By Ramiro Burr San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 04/30/2003 4:18 AM
Classic '70s Texas rock touched down at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Tuesday night in the form of the irrepressible band ZZ Top.
The aptly named "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers" tour demonstrated that the Houston-based rock-blues trio has changed little since their early, now "classic" days. They relentlessly unleashed fat bass lines and fuzztone-drenched rock on the masses, estimated by venue security at just under 15,000.
To casual fans, it must have looked like some kind of classic rock revival. Cynics may have wondered how this breed of dinosaur rockers were still able to plod the Earth in the new millennium.
But to the regular bros, the study and speculation of ZZ Top music mattered not; they were too busy jamming down to earthy rock rhythms and get-down grooves.
Exploding on stage with a retro set that included "Gimme All Your Loving," and "Waitin' For the Bus," the trio effortlessly worked up the fervent fans.
It was plainly obvious that it's been a long, long while since ZZ Top had been around these parts.
Against a backdrop best described as Southwestern or Alamo-style mission minimalism, the trio - guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill, with their Moses-like beards, and drummer Frank Beard (beard-less of course) - played sharp and focused in their delivery of blues-rock manna to the masses. Decked out in colorful zarape shawls and jumbo-sized sombreros, the group demonstrated that three chords is sometimes just enough to crank out a rousing fusion of metal-fueled honky-tonk and roadhouse roots.
"Hello San Antonio," Gibbons bellowed into the mic to wild cheers during one pause. "We're going to have a good time tonight."
That said, the group then plowed into an intense run that included the brawny "Jesus Just Left Chicago," and the endless party tune "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide." While the lyrics are catchy, the songs ultimately have little meaning.
But that's OK; it's all part of the ZZ Top mystic - the ability to ignite fans with their crunchy power chords and especially, their popcorn-like hard rock - tasty but not never filling. Some critics may charge it's the very same approach they started out with some 30 years ago. Others would say, "Exactly, so why bother changing it if it still works?"
To keep things interesting, ZZ Top included a few of the tunes from its forthcoming album "Mescalero," including the title track and the teen fantasy "Buck Nekkid," delivered at the usual chainsaw intensity.
Opening the show, Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Double Trouble poured out a molten set of heavy metal blues-rock that included a few Stevie Ray Vaughan touchstones, including "Voodoo Chile."
rburr@express-news.net 04/30/2003