A long time in the making, Live From Texas is the first ever live DVD from the legendary Southern (well, if you count Texas as from the South) blues rock power trio known as ZZ Top. Most of what you would expect is all here, the beards, the chunky riffs, the posturing, the fans going wild, and of course, the songs. Yes, this band always had some great tunes, whether you like the early heavy blues/proto-metal/Southern Rock vibe of their 70's material, or the slick & commercial hard rock of the "Sharp Dressed Man" days, most of it is all here. It's obvious by watching this DVD that this particular show, recorded in Texas, was sort of a homecoming for the trio, and the fans treated it like an event, or one big party, plenty of tailgating going on, motorcycles rolling in, swapping stories of seeing the band back in the 70's, all the while displaying a love & loyalty for this group that you don't always see these days. As for the performance, well, this is ZZ Top, so it's all expertly played, with not a surprise in sight, just the classics, and lots of them. Highlights have to be "Cheap Sunglasses", "Heard It On The X", and of course "Just Got Paid", all three smokin' hot examples of what happens when you combine the blues with slow hard rock/metal riffing and a Texas attitude. Actually, the first nine tracks here are all barnstormers, representing much of the bands early catalog, before you get into the 80's hit parade, which for me, I've heard those tunes way too much already, but hey, can't help but force a smile to "Legs", and "Gimme All Your Lovin' ", and of course the closers "Tush" and "La Grange" are early staples that remain legendary cuts to this day. Still, when it's all said and done, you can't help feel that Eagle Rock left a batch of tunes from the set off the DVD (hell, there's a scorcing rendition of Jimi's "Foxey Lady" from the show included in the bonus features), especially when there's no "Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers", "Francene", "Brown Suger", "I Thank You", or "Going Down to Mexico" anywhere to be found here. As far as bonus features go, there's a fun poker game between Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill, shot in the round with revolving cameras, as the band talks about their career and tour highlights from over the years, as well as footage from the day leading up to the show where you can really get a feel for the ZZ Top fans. All in all, a fun DVD from a band that has been a virtual institution for close to 40 years now.
Track Listing
1) Got Me Under Pressure
2) Waitin' For The Bus
3) Jesus Just Left Chicago
4) I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
5) Pin Cushion
6) Cheap Sunglasses
7) Pearl Necklace
8) Heard It On The X
9) Just Got Paid
10) Rough Boy
11) Blue Jean Blues
12) Gimme All Your Lovin'
13) Sharp Dressed Man
14) Legs
15) Tube Snake Boogie
16) La Grange
17) Tush
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