Words & Photos by Marco Denzer
Legendary Texas rockers ZZ Top are on the road celebrating their prodigious career with a 50th anniversary tour, and recently performed in front of a full house at Northwell Health Jones Beach Theater in Long Island. The incomparable band Cheap Trick, with an extensive career and repertoire of their own, are supporting the shows and providing an excellent musical compliment to ZZ Top’s unique style and lengthy list of iconic hits on most of the tour dates. It’s an awesome bill that’s guaranteed to rock and delight the fans.
Cheap Trick kicked things off with “Hello There”; an excellent high-energy tune that laid the ground for an absolutely solid performance from the veteran rockers. Rick Nielsen, the high kicking lead guitarist known for his checkered outfits and baseball caps, kept things fun and lively, running around stage shredding on his various guitars. Robin Zander (vocals/rhythm guitar) and Tom Petersson (bass) performed equally well in their respective roles in the group, including an out of the ordinary and very melodic solo from Petersson on his twelve string bass. The band played a solid ten-song set that had many in the audience dancing in the aisles and screaming for more.
ZZ Top began their set promptly at 9:00 PM with “Got Me Under Pressure” and proceeded to rock the crowd with a steady stream of gems from their repertoire. With their characteristic long beards neatly groomed, and impeccably dressed in black jackets adorned with rhinestones and fancy embroidery, dark sunglasses and cowboy style hats, the trio worked through songs like “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” and “Tush” to name just a few.
Not much can be said about Billy Gibbons (guitar), Dusty Hill (bass) and Frank Beard (drums) that hasn’t already been said, except that seeing That Little Ol Band from Texas is an absolute Rock n Roll treat. The trio uses irresistible charm, good humor, and great chops to take the audience on a wonderful musical journey that’s hard to
beat.
Cheap Trick Setlist:
Hello There
Standing on The Edge
Big Eyes
California Man
Ain’t That A Shame
Stiff Competition
Baby Loves to Rock
Stop This Game
Waitin’ on the Man
I Want You to Want Me
Dream Police
Surrender
Gonna Raise Hell
Good Night
ZZ Top Setlist:
Got Me Under Pressure
I Thank You
Waitin’ for The Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Gimme All Your Lovin’
Pearl Necklace
I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
I Gotsta Get Paid
My Head’s in Mississippi
Sixteen Tons
Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
Just Got Paid
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
Encore:
La Grange
Tush
Jailhouse Rock
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