I can’t believe how many concerts I’ve been to this year – Styx, the Rolling Stones, and now ZZ Top (with Cheap Trick opening) – that’s a lot for me!
Of all those bands, ZZ Top is the one I listened to the most growing up. I have fond memories of watching their music videos on tape at home!
The concert was Wednesday night, at the BMO Harris Pavilion on the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee. It’s an outdoor venue and we had lovely cool weather! It was my first time at that venue, and I chose it over the ZZ Top concert tomorrow in Chicagoland because Milwaukee is easier to get to from my house, and less of a logistical nightmare. The venue is on the smaller side, so you feel close to the stage even when you’re near the back like we were, which is awesome. I got bleacher seats (because $$) and they aren’t stadium style… so here was my view:
Ha, I told Steven I felt like I was in a 90s movie theater and someone tall sat in front of me. Eh, appropriate for the music. I could see if I craned my neck. And my butt didn’t hurt too much for sitting on a metal seat for over three hours.
One more complaint – people, I don’t care if you smoke weed, just please STOP doing it in a group of people at a concert. This happened at Stones and here. The guy next to me had a joint as well as some people two rows up. The smell gives me such a headache (I still had that headache this morning). Moving on…
Bobbi was my concert date! I appreciate her coming with me. I bought tickets for two then asked her if she wanted to go. Hee hee. It was great to spend such a huge chunk of time together! We left around 5:00 and had time to stop at Vanguard for dinner before heading over to the concert for the 7:30 (really, 7:50) Cheap Trick opener.
I was expecting to know more of Cheap Trick’s songs than I expected… if that makes sense. But they opened with a lot of stuff I didn’t know. And they sounded great, but eh, it just left me wanting them to be done so ZZ TOP would come on stage. They closed with their hits – “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and “Surrender,” which was more enjoyable. (I also knew “In the Street” (thanks to That ’70s Show), “The Flame,” and the cover they did of “Magical Mystery Tour”) Here is a link to their set list.
ZZ Top came on stage after 9:30 (so late! on a school night! I had taken the afternoon off to nap, but was still yawning) and opened with “Got Me Under Pressure.” Immediately the energy was much more alive and the crowd got way more in to it. Yay! That is what I was there for! The guy sitting next to us really wanted to stand but the people behind him kept yelling at him. Sigh. The older audience’s (we were definitely on the young side here) preference to sit is nice when you are at a more comfortable venue, but I wouldn’t have minded standing for ZZ Top! (Maybe they were mad since they were recording the whole thing. I still think that’s so strange – can you even enjoy it when you’re holding your phone up THE WHOLE TIME?! Who watches those videos later?!)
ZZ Top sounded great (although the guitar seemed louder than the lyrics, but whatevs, we know them). I loved their synchronized “dance” moves, all the amazing guitars they used, and the funny little bits they did – like turning a guitar over and having a sign taped on the back that said “BEER!” They seem like cool dudes. Toward the end, someone threw an album and marker at them (!!!) and they paused a bit later to sign it. Pretty cool (but is throwing an album at musicians normal?!)!!
Here they are signing the album.
They played a lot of the classics and a lot of my favorites like “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “La Grange,” and “Tush” (no “Tube Snake Boogie” though, cry!). I was excited that “I Gotsta Get Paid” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago” were on the set list (set list here) too. (I would have loved to hear “Sleeping Bag,” and “TV Dinners”!)
I loved seeing their music videos up on screen. I could remember them from childhood, and was just waiting for the Eliminator and the Three ZZ Girls to show up and save the day in “Legs.” Bobbi and I were so entranced with that video that we didn’t notice they had switched out to the cheesy guitars from the music video! Awesome!
This was their 50th anniversary tour. That is insane!!! I’m so glad I got to see them; I’ve wanted to for a LONG time! And so glad I got to go with Bobbi!
I would guess if ZZ Top played an outdoor venue in Milwaukee, they must be playing in Tinley Park? I don’t blame you for going to Milwaukee instead of there. That amphitheater is SUCH a headache to deal with (not to mention that it’s really super far from you!). I’ve been there twice, stayed to the end of a show once, and omg. Never. Again. Frankly, I’m surprised that I’m already out of the parking lot, and the concert ended two years ago 😛
I take videos at almost every concert I go to, but you’re totally right – I don’t think I’ve ever gone back and watched them again! Maybe, like, once per video, right after the show, but that’s it. I don’t even look at concert pictures I took that much – but I still feel compelled to do it?!? I blame peer pressure. I could never record a whole show, though. I have the patience to record like my favorite 30 seconds of my favorite songs, and that’s it, haha.
Yep, you guessed right! LOL at your comment about still being there!!!! Bobbi was saying the same thing about what a nightmare it is to get out of there!
Ahh, I totally get recording a bit of a fave song or two to look at later! The people around us recorded all of every song, or live streamed the whole thing! So odd. I RARELY watch a video someone else posts of a concert… it’s just not the same as being there. Do you think you will be taking pics and videos at Jonas?!??!?!
To answer your question: I took 547 combined pictures and videos at the Jonas Brothers concert on Sunday. So, yes. An enthusiastic, robust, generous, resounding YES. Hahahaha. BUT I’ve also gone back and reviewed all of them, like, perpetually since the show ended, so at least it was worth it 😛 (And I was only able to take so many because I used the “take a picture while taking a video” function on the iPhone camera. Super helpful for taking pictures like my life depended on it, haha)
Whoa! It looks like you were in a spot worth taking photos and videos though 😉 I didn’t know about that function (I am sure my old phone does not have it) – that’s cool! I hope you enjoyed it and had your phone down for some of it?! 😉
You HAVE been to a lot of concerts this year! The nicer thing about staggered seating is not having your view blocked…as a short person I cannot tell you how many events I’ve heard but not seen. As for the weed, yeah – have some courtesy, maaaaannnnn (said in Cheech and/or Chong voice). Still, ZZ TOP!!! Getting to see them in person is awesome!
Staggered seating and stadium seating FTW!!!! Too bad they can’t seat us by height! LOL.
It was so so awesome!!!!
One of my biggest Instagram pet peeves is when people go to a concert and then they post 10 stories of the music. I just don’t understand the compulsion to do that! I understand wanting to take a video of a particular song you love from the band and play it for yourself to remember being there, but just to video it for Instagram is weird to me. Just enjoy the concert! Put down your phone and be in the moment!! I don’t think I brought out my phone once during the concert I just went to.
I’m glad you got to see ZZ Top in concert! My former boss used to be a tour manager for Cheap Trick and had so many cool stories about touring with them!
It’s weird to me too (obviously, ha). I think those people might be a bit more concerned about people knowing they are there, than actually enjoying being there. I am glad you could enjoy BSB entirely without your phone!!!!
Oh how cool! I love hearing that behind the scenes stuff!