ZZ Top

I saw Blackberry Smoke and ZZ Top on Saturday night, at the Keith Albee theater in Huntington.

The theater was a nice change of scenery for a concert; I'm more accustomed to open venues, stadium seating, or general admission. I'm also used to wilder crowds. The theater was perfect for the laid-back blues music. Dark drapes and underlit, ornate carvings framed the stage and set the mood. It felt like we had stepped back in time, back to when the blues began.

Blackberry Smoke opened for ZZ Top. I had never heard of them before, but I enjoyed them. They're from Alabama, and sing a southern style of rock that reminded me of the Black Crowes. I really enjoyed a couple of their songs (in one, they rhymed Chattahoochee with "my finger in my sister's coochie.") I'll probably pick up their album one of these days. I got a picture with the lead singer. It was cool.

I'm not sure how to explain ZZ Top in a way that will do them justice. Yes, they are old. Their beards are more white than not. But those guys can rock. My God, they can play, and they know how to work the crowd.

I firmly believe that the old school bands – the ones that had to make a dollar before MTV existed – know how to perform. They don't need the lights and special effects and photoshop to make them cool. They are awesome all on their own. ZZ Top proves this theory better than any band I've seen to date.

They are living, breathing proof that there is simply no substitute for being skilled musicians, having years of performing experience, and loving what you do. I could plainly see it in the way they moved. I could hear it in the way they played and sang. These guys will do this until they die, because they love the music that they play. Who needs all the fancy instruments and effects? Who needs the head banging and epileptic gyrations? Three dudes, a set of drums, a bass guitar, and a lead guitar are all you need.

They started the show with "Got me Under Pressure." They played all of their hits plus a few deeper cuts that don't ever get time on the radio. I was hoping for "Lowdown in the Street, "Thankyou," or "Brown Sugar," but I was happy to get "Chevrolet" and "Just Got Paid." They played a few covers of old blues tunes from the 1930's, and they covered "Hey Joe" in a tribute to Jimi Hendrix.

[media id=2]

It was an awesome night that I will not forget. It's the first concert of the year where I was able to get in with my digital camera, so I have a few good pictures that I'll post in galleries soon.