ZZ Top release proffers close-up look at band

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jul 4, 2008 by Scott Iwasaki Deseret News

For ZZ Top, it's all about the No. 3. For more than three decades, ZZ Top, that little ol' band from Texas, has had the same three guys (guitarist Billy F. Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard), and, as Gibbons said in a concert in Utah a couple of years ago, they play "the same three chords."

However, with the release of the DVD "Live From Texas" (Eagle Vision), the band adds a "first" to its career. "Live From Texas" is the band's first, live, official DVD.

But that doesn't mean the band was nervous about making it. In fact, by the looks of the concert, the band (and audience) didn't seem to mind the video cameras and cranes that were part of the scenery at the Nokia Theatre in Dallas.

In fact, the band was on the mark.

"Got Me Under Pressure," "Cheap Sunglasses," "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Heard It on the X," "La Grange," "Tube Snake Boogie" and "Legs" (the latter complete with the white fuzzy guitars) are only sample of the set list.

In addition, the DVD (which is available on Blue-Ray, as well), features bonus material such as a band's poker game, which the three reminisce about the band's origins from Gibbons' early band Moving Sidewalks, Hill's first meeting with Beard and Gibbons over a bottle of wine and the formation of ZZ Top, and opening for Muddy Waters and hanging out with Freddie King and opening for the Rolling Stones.

One of the highlights of game is the fact that Beard, who is the quiet one on stage, actually talks. The subtle highlight of game is the fact that viewers will notice, in passing, that Beard drinks Tab.

Other highlights include video of a photo shoot, the stage set- up and backstage footage and the band cranking out a live version of Jimi Hendrix' "Foxey Lady."

Throughout the years, ZZ Top has always appeared to be approachable by fans. And this is just another way for the fans to get peeks of the inner workings of the band.

E-mail: scott@desnews.com