Date: August 1, 2013
Had the opportunity to see ZZ Top with my friend BJ Swanner at the OC County Fair last night. Not a single empty seat in the house for the "little band from Texas", as ZZ Top played songs from a career spanning over four decades.
The Production: Two screens on stage played various complimentary images, mainly from what seemed to be their own music video footage. At one point, an animated bug danced to music. There wasn't much in terms of the lighting effects, but not much was needed. The drum set had a tough look, featuring large metal skulls out in front. Something that stood out to me was their wardrobe, which consisted of cowboy boots, jackets with glittery embroidery, and of course, their long beards and shades. I'd be interested to know where they draw their sense of fashion, as it seems to carry various influences.
The Performance: When interacting with the crowd, lighting a cigarette on stage and on another point making a reference to the "Hollywood farmers" drew loud reactions (a nod to local marijuana use). Of course, "Sharp Dressed Man", "She's got Legs" and "Tush" all received loud cheers, as did covers of Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock" and Jimi Hendrix's "Foxy Lady". These guys don't need much in terms of effects. With a level of guitar that easily justifies tickets at $45, I was fortunate to pay my respects to this band.
