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ZZ Top mini-tribute

When is it "too much" ZZ Top?

  • Total voters
    102
#41
koko blue
neighbor neighbor
bedroom thang

we used to play these and several others in rotation. we always went for the deep cuts - no need to play their radio hits.

i'd love for my power trio to play the first 4 zz records. no tribute silliness with the beards and stuff. just play the songs like a mother. playing zz well ain't easy. the key is in the drummer. he's gotta swing like mad. and the rev's leads have so much rhythm in them - not for the timid.

same with acdc. good covers of acdc require a drummer that understands the badassedness of phil rudd and guitar players that don't play with so much distortion. but that's another thread.

good luck, and have fun!
 
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#42
I've always been partial to the whole Tres Hombres album.
Particularly 'Master of Sparks' and 'Precious and Grace', but that's just me.
However, in a bar type setting, I agree with the other TBers, who suggest the uptempo stuff, maybe throwing in 'Blue Jeans Blues', for good measure.
 
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#44
I suggest you create a three uptempo song "section" that you play almost with no or minimal break between songs. To have some variation, you pick the songs from a list of at least five. Plenty of good suggestions already. Some of the synth era stuff works very well without keys.

After that mini tribute, expect to get requests for more ZZ top songs!

When that happens, you could pick one of the remaning ones, or play a slow one. Personally, I think ZZ top has made some great slow songs, like "Rough boy", "2000 blues", "Fool for your stockings" etc.
 
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#46
mellowinman said:
So as some of you may know, I have hooked up with a 3 piece. Our main audience will be middle aged bikers, with some hope to expand where we can.

We are doing a ZZ Top mini-block now, which I am very excited about. It suits our style, and is so fun to play. Currently it consists of:

  • Waiting for the Bus
  • Jesus Just Left Chicago
  • Sharp Dressed Man
The first two are ridiculously fun to play, and although the third is kind of a mundane bass line, it's a sure audience pleaser, and I at least enjoy singing it, and hearing the guitar playing.

So I'm thinking of expanding this, because running around in my head is "Just Got Paid Today," another excellent older ZZ Top song.

Any suggestions for others? I don't feel good about "Tush," because too many bands play it already; and "LaGrange" is hard to nail vocally. I would consider other syntho-Top songs minus the synth, because they are ridiculously popular.

Your thoughts are welcome, and may be taken under advisement, or completely ignored.
Click to expand...
I Thank You
I'm Bad I'm Nationwide
Cheap Sunglasses
 
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#53
charlie monroe said:
Are you prepared to confiscate the other guys razors? :D

In all seriousness, most of the singing I have heard you do is pretty clean. Is your throat up to 3 sets of gravel?
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've always found it effortless to switch back and forth. I don't do a lot of high screaming, but bluesy gravel is just fine.

We just ran through the three songs. Some of the changeups were challenging for the guys. I'm a counter, so no biggy for me, but they were strapped on some. We'll get it. "Sharp Dressed Man" was pretty good.
 
#56
We do Cheap Sungalsses, Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers, Heard it on the X, and Just Got Paid. I suggested Fool For Your Stockings recently, but we haven't agreed to add it yet.

Having seen several people mention it, I'd also like to add Arrested For Driving While Blind.

EDIT: Come to think about, we did recently talk about adding Waiting For the Bus / Jesus Left Chicago, but we just haven't put them on the list of songs to have ready for a rehearsal yet.
 
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#57
Couple months ago I did La Grange in an audition (female vocalist meant no trying to sound like Leon Redbone on quaaludes) and it was a blast, but requires being really tight, since basically the bass hits on the opposite beats from the guitar. I also came in to suggest the underrated Got Me Under Pressure, and the ubiquitous Cheap Sunglasses.
 

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