Dayton937

Things to do in Dayton | Restaurants, Theatre, Music and More

ZZ Top

ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd Coming to Riverbend this August

By

Today, the titans of American classic rock ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd have announced their first co-headlining tour – The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour – taking over twenty-two cities in North America this summer. The tour will include a stop in Cincinnati, OH for a performance at Riverbend Music Center on Friday, August 25 with special guest Uncle Kracker as support.

Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at 10am on Friday, December 16 at Ticketmaster.com and Riverbend.org.

 

“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has been at it for well over a half century delivering rock, blues and boogie on stage and studio to millions of devoted fans. With iconography as distinctive as their sound, ZZ TOP is globally recognized with their beards, hotrod cars, spinning guitars and that magic keychain, all of which transcend geography and language.

It was in 1969 Houston when ZZ TOP coalesced from the core of two rival bands, Billy Gibbons’ Moving Sidewalks and Frank Beard and Dusty Hill’s American Blues. ZZ Top’s 1973 release, Tres Hombres, catapulted them to national attention with the hit “La Grange,” still one of the band’s signature pieces today.  Eliminator, their 1983 album was something of a paradigm shift for ZZ TOP. Their roots blues skew was intact and added to the mix came their hightech-age trappings that soon found a visual outlet with such tracks as “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” on the nascent MTV. It was one of the record industry’s first albums to have been certified Diamond, far beyond Gold and Platinum, a reflection of sales exceeding 10 million units.

As a touring outfit, they’ve been without peer over the past five decades, having performed before millions of fans over four continents and have been the subject of their own Grammy-nominated documentary titled That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.  The band’s line-up of the bearded Gibbons and Hill and Beard, who ironically is clean shaven, remained intact for more than 50 years.  When Dusty temporarily departed the tour in the summer of 2021, Elwood Francis entered the picture accepting the directive from Dusty to be the perfect choice to stand in on the bass-guitar and now handles the low-end duties for the band for the present as well as into the future.

The elements that keep ZZ TOP fresh, enduring can be summed up in the three words of the band’s internal mantra: “Tone, Taste and Tenacity”. As genuine roots performers, they have few peers. Their influences are both the originators of the form – Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, et al – as well as the British blues rockers and Jimi Hendrix who emerged generations before ZZ’s ascendance.

They have sold hundreds of millions of records over the course of their career, have been officially designated as Heroes of The State of Texas, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (by Keith Richards, no less) and have been referenced in countless cartoons and sitcoms. They are true rock icons and, against all odds, they’re really just doing what they’ve always done. ZZ TOP abides!

 

As Lynyrd Skynyrd approaches the 50th anniversary of the band’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd’ in 2023, they resonate as deeply with their multi-generational fan base today as when they first emerged out of Jacksonville, Florida in 1973. Few ensembles have had the deep impact in creating a lifestyle as Skynyrd has. The band travels forward with a primary mission of celebrating a legacy that honors all whom have had a resonating contribution to the lives of hundreds of millions of fans globally. Former members Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Ed King, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson alongside others will forever remain significant contributors to this indelible repertoire and the band’s colorful history. Today, Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with a current line-up featuring Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle. Gary Rossington continues to have a significant presence and creative influence with the band, while making select appearances on the road.

The rock and roll powerhouse continually tours, and as Van Zant shares, “It’s about the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and what it stands for, what the fans are all about. There’s nothing like getting out there playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music.”  Adds Rossington, “We’re still standing, Still keeping the music going. We wanted to do the guys who aren’t with us any more proud, and keep the name proud, too.”

With a catalog of over 60 albums, billions of streams, and tens of millions of records sold,  Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remain a cultural icon that appeal to all generations.

ZZ Top To Return to The Rose

By

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top are hitting the road this summer following their widely successful 50th Anniversary Tour in 2019. The tour will include a stop in Huber Heights, OH at Rose Music Center on Wednesday, July 1st.

ZZ TOP a/k/a “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas,” lay undisputed claim to being the longest running major rock band with original personnel intact and, in 2004, the Texas trio was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Of course, there are only three of them – Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard — but it’s still a remarkable achievement that they’re still very much together after over 50 years of rock, blues, and boogie on the road and in the studio.  With the release of each of their albums the band has explored new ground in terms of both their sonic approach and the material they’ve recorded. ZZ TOP is the same but always changing.

The elements that keep ZZ TOP fresh, enduring and above the transitory fray can be summed up in the three words of the band’s internal mantra: “Tone, Taste and Tenacity.”  Of course, the three members of the band have done their utmost to do their part in assuring that ZZ TOP prevails.  As genuine roots musicians, the members of the band have few peers.  Billy is widely regarded as one of American finest blues guitarists working in the rock idiom.  His influences are both the originators of the form – Muddy Waters, B.B. King, et al – as well as the British blues rockers who emerged the generation before ZZ’s ascendance.  In his early days of playing, no less an idol that Jimi Hendrix singled him out for praise. Part mad scientist, part prankster, he’s a musical innovator of the highest order and a certified “guitar god.”  He’s a recurring small screen presence in the hit TV series Bones in which he plays a bearded, gruff, rock guitarist.  No type casting problems for Billy.

Dusty has long had an affinity for rock’s origins; his earliest performances as a child included Elvis songs convincingly performed.  Not only is he a bass virtuoso in his own right, his vocal prowess is awe-inspiring.  He’s the lead voice you hear on “Tush” and his ferocious vocals are heard, to great effect, on his idol Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock,” these days, often a concert encore number and recorded by the band on Fandango! Good natured and diligent, Dusty is the rock-solid bottom of ZZ TOP.

Frank has also been keeping the beat in that great tradition.  As both a roots and progressive drummer, he has been acknowledged as key to the band’s powerful on-stage and in-studio presence. He and Dusty, in their early years together, served as Lightnin’ Hopkins’ rhythm section which, as Frank tells it, was a life changing experience.  Frank, despite his last name, is the guy in the band without a beard.  But when you’re with him, you’re with a Beard.  He’s a rockin’ paradox who provides the pulse of ZZ TOP.

ZZ TOP’s music is always instantly recognizable, eminently powerful, profoundly soulful and 100% Texas American in derivation.  The band’s support for the blues is unwavering both as interpreters of the music and preservers of its legacy.  It was ZZ TOP that celebrated “founding father” Muddy Waters by turning a piece of scrap timber than had fallen from his sharecropper’s shack into a beautiful guitar, dubbed the “Muddywood.”  This totem was sent on tour as a fundraising focus for The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi, site of Robert Johnson’s famed “Crossroads” encounter with the devil.  ZZ TOP’s support and link to the blues remains as rock solid as the music they continue to play.  They have sold millions of records over the course of their career, have been officially designated as Heroes of The State of Texas, have been referenced in countless cartoons and sitcoms and are true rock icons but, against all odds, they’re really just doing what they’ve always done.  They’re real and they’re surreal and they’re ZZ TOP.

Tickets for the Huber Heights show will go on sale to the public beginning at 11:00am on Friday, January 31st at www.Ticketmaster.com and www.Rosemusiccenter.com. Ticket prices include parking and are subject to applicable Ticketmaster fees.  Dates, times and artists subject to change without notice. All events rain or shine.

Grab Your Cheap Sunglasses, ZZ Top Coming to Town

By

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, ZZ Top, will bring The Tonnage Tour to Huber Heights, Ohio at Rose Music Center on Sunday, September 24th. The show will feature support by Black Stone Cherry.

 

 

ZZ TOP, “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas,” lay undisputed claim to being the longest running major rock band with original personnel intact. In 2004, the Texas trio (Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Frank Beard) was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After more than 45 years of rock, blues, and boogie on the road and in the studio, the trio is still very much together.

The elements that keep ZZ TOP fresh, enduring and above the transitory fray can be summed up in the three words of the band’s internal mantra: “Tone, Taste and Tenacity.”  Of course, the three members of the band have done their utmost to do their part in assuring that ZZ TOP prevails.  As genuine roots musicians, the members of the band have few peers.  Billy is widely regarded as one of American finest blues guitarists working in the rock idiom.  Part mad scientist, part prankster, he’s a musical innovator of the highest order and a certified “guitar god.”

Dusty has long had an affinity for rock’s origins; his earliest performances as a child included Elvis songs convincingly performed.  Not only is he a bass virtuoso in his own right, his vocal prowess is awe-inspiring.  He’s the lead voice you hear on “Tush” and his ferocious vocals are heard, to great effect, on his idol Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock,” these days, often a concert encore number and recorded by the band on Fandango! Good natured and diligent, Dusty is the rock solid bottom of ZZ TOP.

Frank has also been keeping the beat in that great tradition.  As both a roots and progressive drummer, he has been acknowledged as key to the band’s powerful on-stage and in-studio presence. He and Dusty, in their early years together, served as Lightnin’ Hopkins’ rhythm section which, as Frank tells it, was a life changing experience.  He’s a rockin’ paradox who provides the pulse of ZZ TOP.

ZZ TOP’s music is always instantly recognizable, eminently powerful, profoundly soulful and 100% Texas American in derivation.  The band’s support for the blues is unwavering both as interpreters of the music and preservers of its legacy. ZZ TOP’s support and link to the blues remains as rock solid as the music they continue to play.  They have sold millions of records over the course of their career, they have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, have been officially designated as Heroes of The State of Texas, have been referenced in countless cartoons and sitcoms and are true rock icons but, against all odds, they’re really just doing what they’ve always done. They’re real and they’re surreal and they’re ZZ TOP.

 

Tickets for the Huber Heights show will go on sale to the public beginning 11:00am on Friday, June 2nd at www.Ticketmaster.com, www.Rosemusiccenter.com, and the Rose Music Center box office. Charge by phone at 1.800.745.3000.

All patrons who purchase a ticket to ZZ Top will be treated to a Pre-Show Craft Beer Tasting. Pre Show Tastings begin 90 minutes prior to the show and end 15 minutes before the concert begins. All Pre-Show Tastings will be located on the main concourse. Must be 21 years of age and have a valid ID to participate.