The second of two Bay Area ZZ Top dates landed at San Francisco’s The Warfield on a Sunday night with opener The Kenneth Brian Band for 90 minutes of Texas blues rock from “Los Tres Hombres.”
Drummer Frank Beard took the stage without fanfare, settling in behind his tiki-themed kit with a cigarette in his mouth and cold beverage close by. Even though the stage lights were off, the Warfield knew what was about to take place and the fans started cheering even before the lights came on and Dusty and Billy strode out, all smiles.
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After kicking the crowd into the party mode the opener “Got Me Under Pressure,” the band sailed through the set with an ease than only comes with 45+ years together. Musically they were spot on but, just as importantly, looked to be having a great time on stage together.
Addressing the crowd between songs, Billy Gibbons asked the room if they liked the band’s new jackets before recounting the story of when they wore “Future Farmers of America, Hollywood California” shirts. According to Billy, a friend of his exclaimed, “There ain’t no farmers in Hollywood!” To which Billy replied, “Oh, I know a few,” as he whipped a joint out of his pocket. With the spliff deposited carefully back into Billy’s pocket for later, it was back to the music.
With so many classics in their catalog, ZZ Top managed to cover almost all of the bases from Tres Hombres through to 2012’s La Futura including a healthy dose of Eliminator while still saving room for a few covers including Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” and Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” which served as the night’s closer.
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THE KENNETH BRIAN BAND
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
The Kenneth Brian Band
ZZ TOP SETLIST:
Got Me Under Pressure
Waitin’ for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Gimme All Your Lovin’
Pincushion
I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
I Gotsta Get Paid
Rough Boy
Foxy Lady
Two Trains Running
Sixteen Tons
Cheap Sunglasses
Chartreuse
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
La Grange
Tush
Jailhouse Rock
