ZZ Top in Concert, AVA Amphitheatre, Tucson, Arizona, June 17, 2022, by Mary Andrews
ZZ Top returned to Tucson’s AVA Amphitheatre for their 2022 tour ahead of the release of their new album, Raw, due out in July. The bearded Texas rockers performed at AVA in 2014. A repeat visit was long over due.Over the years, the band has built a solid reputation as a great live act.This show is no exception.
Dusty Hill Remembered – 50 Plus Years of ZZ Top
The beard rock stars have gone through some changes in the last two years beginning with the pandemic bringing their touring to a halt. The death of core member, bassist Dusty Hill, last July was a traumatic change that had not occurred in the 50 plus years of their existence. He died 10 days after his final gig with the band.His replacement was the band’s 30 year guitar tech, Elwood Francis. The bearded Francis slid into the bassist slot without much fanfare and fit in like a glove. Reportedly, it was Hill’s desire to have Francis as his replacement.
Billy Gibbons and Frank Beart Rocking ZZ Top
Billy Gibbons is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band and Frank Beard is the original drummer for the trio. The stage was set for the group without any video clips or dazzling light show. The stage was filled with a wall of Magnate amps, nothing more. Gibbons’ guitar picking was all that was needed and he gave it everything he had. It could have been called the Billy Gibbons show.
ZZ Top Music Through the Decades
It was a show of ZZ Top’s musical journey filled with icon hits from the 1970s and 80s with a few added numbers. The Texas boogie started with “Got Me Under Pressure.” They quickly followed with Sam and Dave’s “I Thank you.” There were many tunes from their multi-platinum Eliminator album. “Tube Snake Boogie” and “Brown Sugar” are tracks from their upcoming album release.
The approximately 5000 person crowd were out of their seats dancing and commemorating the “little ole band from Texas” for the remainder of the 90 minute show. Elwood didn’t try to mimic Hill. His contributions were there to add to the viable iconic band. Drummer Beard had his head down, never wavering from delivering the beat. Gibbons offered very little banter, but it was Gibbons’ slide guitar that made the evening spectacular with songs like “Just Got Paid,” ”My Head’s in Mississippi,” and a cover of “Sixteen Tons.”
ZZ Top – Encore
The encore included a full throttle version of “La Grange.” It was very apparent that ZZ Top will be around to electrify fans for a long time to come. It was Texas blues rock boogie at its best.
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