ZZ Top Got Up Close and Personal for Fans at The Factory Thursday in Saint Louis

Sean Derrick November 17, 2024November 17, 2024 0 Comments Saint Louis concert review and photos, The Band Feel, ZZ Top

–by Sean Derrick

Cultural icons ZZ Top brought their Elevation Tour to The Factory in St. Louis on Wednesday for a rare intimate performance by the Texas rock trio.

The band (vocalist/guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard, and bassist Elwood Francis) is used to performing at much larger venues in town like the 20,000 seat Hollywood casino Amphitheatre, Enterprise Center, the old Arena, the 10,000 seat Family Arena, the 5,000 seat Fabulous Fox Theatre, and the 4,500 seat Saint Louis Music Park. But not since the band played at the old Ambassador in April of 1974 have they played at a venue of only 3,000 people in St. Louis like what The Factory is. It was a nice change from the large venues and gives die hards a chance to see the band up close in a more intimate setting.

Energy was high from the sold-out crowd from the first notes of “Gimme All Your Lovin'” to the last chord of “La Grange”. The show played like a greatest hits evening (minus anything from Afterburner, that is.)

No, they don’t move around like they did 30, 40, or 50 years ago, but they can still jam and rock with bands half their age. Gibbons is still one of the greatest guitarists on the planet, and Francis has filled in nicely since the passing of longtime bassist Dusty Hill in 2021. Francis was Hill’s longtime bass tech and was seemingly the only logical choice to fill Hill’s large shoes.

Francis came out for the first song with a 15-string bass (he actually played a 17-string bass for previous tours). Some things are still the same: from the signature paired poses/swaying/knee wobbles, and matching jackets to even the fuzzy guitars for “Legs”. It is still ZZ Top, after all.

The only downside was the lighting during “Pearl Necklace”, the lighting tech was a split second behind the fan call out of “Pearl Necklace”. Maybe the tech is still new. They also stopped at the beginning of “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” after Gibbons started wrong, which he fully owned up, saying “We gotta start over, I fucked that up.” The crowd appreciated that, though.

When a fan handed Gibbons an album to sign he obliged, having Beard and Francis sign it as well. He then had some fun with the fan by playfully starting an auction for the signed record. Gibbons joked a few times throughout the set but didn’t really say anything until 30 minutes into the show by stating they got to be tourists while in town (evidently down by Union Station??)

Overall, the 90 minute performance was classic ZZ Top from an intimate setting, which is a nice way to be able to experience the Little Ole’ Band From Texas. After this leg winds up on November 24, they will take a break and regroup in March for the next leg of similar venues. I suggest you check one out over at zztop.com/tour

The Band Feel performing at The Factory in St. Louis Thursday. Photo by Sean Derrick/ Thyrd Eye Photography.

The Band Feel, a local quartet from St. Louis opened the show with a time warp back to 1973 in both style and substance. Fully dressed the part the band has a sound of blues infused British hard rock with heavy influences from Led Zeppelin, The Black Crowes, and Laurel Canyon.

They certainly won over the crowd even before they mentioned they were local, and their music made something old sound new again. keep an eye out for more from this band.