ZZ Top? Telecaster or Stratocaster? Other?

[abn556]

Originally Posted by GoPappy

I saw Johnny Winter in concert a few years before he died. He was almost blind and very frail, and had to be led onto the stage and sat down in a chair to play. But he could still wail on that guitar. He didn't have the same chops he had in the 70's, but I think most of us would be quite satisfied to have the chops he had in his later years.

I saw him during that period as well. He was in pitiful shape.


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[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by abn556

I felt sorry for him watching that Darryl’s House performance. He just doesn’t have anywhere near the chops he had. I saw them live in a 7000 seat area in the mid 70s and Gibbons was killing it. Pearly Gates and an old Korina V that night. Tone to die for. Once he went to beards and fur guitars, its never been the same.

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I saw that same show but didn't really come away with the same thoughts. He wasn't wailing away, etc, but he was still laying down some good guitar. Players at his age and stage of their career have done it all, have nothing left to prove or achieve musically. I'd be willing to bet that he doesn't even "play" guitar anymore, but picks it up when it's time to "go to work." It is very rare to see someone several decades in and still growing. But Nuno Bettencourt comes to mind. The latest stuff from Extreme is pretty mind-blowing in the guitar dept.

[abn556]

Originally Posted by Puddleglum

I saw that same show but didn't really come away with the same thoughts. He wasn't wailing away, etc, but he was still laying down some good guitar. Players at his age and stage of their career have done it all, have nothing left to prove or achieve musically. I'd be willing to bet that he doesn't even "play" guitar anymore, but picks it up when it's time to "go to work." It is very rare to see someone several decades in and still growing. But Nuno Bettencourt comes to mind. The latest stuff from Extreme is pretty mind-blowing in the guitar dept.

I watched the videos Extreme has recently put out. They are definitely mind blowing. His chops are unreal.

A older aged non guitar player who is still doing good work is Robert Plant. I have seen him several times recently with Alison Krauss on live performance videos and he is still doing good stuff.

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[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by abn556

I watched the videos Extreme has recently put out. They are definitely mind blowing. His chops are unreal.

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They always were. Start listening at 3:10

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

They always were. Start listening at 3:10

That's a great performance. III SIDES has been one of my favorite albums for 30 years, particularly the last "third" of it. It just never gets old to me. An absolute masterpiece.

[abn556]

I used to listen to them back in the day when the Porngrafitti album came out. I kind of lost them for a while. The new album sounds great - at least the couple of songs I have heard from it.

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[RussL30]

I’ve seen ZZ Top live 3 times in the last 6 years. I guess if Billy Gibbons doesn’t have it and is pitiful, I’m just a simpleton that’s easily impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the show every time even if a bit predictable. I guess I need to up my standards.

I saw one of the first shows after Dusty passed and that’s the only thing that was really different in the performances.

[abn556]

Originally Posted by RussL30

I’ve seen ZZ Top live 3 times in the last 6 years. I guess if Billy Gibbons doesn’t have it and is pitiful, I’m just a simpleton that’s easily impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed the show every time even if a bit predictable. I guess I need to up my standards.

I saw one of the first shows after Dusty passed and that’s the only thing that was really different in the performances.

Did you see them back in the 70s? I did. A couple of times. What I hear from Gibbons now is not the same. Listen to their first 5 albums and tell me you hear that same guy now.

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[perttime]

I suppose age affects us all. Cannot really expect him to be the same now as 50 years ago. I've just seen videos from those early years, and the energy there is high. Perhaps overwhelming. I am actually more comfortable with more laid back performances of more recent decades.

[dnf777]

Originally Posted by abn556

Did you see them back in the 70s? I did. A couple of times. What I hear from Gibbons now is not the same. Listen to their first 5 albums and tell me you hear that same guy now.

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Ive seen them several times from Houston in the 70s, until last Outlaw Festival ‘22 in Pittsburgh. Like any artist, his style and delivery have evolved. I remember a good show in Houston, but he kept looking at his watch and promptly walked off stage with no acknowledgment of the fans. I realize we all have bad days, and he’s more than made up for it…

[abn556]

Those 70s shows were so high energy. I saw them several times in their prime in Lake Charles and again in New Orleans in what you would now call a small arena - less than 6500. I also met Gibbons at a guitar show at the Reliant Center about 30 years ago. He couldn’t have weighed more than 130 lbs. and looked pretty rough. There was a big group of Jimmy Wallace flame top LPs on display that he had come out to see.

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