later this week that we shot of Deep Purple live tonight. We are also working on putting more old ZZ Top online, and hopefully will have some AC/DC footage this weekend.

Video from Milan 1994

Since we won't be seeing ZZ again until probably next year at the earliest, we are putting some rarer older tracks up on YouTube. First up will be parts of the November 24, 1994 show from Milan, Italy on the Antenna tour:

Opener-World of Swirl



AntennaHead:



Girls, girls girls on She Loves My Automobile:



Pincushion when it was new:



Anyone see Dharma here?



And when was the last time they played PCH?

Notice anything *different* in this video?

Report on the way from Nashville and Indianapolis

We are headed to the show at the Murat Theatre in Indy tonight, and will have a report from there and last week's Nashville show in a bit.

Until then, enjoy some Hendrix:

Some photos from the Ryman show

We will be adding a few more videos to YouTube and will try to write a fuller concert review later, but until them, here are some interesting photos to tide you over:

Billy and Sammy:

Billy reading the sign from 1973 that the guy standing next to me gave him:

Finally got some Frank photos, check out the killer John Douglas-designed kit:

Anyone want some beer???

Close-up of the "King Billy" guitar:

The Duster is in the house:

The planned set list:

Folsom Prison Blues live from the Ryman in Nashville

Set lists from Wichita and Tulsa

Here are the sets lists according to a post by a fan on zztop.com:

ZZ Top | Century II Concert Hall, Wichita | September 26, 2008

==Set List==
Got Me Under Pressure
Waitin for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Chevrolet
Pincushion
I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
Heard it on the X
Cheap Sunglasses
I Need You Tonight
Catfish Blues ("Muddy Waters cover, 1950) (Dusty sang)
Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix) (Billy sang)
Heard it on the X
Just Got Paid
Gimme All Your Lovin
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
Encore:
La Grange
Tush

== Tulsa Set List ===
Got Me Under Pressure
Waitin for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Chevrolet
Pincushion
Future Blues (Willie Brown cover, 1930)
Cheap Sunglasses
I Need You Tonight
Catfish Blues (Muddy Waters cover, 1950)
Hey Joe (Jimi Hendrix version cover, 1966)
Heard it on the X
Just Got Paid
Gimme All Your Lovin
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
Encore:
Jail House Rock
La Grange
Tush

Billy Sheehan talks about BillyGibbons

Billy G. plays on one of the tracks on Billy Sheehan's new album, and Billy S. talks about it here:

http://www.werockcity.com/billy/studio/02.php

Request for ZZ Top Set Lists for 2008 In Your Face Tour

Hey everyone:

There is a huge amount of interest in what ZZ Top is playing on this tour. So if you wrote down a full set list, please post it here or send it to us at:

zztopeurope2007@yahoo.com

So far we have been hearing some complaints that the set list is not really that "special" for this tour. But we also hear that they are playing some rare stuff, including a cover of Hendrix' "Hey Joe," which we heard they were working on. (They played "Foxy Lady" last year and have also been working on "Purple Haze.")

So let us know what you see or hear at the shows. People are interested, and in fact the most popular search terms used by people that lead them to this site are "zz top set list 2008." So share the info and let us know. We're still looking for the full Wichita set list and for any feedback from Ft. Smith.

Why haven't we seen this before?

Billy tells the full story about that stupid African hat he always wears.

Not sure if it's true, but here it is:

In Your Face -- TODAY

Well, today, Friday September 26, 2008, is the big day. The start of ZZ Top's new "In Your Face" tour, a tour in which the band promises to dig deep ad pull out some golden oldies from their first four albums.

The tour kicks off today in Wichita, followed by shows in Fort Smith Arkansas, Tulsa, and St. Louis. We are trying to get to one of those first shows, but if we don't, we will for sure see them next week in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium.

The big question is, what will the set list be? And will any of the top choices from our little poll (see right-hand sidebar) make it into the set list?

And the results are in!

ZZ Top Fans Vote on Rare Tracks for Harley Show

Over the past few weeks, die-hard ZZ Top fans have been participating in an online poll to choose their favorite “rare” live tracks in the hope that the band will play one or more of those tracks live at the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary show in Milwaukee on August 29th, or on the band’s upcoming “In Your Face” intimate theater tour. The results are in, and thousands of fans have spoken. The top-five tracks are: 1) Whiskey’n Mama; 2) She’s A Heartbreaker; 3) Balinese; 4) Beverly Hillbillies Theme; and 5) Pan Am Highway Blues.

The idea for the poll originated with long-time fan Ken Wysocki, who runs an unofficial fan blog at www.zztopeurope2007.blogspot.com. Wysocki, who has seen ZZ Top play live more than 40 times in at least 14 different states, first came up with the idea for the poll while discussing the band’s set list on an Internet mailing list. While the casual ZZ Top fan loves to hear their classic mega-hits like “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man,” hard-core fans have been clamoring for years to hear more obscure tracks played live. The Top’s legendary 1993 show at the 90th Harley Davidson bash featured a number of rare tunes, and Wysocki and other fans are hoping for a repeat this year: “I know that the band has always played the songs they wanted to play, but this is a great opportunity for fans to let the band know that we’d love to hear some really rare tunes at this show, just like we did 15 years ago,” said Wysocki. “And even if we don’t hear anything unusual at the Harley show, the band’s unique “In Your Face” theater tour, which starts in September, will be another opportunity to showcase some different tunes for us long-time fans.”

While other bands, such as the Scorpions, have formally asked their fans to help pick their set lists, this poll is purely unofficial. “Yeah, who knows if anyone will listen to us,” says Wysocki, “but it never hurts to try. And I hope the band appreciates how strongly its fans feel about some of the great older tunes. We love hearing ‘Legs’ and ‘LaGrange’ live, but hearing ‘Whiskey’n Mama’ or ‘Heartbreaker’ would blow our minds. Hell yeah.”

Hell yeah indeed!

For more information, please contact: zztopeurope2007@yahoo.com

ZZ Top Set List Poll To End This Week

OK, in order to get the results for the poll we are running to who we need to get them to, we have to end the set list poll this week. We have kept only the top 20 songs and the rules are still the same:

Vote as often as you want, for as many songs as you want.

We will name an official winner and will send the top five songs to the band.

Goin' Down to Mexico???

OK, we were just checking out the ZZ Top set lists at Pete Z's site and here is what he has listed for August 9:

Auburn, Washington - White River Amphitheatre (August 9 2008) - Got Me Under Pressure, Gimme All Your Lovin, Waitin for the Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, I'm Bad I'm Nationwide, I Need You Tonight, Goin Down to Mexico, Just Got Paid, Sharp Dressed Man, Legs, La Grange, Tush, Tube Snake Boogie (w/Brooks & Dunn), Jailhouse Rock. (Thanks to the Tacoma Washington News Tribune)

Soooo, which one of these is not like the others? How about Goin' Down To Mexico? Seriously, did they actually play that? Because I don't think they've ever played that in, like, ever...if they're playing a song that we don't know the words to you know it's a rare one. Can someone please confirm that they played this? If so, let's hope they keep it in the set list.

Who started the ZZ Top International Fan Club (ZZTIFC)?

Well, according to this article, it was someone named Donna Greene!

Press release for ZZ Top Fall 2008 theater tour

Here is the official press release for the new tour. NOTE: These dates conflict with some dates that have already been announced, so either those dates are wrong, or this release is wrong. Or both. Anyway:

August 8, 2008
ZZ TOP IN YOUR FACE THIS FALL!!
INTIMATE VENUE TOUR RECONNECTS ROCK HALL OF FAMERS WITH THEIR ROOTS

ZZ Top -- Billy F Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill -- after touring and recording for the past 39 years and have decided to embark on a tour that will bring them even closer, literally, to their legions of fans. Kicking off in Wichita, KS on September 26, the ZZ Top In Your Face Tour will bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers to the kind of intimate venues they played much earlier in their tenure as rock's the longest running band with original personnel intact. For six weeks this fall, the trio forswears stadiums, areas and festivals for small theaters where they expect to connect very directly with their audience.

Guitarist Billy F Gibbons explains, "Earlier this year, because of a routing quirk, we accepted a 'fill-in' date at a little old theater in Knoxville. That experience reminded us of our roots, both in terms of a stripped-down, gut-bucket musical approach and the direct connection with the people who came to see us. So we said, 'why not do this on a more extended basis and have some real fun?'"

Though they've just come back from Europe where they played to monumental crowds at festivals in eight countries, the band was game to revisit the experience and, as bassist Dusty Hill puts it, "We figured it would be a kick to, so to speak, get in people's faces and the idea for this tour was born."

Drummer Frank Beard added, "To actually be able to see whole audience and interact with them like this is a throwback to our early days and who wouldn't want to go back in time?"

Earlier this year, at the Nokia Theatre in Dallas, the band was shot for the Eagle Vision DVD release Live From Texas that went on to debut at #1 on Billboard's music DVD chart the week it was released. The title has since returned to the top slot on that chart where it has stayed for two consecutive weeks. They are currently touring the U.S. with Brooks & Dunn packing arenas and sheds around the country. On September 9th, the anniversary of their breakthrough album, Eliminator, will be celebrated with the release of a special Collectors Edition of the RIAA-certified Diamond album (over 10 million units) by Warner Bros. through Rhino Entertainment.

The ZZ Top In Your Face Tour runs for six weeks this fall and brings the band to some major markets including Minneapolis, Nashville, Cleveland, St. Louis, Denver, Indianapolis and Kansas City and some much smaller locales where they haven't played in many years, including Grand Forks, ND; Fort Smith, AR, Huntington, WV and Sioux Falls, SD. A complete ZZ Top In Your Face Tour itinerary follows.

September 26 - Wichita, KS - Century II
September 27 - Ft. Smith, AR - Convention Hall
September 28 - Tulsa, OK - SpritBank Event Center
September 30 - St. Louis - Fox Theatre

October 1 - Kansas City, MO - Midland
October 3 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
October 4 - Huntington, WV - Keith-Albee Theatre
October 5 - Cleveland, OH - Allen Theatre
October 10 - Columbus, OH - Palace Theatre
October 11 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Centre
October 12 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside
October 17 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum
October 18 - Grand Forks, ND - Chester Fritz
October 19 - Sioux Falls, SD - Great Hall
October 22 - Portland, OR - Arlene Schnitzer Hall
October 23 - Pullman, WA - Beasley Performing Arts Center
October 30 - Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak Center
October 31 - Denver, CO- Paramount Theatre

November 1 - Amarillo, TX - Civic Center Auditorium

How much does it cost to book ZZ Top???

OK, we're adding lots of news stories today, here is an interesting oen that talks about the economics involved in booking live concerts, including the current ZZ tour:

http://www.sj-r.com/homepage/x469172886/Will-state-fairs-1-million-lineup-be-worth-it