Fraze Pavilion Welcomes “The Little Ol’ Band from Texas” – ZZ Top

As a kid, the highlight of my week would be when I walked to Lake’s Jewelry and Record shop to get the latest release from my favorite artist. Even if I didn’t have money to buy anything at the time, I would go spend hours looking through 45’s and row and rows of albums. Back in 1975 I remember looking for an album called Fandango from a band from Texas called ZZ Top. The song “Tush” was being played constantly on the radio and it quickly became the anthem for nearly every teenage boy of the 70’s. The album was different than most because one side was live recordings and the flip side was studio recordings; so I had to add it to my collection. As soon as I put the record on I knew I was about to hear something special, the first thing I hear is the MC saying, “Get ready for ZZ Top, God Dam It Get Ready; Ladies and Gentleman, the fantastic ZZ Top.” I couldn't help thinking of that album when ZZ Top took the stage at Kettering, Ohio’s Fraze Pavilion.

When ZZ Top took the stage the rain was falling, but that didn’t slow down the “Little Ol’ Band from Texas.” If anything it seemed to energize the guys who said they were glad to be back in the states after spending some time in Spain. The band opened the show with “Got Me Under Pressure” from their Eliminator album. Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill took front stage with their signature beards and Frank Beard was pounding one of the coolest drum kits I have ever seen, complete with skulls that glowed when the lights hit them just right; it was awesome. The screen behind the band provided some great ZZ Top graphics like the Eliminator car and of course, girls.

The band dug deep into their portfolio playing “Waitin’ for the Bus” and "Jesus Just Left Chicago” from their 1973 release Tres Hombres. The guys even went as far back as their first album playing the song “Brown Sugar.” The rain seemed to intensify when Billy told the crowd to get out their “Cheap Sunglasses” and then we had a “Party on the Patio.” The set ended when the band played “Sharp Dressed Man” with a little help from the crowd and one of their biggest hits “Legs.” The rain was relentless when ZZ Top came back to the stage for their encore, but amazingly no one was heading for the exit. The band came back in full force playing their hit La Grange followed by 4,000 people standing the in the rain singing Tush. It was a great way to end the night. Just a note, almost as soon as the band quit so did the rain; at least we didn’t have to drive home in it. I want to take this time to thank Teresa for giving us the tickets, we owe you one!