Review | ZZ Top at the Midland

(Photo by Jill Toyoshiba | The Kansas City Star)

For 40 years: same three guys, same three chords. Such is how Billy Gibbons distilled the essence of ZZ Top in 2012.

It may all be the same, essentially, but it’s enough to keep fans interested and buying tickets to shows to hear the band’s inimitable take on the blues, one that mixes boogie, metal and classic white blues. Tuesday night, more than 2,000 showed up to watch Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard fill the Midland theater with nearly 80 minutes of such music, some of it indeed 40 years old.

They opened with their version of Sam and Dave’s “I Thank You,” then went back to 1973 and the “Tres Hombres” album: the gritty “Waitin’ for the Bus’ and the slow-moving but soulful “Jesus Just Left Chicago.” They would revisit that classic album again, setting the room ablaze with “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers,” then, in the encore, “La Grange.”

ZZ Top is touring off a new album, “La Futura,” co-produced by career resurrector Rick Rubin and released in mid-September, and the two songs pulled of that one proved Gibbons’ point. “I Gotsta Get Paid” is a grimy, gritty Texas blues revision of “25 Lighters,” a late-’90s song by Houston rap trio; and “Chartreuse” rides a boogie-groove that resembles vintage ZZ, especially “Tush.” Both fit in seamelessly with the rest of the setlist, which bounced about the band’s catalog, which now comprises 15 albums.

The state was set with two smaller video screens that flanked a larger one, which broadcast a variety of images and graphics. During “Vincent Price Blues,” the beloved horror-flick actor was displayed in black-and-white portrait and film footage. The show moved along at a brisk pace: not much chit-chat but plenty of entertainment. Gibbons and Hill reprised some of the choreography they’ve become known for -- including that knee-knocking dance move they do in unison. Unlike some bands as longstanding as theirs, ZZ has managed to look and sound as timeless as the blues itself.

This crowd seemed as familiar and fond of songs like “Heard It on the X” and “My Head’s in Mississippi” as anything else on the setlist, but the best-known songs got the biggest ovation and drew nearly the entire floor out of its seats and into the grooves.

“Gimme All Your Lovin’” was the first of those; later, the one-two punch of “Sharp Dressed Man” and the infernal “Legs” ended the first set with a joyous fury. They returned quickly for a three-song encore, starting with “Tube Snake Boogie” and ending with the song that introduced many in the room to this band and its appealing mix of humor, levity, sex and serious hard rock/blues : “Tush,” now 37 years old.

Gibbons is right: Not much about this band has changed over the decades; things have stayed pretty much the same. But there’s nothing wrong with that if it means you’re staying consistent with high standards.

Setlist: I Thank You; Waitin’ for the Bus; Jesus Just Left Chicago; Pincushion; Heard it On The X; I Gotsta Get Paid; Gimme All Your Lovin’; Vincent Price Blues; My Head’s in Mississippi; Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers; Chartreuse; Stages; Sharp-Dressed Man; Legs. Encore: Tube Snake Boogie; La Grange / Sloppy Drunk; Tush..

Comments

[pellboy]

Wow, you would have thought they would dig a little deeper and at least push the show near two hours. Will always dig ZZ Top, but seems like a pretty standard show so I don't feel too bad that I missed this one.

[Kurt]

Saw ZZ Top at Sandstone in 1991 on the Recycler tour. I got a lawn ticket for around $10.00. It was the 2nd KC show on that tour and were at Kemper earlier. ZZ Top puts on a great show.

[fiddler]

understood this was also an anniversary celebration for skid roadie... 30 years on kc radio. say what you will about him, but he knows his s_it when it comes to r&r and that long in any medium in any market is quite a feat.

[onthemark]

A lot of the songs on that setlist take me back to when I first heard ZZ Top. That was when I had 'Tres Hombres' on an 8 track tape!

[Bubba Brown]

Great show by ZZ TOP, just a little too short. Not including the intro and closing credits (on the large video screen) BILLY GIBBONS and crew were onstage for 75 minutes. I'm glad that I went. The Midland has (literally) become Kansas City's premier concert venue. I like their policy that once you enter, you CAN get your hand stamped and step across the street to that grocery store to get something to eat, drink, etc. Sound in the Midland is great!

[McMicky]

Well Bubba... maybe if you stayed at the show versus hanging out across the street, it wouldnt seem so short.

;) JK bro

I actually didnt even know you could leave between eacts and then come back, that is good info, thanks.

I stand by what I always say about ANY act that plays under 90-110 minutes... THAT IS BS!! Shame on you ZZ TOP!

[pellboy]

I'm not going to dog them that much, McM, but it is kind of lame for a band with such an extensive catalog, to play such a short show with such a basic, hit-heavy (albeit fairly representative) setlist.

I agree that 90 minutes should almost be a minimum industry standard, especially in this case since it was a pretty pricey ($55 "cheap" seats?) show. Oh well, I'm sure it was still good as Bubba and the reviewer indicated.

[McMicky]

Im not going to say you cant say youre not going to dog on them and then dog on them but you said you werent gonna dog on them and then you dogged on them, and they deserve it.

Fk playing only 80 minutes, when this pand could / should play 2 hours. period.

ps
but ya know... for all we know, the real ZZ TOP died a long long time ago, and these guys are just wearing disguises. If you tried walking into a bank/Quiktrip looking that picture, they would say to you STOP!

[John]

I could see they had great talent and watching them was entertaining, and I'm almost sorry to have to say this -- but the sound was so horrific that I neither could understand a word they said or sung and all their songs just came out like noise. My ears were hurting and my wife complained that the bass pressure was physically hurting her chest. We had to leave after a half-hour before we suffered permanent damage, and were not the only ones to do so. I have been to many rock concerts and never had this problem, either. I didn't pay for tickets just to sit there and be punished. ZZ Top would sound ten times as good at 1/2 the volume. Their sound person ought to be flogged.

[McMicky]

They are dead ringers for the soggy bottom boys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uotThNz6o78

[Geordan]

John mentions being "punished" by the sound. That's how I felt when I saw Motorhead at the Midland a few years back. It was like being assaulted by sound and although I love me some Motorhead, that show was brutal! The only louder show I had seen before that was Black Sabbath on the "Mob Rules" tour (with Dio on vocals at Municipal Auditorium). After THAT show, in which I was in the 7th or 8th row in front of a wall of speakers, my ears rang for a couple of weeks afterward. I feel there can be such a thing as "too loud." As for ZZ Top, or anyone, like most here, I feel if you can't give your fans at least a 90 minute show (ahem, Cheap Trick), then you should start to think about packing up your guitars and amps and stepping aside for bands who will at least show that much respect to their fans who are laying down their hard-earned cabbage and taking time out of their lives to go see them.

[gsp]

MMJ at starlight was the same way, unnecessarily loud. I ended up sitting in the back row and my beer cup was still visibly vibrating. Didn't add anything to the experience.

[913KCKKID]

Don't worry. There is a provision in the Affordable Health Care Act that will limit concert SPL's to around 90 decibels. Everything will sound like NPR in your dad's Olds 98. Based on my experience at the Midland, and depending on whether the artist uses local/in house production or their own no more than 70% of the audience will experience the same quality of sound that is heard at the Front of House Soundmixing Position. ZZ is historically a GREAT sounding live act. Not sure if M.L. Procise is still their sound mixer or if they used the new Showco/Clair line array system but it is very disappointing to hear that some patrons got the hip-hop hammered shit treatment. ZZ likes it hard, loud and clean but never ever painful.....just like great sex.

[DP]

Ted Nugent at Arrowhead in '78 or '79, cranked the sound up to 120 watts per side, which is about 140 decibals. Had noise complaints from 18 miles away.

On YouTube there's an interview with Nugent on Letterman in the early '80s talking about it. Set a record for the furthest nosie complaint for a concert, and that record still stands.

But indoors, that would have been painful, but outside, ehh why not. I Love it Loud!!!

[Danny]

I do have to say unless they were one of at least 4 headliners of a festival they need to play longer than that, especially with as much material as they have. I take it they had no opening act so that is a pretty short evening.

Many older groups still go between 2-3 hours unless they are coheadlining. If ZZ Top is going that short they need 1-2 more to fill up another 2 hours or so.

[Bubba Brown]

I saw ZZ TOP at Kemper Arena in the early '90's where they played a two-hour show. They had a Vegas-like set-up with four (I believe, it was) scantly dressed women sliding up and down poles. Now, that was an experience. At their age, they didn't even appear to be wearing themselves out at all last night at the Midland. Two minor complaints / comments of mine: show was too short + for the 75 minutes of ZZ TOP playing live, ticket prices were a bit too high. STILL, a great time was had by most if not all in attendance. Bubba said it.

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[pellboy]

Yeah, Geordan, I was at that Motorhead show as well and will add that due to my position on the floor, that was perhaps the only show I've been to where my body took as much (maybe even more) of a beating as my eardrums. Having said that, I survived and as it was my first time seeing them live and I thought it was fantastic. While I wasn't fully prepared physically for that kind of sonic onslaught, it was totally what I expected and dare say even wanted from them that night. Great all-around show with Nashville Pussy and Reverend Horton Heat opening.

[Geordan]

Yeah, Pellboy, it was also my only time seeing Motorhead and both Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pussy were a definite bonus on that bill and I'm glad most of the crowd seemed to dig the Rev. I also think Lemmy is one of the great characters in Rock history and that documentary on him a couple of years ago was cool. Of course, I knew Motorhead had the rep for being one of the loudest bands on the planet, but I will say that I didn't expect to have my cranium rattled like that! I do recall that GnR/Velevet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum, who was filling in for Motorhead's drummer that night, was truly Badass. That was a cool, albeit physically-draining show.

[Creature]

Dont forget that Led Zeppelin's "Celebration Day" is now playing in local theaters... and I have heard it is awesome.

[pellboy]

Yeah, think that was just a one-time only showing last night, Creature but unfortunately had parent/teacher conferences for both my sons and was unable to go. CD/DVD will be out sometime in November and I'll just catch it then via my own copy.

[Creature]

WTF!!! I was going to the matinee today... but I looked and I guess you are correct.... oh well fkem... I will see it on Palladia soon enough.

I was looking at movie times last night for a movie we're going to this weekend, and saw CB playing... I had no idea it was one night only.

Fk that noise... some of us have parent/teacher conferences and others have beer to drink... we cant just be running out to the movies at the drop of a joint... we have responsibilities

[pellboy]

Yeah, they've been running concert movies as well as some old classic films under something called the Fathom Events banner and that stuff has been showing on a one-night only basis, generally on a Wednesday nights. I guess the one night lending it "event" status. There was a Queen concert film that they did this with a couple of weeks ago and I thought about going but as not a huge fan,the $15 ticket price was a bit too rich for my blood. Would have paid it for Zep though. On the bright side, I'm seeing that the 2 CD/1 DVD package will run about $25-$30 bucks when released so the money I saved on missing the flick can go towards that I guess.

[Creature]

I dont have a blu ray player, and Im nota gonna to buy one!! Im waiting for the technology to leap... and it is now a waiting war between me and Sony...

I get all my HI DEF stuff beamed in by DTV.... and Palladia works great... so I can wait.... and enjoy HD... but not all I desire.

I am holding out, but I know (imagine) on my personal whim, I could cause the next wave of technology to occur over night... all I have to do is buy a Bluray player and upgrade my 1000 SD discs.... but Ima nota gonna do it!!! And facts be known SD discs look fine on our perfect working SD TV ( which sits next to the HD flat screens)

I am guessing the next wave will be solid state chips, not discs in any way, just a postage sized thingy you slide into the TV itself, or HDMI adapter.. it will ook like an SD card...

But they are waiting for me to upgrade all of my SD DVDs and players before doing...AND IMA NOTA GONNA DO IT, I TELLS YA!!!

SO GET ON WITH IT MR SONY!

[Kurt]

The 1991 Recycler tour at Sandstone by ZZ Top had a cool production. It was a spectacular junkyard set up and the band got recycled and were driving little cars on stage. The sound was loud and clear also.

[pellboy]

Yeah, not sure of the year or name/album of the tour, but also saw a similar setup at Kemper in the late 80s/early 90s...the junkyard with the smoking hot chicks in hard hats/tank top & hot pants and Frank Beard being picked up by a big electro-magnet and then coming out of some contraption as just a block of twisted metal. Awesome.

[Geordan]

Speaking of Led Zep's Celebration Day, I received an email on the presale of the DVD/CD set, which I jumped on, but received an email yesterday about the movie, which directs you to LedZeppelin.com and gives you a search option for theaters in your area. It shows that the film is playing tonight at the Cinemark in Merriam, AMC at Barry Woods, and AMC Town Center (Leawood), with all show times being at 7:30. Unsure how accurate that is, so check with the theaters, but the website has showings listed for tonight on that site.

Been listening to the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss CD, "Raising Sand" again in the past few weeks. So, I thought about seeing the Zep film on the big screen, but am going instead to see The Stone River Boys tonight at Knuckleheads. I saw them open for Hillbilly Casino a few months back and they were a lot of fun. Their singer looks and dresses like a dirt farmer found hitchhiking outside Sedalia, and in the middle of songs, he starts dancing like Mick Jagger. It's funny as hell and the band is pretty good. They play cranked-up Roots Rock, so it should be a fun little show.

[Gary Dean]

Saw them at a City Market concert last time they were in town

[C]

Thanks for the info on Zep Geordan.

[C]

http://www.cinemark.com/theatre-detail.aspx?node_id=1546&showtime_date= 7:30 tonight in Merriam..I was hoping ofr a discount matinee... maybe I will wait too.

[pellboy]

Damn, can't go tonight either!

[Patti]

Could someone please tell me the name of the Warm Up band? They were AWESOME!!

[pellboy]

btw, C, not only no matinee ($4 @ Cinemark) but not the $7 or $8 full price either. I think they've been charging $15 for those concert films so you might want to check on that first.

[student]

I agree with 913KCKKID. If you don't want to go to rock show because it's too loud or it hurts, then stay home. It's ZZ Top, my god. Grow up. I was there, I'm glad you gave them your money. Great show. BTW, who wrote this review, no byline?

[Aaron]

I used to work at the Midland doing crowd systems stuff. I was at that Motorhead show and some may have been overwhelmed by the sound, but fails in comparison to some others. I am a big fan of loud rock music but the biggest assault on my eardrums happened when I worked the Diggy Simmons/ Mindless Behavior show at the Midland. (Teenie Bopper RnB Boy Band's) 5000 plus girls under the age of 16 screaming all at once and continuously through-out the show. I have never felt that ringing before that night and pray no one has to encouter things like that again.

[Norm]

Black and Blue tour at Municipal Auditorium was the loudest freeking indoor concert ever... back in maybe 1977-78.

Black Sabbath / Blue Oyster Cult.
OMG!

[Norm]

Correction- thanks internet.

Black Sabbath / Blue Oyster Cult
KC MO, Municipal Auditorium
September 29, 1980

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[pellboy]

"BTW, who wrote this review, no byline?"

Mr.Finn according to the print edition.

[onthemark]

As gsp noted, MMJ at Starlight this summer was pretty loud. As for Nugent, I wasn't at that concert at Arrowhead, I was at a house about 5-6 miles north of the stadium. Heard every note! Gov't Mule at Liberty Hall a couple of years ago also had that 'punishing' effect. I walked out of that show feeling like my DNA had been scrambled.

But for all time loudest show I have been to, hands down it has to be Chris Duarte at the Grand Emporium back in the 90's. I know you are thinking, hey that is just a bar. And you would be correct. The difference being that he brought in a sound system more suitable for an Arrowhead show and cranked it up to full volume.

Remember the scene in 'Back To The Future' when Marty McFly plugged his guitar into that amp with the huge wall sized speaker, cranked it up and played a chord that blew him clear across the room? Yeah, it was Just. Like. That!

[Salvador Daily]

"If you don't want to go to rock show because it's too loud or it hurts, then stay home. It's ZZ Top, my god. Grow up."

OK, 'Student' gets the jerk of the day award.

[Joe]

My vote for the loudest show goes to Drive By Truckers in Columbia a couple of years ago. Good grief, it was a blast of sound.

Another one from way back was the Kinks in 1982ish at Municipal Auditorium. Give the People What the Want tour. That was loud...

[corky]

I gotta weigh in....

Patti, the opener was the Bryant Carter Band. Come and see them again, at Knuckleheads on 10/27.

The ZZ show was simply way too short. Any concert with a band that has more than a dozen albums, & this large of a fan base, ALWAYS leaves me feeling ripped off when they do less than 2 hours, let alone even a 90 minute set!

It wasn't that loud by me, but I mostly viewed it from the back of the room.

[Fire Chief]

Too much time has passed without anyone commenting, and we just cant have a proper BTR without some, so here goes.... as a public service, I need to remind everyone that Crossroads KC sucks, it has stinky porta potties and unstable, tick infested wood chips as a floor.

Thank for you time, I will be back on the 2nd Friday of every month to test system, unless others do their part to keep us safe by mentioning it.

Do your part, keep us safe.
smell something / say something

[onthemark]

Joe, I saw DBT at the Beaumont a few years ago and I agree, they brought the noise with them at that show too!

I was at that Kinks show at Municipal as well. That gets my vote for muddiest sound mix ever. Could not understand a single word/song. Not one.

[Jude]

Was front row seat 1.Had my hands touching the stage.A dream come true.ZZ Top delivered.I will never forget it.They still be laying it down proper my friends.

[Carl]

I agree Jude! Concert too short? Give the old guys a break! Happy to see that they still rock! I had a great time, beautiful venue too.

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[Bubba Brown]

Yeah, Carl - I agree with you on the Midland being a great venue for (almost) any given sort of live concert experience. Being it - a metal show, progressive, punk / New Wave or any other genre. It's location is SO convenient. You don't even have to walk all that far for free parking. Plus, I simply love their salad bar across the street at Constantino's Grocery. I have grown 'tired' of the Uptown's loser policy - of 'No Re-Entry'. Geez! They almost act like it's a federal offense. Plus I wish the Beaumont would have the policy of 'Re-Entry', thus their washrooms are usually disgusting!

[Geordan]

I'm with you on that salad bar at Cosentino's, Bubba. I raid that at least once a week. I will also grab sushi from there, but have to put up with co-workers asking if I want to microwave it or if they can use some for bait on their weekend fishing trips. But it is cool that the Midland allows re-entry (which I wasn't even aware of) and it has always been a beautiful venue and one of the jewels of downtown KC.