Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top fame brought his solo band, Billy Gibbons and the BFGs, to the House of Blues last night for a sold-out Texican dose of American Blues, Rock, and Country.
The trio, composing of Gibbons on lead guitar and vocals, Chris Layton, (a founding member of Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and Rock Hall inductee), who has been touring with Kenny Wayne Shepherd as his drummer, and journeyman Mike Flanigin on bass, Hammond B-3 and backing vocals, tore it up with an eighteen-tune set that mixed in some ZZ Top classics, a few covers, and a whole lot of damn good Americana music.
Offering up some stalwarts from the ZZ catalog, the trio played “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Cheap Sunglasses,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “La Grange” to satisfy the Classic Rock fans, a kick-ass cover of “Folsom Prison Blues,” and even an homage to Hendrix with “Foxy Lady.” Gibbons reminisced how ZZ Top opened for Hendrix on his 1969 American tour, reminding the audience that Hendrix bent that axe like no one before him.
Turning 75 last December, Gibbons showed no signs of slowing down; his wizardry on the guitar puts him in the same ranks as Hendrix. Although he’d probably blush by the comparison.
