Reviewed by: Jerry
ZZ Top was the draw here for me. I'd seen Cheap Trick back in 2018 when they opened up for Def Leppard and Journey. I've also seen them in 1989 at what I still consider the loudest concert I've every been to. However, I had never seen ZZ Top and wanted to verify for myself the notion that they were a great live band. Here's what I witnessed:
I could have done without Cheap Trick. They, like ZZ Top are a band that I've always heard were great live. I thought they were just ok last year and chalked that up to them playing in a stadium and third on the bill. I did think they sounded much better at this show. Robin Zander sounds great as does the band. But, I guess I'm just not that big of a Cheap Trick fan to appreciate the set list they played. Outside of the cover 'Aint That A Shame', there wasn't anything I really recognized until they played She's Tight for song 7 on the set list. The bass player, Tom Peterson sang a song - and maybe he always does but I didn't think he sounded that great. Though, he did do a great bass solo preceding the song and the song itself was a great jam-band song. And, I thought it was interesting that Rik Nielson didn't have a legitimate guitar solo.
They played their biggest hits - The Flame, I Want You To Want Me, Dream Police, and Surrender. I greatly appreciated quality of the musicianship. They did sound great.
ZZ Top put on a fantastic show. These guys are on their 50th Anniversary tour and thrilled the nearly sold out audience, including the 80-yr old Japanese couple sitting next to me. They opened up the great song 'Got Me Under Pressure' and played everything I would have wanted them to. They sounded great as well. Billy, Dusty, and Frank were spot on all night and I could have listened to them all night.
That said, I didn't really understand the need for the multiple video screens. In addition to the venue's two large ones that are beyond each side of the stage they had a massive one behind the drum set and two smaller ones on each side of the stage. The two smaller ones served no real purpose other than to show what seem to be random images and scenes and pretty much cause a distraction. The one in back was used for similar purpose and also to show music videos. I never understood why a band would show the music video they produced for the song they are singing. Do we really need to see the video for 'Legs' while they play it live? And, speaking of that song, when played live, one really realizes how bad a song it is.
Go see these guys. You'll love the show.
Last but not least, a shout out to local St. Louis bluesman, Marquise Knox. This is the first time I've seen him and he sounds great. I'll be checking him out locally when he gets back from supporting ZZ Top.
My video from the show:
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide