by Brian D. Holland
"Double Down Live" by ZZ Top
Eagle Vision recently released “Double Down Live” by ZZ Top, a dual DVD set featuring two hard rockin’ shows, from 1980 and 2008. DVD one, titled “Definitely Then … 1980”, was filmed for the Rockpalast television show at the Grugahalle, in Essen, Germany. Consisting of a greatest hits setlist, nine of the twenty-two songs are from the then recently released “Deguello” album.
For most of the show, Billy Gibbons conjures massive sound and crunchy tones from “Pearly Gates”, his legendary ’59 Gibson Les Paul. He also uses his fire red Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird, known as “Billy Bo”, for a couple of songs. He adds dimension and detail to “Jesus Just Left Chicago” with interesting volume and tone manipulation, from clean and soft to loud and heavily distorted. Alongside Dusty’s throbbing foundation and Frank’s solid percussion, his guitar chops exemplify the ZZ Top brilliance in the bluesy “Fool For Your Stockings”. Though “Cheap Sunglasses” is rocked solidly to the hilt, “Arrested For Driving While Blind” takes it even further.
The second DVD, “Almost Now … 2008”, opens that year’s US and European tour with a rockin’ “Got Me Under Pressure”. The film switches between concert footage and interesting offstage action throughout, band member interviews as well. Again, we get to hear “Waitin’ For The Bus” segue into “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, the back-to-back staples that ZZ Top shows wouldn’t be the same without. They take it into slow blues territory with “Blue Jean Blues”, in which Billy’s comical storytelling segues nicely into the 12-bar melody. He enhances the hard rockin’ “Just Got Paid” with incredible slide guitar licks on his gold top Les Paul. Later on, the trio gets into a fascinating version of Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” and finishes with “Tush”.
This DVD set contains some of the best onstage audio and visual footage of ZZ Top performing their original brand of rock and boogie fused blues, including their distinct chic showmanship and signature “moving sidewalk” stage show. It’s much better than the “Live From Texas” DVD released last year. They have an incredible knack for sounding full and huge in the live setting. It’s often been said that the Texas trio is one of the best live rock bands in history. The remarkable feature here is that “Double Down Live” validates that assessment over a twenty-eight year period.
Label: Eagle Vision
Disc One – Definitely Then … 1980
1. I Thank You
2. Waitin’ For the Bus
3. Jesus Just Left Chicago
4. Precious And Grace
5. I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
6. Manic Mechanic
7. Lowdown In The Street
8. Heard It On The X
9. Fool For Your Stockings
10. Nasty Dogs & Funky Kings
11. El Diablo
12. Cheap Sunglasses
13. Arrested For Driving While Blind
14. Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers
15. La Grange
16. She Loves My Automobile
17. Hi Fi Mama
18. Dust My Broom
19. Jailhouse Rock
20. Tush
21. Tube Snake Boogie
22. Just Got Paid
Disc Two – Almost Now … 2008
1. Got Me Under Pressure
2. Waitin’ For The Bus
3. Jesus Just Left Chicago
4. I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
5. Blue Jean Blues
6. Heard It On The X
7. Just Got Paid
8. I Need You Tonight
9. La Grange (With Sloppy Drunk & Bar-B-Q)
10. Hey Joe
11. Tush
Links:
Double Down Live on Amazon
