ZZ TOP
PARIS, FRANCE - Oct 14th, 2002
by John Molet
Photos by Marc Villalonga

It was a really nice "southern" surprise when we got to know ZZ Top was back in Europe, and of course, in France because we son't get so many great concerts over here these last couple years, or may bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers, or 38 Spécial came but there was so much promo that nobody knew about it ! I'm kidding ! So it was the occasion to get back to the nostalgia of the famous bearded from Texas. We were really happy to see all these many fans at the gate of "Le Zénith". The arena was full, a sold out show. It's not that often to get to get sold-out shows for blues-rock music over here.

So, the evening was supposed to be "hot" as Mr. Gary Moore and his new band, Scars, was the opeing act. People was not that satisfied with him as we knew him in a better musical shape that the one he had this night. Of course, he played the great "Still got the Blues" and "Walkin by myself", but he didn't get that magical thing he always had. It seems blues music is not really the new musical direction for Gary Moore nowadays, and I won't say a word about his two companions in the band !!!

Let's go back to serious things, plesae !! We just had enough time to get a drink before the lights go off, and comes this well known intro : "The little ol' band from Texas... Z...Z... TOOOPPP" !!! Wouahh !! What a blast ! They're here with their spangled suits as they use to have, Dusty seems to be in a real good shape (the Hepatitis C seems to be over), Billy Gibbons shines all over the place, and guess waht ? Frank Beard is not behind the drums !! We 'll learn later Frank was diagnosed with acute appendicitis during the week-end in Paris. And it John Douglas, Frank's drum technician, who's filling the spot while Frank is recuperating, and I can tell you he's doing a hell of a job !!!! Which songs will we hear this night ? We didn't know as they don't have a brand new album.We were kind of afraid of having songs from "After burner", "Recycler", "Antenna", or "XXX". Finally, we had "Tube Snake Boogie" as an opener and then they played, in no particularly order, "Waitin' for the bus", "Jesus just left Chicago", "Just got paid", "I'm bad I'm nationwide", "I thank you" , "Beer drinkers & hell raisers", "Mexican blackbird", "Sharp dressed man" , "Cheap sunglasses", "Rough boy", "Legs", "Gimme all your lovin", "La Grange", "Tush". this is exactly the ZZ Top we love. There was also two ot three newer songs I forgot but we were really satisfied with the set list ZZ Top in Paris, an evening like no other one we would like to see more often !

So, the evening was supposed to be "hot" as Mr. Gary Moore and his new band, Scars, was the opeing act. People was not that satisfied with him as we knew him in a better musical shape that the one he had this night. Of course, he played the great "Still got the Blues" and "Walkin by myself", but he didn't get that magical thing he always had. It seems blues music is not really the new musical direction for Gary Moore nowadays, and I won't say a word about his two companions in the band !!!

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