ZZ Top, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Dallas Frasca @ Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 29/4/2025
ZZ Top’s next stop on their Australian tour was in Adelaide at the Entertainment Centre for what was touted as their farewell. For many, there was a tinge of sadness that this is would be it but equally as important this was a chance for Australian fans to celebrate the music and a career well done. The line up was exceptional and boasted the likes of the infamous George Thorogood & The Destroyers and Dallas Frasca.
Dallas Frasca took to the stage at seven o’clock for a short fire set making the most of allotted twenty minutes. With no fanfare and most not knowing much about Dallas Frasca they well and truly did by the end of the set. Playing in solo mode made for a subtle contrast but made the connection with the audience all the more stronger. It might have only been twenty minutes but there were some great tunes with the likes of opener Anything Left To Wonder, River Queen, Let It Rain not forgetting set staple All My Love which was stellar. If there were a talking point and a moment to make the crowd take notice it was the Led Zeppelin melody which was brilliantly done putting her spin on Kashmir / Black Dog / Immigrant Song / Whole Lotta Love giving it the Dallas Frasca touch up.
George Thorogood & The Destroyers need no introduction being regular visitors to Australia since 1981. “Back by popular demand, the undefeated rock ‘n roll heavy weight” George Thorogood & The Destroyers took the stage with the lively rock ditty Rock Party. Being a mostly seated affair the inclination for many was wanting to get up and dance and waiting for someone to make the first move. Thorogood was quick to state that’s “rock star shit, here we go” knocking over Who Do You Love? (Bo Diddley cover). It might be his last tour but he still has the voice and plays the guitar like his life depends on it and his band are top shelf also making it an entertaining seventy minutes or so.
With George stating “good news! Probation Officers let The Destroyers out for twenty four hours and will do everything to get arrested” which was a perfect lead in to Mama Talk To Your Daughter. The drinking theme resonated with the likes of I Drink Alone and House Rent Blues which morphed into One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer which seemed relevant in the line for the bar. Get A Hair Cut was super cool with George adding “I’m glad your appreciate intellectual lyrics”. The band was firing and still had plenty left in the tank smashing through Gear Jammer, Move It On Over and a wicked version of Gloria. George made another statement, to which we all agreed, “who says rock ‘n roll is not alive”. Egging the crowd on by saying “Do you want it? Alright, you got it!” ending their set on Bad To The Bone. Hard to imagine a set without this one and a great way to remember this legend.
With the countdown clock set for thirty minutes to ZZ Top it was just enough time to dash out for a quick beverage. ZZ Top have delivered some absolute rock gems over the journey and tonight’s performance was impressive. Mainstay Billy Gibbons is the only constant with Frank Beard being subbed out (on medical advice) with drummer John Douglas rising to the occasion and not forgetting bassist Elwood Francis (who replaced Dusty Hills who passed in 2021). Regardless of what anyone says ZZ Top are a formidable line up and it was great to hear these songs again live.
One thing that was obvious was there wasn’t all the trimmings and trappings that you would expect from a big arena show letting the music do all the talking. The stage was lined up with Magnatone amplifiers assembled like Lego bricks. The outfits were great as was Elwood Francis’s “High Selecta” 15-String Bass which he played effortlessly on Got Me Under Pressure keeping with the electro blues theme of the Eliminator album.
There were covers I Thank You (Sam & Dave) and Sixteen Tons (Merle Travis) which was introduced as a country song and a nod to Jeff Beck, but it was the likes of Gimme All Your Lovin’ which featured early that got the crowd a little excitable… albeit in their seats. Gibbons remark “ZZ Top are in the house, thanks to George Thorogood for tearing it up earlier”. Waitin’ For The Bus, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Pearl Necklace and I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide featured. After I Gotsa Get Paid Gibbons told the crowd “don’t get to excited, we’re only making this shit up!” With the last couple songs left Gibbons encourage the crowd to lean back and shout it out loud on big singles Sharp Dressed Man and Legs.
Returning for an encore Gibbons said “you just can’t get rid of us” and with a jacket change it was Brown Sugar that was first up followed by Tube Snake Boogie. The final song was epic and if you don’t know it, it’s like where have you been! Le Grange is a classic song and seemed like the perfect end for a solid night of music.
Live Review By Rob Lyon