Welcome to Greg Deeter's ZZ Top Live Concert Archive & Library @ ZzLive.Com

Z Z Top - The New Stuff! (2002-2007)

Wow, 2007 got here fast! ZZ Top is on the road and tearing it up HARD with pure melodic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Texas Boogie Rock that can only be done by America's longest running original Rock & Roll band. When the legendary, the famous, the world renowned Little 'Ol Band from Texas comes to grace a stage near you, make a lifelong memory and go rock with them in person! You'll be glad you did, and you and yours will remember and treasure that night for the rest of your lives.

---

And Now The Good Stuff! ~~ Most Often Listed Most Recent First :)

(1) Audio CD

&

(1) Complete DVD - Audience shot, 1st half of show from balcony area (by Warbaby) , 2nd half of show zoomed in on monitors from section 103 (by SuperGrego) :).

MARCH 18th, 2007 ~ ZZ Top Live in Houston Texas at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Tonights show in Houston was outstanding and it was quite enjoyable getting to see ZZ Top again. It has been almost 2 years for me (2 years too long). Heard from lizzters Ken Wysocki who was there (sorry we could not meet up Ken - we HAVE to next time!), and Patrick Marshall from the UK, and his friend Tom. Patrick was at his 52nd ZZ Top show, and I had a great time visiting with him. That was a real high point of the night for me getting to finally meet him. I've known him for years, but meeting someone outside of E-Mail is just so nice. Really great guy. Also met my pals Don Crain from Memphis (I think his 30th show) and Cheryl from Dallas (I think her 7th, 4th one I have seen with her) and my 11th, I think. It was great to get together with other fanatics! Hahah. We all knew each other from the Internet, in fact Peter's fantastic social networking service, this right here "lowpft" thing. My fiance from Japan (whom I did -not- meet on Lowfpt, hahah!) had an excellent time and she enjoyed meeting the guys after the show as well. She said they are "cute" like "cuddly grandpas". Okay, to the show;

SET LIST:

1) Ring Of Fire (Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore, recorded by Anita Carter in 1962 and popularized by Johnny Cash in 1963 with the addition of trumpets. Played as a 5 piece band with (2) Trumpeters in huge sombreros, with fireworks, pyrotechnics and 4 giant actual burning rings of fire on the stadium floor.
2) Bad Nationwide
3) Pin Cushion
4) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
5) Cheap Sunglasses
6) Pearl Necklace
7) Just Got Paid (With gold guitar)
8) Waltz Across Texas (Ernest Tubb cover (1956) - Played as a 4 piece band with Elwood Francis on the steel guitar)
9) Gimme All Your Lovin'
10) Sharp Dressed Man
11) Viva Las Vegas
12) Legs (with pyrotechnics and fuzzy guitars)
13) La Grange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ/Tush Medley

Random thoughts at 3am - Getting to the stadium was a little stressful as I forgot to buy a parking pass so we were stuck in traffic with only an hour to go before the expected 6pm show start. We did manage to find parking in a boat and storage facility on main street for $15. Working for tips only, Bike Taxi's would take you the mile or so to the stadium. We had fun riding in one of those, and Don and Cheryl said that they rode in one too. There were not that many and it was good luck to catch one. It's basically a bike with a driver, towing a two wheeled trailer, and you ride in that. They dropped us off at the front doors of Reliant (Houston Texan's) Stadium. There we found Donnie & Cheryl and they look exactly like the last time I saw them in Oklahoma City (or Dallas) a few years ago.... We managed to find will call (there were multiple locations) and it by luck was the right one that had aftershow passes, that had just been dropped off. After painlessly jetting through security we were off to find some cold beer and our seats. (Beer was ICE cold and the seats were GREAT!) Donnie Crain nailed some really nice seats for us in an excellent location (thanks Donnie!). The Extreme Bulls were really cool to watch and my fiance loved that. She had never seen a Rodeo before. It ended right about 6:00 or so, and the stage was built really fast. Some artificial smoke started up, they did some drum tests, and then we saw something way out of the norm. Two mariachi looking guys with giant gray sombreros and brass trumpets walked out to the stage... Oh yeah, something strange was about to go down!!! Billy, Dusty and Frank were dropped off at the stage in a black pickup. Some of the 60,000 some odd people there saw that and the excitement started to build.

Lights went down and out came good 'ol Pablo Gamboa, the man with the coolest job in the world. After the standard introduction by Pablo in his real voice (very loud and clear ~ "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's party time! Please make welcome for your rocking pleasure, that little 'ol band from Texas, the ZZ Tops"), some pyrotechnic explosions went off, the ground literally lit on fire (see photos) and we were treated to a once in a lifetime treasure, "Ring Of Fire". It was sung by both Billy and Dusty, making their voices sound like Johnny Cash. The song was just a few minutes long and the rings of fire burned for almost the whole song. I couldn't believe it. In fact if I were to have ever been able to pick a Cash song to hear ZZ Top play, it would have been Ring Of Fire. It's my favorite as well as my Fathers favorite.

Billy yells "Well alright we're here in Houston Texas! And you're bad and you're nationwide!"

When they went into "Nationwide" I was still in shock, as in :"WTF did I just see!?" mode.... :) Nationwide had a nice extended guitar medley. Billy did just absolutely outstanding with guitar variations and every song of the night was remarkably different than any other version I have ever heard (and I've heard most of them in around 300 or more versions)... Something was just historically melodic in those guitars tonight. I know Billy must be able to play a song 1000 times and make it different every time... The crowd with lots of kids and families really started to get into the show, and people were already starting to sing along and dance in the isles.

Pin Cushion was dead on and really nice. Best version of it I have ever heard for sure, thanks to the bizarre extended guitar variations. It was downright pretty.

Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers was okay, and Cheap Sunglasses sounds great with 10's of thousands of people singing along. The crowd really enjoyed that one.

Now Pearl Necklace was a high point for me, as it's the 1st time I have ever heard that one live in person. Brought back memories of the 80's when I used to listen to it on a cassette tape in my car. Billy's intro to it was humorous, and I had a little explaining to do after the show, about just what that might mean..... :)

Now, this next song here was flashed burned into my long term memory. When Elwood came out and equipt BFG with the "Gold Guitar", I had already read about that thing on here, but seeing it was well, surreal... The crowd did gasp in surprise and I heard myself on my tape say "Wow!"... When Billy tore into "Just Got Paid" (his song), the video kept panning onto the guitar close up. I can remember thinking that that guitar just doesn't look "real" for some reason. It was sort of cartoon-ish looking, almost void of any knobs and just very clean looking. I guess "unreal" is the right word for how I felt seeing it. It was moving and I actually felt a little choked up to be honest. I think Billy Gibbons is one of the only guitarists on the planet that can break out with a gold axe where it just looks right, and it's something that should be God Damned respected. :) The version of "Just Got Paid" was a masterpiece btw. It was respected by about 60,000 people with a standing ovation at the end. I hope Billy could clearly see that he got a huge instant standing ovation by the entire crowd right when it ended.

Now the next event was the 2nd surprise for the night. We were treated to yet a 2nd once in a lifetime original/unique treasure of a performance. Billy Introduced none other than Elwood Francis on the steel guitar. (My fiance referred to Elwood as the "half naked man with all the tattoos", hehehe. Affectionately of course!) :) Who knew that Elwood was such a great artist himself? Well, I guess since he's Billy's guitar tech (also for Steve Vai) he must have a talent with the things. And does he ever? The slow honky tonk cover of Texan Ernest Tubb's (1956) Waltz Across Texas was just absolutely beautiful. It is a true gem. It was short, probably only two and a half minutes long (with a special "Waltz Across Houston With You" verse). Before they played it Billy said "Is everybody havin' a good time! Well we get to do somthin' special today. I got my, my good friend, a big hand of applause for our steel guitar player, Mr. Elwood Francis, whose coming aboard. We gonna, we gonna slow it down for you with somethin' I think you'll really enjoy. How about a little Waltz Across Texas." And people did enjoy it. Lyrics were sung entirely by Billy. It was met with very warm applause and I was once again in the "WTF did I just see?" state of awe... When Billy sung the "I could Waltz Across Houston with you" verse the crowd roared! It was just so sweet to see, and such a beautiful song.

Gimme All Your Lovin' and Sharp Dressed man were perhaps the ones that the crowd danced to the most. There was an elderly lady sitting by us that was very quiet for most of the show, and when Sharp Dressed Man started up she sang along with it and went from stoic to real excited like the flip of a switch. That was her song and what she came to see. That was really cool to see and we made a new fan friend with her. Something I will never forget seeing. Very cool. She never smiled until that song, and she never stopped smiling after it.

When Viva Las Vegas started up, one of my favorites again, it was like time stood still. Dusty sounded great.

Legs was with the fuzzy guitars and even though I thought I was tired of hearing legs, I really enjoyed this one too, again, thanks to some bizarre and unique and masterful extended guitar jams.

The 15 minute long medley of La Grange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ/Tush was just fantastic as well. The band hopped in one of Billy's new cars, a late model black convertible Cadillac with Frank sitting on the back and drove around the field a bit while the crowd went crazy. They drove out of the arena with a "bang" as a quite impressive amount of indoor fireworks boomed throughout the Reliant stadium with thunderous resonation.

Seeing Zz Top at home once again was a lifetime memory maker. And if you have any chance at all to see them this tour, DO IT!

In review closing, tonight they played slower than I have ever heard live, and I liked it a lot. Some of the songs you have heard before can be so much different in such a slow tempo. I had read other recent fan reviews on LOWPFT.COM, that they were playing slow this tour, and now I see (hear) what others meant by that. It's really cool. Nice relaxing tempo. I think this one for the Rodeo may have been even slower.

Also, the closed circuit video broadcast of the show on all the giant TV's was filmed extremely well, with wonderful camera angles, in fact the best I have ever seen. They zoomed in on Billy's boots a few times and that always brought lots of laughs from the crowd. And I almost forgot, the stage! Well, ya'll will get to see it when I have a chance to upload some photos (and videos)... One thing I have never seen is that they had some guns on stage. They looked like a pair of old fashioned revolvers, strapped onto the drums or something. They kept showing them in the video broadcast as well..

ZZ Top REALLY, I mean -REALLY- needs to release this show in it's entirety on DVD!!!!

--------------------------
Other assorted notes;

Security in relation audience preservations / enjoyment, etc.

Amateur audio : A complete audience recording of this show does exist. It turned out pretty nice in fact. It was done with a SONY M1 DAT with Bass Roll Off box, Core Sound Binaural mics pointed at the speaker stacks, Energizer E2's, Radio Shack Lithium 9V and a Sony 90P 2.0 Gig tape at around 7.5 advance norm. I am now 11 for 11. Listening to "Waltz Across Texas" when I got home made me realize that that was a very beautiful song. Elwood is excellent on the steel guitar. And it was so funny to hear Billy say "Oh Elwood" in typical country music style as Elwood went into a beautiful steel guitar piece. This is a true treasure and a keeper. And a lifelong memory. I'll bet Elwood is still all grins! (Congrats man!) :)

And the other historical/unique/one time only rarity "Ring Of Fire" is amazing. That's one of my all time favorite songs. Security was quite visible but they didn't bother anyone, were very friendly, respectful and helpful. (I did hear that someone was being arrested for public intoxication even before the show started, but we didn't see anyone drunk)....(Sales of alcohol stopped right after ZZ Top came on stage, but the rodeo was over so it was time to sober up anyway, for anyone who had been indulging through the day). (Note - Also, I did not smell any marijuana at this show, 1st time ever, as people were tokin' at the previous Astrodome show in 2002 and Reliant 2003 shows. Hope that is not a sign of a sterile society, hahah!) :) I took my video camera in strapped over my shoulder and no one ever questioned it. Even when I went in the security HQ to pick up the backstage passes, no one said a thing. It was pretty much like, "don't ask, don't tell". Cool! They started to look in our girlfriends purses and just gestured like they would, and then just waved us on through. We didn't feel imposed upon at all, unlike some shows that use metal detectors. We felt like free Americans still, and that's how it should be. While the announcer did tell people no video taping was allowed, I didn't see anyone video taping. (Do people still use tapes?)... However there were TONS of people "digital video recording" (heheh) with their cell phones and cameras. I mean, TONS of people all through the show. I didn't see anyone approached or stopped. Now THAT is how it should be! :)

Amateur video : I did manage to get a nearly complete video of "Ring Of Fire" (It was hard to do since the show just started and I was trying to adjust my audio recorder settings at the same time, hands full and busy! hehe)... I did get complete videos of the whole final part of the show ; "Viva Las Vegas", "Legs", and the 15 minute long "La Grange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ/Tush" medley along with closing fireworks and the boys exiting the stage and riding around in Billy's new Cadillac.
--------UPDATE MARCH 26th 2007 - A complete DVD now exists that was created using footage from the 1st half of the show from another fan on the other side of the stadium, and my footage of the last half of the show.
Photos : We took about 100 photos. My Fiance Hiroko got some outstanding ones, with some from every song and of course the fireworks and burning rings of fire. Still want to get Patricks when he gets home to London, and Cheryls when she gets home to Dallas. I will post the ones Hiroko and I have as soon as I can.

Backstage: Nice comfortable greeting room with helpful staff, and lots of cold drinks and snacks. I was ready for an iced cold Dr. Pepper and found one back there! :) I did get to thank Pablo for my aftershow passes in person, and shake his hand. Also got to meet the legendary Noreen (yes she is real, she is lovely and she is tall!) :). Lots of Billy's local friends were back there whom I have seen after other shows. American Idol finalist Blake Lewis was back there goofing around, so we had to get some photos with him as well. He's a lot shorter than on TV, haha! Really nice guy, he looked like he was having a great time. After about 20-25 minutes Pablo jumped up on a chair or something and got all of our attention. He asked everyone to work together with him, and form sort of a double line, with a walkway down the middle. It was kind of like a parting of the Red Sea! hahah. There were well over 100 friends back there, but less than 200. First Dusty and Frank came out. Walked up one side and down the other and shook everyones hands (poor guys, that's gotta be tiring, but I took advantage of the chance as well, hehehe). I made sure to tell Dusty "Nice hat!" and he laughed... Cheryl nailed an awesome photo with Frank (that is RARE) and I got some pics and videos of them up close as well (but they are not for the net, just private memories).... Next Billy came out and was very cordial. That's the longest I have ever got to stand there next to him. He had a lot of people to greet so conversations longer than just hellos and a few sentences were not really possible. He had on just regular eyeglasses so you could see his eyes and face very well. He looks great, very happy and very healthy. It was amazingly cool. He did tons of photos with people, as many as he could before his time ran out. He had to catch a plane to Hollywood tonight to film the next episode of Bones, which he will be a guest star on, again. I was very impressed with how nice Billy is to everyone, especially kids. He spent quite a bit of time with a kid by us, giving him a pick, something that kid will remember the rest of his life. Pablo had everything running smoothly and everyone left with huge smiles on their faces. A group of us fans got together after the show and had some beers and laughs and looked at our pictures and videos and gave our ZZ Top concert war stories. That was a really great way to end the evening. Everyone was so nice to my fiance and she felt welcome and had a great time. ZZ Top fans are some of the finest people there are. Can't wait for WACO (Bell County) next weekend!

Greg Deeter
Tejas

---

(1) Audio CD (V2)

MARCH 18th, 2007 ~ ZZ Top Live in Houston Texas at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (V2)

Here is -Another- audience recording done with a Sony Mini CD Burner/Recorder. Complete show, quite nice!

SET LIST:

1) Ring Of Fire (Written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore, recorded by Anita Carter in 1962 and popularized by Johnny Cash in 1963 with the addition of trumpets. Played as a 5 piece band with (2) Trumpeters in huge sombreros, with fireworks, pyrotechnics and 4 giant actual burning rings of fire on the stadium floor.
2) Bad Nationwide
3) Pin Cushion
4) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
5) Cheap Sunglasses
6) Pearl Necklace
7) Just Got Paid (With gold guitar)
8) Waltz Across Texas (Ernest Tubb cover (1956) - Played as a 4 piece band with Elwood Francis on the steel guitar)
9) Gimme All Your Lovin'
10) Sharp Dressed Man
11) Viva Las Vegas
12) Legs (with pyrotechnics and fuzzy guitars)
13) La Grange/Sloppy Drunk/BBQ/Tush Medley

---

(Old Page Intro);

ZZ Top fans may rest well knowing that 2003-2005 has been the best period ever when it comes to high quality live concert recordings. While 1997 was the former best year ever (1983 taking a close second) with the largest amount of live concert recordings, technology has come a long way and obviously interest in ZZ Top in 2003-2005 was at a peak as well. That was a fine combination, as people taped ZZ live worldwide in 2003-05. The quality of the recordings are outstanding overall and they are abundant. ZZ Top is being quite very well preserved by audience fans.

---

---

DECEMBER 31st, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON SOUND OPINIONS ON CHICAGO PUBLIC RADIO

(1) CD

A Quality -

CD Contents :

An excellent interview on New Years Eve 2005. (1 Hour)

---

DECEMBER 21st, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON OFF THE RECORD WITH UNCLE JOE BENSON

(1) CD

A Quality -

CD Contents :

This interview originally aired on 12/18 on KLOS 95.5 FM Los Angeles, Uncle Joe's home station. This recording is over a later web streamed broadcast on 12/20 from CHOM 97.9 in Montreal Quebec. Full show (1 Hour).

---

DECEMBER 14th, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON THE FOX PROGRAM -BONES-

(1) DVD

A+++ Quality - Digital transfer direct from SAT.

DVD Contents :

Billy makes a very brief guest appearance in a non speaking role during a Christmas video on this season 1, 7th episode. He is also mentioned in the credits. This is the entire show. (1 Hour)

---

NOVEMBER 28th, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON THE THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO IN LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA LIVE WITH QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE

(1) DVD

A+++ Quality - Digital transfer direct from SAT.

DVD Contents :

01. Intros
02. Burn The Witch

---

NOVEMBER 17th, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON THE THE PETE MCMURRAY SHOW LIVE IN CHICAGO WCKG FM

(1) CD

A+++ Quality - Soundboard recording from studio. Billy Talks about his new book Rock + Roll Gearhead

CD Contents :

01. Studio Photos
02. Complete Interview

---

NOVEMBER 17th, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON THE THE MANCOW SHOW

(1) CD

A Quality - Billy Talks about his new book Rock + Roll Gearhead

CD Contents :

01. Complete Show (3 Hours)

---

NOVEMBER 14th, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON THE THE HOWARD STERN SHOW

(1) CD

A Quality - 64K MP3 from WXRK NYC. Billy Talks about his new book Rock + Roll Gearhead

CD Contents :

01. Complete Show (3 Hours)

---

NOVEMBER 11th, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK AT THE BEACON THEATRE
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(1) DVD

A+ Quality

This is the best quality DVD of the 2005 tour. Soundboard audio and almost appears to be professionally shot with multiple camera angles. This is the last show of the 2005 tour, last live performance to date. Very ironic that it's also one of the best DVD's ever. There are rumors that there is another DVD of the night before 11/10/2005 also here at the Beacon Theatre. Looking into that.

DVD Contents / Setlist:

1) Intro
2) Got Me Under Pressure
3) Pincushion
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (New York City)
5) Waiting For The Bus
6) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
7) Brown Sugar
8) I Heard It On the X
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Stages
11) Catfish Blues/Two Trains Medley
12) Cheap Sunglasses
13) Pearl Necklace
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) Jailhouse Rock
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

NOVEMBER 1st, 2005 ~ BILLY F. GIBBONS ON THE LEARNING CHANNEL - RIDES

(1) DVD

A+++ Quality - Digital transfer direct from SAT.

DVD Contents :

An hour long program where Billy and his Fiancee Gilligan Stillwater have a 1961 Caddy restored in California, the Chica G. Excellent show! A must see for any BFG fan.

---

OCTOBER 20TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN CLEARWATER FLORIDA AT THE RUTH ECKERD HALL
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) CD SET

A+ Quality

Excellent show nearing the end of the 2005 tour.

CD Contents / Setlist:

1) Intro
2) Got Me Under Pressure
3) Pincushion
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Florida)
5) Waiting For The Bus
6) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
7) Brown Sugar
8) I Heard It On the X
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Stages
11) Fool For Your Stockings (Crosses Sermon)
12) Cheap Sunglasses
13) Pearl Necklace
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) Jailhouse Rock
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

SEPTEMBER 25TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE POMONA CALIFORNIA AT THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FAIR
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) CD SET

A Quality

Here is yet another nice quality recording of the 2005 tour. Starts at the middle of Got Me Under Pressure which was the 1st song of the set list. Sounds like whoever recorded this was pretty close to a speaker stack as the quality is quite nice. Billy and Dusty's vocals both sound excellent during this show and the crowd sure sounds like they had a great time. Sound like it was a fairly large audience.

CD Contents / Setlist:

1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waiting For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (California) - Hurricane Katrina Version
This version has extra lyrics such as "Jesus Just left Chicago, and he's bound for New Orleans, and Lord knows they need him down there, we gotta help that New Orleans out!, and "I came out here to California to see my baby", and "Well don'cha know that muddy Mississippi water is gonna come back and turn to red wine".

(Billy say's "We hitch-hiked all the way from Texas to be here tonight)
5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide

Billy thanks the crowd and introduces Dusty and Frank, then Dusty introduces Billy F. Gibbons. Billy talks quite a bit during this break and the crowd loves it.

6) Guitar Solo as lead in to Brown Sugar
7) Brown Sugar
8) I Heard It On the X (absolutely killer version!)
9) Buck Nekkid (Newer updated version with different lead guitar near the end)

Billy says "Here's one we did on MTV a while back for ya!"

10) Stages
11) Fool For Your Stockings (with crosses sermon)

Billy says "Yep I am a fool for my baby's stockin's. Some of the time I reach down in the bottom of my pocket I end up finding my babys stockin's. Some of the time my baby reaches down in her purse and find her stockin's. And some of the time when you reach down in the bottom of your pocket or your babys purse, ya'll may not find any stockings but pull out those cheap sunglasses!"

12) Cheap Sunglasses
13) Pearl Necklace
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) Jailhouse Rock
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN MANKATO MINNESOTA AT THE MIDWEST WIRELESS CENTER
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) CD SET

A Quality

Oh here we go! And yet another very nice audience recording of 2005. One of the best in fact. The music leading up to them entering the stage is quite unique and I'd like to know what that is! Very nice recording and a blistering fine performance well deserving of a fine plate of bbq and a shot of tequilla! This is one of the finest performance of 2005 that I have heard! A lot of very unique lead guitar variations. The boyzz were obviously very into this performance. They did mess up just a little at the start of "Heard It On The X" but made up for it very nicely. :)

CD Contents / Setlist:

1) Intro
2) Got Me Under Pressure
3) Pincushion
4) Waiting For The Bus
5) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Minnesota)
(Billy say's "We hitch-hiked all the way from Texas to be here tonight)
6) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
7) Brown Sugar
8) I Heard It On the X
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Stages
11) I Loved A Woman
12) Cheap Sunglasses
13) Pearl Necklace
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) Jailhouse Rock
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

AUGUST 31ST, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN BUSHKILL PENNSYLVANIA AT THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL CENTER
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(1) DVD

A Quality

Very nice audience filmed (camcorder) recording with nice sound. Great job whoever did this one! This looks like it's well on it's way to being the best audience video capture of the 2005 tour. It's an excellent performance as well. The boys really look like they are having fun and Billy is as usual very creative with variations.

DVD Contents / Setlist:

1) Intro
2) Got Me Under Pressure
3) Pincushion
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Pennsylvania)
5) Waiting For The Bus
6) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
7) Brown Sugar
8) I Heard It On the X
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Stages
11) Fool For Your Stockings (Crosses Sermon)
12) Cheap Sunglasses
13) Pearl Necklace
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) Jailhouse Rock
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

AUGUST 23RD, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN TRENTON NEW JERSEY AT THE SOVEREIGN BANK ARENA
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

A Quality

CD Contents / Setlist:

Recorded by Zackman on CoreSound Binaurals> Sony PCM1> optical link> Philips Stand-alone burner

1) Intro
2) Got Me Under Pressure
3) Pincushion
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago
5) Waiting For The Bus
6) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
7) Brown Sugar
8) I Heard It On the X
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Stages
11) Fool For Your Stockings (Crosses Sermon)
12) Cheap Sunglasses
13) Rattlesnake Shake
14) Pearl Necklace
15) Viva Las Vegas
16) Gimme All Your Lovin
17) Sharp Dressed Man
18) Legs

Encore:

19) Jailhouse Rock
20) La Grange
21) Tush

---

AUGUST 15TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN LEWISBURG WEST VIRGINIA AT THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE FAIR
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

A Quality Audience Recording. They sounds really top notch at this show.

CD Contents / Setlist:

01. Intro (All right, let's get this show on the road!)
02. Got Me Under Pressure
03. Pincushion
04. Waitin' For The Bus
05. Jesus Just Left Chicago (Red wine & West Virginia)
06. I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
07. Brown Sugar
08. Heard It On The X
09. Buck Nekkid
10. Stages
11. Fool For Your Stocking (inc. Crosses Sermon)

12. Cheap Sunglasses
13. Pearl Necklace
14. Viva Las Vegas
15. Gimme All Your Lovin'
16. Sharp Dressed Man
17. Legs

Encore:

18. Jailhouse Rock
19. La Grange
20. Tush

---

AUGUST 10TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN READING PENNSYLVANIA AT THE SOVEREIGN CENTER
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

A+ Quality Audience Recording. Another great 2005 show!

CD Contents / Setlist:

01. Intro
02. Got Me Under Pressure
03. Pincushion
04. Waitin' For The Bus
05. Jesus Just Left Chicago
06. I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
07. Brown Sugar
08. Heard It On The X
09. Buck Nekkid
10. Stages
11. Fool For Your Stocking (inc. Crosses Sermon)

12. Cheap Sunglasses
13. Pearl Necklace
14. Viva Las Vegas
15. Gimme All Your Lovin'
16. Sharp Dressed Man
17. Legs

Encore:

18. Jailhouse Rock
19. La Grange
20. Tush

---

JULY 16TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN COLUMBIA MISSOURI AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(1) AUDIO CD

A + Quality!!! This is a beautiful quality audience recording. Unfortunately it is not complete as it is missing the first 5 songs.

CD Contents / Setlist:

01. Intro
02. I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
03. Brown Sugar
04. Heard It On The X
05. Buck Nekkid
06. Stages
07. Fool For Your Stocking (inc. Crosses Sermon)

08. Cheap Sunglasses
09. Pearl Necklace
10. Viva Las Vegas
11. Gimme All Your Lovin'
12. Sharp Dressed Man
13. Legs

Encore:

14. Jailhouse Rock
15. La Grange
16. Tush

---

JULY 10TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE QUEBEC CANADA AT THE QUEBEC SUMMER FESTIVAL
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(1) DVD

A Quality - Fan shot video done with a Sony camcorder aimed at one of the large screens. Very stable video, easy to forget it's fan shot at times. Very amazing that someone was able to do this! Thanks to Simon Beauchamp of Quebec for having hands stable enough and the energy and patience to film this for others to enjoy. Includes a skit where Billy has a cute Canadian chick translate into French, you'd just have to see it.

DVD Contents / Setlist:

01. Intro
02. Got Me Under Pressure
03. Pincushion
04. Waiting For The Bus
05. Jesus Just Left Chicago (Quebec)
06. I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
07. Brown Sugar
08. Heard It On The X
09. Buck Nekkid
10. Stages
11. I Loved A Woman

01. Cheap Sunglasses
02. Rattlesnake Shake
03. Pearl Necklace
04. Viva Las Vegas
05. Gimme All Your Lovin'
06. Sharp Dressed Man
07. Legs

Encores:

08. Jailhouse Rock
09. La Grange
10. Tush

---

JULY 9TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN BIG FLATS NEW YORK AT THE SUMMER STAGE AT TAGS
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

A Quality

CD Contents / Setlist:

Disc One:
01. Intro
02. Got Me Under Pressure
03. Pincushion
04. Waiting For The Bus
05. Jesus Just Left Chicago
06. I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
07. Brown Sugar
08. Heard It On The X
09. Buck Nekkid
10. Stages
11. Fool For Your Stocking (inc. Crosses Sermon)

Disc Two:
01. Cheap Sunglasses
02. Rattlesnake Shake
03. Pearl Necklace
04. Viva Las Vegas
05. Gimme All Your Lovin'
06. Sharp Dressed Man
07. Legs

Encores:

08. Jailhouse Rock
09. La Grange
10. Tush

Sound quality is an A-. After the taper makes a minor adjustment to the volume level in the first song. Nice Capture.

---

JUNE 9TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA AT THE LAS VEGAS HILTON
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

Quality B - Originals and Remasters Coming Soon

CD Contents / Setlist:

Set List Coming Soon

---

JUNE 4TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN KELSEYVILLE CALIFORNIA AT THE KONOCTI HARBOR AMPHITHEATER
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

Quality B - Originals and Remasters Coming Soon.

CD Contents / Setlist:

Set List Coming Soon

---

JUNE 9TH, 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN JACKSON CALIFORNIA AT THE JACKSON RANCHERIA CASINO
(Whack Attack Tour 2005)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

Quality B - Originals and Remasters Coming Soon.

CD Contents / Setlist:

Set List Coming Soon

---

APRIL 1ST 2005 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN LAS VEGAS HARD ROCK HOTEL
(This is the later broadcast from the Discovery Channel's Biker Build Off Awards : The Ultimate Chop)

(1) DVD

1) Waitin' For My Bike
2) Cheap Sunglasses

---

SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO AT THE SANDIA CASINO AMPHITHEATRE
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

A+ Quality Audience Recording with nice bass. Very nice clear top notch audience recording during the last few weeks of the Summer 2004 tour. This is one of the best recordings of the 2004 tour.

CD Contents / Setlist:

As the band enters the stage the Stray Cats play on a prerecorded cd.

1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (New Mexico)
5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
6) Manic Mechanic

Billy lets out a shrill scream and then says "That's low down, that goin' way back there. So now bring it on up, come on bring it on up, bring it on up. We're gonna do somethin' brand new. Someone said yeah, play somethin' off that Mescalero and I said what you got in mind. He said, well my favorite song off that Mescalero CD. I want some of my ZZ Top. I said how about somethin' low down? I said yep and looked over at Dusty and said he wants somethin' low down and Dusty said Yep. I looked back at Mr. Beard and said somethin' lowdown and he said yep! I said hmmm, they must want that thang called Buck Naked.

7) Buck Nekkid

Billy says "Everyone feeling good tonight? Well it's about to get better, let's go down to the Mexican border." Then Dusty says "And let's go see that Mexican Blackbird."

8) Mexican Blackbird

Billy say's "It's blues time right here in New Mexico right now!"

9) I Loved A Woman (Absolutely excellent performance!)
10) Cheap Sunglasses
11) BFG Guitar Solo
12) I'm Goin' Down
13) Party On The Patio
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin'
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

The crowd begans to chant "Z Z Top! Z Z Top!"

Encore :

18) Tube Steak Boogie
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN ALLENTOWN PENNSLYVANIA AT THE ALLENTOWN FAIRGROUNDS
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(1) DVD

A Quality fan shot DVD via -multiple- Camcorders!!! At least three different camera angles all edited together. This took someone a LOT of work. Not bad, nice show!

DVD Contents / Setlist:

1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Allentown)
5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Buck Nekkid
8) Mexican Blackbird

9) I Loved A Woman
10) Cheap Sunglasses
11) BFG Guitar Solo
12) I'm Goin' Down
13) Party On The Patio
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin'
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore :

18) Tube Steak Boogie
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

AUGUST 14, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMA (NATIVE AMERICA) AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO AMPHITHEATRE
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(2) AUDIO CD

A+ Quality Audience Recording with a Sony DAT M1 and core sound mics. Not currently for trade.

Review by Greg Deeter 8-15-2004

The Salvador Dalis of wicked blues laced funk did it again Saturday night at the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre. Let's hear an AMEN! The years of 300 tour stops per are likely over but ZZ Top's fifty '04 stops indicate that they sure ain't.

Don Crain and Cheryl from Dallas drove up and picked me up at the airport and after some fine plates of Tex-Mex and a few giant ice cold frosty brews we did the must-do and quietly toured the sacred grounds and National Park that used to be N.W. 5th and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The reflecting pool, gates of time, field of empty chairs and all are a moving and respectful tribute to the innocents lost and the survivors and heros related to the tragedy there on April 19th, 1995.

Brick Town just across the street was lined with Hot Rods and party people as previously unknown to us Oklahoma City was also the host of an excellent automobile show. There was no better time and place to take in streets lined with Hot Rods and Harleys than the same afternoon as a ZZ Top show right smack in the heart of America. The weather was great and after a short rest stop for some cold ones at the Raging Hog biker & blues bar we headed down to the Zoo.

The high Harley count and oceans of high people made it quite obvious that somethin' was about to go down there that night. We witnessed a somewhat sad but all too often seen trend of human nature that I call "follow the leader syndrome". Literally thousands of people were lined up at the gates and walking right past them cut our entrance time by well over an hour. The nearly single file line of thousands of people snaking all the way around the Zoo was well over half a mile long leading to a single gate entrance while the lines at the other 3-4 ticket takers were only home to a few hundred eager entries, already ripe and beer soaked. With our express entry tickets in hand I was not at all impressed with the hand pat-down searches that seemed to be reserved for men only. But after setting foot at the top of the Amphitheatre and looking down at the bowl from which the reeking stench of top notch marijuana was emanating, the intrusive inconvenience was quickly forgivable. We set down our towels and staked our claim on the grass right in the very center of the stage about halfway up the hill and I got a phone call from Stevie Jay from Tulsa whom I met on the ZZ Top scrawl board. We met up due to the magic of cell phones and talking to him while peering through his cheap ZZ Top logo sunglasses was a great way to start the evening. ZZ Top fans are some of the highest caliber people there are and he's got a beard that would make the boyzz proud. Stevie Jay said something that stuck in my mind for the rest of the night. He said he "felt honored" to be there and that made me realize that I did too. Even while it was my 10th time to see ZZ Top it does appear to me that repeated exposure to concerts does anything at all to reduce the addiction to ZZ Top's unique style, and if anything it just makes it worse each time.

The Cardboard Vampyres opened with some actual class and talent. I had sat next to Jerry Cantrell's brothers girlfriend Angela from Baycliffe Texas for the plane ride up. It was the first time ever to fly on a plane for that petite 19 year old green eyed looker. Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains and Billy Duffy of The Cult got the party started and that Oklahoma City crowd was just about to bust loose and let it all hang out. They sure do know how to throw one hell of a party in OK City!

After the opening act cleared their stuff a local radio station rode a killer custom Harley Chopper out onto the stage with a loud roar and some glass breaking mic feedback capable of waking the dead. Half a dozen contestants took turns trying to use their key to unlock the chain to the beast and some dude with an ear to ear grin left that night with an ungodly new bitchin' machine.

The purple, green, silver and orange Mardi Gras like mylar backdrop was raised, Frank's Mescalero drumset was uncloaked. Billy & Dusty's chrome mics were set in place as well as the same four small amps typical for this tour., topped by a pair of Sombreros on Billy's side to stage left. The stars entered the stage to be greeted by a roaring crowd of beer drinkers and hell raisers and the party was on. Billy was in his red work boots and black sequined suit and used his black faced red backed axe to complete his task of performing guitar magic for the first half of the show while Dusty thumped his black bass in his like black suit. Fuzzy guitars were out for legs and for the encore the Reverend of Rockagain selected the Bo Diddley gift Gretch while Dusty switched his black bass to red to match. The blue velvet coats were again the only wardrobe change of the night, used only for the encore.

Bare-breasted women peppered the front rows for nearly the entire show and after picking up several dozen bras from the stage Billy commented on the "pile of lingerie" more than once. Looking around at the crowd it was quite interesting to note that there were some people there who appeared to have just woken up from a drug induced coma dating back to a 1970's Pink Floyd concert. There were people there of the likes of which you will never in your life see on a public street. Ever.

Oklahoma City sure likes it's weed. While I didn't smoke any at this show, the overpowering aroma of God's perfect herb was simply gorgeous. The day following the show I decided to just toss the clothing I had been wearing in the trash as it was still so fully saturated with skunk-like pungency I didn't care to receive any odd glances by airport security on the way home.

As the crowd was exiting past three limousines full of dancers a few revelers revved up their hogs. I witnessed an Oklahoma City Police Officer verbally assault one of the riders who when asking for the man's ID called the citizen a "Dumbass". I audio taped that exchange and may post it on the Internet to see if anyone can recognize the voice of the crooked cop. Other than the buzz killing cop the entire night went exceptionally well. Over 5000 people had the place stuffed to the gills, made the beer industry just a little bit richer and just plain had a good time out there that night. There was a drunken man in front of us who had smuggled in a butane tank and kept blasting a large flame into the air with a lighter for the entire show. I was shocked that security never stopped him as when he lit the thing up during every song of the night the orange flame was so bright that it lit the entire Amphitheatre. There were no fights to be seen just a hell of a lot of dancing and smiles. I am certain that the animals in the Zoo were all nodding their heads in approval. :) A topless woman in the front row handed Dusty a Pearl Necklace. He reached down and picked it up while he was playing and stuck it in his pocket. Then he reached in and pulled it out again and looked at it and stuck it in his pocket again, all while still playing.

It was a shame that DJ Dave Huff was unable to attend due to his friends funeral yet I am sure we will get another chance. Oklahoma City is a small town with a relaxed pace and friendly good folks. The next time ZZ Top performs there, I'll be there again.

I highly suggest that anyone who gets a chance to come out and party with ZZ Top in this next month and a half of their tour, just uproot and do it. They sound phenomenally magnificent, time stops when they take the stage and nothing else compares. -- Greg Deeter

Intro :

To a fading background of Depeche Mode "Your Own Personal Jesus" Frank taps the drums to answer the crowds screams. With the lights off, Billy & Dusty enter the stand as an announcer says "Ladies And Gentlemen it's party time! Please make welcome for your rockin' pleasure that little ol band from Texas, the Z Z Tops.

CD Contents / Setlist:

A) Mic, drum, lead guitar & bass sound tests
B) Introduction (see above)
1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Oklahoma)

Billy picks up one of dozens of bras tossed onstage points to it and says "This is bad and Nationwide!"

5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Buck Nekkid
8) Mexican Blackbird
9) I Loved A Woman
10) Cheap Sunglasses
11) BFG Guitar Solo
12) I'm Goin' Down
13) Party On The Patio
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin'
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs (with fuzzy guitars)

Encore :

18) Tube Steak Boogie
19) La Grange
20) Tush (Oklahoma)

As the band exits "Crunchy" from Mescalero is played.

---

AUGUST 13TH, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN SEDALIA MISSOURI AT THE MISSOURI STATE FAIR
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

A Quality Audience Recording. Yet another nice recording from a 2004 outside show. Sounds like you're there! :)

CD Contents / Setlist:

1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Missouri)
5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Buck Nekkid

Billy says "Let's down to that Mexican border one time. We're gonna go see an old friend, you know who I'm talkin' about?" Dusty says "I'm talkin' about that Mexican Blackbird".

8) Mexican Blackbird

Billy say's "It's blues time right here right now!"

9) I Loved A Woman
10) Cheap Sunglasses
11) BFG Guitar Solo
12) I'm Goin' Down (Sung by Dusty!) *Totally Outstanding!*
13) Party On The Patio
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin'
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore :

18) Tube Steak Boogie
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

AUGUST 10TH, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN SIOUX FALLS SOUTH DAKOTA AT THE SIOUX EMPIRE FAIR
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(2) AUDIO CD SET

A Quality Audience Recording. Another nice and scarce recording from a 2004 outside show. Sounds really nice.

CD Contents / Setlist:

Intro : Ladies and Gentlemen, it's party-time! Please make welcome for your rockin' pleasure, that little ol band from Texas, Z Z Tops.

1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (South Dakota)
5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
6) Manic Mechanic

Billy says "Are you having a good time right now? That's the old stuff now we're gonna play some new stuff of our new album right now, that nasty low down dirty song, the low down, low down, low down song. You must be talkin about that one we call Buck Naked.

7) Buck Nekkid

Billy says "What say we go on down to that Mexican border right now. We're gonna go see an old friend, you know who I'm talkin' about?" Dusty says "That Mexican Blackbird".

8) Mexican Blackbird

Billy say's "It's blues time in South Dakota right now!"

9) I Loved A Woman
10) Cheap Sunglasses
11) BFG Guitar Solo
12) I'm Goin' Down
13) Party On The Patio
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin'
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore :

18) Tube Steak Boogie
19) La Grange
20) Tush

After the band leaves the stage "Crunchy" from Mescalero is played from CD.

---

JULY 31ST, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN PASA ROBLES CALIFORNIA AT MID-STATE FAIR
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(2) AUDIO CD

A Quality Audience Recording. Has some major mic feedback at first and the vocals are turned down for Billy briefly at the start until they get the sound right. Very enjoyable show. It's quite obvious that they are using synths.

CD Contents / Setlist:

0) Intro
1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Pasa Robles California)
5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
6) Manic Mechanic

7) Buck Nekkid
8) Mexican Blackbird
9) I Loved A Woman
10) Cheap Sunglasses
11) BFG Guitar Solo

Billy pulls out a copy of High Times Magazine with him on the cover and shows it to the crowd.

12) I'm Goin' Down
13) Party On The Patio
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin'
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore :

18) Tube Steak Boogie
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

JULY 28TH, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN PALA CALIFORNIA AT THE PALA STARLIGHT CASINO THEATER
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(1) AUDIO CD

A- Quality Audience Recording with nice bass.

CD Contents / Setlist:

1) Pincushion
2) Waitin' For The Bus
3) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Pala & Right here in California)
4) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
5) Manic Mechanic

Billy says "It's all alright, alright. We made the big time. Playing at a casino. Yes, playing at a Casino. Playing the casino, yeah. I remember one night I got a phone call, while I was hanging out with these guys, I was way out in the desert. I answered and said we are havin' a big time playing at a casino. I was rang up by my girlfriend who said sweetie you're at a casino? I said I'll get to that, she said don't get to anything yet, did you win me some money? I said well we're at a casino and about that time she said you're not at a casino you're at a bingo parlor. I said no baby, no baby, we're really in a casino and she said can you prove it? Well I said yeah I wrote a song about it that's on our new CD. She said lemme think about this. You're in a casino. And they took all your money I can hear it coming already, and I said Yes Maam. She said, well then you must be ready to sing that song about how they left you... Buck Naked."

6) Buck Nekkid

Billy says "Well, while you're thinkin that over and since we're down here so close to the Mexican border, where we gonna go?" Dusty says "We gonna go to that Mexican Blackbird."

7) Mexican Blackbird
8) I Loved A Woman
9) Cheap Sunglasses
10) BFG Guitar Solo
11) I'm Goin' Down
12) Party On The Patio
13) Viva Las Vegas
14) Gimme All Your Lovin'
15) Sharp Dressed Man
16) Legs

Encore :

17) Tube Steak Boogie
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JULY 4TH, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN TINLEY PARK (CHICAGO) ILLINOIS AT THE TWEETER CENTER
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(5) AUDIO CD SET

A- Quality Audience Recording. Quite nice yet the bass is pretty hot thus the A- rating. This is the complete show that also includes full sets from The Blue Oyster Cult, Tesla and the 21st Century Doors. 5 CD's almost 5 hours long. ZZ Top is complete and sounds great!

CD Contents / Setlist:

Intro : Ladies and Gentlemen, it's showtime! It's a summertime sensation yes, it's startime with Billy, Dusty and Mr. Beard. That little ol band from Texas, Z Z Top!

1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' For The Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (And he liked it so much he turned around and came right back to Chicago)
5) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
6) Manic Mechanic

Billy says "Everyone having a good time tonight? We were driving all night in the rain heading up to Chicago and I said this is gonna be good." Then goes into the skit about the little girl asking about Mescalero and Buck Naked.

7) Buck Nekkid

Billy says "This is the real thing right here. My old buddy gave me this here. He said he belong to my Grandfathers, fathers mothers sister. You'd like to come on up here, yeah. He said you can have this under one condition. And I said what might that be? He said you take this down and see our favorite friend." Then Dusty says, "That would be that Mexican Blackbird."

8) Mexican Blackbird

Billy say's "It's blues time in Chicago right now!"

9) I Loved A Woman
10) Cheap Sunglasses
11) BFG Guitar Solo
12) I'm Goin' Down
13) Party On The Patio
14) Viva Las Vegas
15) Gimme All Your Lovin'
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore :

18) Tube Steak Boogie
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

JUNE 26TH, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN BEAUMONT TEXAS AT FORD PARK PAVILLION
(Summer 2004 Tour)

(2) AUDIO CD

A+ Quality Audience Recording with a Sony DAT M1 and core sound mics from the 5th row. This was my 8th time to see ZZ Top, and my 8th audience recording. Not only is this the best recording I have ever pulled off but it was also the best show I've seen. The band was totally on and they pulled out some older stuff that has not been heard for decades, live that is! The new set list is really cool and they sound top notch. Billy is being very creative with lead guitar, Dusty's vocals are perfectly astounding and Frank was having a good time and really getting into the drums big time. Frank was grinning which I have never seen him do before. Frank was also playing with his eyes closed for a good amount of time, smokin' in between songs as well.

9:22 PM the band enters the stage together from the center of the black curtain behind the Mescalero drums with what appear to have a new larger bass drum with some type of wild looking outside flexible airfoil or duct type case that expands with the bass. Very odd looking. Standard chrome mics. Very bare stage. No huts, cacti, dog, or even the normal speakers/amps. Just 4 very small amps/speakers (about 1 foot high by 2 feet wide) and that was it. Billy was using a guitar I do not remember seeing before. It had a solid black face, with the sides and back being red. Dusty had a solid black bass that I believe he used for the whole show with the exception of legs when both fuzzy guitars were used. Billy switched to what looks exactly like the Bo Diddley red Gretch for the encore. Billy was using a red slide with the gretch. Frank was wearing black jeans and a black T-Shirt along with his gloves. Billy & Dusty were wearing the same black sequined suits as in Dallas on June 6th, however this time both Billy and Dusty were wearing black Wrangler jeans instead of dress slacks. Billy had on his funky green African cap for the entire show and Dusty wore a light grey cowboy hat the entire show. While Dusty had on some long black cowboy boots, The Rev. was wearing a redish brown pair of work boots which had mud all over them. Billy was wearing that same large chrome ring he always has on. The only time the dress was changed was for the encore when Billy & Dusty changed their coats to some very cool looking blue velvet sport coats with iridescent sequins. They were using a red tray in front of the drums to swap out picks and slides, and Billy's cigar during Tush. There were two sombreros laying on the small monitor speakers on Billy's side, one of which fell off during the 1st verse of Pin Cushion, and Billy picked it up and put it back on the amp. We expected them to put them on at some point but they never did.

Pablo & Wendy were both there. Pablo was checking things out from the mixing station to stage left even before the opening act of Hank Williams, Jr. came on. There appears to be a different drum tech other than John Douglas, and there are also two new younger guys that were at the mixing boards that I have never seen before.

It had been raining bad coming to the show and streets around the Ford Park were flooded pretty bad, up to a foot deep in some areas. It has been raining big time in Houston for the last week and there have been constant flood warnings, rain and storms. A huge amount of traffic was coming from the East on I-10 as opposed to from the West (from Houston) surprisingly. Must have been a lot of people from Lousiana there as evidenced by the license plates. The rain storms finally stopped and it never rained during the show, much to the relief of the people out on the lawn. The entire place (Ford Park) is really nice and is better than the Woodlands Pavillion. There were 18,000+ people, sold out show and according to the 1st announcer (who mentioned that Bill Hamm was there) this was the largest concert in the entire history of Beaumont Texas.

People had a great time, did a little smokin', but it was hard as even though this evert was outside it was non smoking! Security was tight but some drunk dude managed to leap onstage (about a 5.5 foot leap) and started walking towards Dusty pretty fast. When he got about 2 feet from Dusty the bands own security ran out and managed to get him off the stage and back on the ground. The arena security really screwed up there and the guys standing there got chewed out pretty good by their supervisor. Some people were using Mescalero tour passes to take photos even though the new tour badges are blue and grey. One of the people using the old pass from last tour got pretty drunk and took out about 3-4 other people with him when he did a swan dive over some seats right in front of us. The crowd had a great time! Thanks Mike (from the Volcano party November in Houston) for coming over to say hello before the show! Great memory to recognise me in the crowd, you surprised the hell outta me! Hahah!

A high point of this show was the trio of new (old) songs added to the new set list! New T-Shirts were there with all the new tour dates on them. Beer was cheap, they needed more restrooms big time, staff was friendly and this is a great place to see a concert! I would go back to Beaumont to see ZZ play there at Ford Park again! The sound is excellent as well! There were also three video screens and the entire show was shown on video to people on the lawn.

It appears as though the Ross Mitchell type intro is over. Also, Precious & Grace, Catfish Blues & Piece have been dropped from the set list. Also no Just Got Paid Today, Rough Boy or Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers. They only song played from Mescalero was Buck Nekkid. (4) Beach balls were tossed around by the crowd for almost the entire show starting during Sharp Dressed man. Dusty kicked the ball back to the crowd twice, Billy actually stopped playing guitar during Sharp Dressed Man and walked off the back of the stage to get the ball and tossed it back to the crowd. The crowd threw it back to them and Billy kicked it off stage again. They were not bothered by the beach balls and it was cool that they kept tossing and kicking them back. While I was in the 5th row, the way the front seats curved around there was no one in front of me so it was basically front row about 30 feet from Dusty. And of course Billy made frequent visits to our side of the stage. All three band members look great, healthy and energetic. Once again they made it look like child's play and they were obviously having a great time. Dusty does a LOT of singing with this new set list and it's very interesting to hear I'm Going Down, Party On The Patio & Viva Las Vegas with the added maturity to his voice in the last decade + since those songs have been done live. And Billy really tears it up something quite beautiful during I'm Going Down. That's an excellent live song. Well they all are. This is a bitchin' setlist! Go See ZZ this summer!!! Okay, nuff said. Let's get to the music.... Here we go;

Intro :

To a fading background of Depeche Mode "Your Own Personal Jesus" a new and different announcer comes on stage and says "Ladies & Gentleman it's showtime! It's a summertime sensation yes, it's startime, with Billy, Dusty & Mr. Beard. It's that little 'ol band from Texas, Z Z Top!"

As Bill Hamm was at the show, this might have been him but I am not sure. If anyone knows please let me know.

CD Contents / Setlist:

A) Mic, drum, lead guitar & bass sound tests
B) 1st introduction
C) Second introduction (as above) 10 minutes later as band enters

1) Pincushion
2) Waitin' For The Bus
3) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Beaumont)
4) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
5) Manic Mechanic
6) Buck Nekkid
7) Mexican Blackbird
8) I Loved A Woman
9) Cheap Sunglasses
10) BFG Guitar Solo (leads into I'm Goin' Down as a medley)
11) I'm Goin' Down (has not been performed live since 1981)
12) Party On The Patio (has not been performed live since 1997)
13) Viva Las Vegas (has not been performed live since 1994)
14) Gimme All Your Lovin'
15) Sharp Dressed Man
16) Legs (with fuzzy guitars)

Encore :

17) Tube Steak Boogie
18) La Grange
19) Tush (Beaumont Texas)

---

JUNE 6TH, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN DALLAS TEXAS AT THE COTTON BOWL
(Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival)

http://www.crossroadsguitarfestival.org

(1) AUDIO CD

A+ Quality Audience Recording with a Sony DAT M1 and core sound mics

1st introduction by Don Fox of Beaver Productions "Please welcome the fantastic, dynamic Z Z Top!"

Dusty comes out from stage left wearing a black suit and baseball cap and strums the bass guitar a little bit. . Sound tests are done to the drumset.

2nd Introduction is a shortened version of the 2003 tour intro that simply says "Senors si senoritas, ladies & gentleman it's fiesta time! It's my exquisite pleasure to present to you, the extraordinary, the eccentric, time to party down with that little 'ol band from Texas, the Z Z Tops."

Billy and Frank enter the stage during the second intro. Billy was wearing a black suit as well as well as his funky green african hat. Show was broadcast live on the Serius Satellite Radio Network. 40,000 were in attendance live in the Cotton Bowl including myself on the field a few hundred feet from the stage, a claim we staked at 10:30 AM.

Thanks to John, Don & Cheryl for such an enjoyable weekend. I took in about 15-16 hours of the two day show (standing up!) and it was simply incredible. Bo Diddley was wonderful, Vai was uniquely excellent, Buddy Guy is a master who stole the show Sat nite, Eric Clapton is a GOD of guitar and B.B. King stole everyones hearts when he "SWORE" three times that this jam was the "most enjoyable" of his life and B. B. King himself stated that at age 78 that this show was the "highlight of B.B. King's career!". This was a once in a lifetime event and I am extremely pleased to have been able to be there. This was my 7th time to see ZZ Top live and my 7th show recording. I'm very pleased with the result. No doubt there will be recordings of the radio broadcast and there are already rumors of a DVD as the entire show was video taped. But if you wanna hear it from where I was standing, here ya go! ZZ Top ended with 8 tunes and it was great to see the boys again. They dun good.

There was a HUGE amount of pot (aka marijuana) smokin' goin' on at this show. People brought marijuana from California to New York and it was a smoke fest for sure! The entire Cotton Bowl reeked of a fine mixture of marijuana scents from nationwide for the entire day Sunday. Eric Clapton's finale (Including the song "Cocaine") shrouded in smoke was not from any stage smoke, it was from the crowd.

ZZ Top was expected to perform with Eric Clapton as a finale, however not only was the entire concert running over an hour late, it started raining during La Grange a little and then steady for a bit during Tush. A large thunderstorm was coming in and there was a lot of lightning and wind after a BRUTAL day of heat and sun tempered with guitar magic saturated with the blues by the very gods of the blues themselves. The stage was being taken apart while the boys were playing and during the last half of their performance they were in an open stage with no backdrop and 18 wheelers backed up to the stage as the other performers were packing up. ZZ top really ended this show. They played Buck Nekkid at a sound test on Saturday so that is likely a song they would have played with Clapton but time ran out and the rain came.

This was Clapton's show and he did a fine job of hosting it. Totally purely outstanding concert history was made. But this was B.B. King's day! It was Vai's birthday (6-6-66) and Clapton's three day party, but this was B.B. King's day right here. John Meyer even layed his guitar down in respect, bowed and walked away in the presence of B.B. King. ZZ Top was a guest of Eric Clapton and that shines a light on them in that they were invited and that they ended the show with pure Tejas class. The only thing else we could have wished for after standing 12 hours would have been a fine plate of BBQ ribs.

ZZ Top Setlist:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'

(Billy thanks Eric Clapton & introduces the Bo Diddley guitar)
2) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
(Billy says "Ya'll down in Texas now, you all over the planet right now! .... It's blues time)
3) I Loved A Woman (Outstanding vocal performance by Dusty)
4) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (Billy says 'We used to do that ya know!')
5) Sharp Dressed Man
6) Legs (with fuzzy guitars)
(Billy says "I don't care about gettin' wet how about ya'll let's go with it? We're here now go with it god!)
7) La Grange (Special version that mentions Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Jimmie Waters, John Meyer, Robert Randolph, Robert King, Muddy Waters, B.B. King [yes BB King was mentioned twice])
8) Tush (In the rain)

---

MARCH 15th, 2004 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK AT THE WALDORF ASTORIA
(Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony)

(1) AUDIO CD

Intro by an intoxicated Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones

1) La Grange
2) Tush

---

NOVEMBER 22nd, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN HOUSTON TEXAS AT THE COMPAQ CENTER (FORMERLY THE SUMMIT)

Final show of the 2003 Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers / Mescalero Tour. Also the final show at the Compaq Center. ZZ Top opened this venue as the first act in 1975 and closed it as the final concert performance in 2003. An unbelievably fantastic performance, one of the best ever. A show full of firsts and lasts...

This is an A+ Quality recording from the 6th row.

(2) AUDIO CD SET

"Stunning & Persuasive" Intro in English & Spanish by Pablo flanked by the black leather chapped "Tush" cowgirls previously seen on 3/4/2003 at RodeoHouston

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago ("And he's bound for the White House") (Houston Texas)
5) Precious and Grace ("Super glue & masking & duct tape" on Bo Didley guitar")
6) Manic Mechanic (Billy says that during their Euro tour they "went to a country that doesn't even have a name yet")
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses - Extended (Houston Mention)
9) Buck Nekkid (Lawrence Berry & Billy's Mother "In the house")
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (Houston Mention)
14) Just Got Paid Today (Special version ~ Houston Mentions)
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Legs

Encore

During the Encore break a second (blue) drumset was brought out on the stage. When the band returned Billy annouced the "special surprise". ZZ Top performed as a "Four member band" with two sets of drums and the fourth bandmember for this song only was the Governor of The State Of Texas, Rick Perry. Gov. Perry was wearing black sweatpants, a black ZZ Top sweatshirt and tennis shoes, and did a damn fine job on the drums. He had an ear to ear grin and obviously had a great time.

17) Sharp Dressed Man

Governor Perry salutes the band, they salute him, he departs and ZZ tears into the rest of the encore;

18) La Grange
19) Tush (Houston Compaq Center farewell by Dusty)

After the band leaves the stage a pre-recorded and un-released song is played which has been identified as "The Funky Side Of H-Town" with rap-like lyrics and BFG Guitar solos which was recorded with Alex Garza of Houston's "Big Green Machine". (Thanks to Elwood for that info)

---

NOVEMBER 7th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIA AT THE CENTENNIAL GARDENS

This is A Quality.

(2) AUDIO CD SET

Also on VHS or DVD (Audience Filmed)

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore:
18) La Grange
19) Tush

After the band leaves the stage, the studio recorded "Dreadmonboogaloo" is played as the crowd exits

---

NOVEMBER 6th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA ON THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO

This is A+ Quality.

Live broadcast recorded with a Dishnet 510 PVR and xfered to computer with a high quality USB 2.0 Dazzle 150 Mpeg encoder. Nice performance of La Grange, complete show segment.

1) La Grange

---

SEPTEMBER 12th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN GREEN BAY WISCONSIN AT THE RESCH CENTER

Quality A+

Less than 24 hours after the death of Johnny Cash, the high point of this show is when ZZ Top pays respect to J.R. Cash with their performance of "Folsom Prison Blues". Thanks to my pal Kyle up in cheesehead land for saving this show! :) Go Packers!

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Ross Mitchell Intro in Spanish & English
2) Gimme All Your Lovin'
3) Pincushion
4) Waitin' for the Bus
5) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Green Bay)
6) Precious and Grace
7) Manic Mechanic
8) Rough Boy
9) Cheap Sunglasses
10) Buck Nekkid
11) Catfish Blues
12) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
13) Piece
14) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) Folsom Prison Blues

(Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash's first recording (1955 - Memphis) was dedicated to Johnny Cash who died the night before on 9/11/2003 in Nashville. This same song was also performed live by ZZ Top on 2/21/2002 as the final song of the night in the Astrodome at Houston Rodeo 2002. (Folsom Prison Blues was played in Green Bay at the urging of the bands guitar tech, Elwood Francis)

19) La Grange
20) Tush

(After the band leaves the stage, "We'll Meet Again" by Johnny Cash is played)

(Thanks to Elwood for contributing to this review)

---

AUGUST 26th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN ENGLEWOOD COLORADO AT THE FIDDLERS GREEN AMPHITHEATER

Quality A-

This show opens with a different announcer that just says "Ladies and Gentlemen, that little ol band from Texas, ZZ Top!". Normally during this tour Pablo was doing the Ross Mitchell type intro but it was not done at this show. ZZ Top sounds a little different at this show. They sound good and somewhat laid back. Sound quality is nice, bass is excellent. This was recorded on a Samson audio KM140 into a Sony M1 dat. It may actually be a soundboard patch.

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Denver Colorado)
5) Precious and Grace

Billy talks to the crowd quite a bit and says that they just got back from Europe. He says that they were over there "beating the heat wave".

6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy (gets the special treatment and sounds great)
8) Cheap Sunglasses

Billy says "We got a new CD comin' out to ya sometime soon called Mescalero." Billy mentions Jack Fleming, Pablo, Wendy and Elwood.

9) Buck Nekkid (slightly different lead guitar)
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece

(Dusty sounds great, but the timing of this song is way off and it sounds really disorganized)

They obviously do the Mescalero brothers thing as Billy says "Mr. Mescalero has come to town!" and you can hear fans exclaiming "Oh my God!" and "It's moving!" and "Whoh look!"

13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers

Billy introduces Elwood Francis and does the three senoritas skit with the uno, dos, and thres senoritas intro to "Just Got Paid".

14) Just Got Paid (beautiful performance)

Dusty announces "Billy Gibbons on the slide guitar. The Reverand Willie G!"

15) Tube Steak Boogie

Billy is quite agressive when getting the crowd to sing along and is more vocal then normal yelling "are ya ready?" "come on I said are ya ready?", "we gonna get lose with it!", "We have already done this once tonight and we are gonna do it again", etc. Interesting....

16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
18) La Grange
19) Tush

(Crowd sings along and sounds very pumped up by this point. They had a good time in there that night!)

La Grange & Tush were played right after Legs with no encore break, just a quick guitar swap. After the band leaves the stage the studio recorded version of "Dreadmonboogaloo" is played.

---

AUGUST 20th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN LAS VEGAS NEVADA AT THE MANDALAY BAY RESORT & CASINOS EVENTS CENTER BY THE SHARK REEF

Quality A+

This was my 5th time to see ZZ Top live, and this is also my 5th concert recording. I stayed at the Mandalay Bay Resort the day and night of this show and I taped it with permission of the Mandalay Bay Resort front desk, ticketing counter and "Events Center" ticketing entrance staff. I took a good friend of mine from Houston with me to this show, and we met another ZZ Top fan from another state there which made for a really enjoyable trip. When picking up my tickets in person I noted that the sign when entering the "Events Center" said "Disposable Cameras Are Allowed". So I asked, "If disposable cameras are allowed, can I bring in a disposable recorder?" The answer was "Sure that's fine". I recorded that conversation. Plus I called the main desk and gave them my room number and asked again if it was okay to bring in a recorder, and they said "No one checks so just have fun". (I recorded that as well) So I walked right in through the ticket booth with my Sony M1 Dat recorder in my hand and core-sound tiny mics, (I showed it to the ticket agent and said "See this, I am going to tape this show, the ticket counter said it's okay) they also just laughed and said "have fun guy!" so I entered the show and taped it while fully allowed and authorized by the venue and hotel front desk, ticket sales counter and ticket takers/entry staff.

I think people who really enjoy ZZ Top like I do need to seriously consider recording the shows you attend. As you can see in this case, it was totally allowed. Some tickets say "no cameras" and even "no recorders" but just get your tickets direct from the venue itself if you want to tape it. Mandalay Bay fully allowed me to tape it, no hiding. And my tickets did not say "no cameras" or "no recorders".

I am very pleased with my recording, it came out just wonderful, and I am glad to be able to contribute such a fine audience recording so that other fans may enjoy it now again and forever. - Greg Deeter

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Ross Mitchell type Intro (by Pablo) in Spanish & English
2) Gimme All Your Lovin'
3) Pincushion
4) Waitin' for the Bus
5) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Las Vegas Nevada)
6) Precious and Grace
7) Manic Mechanic
8) Rough Boy
9) Cheap Sunglasses
10) Buck Nekkid
("Blues time in Las Vegas")
11) Catfish Blues
12) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
13) Piece
14) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
15) Just Got Paid Today
16) Tube Steak Boogie
17) Sharp Dressed Man
18) Legs
Encore
19) La Grange
20) Tush

(After the band leaves the stage, "Exercise Is Good For You" by Trelix is played)

---

AUGUST 9th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN LIEGE BELGIUM AT THE NANDRIN FESTIVAL

Quality A-

Open air show. The was the second to last show of the 2003 Euro Tour. They played two nights later at Colmar, France - La Foire Aux Vins (I would like to hear that show), then returned to the US opening the second leg of the US tour in Las Vegas. Thanks to my pal Raphael in Belgium for recording this one! This is a nice outside recording and a short set list. What is funny about this show is how clear and concise Billy keeps his English when talking to the crowd.

(1) CD

Set / Track List:

1) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Liege)
2) Manic Mechanic
3) Rough Boy
4) Buck Nekkid
5) Catfish Blues
6) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
7) Piece (Sounds good outside!)
8) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
9) Just Got Paid
10) Tube Steak Boogie
11) Sharp Dressed Man
12) La Grange
13) Tush

---

AUGUST 5th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN HANNOVER GERMANY AT THE PARKBUEHNE

Quality A. Another nice recording from Germany that finally surfaced in 2004. Tape skips a few times at the start during "Gimme All Your Lovin'" but other than that it's a wonderful recording. Both the crowd and the band are very relaxed. This is a very interesting show in that respect it's as if it were in a very small intimate venue.

(1) AUDIO CD

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Deutschland)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush
20) Jailhouse Rock

(After the band leaves the stage, "Exercise Is Good For You" by Trelix is played)

---

JULY 30th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN LONDON ENGLAND AT THE BRIXTON ACADEMY, UNITED KINGDOM

A+ Quality, very nice recording that just surfaced in summer 2005. Excellent.

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago
("Then he got wise got on a 747 airplane, got his passport stamped and crossed the Atlantic ocean and came all the way to the United Kingdom and then came all the way right down here to Brixton Academy, do you know what I'm talkin' about?")
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

(After the band leaves the stage, "Exercise Is Good For You" by Trelix is played)

---

JULY 28th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN NEWCASTLE UNITED KINGDOM AT THE TELEWEST ARENA

Quality A-. Has the Spanish & English Ross Mitchell Intro. According to whom recorded it, this was not the best venue for a concert as it was at an ice rink which is good for guitar but not for bass or drums. I don't think it sounds bad at all though. Billy talks to the crowd -a lot- at this show and says quite a bit more than average. It's very interesting and enjoyable. Nice recording from the UK. Great example of what ZZ Top sounded like just two weeks ago.

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago
("Then he got wise and got on a big airplane and came all the way to the UK and then came up to Newcastle")
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

(After the band leaves the stage, "Exercise Is Good For You" by Trelix is played)

---

JULY 27th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM UNITED KINGDOM AT THE CARLING ACADEMY

Quality A+ This is an excellent audience preserved recording. Sounds like a mid-sized to small venue. ZZ sounds really fine at this show and they give the special treatment to Rough Boy. The crowd really enjoys this show and sings along with Tube Steak Boogie and Sharp Dressed Man. The crowd also claps along a lot and they do most certainly demand an encore. This is a really upbeat and enjoyable show to listen to again. Pure ZZ magic. Somehow this recording ended up in Japan. Thanks so much to my pal Tama in Kawasaki City Japan for sharing this show.

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (England, Birmingham)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses

Billy says "Hey let's get some lights up on the stage here, I'm trying to talk to these people. They paid a lot of money to get in here tonight and we got somethin' important to talk about here! "

9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) La Grange
19) Tush

(After the band leaves the stage, "Exercise Is Good For You" by Trelix is played)

---

JULY 9th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN BONN GERMANY AT THE MUSEUMSPLATZ

Quality A!!!

While there was no formal competetion present I know that everyone has been waiting to see what comes out of Europe this year. Well it should be well known that the Germans have trashed the Americans hands down! It's no contest! Hahah. This here BONN GERMANY recording is the highest quality of -ANY- ZZ audience capture this tour!!!! So hear ya go! ZZ two weeks ago in Germany. A recording of such high quality that it's almost hard to believe it's not a soundboard. This _IS_ the #1 finest recording of the current tour! In fact this right here may very well be the #1 BEST LIVE ZZ audience recording in the last 2 years!!! It came direct from Europe. I got it -1- week after the show. It has been recorded where there are 1 second gaps between the songs. Everything came together at just the right time with this show. While the capture is AAA+++, ZZ Top put on a super fine show. Not only does it have a new type of Ross Mitchell intro half in Spanish and half in English, Billy says a LOT and I do mean a -LOT- of extra stuff in between these songs. There's a -ton- of commentary, conversations with the crowd, people on stage. It's too much to absorb in one setting. This is just like being there, right smack in the middle of this energetic German crowd. When talking about Mescalero, Billy points to someone in the crowd holding a sign that said "Mescalero Rules!" and Billy said "Well, he's heard it!".

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Duetchland Mention)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JULY 6th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN OSLO NORWAY AT THE ROCKERFELLER CLUB

Quality A+

REMASTERED IN FRANCE IN NOVEMBER 2003. OUTSTANDING!

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Oslo)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JULY 6th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN OSLO NORWAY AT THE ROCKERFELLER CLUB

Quality A

This is a downright fantastic show and recording here. This is obviously a very small venue. It sounds like there are only a few hundred people in the audience. It's a nice intimate small venue. This is an awesome way to hear ZZ just over a month ago, playing in a club in Oslo. Thanks to someone in Norway, this show has been saved so other fans can enjoy it. Thanks to who recorded it! And thanks to my pal Spike in California for sending me this surprise gem while I was on vacation in California!

Listening to this show puts you right there. It's seamless soundboard quality that sounds like it was recorded by someone sitting (or standing) in the club, right close to the stage. Sounds like it's about 20-30 feet from Billy, cause his voice is picked up by the mics recording the show even more than just by the sound system. It's definately the #1 recording of an intimate venue for the current tour. The band is playing nice and relaxed. This is just as good as the Bonn Germany recording, making it a tie for the #1 best Euro recording of the current 2003 tour. Ever wondered what ZZ Top would sound like playing at your own favorite local club with about 200-300 people max? Well here you go!

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Oslo)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JULY 5th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN SUNNE SWEDEN AT THE ROTTNEROSPARKEN

Quality A+ Woo Hoo! Killer -bitchin- recording from 2003 that just turned up in summer of 2004. This is obviously a "chick" taping this show. First Zz Top female taper I have known of! During the intro she's yelling to others "Ya'll be cool I'm taping this!" She sounds like a black girl with a Texan accent. Very odd! This is one of the best recordings of 2003. Very very crisp and clear sounds like a TINY venue with only a few hundred people perhaps. In fact this recording sounds like it was done right in front of the stage as it picked up pure vocals not from the mics. To top it all off it's an outstanding performance. Hat's off to the cool chick that saved this one for others to enjoy! The bass tends to be a little hot but she adjusts it down just about right. This has to have been done with a Sony DAT. This was Zz Top's 2nd European concert of the 2003 Euro leg. They had played the previous night (also in Sweden) at the Sundsvalls Gatufest. No audience recording of that show is known to exist at present.

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Sweden)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece (Very nice vocal performance by Dusty!)
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore:

18) La Grange (A lotta nice girls that are very white)
19) Tush

(After the band leaves the stage, "Exercise Is Good For You" by Trelix is played)

---

JUNE 28th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE AT THE ADELPHIA COLISEUM
CORVETTE 50TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Quality A

Note: As of 7/2/03 I am not trading this show. It has been sent to everyone who requested it for trade on 7/1/03. From what I understand, there are at least (4) different recordings, two of which are poor and two of which are excellent. The one I have is totally excellent. Let's compare recordings on this one. The person who recorded this openly traded it for 2-3 days and then decided to hold it back, and that request must be respected. I think it's because of the first half of "Piece" being cut off due to a tape or cd change. If you have another version of this show, we can trade, as the person who recorded this version wants the others, and will trade only for the other versions. And they asked me to trade it for them. So, got another version?

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Nashville Mention)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JUNE 21st, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN ATLANTA GEORGIA AT THE GWINETT CIVIC CENTER

Quality A+

May be from video. Very high quality but video is not certain...

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JUNE 6th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN MARYSVILLE (SACRAMENTO) CALIFORNIA
AT THE SLEEP TRAIN AMPHITHEATER V2

Quality A
Here we have another recording from a different source which is much better than the one below (& the remaster)

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Two California Mentions)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid
15) Tube Snake Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JUNE 6th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN MARYSVILLE (SACRAMENTO) CALIFORNIA
AT THE SLEEP TRAIN AMPHITHEATER

* REMASTERED * Quality B


(2) CD SET

Same show as below yet remastered in France in August 2003. While this show was recorded with the input volume way too low, the hiss has been removed and the show is now at least listenable. This is for the diehard fan who was at the show or just needs to know what it sounded like. ZZ Top did put on a nice show here and it's a shame the recording was not better. There is a rumor that at least one other person taped this show and I am trying to track that version down to compare them.

---

JUNE 6th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN MARYSVILLE (SACRAMENTO) CALIFORNIA
AT THE SLEEP TRAIN AMPHITHEATER

Quality C+
Recorded with a Sharp MDSR60 & Juice Box with Reactive Sounds Stereo Spider Mics to line in plug instead of mic plug. Has a powerful loud hiss as it was recorded with low volume settings. ~ SUPER THANKS to my pal SPIKE in Cali for saving this one.

Note: I would hold off on requesting this show for any trades for now, as I have sent it off to Europe to be remastered, to remove the hiss. It sounds like it was a good performance, and the recording captured the bass quite nicely. This should clean up to at least B or B+ quality with equalization and a good remaster job.

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Two California Mentions)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid
15) Tube Snake Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore
18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

JUNE 6th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN MARYSVILLE (SACRAMENTO) CALIFORNIA
AT THE SLEEP TRAIN AMPHITHEATER

* REMASTERED * Quality B


(2) CD SET

Same show as below yet remastered in France in August 2003. While this show was recorded with the input volume way too low, the hiss has been removed and the show is now at least listenable. This is for the diehard fan who was at the show or just needs to know what it sounded like. ZZ Top did put on a nice show here and it's a shame the recording was not better. There is a rumor that at least one other person taped this show and I am trying to track that version down to compare them.

---

JUNE 3rd, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO AT THE JOURNAL PAVILION

Quality B
The US Air Force made a surprise fly over at this show. Recording is poor, looking for a better one.

(2) CD SET

Set / Track List:

1) Gimme All Your Lovin
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid
15) Tube Snake Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs
Encore

18) Mannish Boy (Muddy Water's Cover)
19) La Grange
20) Tush

---

MAY 26th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY WITH WILLIE NELSON
AKA WILLIE NELSON AND FRIENDS (WILLIE'S 70th BIRTHDAY PARTY)

Quality A+
ZZ Top attended Willie Nelson's 70th Birthday Party and played a single song with Willie, "She Loves My Automobile". While the actual pre-recording date is unknown, it is believed to be in April 2003. This was first broadcast on USA Network on May 26th 2003. The CD contains both an .AVI video satellite recording of very high quality, as well as the audio only song which I transfered from digital stereo hi-fi satellite -directly- to a perfectly crisp and clear .WAV to CD. The song was recorded from the "live" satellite broadcast direct to .WAV with a digital Zoltrix Nightengale soundcard connected to a DishNet 508PVR, bypassing any MPEG2 digital PVR (or VHS analog) recording encoding, so it is the best quality recording possible. It's A+ quality no doubt.

(1) CD

1) ZZ Top - She Loves My Automobile
(Sung by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Willie Nelson)
(With Willie Nelson guitar verse and vocals, supporting brass band and additional vocal support by a black female duo)

This is a very unique performance of "She Loves My Automobile". Past President Bill Clinton was in attendence and Billy Gibbons ends with a "Goodnight Willie where ever you are!" (In reference to Bill Clinton, not Willie Nelson as Willie Nelson was on stage)

---

MAY 25th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP, TED NUGENT AND KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD & DOUBLE TROUBLE
LIVE AT THE ALPINE VALLEY MUSIC THEATER - EAST TROY WISCONSIN

Quality is A. Very nice digital audio recordings. This was recorded with a Sony MZ-R700 Minidisc Recorder with Core Sound Binaural microphones plugged into the line input rather than the mic input.

An interesting note regarding Double Trouble : This was their first trip back to Alpine Valley since that tragic accident 13 years ago that took the life of SRV.

MASSIVE TEXAS THANKS to my pal outside Texas (haha)! Kyle can record just as well as us Texan Tapers! :) Thanks Kyle!

(4) CD SET

Set / Track List: ZZ TOP (2) CDS

1) Gimme All Your Lovin
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid
15) Tube Snake Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore

18) La Grange
19) Tush

Set / Track List: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD & DOUBLE TROUBLE (1) CD

1) Somehow, Somewhere, Someway
2) King’s Highway
3) Blue On Black
4) Shotgun Blues
5) King Bee
6) Instrumental
7) Texas Flood
8) Voodoo Chile

Set / Track List: TED NUGENT (1) CD

1) Preshow (“America The Beautiful” by Ray Charles)
2) The Pledge Of Allegiance
3) Free For All
4) Wango Tango
5) Stormtroopin’
6) Snakeskin Cowboys
7) Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
8) Gonna Play My Guitar
9) Hey Baby
10) Rawdogs And Warhogs
11) Kiss My Ass
12) Fred Bear
13) Cat Scratch Fever
14) Stranglehold
15) Great White Buffalo
16) Star Spangled Banner

---

MAY 24th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN CHICAGO (TINLEY PARK) ILLINOIS AT THE TWEETER CENTER

Quality is A.

(2) CD SET

Very nice recording! This was obviously a great show and it sounds like you were right there. Excellent example of the 2003 set list which seemed to stick for a good while. This is beautiful. Thanks to whoever saved it!

From an historical stance, this show is a MUST HEAR for any ZZ Top fan. Things change here, a new static setlist is first, which will last for most of the rest of the tour. There are newer versions of older songs and new versions of newer and older songs as well. It's a good mix that stuck real good for 2003.

I think I would have to vote this show as my personal favorite of 2003, and I attended 3 other shows in 2003, yet I was not at this one personally.

This is good

Ross Mitchell Type Intro
1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Then he got wise and came back to Chicago)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic (Billy mentions his friend "Jason" who was there)
7) Rough Boy

Before "Cheap Sunglasses" Billy strums the guitar while talking and says 'It's cold out here tonight"

8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid (Mescalero Intro ~ "Not Out Yet...")
10) Catfish Blues
(Billy says "It's good to be back here") ~ Extended version! ~ Dusty yells at the end "Thank You! Yeah! Two Trains!"
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece (poor vocal match with musical tone) ~ (Mescalero Brothers Skit)
13) Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers

Billy says "Can I get a little light on this man right here, lookit here, Mr. Elwood Francis right here. Mean guitar man right here, lookin for love in all the wrong places and smokin' that stuff too." etc. This show seemed to establish the 1, 2 , 3 senoritas intro to "Just Got Paid" which would be seen and heard during the rest of the 2003 tour.

14) Just Got Paid (Extended ~ Excellent!)
15) Tube Steak Boogie (Prime!)
16) Sharp Dressed Man (Extended ~ Excellent!)
17) Legs

ENCORE:

18) La Grange
19) Tush (a suitable tail end to a fine performance!)

---

MAY 23rd, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN DETROIT (CLARKSTON) MICHIGAN AT THE DTE ENERGY MUSIC CENTER

Quality is A-.

(2) CD SET

This two CD set was recorded from the audience and it's not bad. I call it an A-. It includes KWS (Kenny Wayne Shepard) as the opening act as well as the entire ZZ show. And interesting note is that this show was outside, and ZZ Top did not play an encore due to the fact that it was POURING RAIN! So, wanna hear ZZ playing in the rain? Here ya go! Thanks to whoever saved this!

Ross Mitchell Type Intro (pre-recorded and skips)
1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Michigan)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses (Billy says "maybe the sun will come out tomorrow")

* Before Buck Nekkid Billy said that "We have a new album coming out, or maybe it's already out. We went by your neighbor Kid Rock's house today and he had a copy of Mescalero!"

9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece (Mescalero Brothers skit)

Billy says "Where's Kid Rock? Ladies and Gentlemen, here's your homeboy right here!" Kid Rock comes out and does the toast with Billy. Billy says "Give it up one more time, Kid Rock there!" as the crowd yells "Fuck You!"

13) Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man

"Sharp Dressed Man" was not played entirely as the crowd was running from the venue and security was on the venue speakers asking people not to run.

Band exits the stage in pouring rain and does not return for an encore

---

MAY 21st, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN CAMDEN NEW JERSEY AT THE TWEETER CENTER

Quality is A+.

(2) CD SET

Also on VHS or DVD (Professionally Filmed ~ Three studio cameras)

This is the #1 BEST quality full video shoot on DVD known to exist in at least 20 years. It appears to have come from the venues hardwired video system and audio soundboard. There is no crowd noise as the sound is most certainly 100% soundboard.

One thing that is extremely ironic, is that the very first Drive-In theater in the United States made it's debut in Camden New Jersey, 70 years earlier on May 21st of 1933.

This is an excellent quality audience recording, sounds like you are there at the show, and the audio only CD set may be from the soundboard patch to the full video. Before playing Buck Naked Billy did the normal intro that mentions their new album Mescalero. Billy said that Mescalero would be out soon and that "you can go home and download it if you want".

The performance is very nice and sounds superb! Vocals are on key and the high points or deviations from the previous tour shows are of course Buck Naked and Piece (from Mescalero) and the older material Precious And Grace, Manic Mechanic and Catfish Blues, all of which sound fantastic at this show.

Ross Mitchell Intro
1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (No New Jersey mention - Just "Right Here")
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues (Extended version - Awesome!)
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece (Billy calls it "I Just Want A Little Piece of Your Love") - (Different ending, echoed vocals - cool!)
13) Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers
(Billy introduces Elwood Francis and the three senoritas, and starts "Just Got Paid" with new, "One Senorita, Two Senorita and Three Senorita verses)

14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man (Sounds like they added a synthesizer - unusual version - very nice)
17) Legs (definitely using a synthesizer - sounds great)

Encore

18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

MAY 18th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN CLEVELAND OHIO AT THE TOWER THEATER

Recording Quality is A. The first song "Gimme All Your Lovin'" is joined in progress and missing the first minute or so. Other than that, this is a great quality audience recording. Billy talks quite a bit about what they are wearing and about his Bo Didley guitar that he brings out for Precious and Grace, which sounds excellent by the way. There is obviously something unusual going on with Dusty Hill at this show, as his vocals are way off on "Piece" from Mescalero, during "Beer Drinkers" and during "Tush". I've never heard another show like this where Dusty was so off. Perhaps he was tired.

(2) CD SET

1) Gimme All Your Lovin'

It sounds like whoever was taping this came close to getting caught. Near the end of "Gimme All Your Lovin'", security came up to the person taping and said "Security, Sir can I get you to take a seat?", and the person recording said "No, I'm waiting for somebody!". I think whoever was taping it was standing right by the speakers in the front.

2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago (Ohio Mention)

(Billy then referenced coming out in fancy Mexican panchos and "shit" like that), etc.
4) Precious and Grace (Sounds Awesome! Very nice performance)
5) Manic Mechanic
6) Rough Boy (One of the few songs at this show that sounds really good!)

At the end of Rough Boy, Billy say's "Now that everyones all crying and shit it's time to get out your cheap sunglasses."

7) Cheap Sunglasses
8) Buck Nekkid (From Mescalero)
Billy does the typical lead into this song, describing it as being from Mescalero, etc. They then turn the volume WAY up louder. The person recording it had good levels so the recording gets even better while the performance gets worse.

9) Catfish Blues
10) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
11) Piece (From Mescalero) (Billy calls it "I Just Want A Little Piece Of Your Love")
Note : I hate to say it, but this song sounds horrible as it is way off key. This should have never been performed live like this.

Billy thanks the crowd for coming, offers a salute and says that they have been coming around with concerts for 30 years now

12) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers

(Billy introduces Elwood Francis who had three women (senoritas) with him, and starts "Just Got Paid" with new, "One Senorita, Two Senorita and Three Senorita verses)

13) Just Got Paid Today
14) Tube Snake Boogie
15) Sharp Dressed Man
16) Legs

Encore

17) La Grange (Surfs Up!)
18) Tush

Notes : My reviews of the shows here are almost always positive and while I have mild reservations about being critical, being critical is needed at this time if only for a historical reference. ZZ sounded overall on the poor side at this show. I don't know what was wrong, but Dusty's vocals ranged from just barely acceptable to just plain aweful. What is ironic is that out of the 70+ ZZ Live shows I have listened to (all listed) I have never heard Billy use profanity. It is only with curiousity that I note after "Rough Boy" Billy Gibbons said "Now that everyones all crying and shit it's time to get out your cheap sunglasses." And that was the second time to use the word "shit" as it was used after the "Waitin' for the Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago" Medley. I have to admit I am a little let down. ZZ is too talented to use profanity to excite a crowd. They don't need that.

Well, I'm not sure what the sunglasses would have helped, as this "shit" would require earplugs sooner than eyewear. This is the worst ZZ live performance that I have ever heard. And it's a nice high quality recording no doubt. This show is somewhat of an oxymoron as the band sounds substantially substandard, but the recording is excellent!

I admire ZZ Top incredibly, and I am sure other fans like me know that not every show can go perfect. This recording is actually very rare in that there is not much live material out there that represents a poor performance. They seem to hit the nail on the head at almost every concert. But not at this one. It's a must have for any serious ZZ fan/collection. Yes, believe it or not, ZZ can sound really bad. It's rare, but this proves it. I personally consider ZZ Top to be one of the Top 10 BEST bands in the last 30 years to play live. That's just another reason why this show is so unusual in it's poor performance.

This show should have been cancelled if there was some problem, because the band was not into this show, was not in good sync and needed a break or something.

---

MAY 13th, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN BRISTOW VIRGINIA AT THE NISSAN PAVILION

Quality is A. Nice performance, sounds really good. Dusty is starting to get off key with his vocals at this show. This will grow into a much larger poor vocal representation in Cleveland on May 18th (above).

(2) CD SET

Ross Mitchell Intro
1) Gimme All Your Lovin
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (Washington DC Mention)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Cheap Sunglasses
8) Buck Nekkid (From Mescalero)
9) Catfish Blues
10) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
11) Piece (From Mescalero / Shorter Version)

Billy thanks the crowd for coming, offers a salute and says that they have been coming around with concerts for 30 years now

12) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers

(Billy introduces Elwood Francis who had three women (senoritas) with him, and starts "Just Got Paid" with new, "One Senorita, Two Senorita and Three Senorita verses)

13) Just Got Paid Today
14) Tube Snake Boogie
15) Sharp Dressed Man
16) Legs

Encore

17) La Grange (Surfs Up!)
18) Tush

---

MAY 10th 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA AT THE VERIZON AMPHITHEATER V1

Quality is A.

(2) CD SET

Also on VHS or DVD (Audience Filmed)

Nice audience recording.

Ross Mitchell type Intro by Pablo
1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (North Carolina)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore

18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

MAY 10th 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA AT THE VERIZON AMPHITHEATER V2

Quality is A.

(2) CD SET

Nice audience recording.

Ross Mitchell type Intro by Pablo
1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (North Carolina)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore

18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

MAY 10th 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA AT THE VERIZON AMPHITHEATER V3

Quality is A-.

(2) CD SET

Nice audience recording. This was recorded by someone else and it is a fine recording also. There is also rumored to be a 4th recording of this show from yet another location in the audience.

Ross Mitchell type Intro by Pablo
1) Gimme All Your Lovin'
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago (North Carolina)
5) Precious and Grace
6) Manic Mechanic
7) Rough Boy
8) Cheap Sunglasses
9) Buck Nekkid
10) Catfish Blues
11) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
12) Piece
13) Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers
14) Just Got Paid Today
15) Tube Steak Boogie
16) Sharp Dressed Man
17) Legs

Encore

18) La Grange
19) Tush

---

MAY 2nd, 2003 ~ ZZ TOP LIVE IN JACKSON MISSISSIPPI AT THE MISSISSIPPI COLISEUM

Quality is B+/A-. This show can be remastered and should be. It's recorded onto CD as single long tracks with the recording levels a bit too high for the deck used so it results in some flattening of the bass at times. ZZ put on a nice performance here. They seemed to be enjoying the performance and they mixed the set list up in an unusual way. This is the only live performance of the new Mescalero songs Buck Nekkid and Piece back to back.

(2) CD SET

Ross Mitchell Intro
1) Gimme All Your Lovin
2) Pincushion
3) Waitin' for the Bus (Jackson Mississippi mention at start)
4) Jesus Just Left Chicago ("He liked it so much he stayed right here in Mississippi")

(Billy talks a lot after Jesus Just Left Chicago saying that "You know Jesus left Chicago so he's gonna have to come down to Mississippi." Billy also mentions that on the way to the show they drove through the town of McComb Mississippi, home of Bo Diddley and mentions that Bo gave him his red guitar when he (Billy) was only 19 years old.)

5) Precious and Grace
6) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide