I've seen them a few times and it was always a good time.  Not sure I feel like I need another one though, unless it was in a really small and really unique place, like the "intimate" one mentioned above, that would be special and also not happening.

I saw them at the Florida Theatre years ago.

That was pretty cool!

First time I saw them was about 1974. A nice girl I knew wanted me to take her to an Alice Cooper show. She was CRAZY about Alice!  

Just so happened ZZ Top opened. I had heard the name but not the band. I was pleasantly surprised. A rocking little trio. It was blues and I guess Texas blues/rock. They were dressed like Roy Rogers or Matt Dillion on Gunsmoke. Drums were loud, Dusty on bass was thumping good and did some of the vocals and Billy had a great sounding Les Paul. Nice fat tone. It must have been the one he called Pearly Gates. Billy doesn't seem to use it much now. Probably afraid to take it on the road. 

The guitarist Steve Hackett said in an interview I was reading the other day he still uses his prize Les Paul in the studio but wouldn't dare take it on tour. Already had several of his favorite guitars stolen. One was on the stage and a few minutes later it was gone. Just like that. 

That is how one of Warren Haynes' guitars disappeared. Apparently right off the stage. Abracadabra!! Now you see it!! Now you don't!

Sure can't get excited about this.  I saw them once and they were good (maybe 2010).  But really I think one of the most predictable touring acts that you could purchase a ticket for.  I'm with nebish, unless it was in a special setting like a small club......I'll put on one of their EARLY records.

Posted by: @robslob

Sure can't get excited about this.  I saw them once and they were good (maybe 2010).  But really I think one of the most predictable touring acts that you could purchase a ticket for.  I'm with nebish, unless it was in a special setting like a small club......I'll put on one of their EARLY records.

Yeah I agree....its blues/music by numbers anymore,predictable is a good way to put it. Even on BG's solo work.  I am with you.....I will put on the first 3 and go with those....classics.

@jszfunk Also BG seems to play more economically in recent years. Even on La Grange and Jesus Just Left Chicago BG never stretches out like the old days. Old age? Lazy? 

And you could probably come close to writing out their set list before the show on your own and not be far off. 

Last couple of times I saw them it was everything one expected and no surprises. I think the very last time Gibbons played a red Telecaster. Pearly Gates Les Paul apparently stays at the house now with his other 300 guitars including a Strat Jimi Hendrix gave him. 

But you can bet the will be SHARP DRESSED MEN but likey not clean shaven! 

BTW I saw then in a football stadium in Charlotte, NC about 1974.  Steely Dan was supposed to be the headliner but they canceled due to personal reasons which put ZZ as the headliner from their previous 2nd billing. Billy Preston opened and Lynyrd Skynyrd was next. Ronnie Van Zant apparently was there to kick butt and blow everyone off the stage as they really stepped on the gas. Their Free Bird encore was on rocket fuel and lasted for 15 or 20 minutes (maybe burning up some extra time left by Steely Dan a no show) and Ronnie was out there spinning the mic stand and Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and Ed King were wound up and LOUD!! It went on so long that I still remember the guitar makes. Gary had a sunburst Les Paul. Allen a Gibson Explorer and Ed had a Stratocaster. I mean three good lead players wide open and shredding or close to it for close to 20 minutes with bass, piano and drums playing as hard as they could. It was like an atomic bomb was exploded. The audience then was on their feet screaming for another 10 minutes wanting more. 

When ZZ Top took the stage Billy apparently knew what Ronnie just did to them. He said " Anyone feel like some more music or did that blow your fuse?" They clapped for ZZ but they never came close to the energy and frenzy Free Bird cast on that stadium. 

Actually I felt sorry for ZZ Top. And I still wonder if Ronnie was trying to blow them off the stage before they took the stage or if they were just doing what they always do? Probably putting the double shuffle on Top. I'd never seen a Free Bird last that long and be so explosive before or since. 

"07/13/1974: ZZ Top / Leon Russell / Lynyrd Skynyrd / Billy Preston / Elvin Bishop / Rare Earth @ Memorial Stadium | Concert Archives" https://www.concertarchives.org/concerts/zz-top-leon-russell-lynyrd-skynyrd-billy-preston-elvin-bishop-rare-earth.  

Apparently this is the show. It was already going on when my date and I arrived so I must have missed Leon Russell and Rare Earth. I saw Leon and Earth but don't remember them here. No mention of Steely Dan. But they were the headliner when the tickets went on sale. 

Don't remember a police officer shot in the parking lot but in the parking lot across Independent Blvd were I had to park, someone had smashed out my driver's side window...glass all over my seat and floorboard and took a crowbar apparently and ripped out my 8 track tape player and stole all my 8 track cassettes including all the ABB albums, Laid Back and Highway Call.  

Suddenly I could hear others yelling about their vehicles. They hit about 25 vehicles in that nearby parking lot and got 25 8 track players and perhaps 200 8 track cassettes. 

For about a year I was hoping those guys would accidentally drink some drain-o. 

No just kidding. I was pissed but don't want anyone to die for that or stealing a six pack or trying to pass a counterfeit $20.00 bill. 

The thing about this I find interesting is the venues they are playing. I've only been to one, their Michigan appearance. But by the names I am guessing these are small places. The one in Michigan is indeed small. The town is small.

No sheds. I wonder if the recovery back from covid is perhaps the reason or if they think people just aren't that interested in them. Maybe a combination of both. The last time I saw them they played two big arenas.

@lee Yeah Lee they got real big in the 1980's and could fill a shed anywhere. 

Interesting what you noticed from the dates and venues. I glanced at the cities but didn't look at the venues. But I did notice some places that are not that large. 

Gibbons just released his latest solo album a few months ago and was going to try a small tour. I heard the album and it wasn't that different from a Z Z Top record. 

Posted by: @lee

The thing about this I find interesting is the venues they are playing. I've only been to one, their Michigan appearance. But by the names I am guessing these are small places. The one in Michigan is indeed small. The town is small.

No sheds. I wonder if the recovery back from covid is perhaps the reason or if they think people just aren't that interested in them. Maybe a combination of both. The last time I saw them they played two big arenas.

They last two times they have played here in Chattanooga has been in the 1,800 seat theatre. 

Regarding the venue size question, the Watertown, NY venue is basically a baseball field used by high schools and a college summer baseball league.  It seats maybe 800 people in the grandstands and another 3000 on the actual field..

I will say many famous bands have played this venue as part of a long running summer concert series operated by a local Watertown, NY non profit service agency.  Mostly one time big rock acts and some lower tier country performers.  For instance Heart, Lynyrd Skinard, Daughtry, The Doobie Brothers, Charlie Daniels...etc...

I saw them once in 2004 and they were great.  I might catch a show this summer.  Hopefully at Bethel woods.

@fender31  Just read an interview with Billy F. Gibbons. They asked him to name is top favorite guitar players. He only came up with nine. Jimi Hendrix was tops. Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, SRV and Jimmy Vaughn were on Billy's list. Eric Johnson is outstanding to Gibbons and has a tone like a violin. 

But one near the top I had never heard of before. Billy said he was a fellow Texan from Austin and he loves his style and his cool licks. His name is PAUL SIZE. I thought Paul Size...who is that. The few videos I could find Paul Size is playing small clubs. Odd that Billy G. Gibbons would rank an unknown guitar player with so many famous players. 

Paul Size:

Another Texas player Billy F. Gibbons likes is SUE FOLEY.  As with Paul Size, I had never heard of Sue Foley until last night  There is a video of Billy signing lead vocals with Sue in a small club but the audio is not that good so I decided to post this instead. 

Sue Foley 

If you want to know all about Paul Size listen to the Album King King by the Red Devils. That will let you know real quick why Billy G Likes him. Here they are live.

Here is the full King King Album by the Red Devils. They also recorded a blues album with Mick Jagger that was never released. You can find that on youtube. Tragic ending for the band though.