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“LIVE FROM TEXAS” ZZ Top (Eagle Vision) **
Finally, a live concert from that little ol’ band from Texas. I LOVE these guys, have all their albums, have seen ‘em live three times, even have Billy Gibbons’ autograph on a couple of CD’s. Sadly, this DVD is crap.

The stage is quite simple, no props to speak of, the backdrop some sort of nouveau video screen that, when it wasn’t flashing the band’s logo, made me queasy throughout. Simplicity is fine, but when a band appears to be putting forth almost no effort, that pisses me off.

Here, ZZ Top is too cool for their own good. Outside of a few fruity synchronized moves, Gibbons and Hill barely move. Frank Beard is an excellent drummer, but this isn’t his finest hour. And outside of a few shouts of “is everybody having a good time tonight?” (rock cliché #1-A) there was no relationship between band and audience. To say that ZZ Top ‘phoned this one in’ would imply that they actually put some effort into this. If they don’t seem to care, why should we?

One thing I dug was a bonus feature called “Poker Game”, where the guys are sitting around playing cards, telling old road stories and bits of ZZ history. I also enjoyed the tunes, even though most bar bands play them with more commitment. These 17 numbers cover the 70’s and 80’s (the hit years), but their only acknowledgement of music past “Afterburner” was “Pin Cushion” from “Antenna” (’94).

Saving the best for last ZZ Top closes out their encore with “Tush”, featuring a wildly off-key vocal from bassist Dusty Hill, making a great song painful to listen to.

I’ve seen ZZ Top on stage three times and KNOW they can be great, which makes “Live From Texas” all the more painful. I’ve watched it twice now- a third spin is unlikely. Word is Rick Rubin is producing their next disc, with recording set to start either late this year or early next, so at least we have THAT to look forward to.

KEY CUTS: “Poker Game” bonus feature, “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”.