While I appreciate Mitch and Ken admitting the ZZs to Newbury St., I find it remarkable that both of them levied the "boring" criticism at parts of Tres Hombres. This coming from two guys who will happily sit through a 47-minute version of "Not Fade Away", of which 46 minutes are spent repeating "You know my love will not fade away" over and over again. And yet, a 3-minute rocket ship like "Master of Sparks" fails to grab their attention.
First off, NFA is boring and has never been 47 minutes. The longest Dead song is a 46 minute Playin’ from 5/21/74.
Secondly, Dead jams go places. They tell stories. They soothe and they challenge. You are literally witnessing the act of creation in every deep jam. That’s a huge difference from listening to the 6th time through a basic 8 bar blues pattern.
Thirdly, I already confessed that I let them in because I couldn’t handle another “Paranoid” episode. Yes, “Paranoid” made me quite paranoid.
The 47-minute reference was supposed to be comedic hyperbole. Now I find out that I had the right length, but the wrong song. And, to be honest, I never thought you'd let "Paranoid" in anyway. It's just fun to make you reject what most people believe to be a seminal album. Sabbath are my Phil Collins/Genesis.
I hated this band in the 80s. I hated the songs on Eliminator and the lame videos. Most of all, I hated their audience, having wandered into the midst of a group on College St one night as they poured out of a ZZ Top 'production' at Maple Leaf Gardens. I was in full rockabilly regalia and we just couldn't establish any common ground. I always thought the kids who liked southern rock were a sort of a sub species of the stoners (who liked Rush very much, this is Toronto in the 80s). They were meaner, dumber, and loathed anyone who looked they might like punk or anything that wasn't similar to Molly Hatchet. However! ZZ Top in the 70s is a whole other thing and Tres Hombres is a killer record. Great choice. 1974 - Band On The Run. Loved it as an 8 year old, still love it.
To me, 70s ZZ Top vs. 80s ZZ Top is akin to 70s Dire Straits (up to '82) vs. post "Love Over Gold" Dire Straits. Both ZZ Top and Dire Straits tarted themselves for MTV which increased their bank accounts while decreasing their brand essence (nonsense marketing term, but you know what I mean). As for the rest, I was one of those 80s Rush kids so I can't comment.
I like Tres Hombres, okay. It certainly beats the 80s. I mean, I didn't hate them in the 80s. But Tres Hombres is so much better because of the raw sound.
Honestly, I'm more partial to The Moving Sidewalks. Are you boys familiar with that Billy Gibbons pre-ZZ project?
I remember hearing about The Moving Sidewalks, but I don't specifically remember the music. I'll definitely check it out, though. My favorite episode of Darryl's House was when Billy visited and they ate some BBQ and played some classic ZZ Top.
Living in Texas, you really get to get “in deep” on everything. I will clarify that yes, Dallas is a bit bland, (Austin has its dot com bro culture which still confounds me, but looks like it’s on the way out) it’s just you haven’t found the dirty and gritty Dallas gems. And these gems reinforce what is the best of Texas. Like ZZ Top. And the first clutch of albums up to and including Deguello. They are the real deal. Much like the quest for the best BBQ and tacos. Don’t get me started on the essential-ness of Ranch Water, which I was thankfully introduced to in Austin. It’s all the real deal. (Like Gary Clark Jr.) essential for your soul. Like the Top!!
I probably did Dallas a little dirty there. To be fair, I did spend a really fun night in Deep Ellum where I had an incredible meal and then saw 80s metal band Zebra (Remember Randy Jackson? Not the American Idol guy, the Long Island headbanger.) in a bar that wasn't much bigger than my freshman dorm room. Love Gary Clark, Jr., by the way.
I wrote this as part of a larger article right after Dusty Hill, um, "moved on down the line." I think it still fits and I hope it's okay to cut-n-paste here.
"ZZ Top’s brand of rock and blues is not something you listen quietly. Nor in the small hours of the night (unless the party’s still going). It’s not melancholy; it’s celebratory. You don’t listen in a Prius- that’s a square peg in a round hole.
It feels like it only works in something with a V8. Their kind of music is not something you play to get over a breakup- it’s the soundtrack to adventure.
It’s the sound of being out on the water with friends. In this universe, it’s always sunny and usually in Texas or points south- hell, even Jesus left Chicago.
Always just a little randy and always dependable. The dirty jokes always come with a wink and smile.
Kinda like the dude on your block who’s always working on something in his garage. He might be a little sketchy, but you know he’d be the first one over the table to defend you in a bar fight."
###
As for this record, it's right there with "Eliminator" for my favorite by the band. I don't know much about BBQ, but I do know that this is my kinda mesquite-flavored blues rock.
P.S. Earlier quip aside, "Move Me On Down the Line" is a top 5 all-time fave of mine.
I once read that everyone from Johnny Carson to the Hell's Angels loved ZZ Top. Although if I was going to be in a bar fight, I think I'd rather have the Hell's Angels than Johnny. Unless, of course, Ed McMahon was involved.
While I appreciate Mitch and Ken admitting the ZZs to Newbury St., I find it remarkable that both of them levied the "boring" criticism at parts of Tres Hombres. This coming from two guys who will happily sit through a 47-minute version of "Not Fade Away", of which 46 minutes are spent repeating "You know my love will not fade away" over and over again. And yet, a 3-minute rocket ship like "Master of Sparks" fails to grab their attention.
First off, NFA is boring and has never been 47 minutes. The longest Dead song is a 46 minute Playin’ from 5/21/74.
Secondly, Dead jams go places. They tell stories. They soothe and they challenge. You are literally witnessing the act of creation in every deep jam. That’s a huge difference from listening to the 6th time through a basic 8 bar blues pattern.
Thirdly, I already confessed that I let them in because I couldn’t handle another “Paranoid” episode. Yes, “Paranoid” made me quite paranoid.
The 47-minute reference was supposed to be comedic hyperbole. Now I find out that I had the right length, but the wrong song. And, to be honest, I never thought you'd let "Paranoid" in anyway. It's just fun to make you reject what most people believe to be a seminal album. Sabbath are my Phil Collins/Genesis.
I hated this band in the 80s. I hated the songs on Eliminator and the lame videos. Most of all, I hated their audience, having wandered into the midst of a group on College St one night as they poured out of a ZZ Top 'production' at Maple Leaf Gardens. I was in full rockabilly regalia and we just couldn't establish any common ground. I always thought the kids who liked southern rock were a sort of a sub species of the stoners (who liked Rush very much, this is Toronto in the 80s). They were meaner, dumber, and loathed anyone who looked they might like punk or anything that wasn't similar to Molly Hatchet. However! ZZ Top in the 70s is a whole other thing and Tres Hombres is a killer record. Great choice. 1974 - Band On The Run. Loved it as an 8 year old, still love it.
To me, 70s ZZ Top vs. 80s ZZ Top is akin to 70s Dire Straits (up to '82) vs. post "Love Over Gold" Dire Straits. Both ZZ Top and Dire Straits tarted themselves for MTV which increased their bank accounts while decreasing their brand essence (nonsense marketing term, but you know what I mean). As for the rest, I was one of those 80s Rush kids so I can't comment.
I like Tres Hombres, okay. It certainly beats the 80s. I mean, I didn't hate them in the 80s. But Tres Hombres is so much better because of the raw sound.
Honestly, I'm more partial to The Moving Sidewalks. Are you boys familiar with that Billy Gibbons pre-ZZ project?
I remember hearing about The Moving Sidewalks, but I don't specifically remember the music. I'll definitely check it out, though. My favorite episode of Darryl's House was when Billy visited and they ate some BBQ and played some classic ZZ Top.
Darryl's House is a great show. I will admit Moving Sidewalks is "different." Temper your expectations if you go there.
Living in Texas, you really get to get “in deep” on everything. I will clarify that yes, Dallas is a bit bland, (Austin has its dot com bro culture which still confounds me, but looks like it’s on the way out) it’s just you haven’t found the dirty and gritty Dallas gems. And these gems reinforce what is the best of Texas. Like ZZ Top. And the first clutch of albums up to and including Deguello. They are the real deal. Much like the quest for the best BBQ and tacos. Don’t get me started on the essential-ness of Ranch Water, which I was thankfully introduced to in Austin. It’s all the real deal. (Like Gary Clark Jr.) essential for your soul. Like the Top!!
I probably did Dallas a little dirty there. To be fair, I did spend a really fun night in Deep Ellum where I had an incredible meal and then saw 80s metal band Zebra (Remember Randy Jackson? Not the American Idol guy, the Long Island headbanger.) in a bar that wasn't much bigger than my freshman dorm room. Love Gary Clark, Jr., by the way.
I wrote this as part of a larger article right after Dusty Hill, um, "moved on down the line." I think it still fits and I hope it's okay to cut-n-paste here.
"ZZ Top’s brand of rock and blues is not something you listen quietly. Nor in the small hours of the night (unless the party’s still going). It’s not melancholy; it’s celebratory. You don’t listen in a Prius- that’s a square peg in a round hole.
It feels like it only works in something with a V8. Their kind of music is not something you play to get over a breakup- it’s the soundtrack to adventure.
It’s the sound of being out on the water with friends. In this universe, it’s always sunny and usually in Texas or points south- hell, even Jesus left Chicago.
Always just a little randy and always dependable. The dirty jokes always come with a wink and smile.
Kinda like the dude on your block who’s always working on something in his garage. He might be a little sketchy, but you know he’d be the first one over the table to defend you in a bar fight."
###
As for this record, it's right there with "Eliminator" for my favorite by the band. I don't know much about BBQ, but I do know that this is my kinda mesquite-flavored blues rock.
P.S. Earlier quip aside, "Move Me On Down the Line" is a top 5 all-time fave of mine.
I once read that everyone from Johnny Carson to the Hell's Angels loved ZZ Top. Although if I was going to be in a bar fight, I think I'd rather have the Hell's Angels than Johnny. Unless, of course, Ed McMahon was involved.
If Ed’s on my side I’m taking those odds.