ZZ Top performs at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Sept. 7, 2019
ZZ Top was in town on Saturday night (Sept. 7), performing to a massive crowd at Tinley Park’s Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. The Texas trio set out on tour in mid-August and will be on the road through November, celebrating their 50th Anniversary Tour.
And a celebration it most certainly was as the group’s three original members — guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard — delivered a crowd-pleasing set of blues rock, spanning their entire catalog. “We’ve been coming around here for five decades,” said Gibbons. “Same three guys, right here. Same three chords, right here.”
The group kicked things off with a guitar-ripping version of “Got Me Under Pressure” from their most commercially successful album, 1983’s Eliminator. Gibbons and co. slowed down the tempo and dialed up the swagger on Sam & Dave’s “I Thank You” before making a seamless transition into Tres Hombres track “Waitin’ for the Bus,” on which the guitarist performed some slick choreographed dance moves while strumming along with bassist Hill.
ZZ Top performs at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Sept. 7, 2019
“Jesus Just Left Chicago” soon followed, prompting cheers across the venue at the sound of the tune’s chill opening riff. Gibbons and Hill proceeded to trade off vocals during the fan favorite, prior to Beard taking charge from behind the kit on another iconic Eliminator track, “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”
Fast fingers and synchronized sonic swaying helped elevate “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide,” which also saw the Chicagoland crowd helping out on vocals. Gibbons lit things up on guitar, while Hill strayed from his instrument of choice to post up behind a tricked out custom rig keyboard complete with chrome exhaust guards as the group later took a trip to La Futura with a welcome rendition of “I Gotsta Get Paid.”
The bearded band’s setlist was filled out with an impressive string of hits including “Legs,” “La Grange,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and a cover of Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock.”
ZZ Top performs at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Sept. 7, 2019
Ahead of ZZ Top‘s set, Chicago-area rockers Cheap Trick performed a lengthy block of hits, deep cuts and select covers, led by frontman Robin Zander and lead guitarist Rick Nielsen.
The group opened with “Hello There,” from their 1977 album In Color, before powering through timeless fan favorites including “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and “Surrender” — the lattermost which featured a surprise guest appearance from Local H frontman Scott Lucas.
Other highlights of Cheap Trick’s Saturday night set included a spot-on rendition of the 1988 power ballad “The Flame,” a cover of Velvet Underground’s “I’m Waiting for the Man,” led by bassist Tom Petersson, and a tuned up take on Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That a Shame,” which featured some extended drum solo-work, courtesy of Daxx Nielsen.
Click here to pick up tickets to a ZZ Top’s 50th Anniversary Tour, coming to a city near you.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)