ZZ TOP LIVE AT LONDON’S OVO WEMBLEY ARENA

★★★★★ (5/5)

ZZ Top’s only UK show is a very good excuse to head to Wembley Arena for a very promising concert. While the London traffic did not allow me to catch the gig from the outset, I still had the pleasure of catching the last bits of Those Damned Crows set, as people in the venue had flocked down early. While a seated plan for the pit means that a lot of people would probably wait until their favourite headliner is on, it was very pleasant to see that the venue was almost full when Those Damned Crows performed. The Welsh rock band has seemingly built a very loyal following and has gained a lot of traction in the recent years – opening for ZZ Top is undoubtedly proof that they are doing something right.

The rock band has got about 10 years of experience under their belt, and the crowd seemed well into their performance. Running tirelessly up and down the stage, exuding confidence in front of the large crowd and having a great stage presence overall, accompanied by rock riffs and a pure alternative feeling, the band delivered a very energetic performance. Notably, the singer’s voice was crystal clear and the guitar harmonies complemented the sound, making me wish I caught more of their set.

Second act on the bill, Rival Sons, was highly anticipated by the people around me. Hailing from the other side of the pond, the rock band has become famous not only because of their varied sound but also of their elaborate stage fashion. Their sound is classic rock and roll with interesting instruments mixed in between. There is a perfect balance of simplicity and complexity in their sound, but this also means that their sound is a slightly acquired taste for some. During their set, I found that I thoroughly enjoyed their more upbeat and energetic songs, influenced by 1970s sounds, while some of their more mellow and slower songs were less impactful for me. Yet, the audience seemed to enjoy their whole set, including the stellar stage presence and energy of their singer, as well as the sleazy guitar solos, earning them a loud cheer in the end.

There are however not enough words to describe the velocity and trajectory of ZZ Top’s career and influence in modern rock music. The band, stemming from Texas, has been rewriting rock history for a whopping 55 years, an accomplishment that not many artists have under their belt. ZZ Top’s signature sound, based on blues and rhythm as well as classic 70s beats, humorous lyrics, matching appearances and a crazy-looking 16-string bass have made the appearances of the band recognisable across eras and countries. Despite the choppy sound at the start of the set – which is totally not reflective to the band’s playing and seemed to be mostly out of their control – they started off the set with ‘Got me under Pressure’ and ‘I Thank You’, having the crowd cheer loudly. Despite the seating plan, everyone was stood up for their set, dancing and singing along.

The performance picked up when their all-time classic came on ‘Gimme all your Lovin’’, with the crowd now singing louder and clapping more intensely. The band’s musical style – being both traditional and revolutionary at the same time – is complemented by the appearances of the band, the glittery outfits, sunglasses and the extravagant lyrical themes. As their set progressed, and the 1980s songs characterised by synthesisers and electronic now take over, there is a visible shift in the crowd’s energy too. The simple stage choreography and low-energy stage presence only serves to create higher impact as the setlist progresses and the fan favourites come on. ‘Pearl Necklace’, ‘Just Got Paid’ and the crowd-pleaser ‘Sharp Dressed Man’, were the highlights of the set, with the band allowing the audience to completely take over the singing of the verse. There was also significant improvement in the technical sound issues, making the experience even more memorable for the hyped-up crowd below.

For encore, the band changed into purple glittery outfits complemented by white fluffy guitars to sing ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘Tube Snake Boogie’ and to close off with ‘La Grange’. Despite the set lasting more than an hour, it felt like it flowed seamlessly and quickly, leaving the audience wanting more. ZZ Top are a band that only prove that the blues are still alive and well but also a trio that can pretty much entertain several generations alike, something that we will probably never again witness in the current music scene.