Mania?

Rip It Up, Issue 89, 1 December 1984, Page 25

Mania?

Hammersmith Odeon Monday 28 November 83 December ’B3 There are no two ways about it, 1983 has got to . go down as the year of the Top. One can hardly turn a page in any of the music papers without reading . something about the Texas Hombres. ZZ Mania? Why not! Dusty Hill, Bill Gibbons and Frank Beard have finally made the transition from cult status to the big time with the apparent coolness of changing their Stetsons, which, considering the amount of years they’ve been slogging the circuits is a hell of a way to do it. Of course the “Lil ol’ Boogie band” have always been a GREAT band, it’s just that now EVERYBODY knows it, and a great deal of their current success must be credited to their excellent “Eliminator” album. Tonight was their second Hammersmith date, and a regular hoedown it was too. My first thought was how sporting it was for ZZ to give support act, “Wendy and the Rockets” a fairly large use of the lights, all so often, the support has to endure the harsh glare of a single spotlight, which usually follows their stage movements half an hour too late. Wendy and the boys got a more than generous use of the rig and used it to their advantage by turning in a superb set. They’re one band to look out for in the future, visually and musically exciting, they are a classy Aussie export. Wendy has a dynamic voice, and although earlier numbers reminded me of Pat Benatar, that’s as far as the similarities go, Good stuff. ZZ Top never looked

like putting a foot wrong all night, the evening was an exercise in backing up their hard gigging reputation to the hilt. The crowd werr miraculously transformed into whooping Texas outlaws. Stetsons, were rife and some members of the audience had even gone as far as to wear full length beards! Hammersmith was one hell of a bucking and rolling bronco tonight, and ZZ Top broke them with the opening bars of “Under Pressure” and didn’t slip out of the saddle for a second. Imagination is a great escape, but the power to invoke it is an even greater gift, ZZ have the gift. Eliminator was well represented and earlier numbers like “10 Foot Pole” and “Party On The Patio”, demonstrated the band’s eccentric humour brilliantly. Their humour carries a definite Zappa influence and it is rumoured that they are one of his favourite bands. I mean who else would use a totally over the top light show, complete with pyrotechnics, dry ice and lasers to highlight a basic boogie number called “Cheap Sunglasses”? It’s a classic kitsch and I love it. Frank Beard’s contribution could so easily be overlooked due to the magnetic double act of Hill and Gibbons, if it were not for the fact that he is such a brilliant drummer. Underated ... you bet. What more can I add that hasn’t been said about ZZ Top? They’ve made it to the big time, good luck to them, they more than deserve it. All I’ll say is that a cult band is a safe band because everyone who is into them thinks they’re underated. Once the transition is made and suddenly EVERYONE loves ya baby the price of worldwide fame is a heavy mortgage. I hope ZZ Top

continue to boogie for as long as they want, BUT ... watch out for the backlash Amigos. MARK STOREY