Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page.
Bringing all their loving, and hopefully hugs and kisses, too, hard-driving Texas blues-rock legends ZZ Top plays River Cree June 6.
Carrying on after the death of half-century bass player/vocalist Dusty Hill in 2021, the eternally wild-looking lineup is founder Billy Gibbons singing and surfing that distinct guitar tone, the hilariously beardless Frank Beard drumming, and Hill-approved former guitar tech Elwood Francis carrying Hill’s torch.
Ascending from the Texas blues bar pack with extremely effective synths and drum machines in the bubblegum early ’80s, ZZ Top’s carefully curated image was surely as important as their stellar music, which was nothing to sneeze at — especially 1983’s Eliminator and 1985’s Afterburner which led them to an early certified Diamond and overall sales around 50 million.
Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man and Legs — plus total banger Sleeping Bag — are both era-defining jams and music videos, that 1933 ‘Eliminator’ Coupe almost as famous as the Batmobile.
And remember that cameo in Back to the Future III? The 2019 documentary about them, That Little Ol’ Band from Texas, is well worth a watch to brush up on the fuzzy lore.
The band, first hitting Calgary June 4, will play 15 cities across eight provinces this upcoming summer, with — exciting! — The Wallflowers opening, led, of course, by Jakob Dylan.
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.