There are bands that feel woven into the fabric of a city, and then there’s ZZ Top—Houston’s own bearded, blues-drenched legends whose sound practically is Texas. So when they played Downtown Houston in February 2017, it wasn’t just another tour stop. It felt like a homecoming, a celebration, and a party thrown by the coolest uncles you’ve ever had. The crowd came in wearing denim jackets, black tees, and more fake beards than you could count, ready for a night of grit, groove, and some of the most iconic riffs in American rock history.
What makes a ZZ Top show so special is how effortlessly they blend musicianship and swagger. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard have been doing this for decades, but they still manage to make every performance feel downright effortless. They stroll onstage like they’re walking into a bar they already own, guitars slung low, sunglasses firmly in place, ready to bring the heat. And from the very first chord, they proved that the Little Ol’ Band from Texas still hits as hard as ever.
The Show
ZZ Top opened the night with “Got Me Under Pressure,” a fast and gritty rocker that immediately electrified the crowd. The tone was set: the show would be loud, bluesy, and packed with the kind of riffs that punch through the night air like a freight train. Gibbons’ guitar tone had that signature bite—dirty but clean, sharp but warm—and the rhythm section locked in with the kind of groove only a band that’s been together for nearly half a century can pull off.
From there they went straight into “Waitin’ for the Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” two songs that might as well be carved into Texas bedrock. The pairing is one of the great transitions in rock, and hearing it live feels almost ceremonial. Dusty Hill’s bass was thick and rich, and Gibbons’ soulful blues licks drifted beautifully over Beard’s steady drumming. You could hear hundreds of voices singing along, especially during the slow-burning, reverent “Jesus Just Left Chicago.”
The tempo picked up again with “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” which had the entire crowd moving. There’s something magical about watching ZZ Top play songs like this—they’ve done it thousands of times, but somehow it still feels fun for them. They grin at the crowd, lean into the mic together, work the stage in perfect unison. The choreography of the guitars, the nods, the little movements—they all hit with that classic ZZ Top touch of charm and cool.
“Pincushion” brought a bit of their ’90s era swagger into the mix, followed by “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide,” which was one of the night’s best sing-alongs. The groove on that track is irresistible, and the crowd clapped along with the beat like they were part of the band. The Texas pride in the room was tangible—these were hometown heroes on a hometown stage, and you could feel the affection coming right back at them.
One of the standout moments of the show was “I Gotsta Get Paid,” a gritty, rumbling modern ZZ Top anthem that proves they haven’t lost an ounce of attitude over the decades. It rolled across the venue like a thunderstorm, Hill’s bass rattling lungs and Gibbons’ guitar slicing through the thick air.
Then the band shifted into cover territory, and this stretch of the night was pure blues-rock bliss. ZZ Top has always been masters at taking classic songs and giving them their own distinct flair. Their take on “Foxy Lady” was heavy and raw, a loving nod to Hendrix delivered with ZZ Top’s unmistakable spin. Gibbons let loose with a few wild flourishes during the solo, and the crowd ate it up.
“Catfish Blues” followed, a deep blues cut originally by Robert Petway. It felt like stepping back in time to the smoky Mississippi juke joints that inspired Gibbons in the first place. His playing here was scorching—at times delicate, at times savage, always full of emotion.
The surprise of the night was “Sixteen Tons,” the Merle Travis classic. ZZ Top transformed it into a slinky, swaggering blues number. Hearing Gibbons sing “You load sixteen tons and what do you get” with that dusty drawl made the song feel like it had always belonged in their catalog.
Back to the hits they went with “Cheap Sunglasses,” which had basically the entire crowd miming the signature shades gesture. Then came “Chartreuse,” a newer track that blended perfectly with their older material thanks to its punchy rhythm and gritty riff.
And then—like the opening of the floodgates—ZZ Top dropped the big three.
“Sharp Dressed Man.”
“Legs.”
Both delivered with maximum flair. The synchronized guitar moves, the stage lights bouncing off their chrome mic stands, the sheer joy of everyone screaming along—it was the purest form of rock and roll fun. “Legs” especially lit up the crowd, with the pulsing rhythm triggering a massive wave of dancing across the entire venue.
Encore
Of course, a ZZ Top show isn’t complete without their signature finale. The crowd erupted as the band returned and ripped straight into “La Grange.” It’s one of those riffs that feels like a primal force of nature, and hearing it live—loud, gritty, unmistakably Texan—was a highlight of the night. Gibbons stretched the song out with a playful, shredding solo, teasing the audience before dropping back into that iconic groove.
They followed with “Tush,” a Texas boogie rock masterclass that had everyone stomping along. Dusty Hill took the lead vocals on this one, and his voice sounded as raw and powerful as ever.
They closed with “Jailhouse Rock,” a fun and rowdy Elvis Presley cover that felt like a final victory lap. ZZ Top has always known how to end a show with a bang, and this loose, joyful take on a rock classic was the perfect sendoff. The crowd was grinning, sweaty, and satisfied—exactly how a ZZ Top crowd should be.
Full Setlist
Got Me Under Pressure
Waitin’ for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Gimme All Your Lovin’
Pincushion
I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
I Gotsta Get Paid
Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
Catfish Blues (Robert Petway cover)
Sixteen Tons (Merle Travis cover)
Cheap Sunglasses
Chartreuse
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
Encore:
La Grange
Tush
Jailhouse Rock (Elvis Presley cover)
Closing Thoughts
ZZ Top’s 2017 Houston performance wasn’t just a concert—it was a masterclass in blues-rock delivered by a band that defined the genre. They brought the swagger, the musicianship, the humor, and the unmistakable Texas attitude that made them legends. Every lick was sharp, every rhythm tight, and every moment dripping with the effortless cool they’ve cultivated for decades.
Seeing ZZ Top play their hometown is like watching royalty return to their castle. They know the terrain. They know the people. And they know exactly how to give them the show they came for.
In February 2017, Downtown Houston didn’t just host a concert—it hosted a celebration of one of Texas’s greatest musical treasures. And ZZ Top, as always, delivered the goods, no beard hair out of place.