Texas rockers ZZ Top have been road warriors since forming in 1969, from finding their signature blues-rock sound in the 1970s, to breaking through with some signature facial hair in the 1980s, to celebrating their golden anniversary in 2018 with a world record for holding onto their original lineup. They’ve even continued going following the 2021 death of founding member Dusty Hill; longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis took over with Hill’s blessing.
The sharp-dressed band is now bringing its long-running tour back to Amarillo for an 8 p.m. Sunday show in the Amarillo Civic Center Complex Auditorium, 401 S. Buchanan St.
Lead singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons took some time to answer a few questions via email, presented below with his idiosyncratic punctuation intact.
Chip Chandler: What’s life on the road like these days? Between ZZ Top and the BFG Band, it seems like you’re still touring pretty constantly.
Billy Gibbons: Rockin’… totally … ! It’s both ZZ Top, as well as our side outfit, “Billy F. Gibbons and The BFG Band,” featuring Chris “Whipper” Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s original group as well as Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin from Jimmy Vaughan’s aggregation. A superb, streamlined high energy with each gathering.
CC: How well has Elwood done filling the shoes left by Dusty? It sounds like they were close.
BG: Mr. Elwood’s fantastic talents stepped in with instruction to maintain the “Bottom of the Top.”
CC: Why do you think Texas has been such a fruitful birthing ground for musicians?
BG: Texas and the sheer enormity from border to border embraces a vast variety of individuals expressing a wide range of styles … western swing, rural blues, Norteño, Tejano, symphonic excellence, alongside psychedelic rock, of course, bolstered with the great American art form, the blues.
CC: I hear that you’ve been working on new music for a while. Will fans get a new ZZ Top album in the near future?
BG: Yes, indeed. Burnin’ midnight hours have embraced new creations toward releases with ZZ and The BFG Band aimed to hit the streets in short order.
CC: What’s so appealing to you about the blues? Why do you think audiences are drawn to that style of music?”
BG: It’s the most human sound there is, the musical equivalent to the beating heart. “Where there’s blues, there’s rhythm, there’s life.”
Tickets are $51 to $192, plus fees. Call 806-378-3096.
This week’s other can’t-miss options:
St. Patrick’s Day Party: 4 p.m. Tuesday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Cameron James Smith: 6 p.m. Tuesday; Walk On’s Sports Bistreaux, 3506 Soncy Road; 806-398-2003
The Strange Whiskey Project: 6 p.m. Tuesday; Crush, 627 S. Polk St.; 806-418-2011
St. Paddy’s Celebration: 7 p.m. Tuesday; Drunken Oyster, 7606 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6668
Dueling Pianos: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; Metropolitan Steak & Seafood, 9181 Town Square Blvd., Suite 1201; reservations $21; 806-242-0117
El Jumbotron with Bardown: 8 p.m. Wednesday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
Silent Disco Nights: 5 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday; Shark Beach Burgers, 1505 E. Farm-to-Market Road 1151; reservations recommended; 806-335-5644
Amarillo Wranglers vs. Oklahoma Warriors: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Amarillo Civic Center Complex Coliseum, 401 S. Buchanan St.; tickets $21 to $32; 806-242-4233
Sage & Aera: 7 p.m. Friday; Chalice Abbey, 2717 Stanley St., Suite A; $15 suggested donation; 806-576-2480
Carson & The Contraband: 9 p.m. Friday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
The Kelly Hastey Band: 9 p.m. Friday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
Linnea’s Garden: 9 p.m. Friday; The 806 Coffee + Lounge, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover, donations suggested; 806-322-1806
Velvet Funk: 9 p.m. Friday; Blind Pig Cocktail Lounge, 609 S. Independence St.; 806-412-4251
The Wildwoods: 7 p.m. Saturday; Buffalo Grass Music Hall, 123 Main St. in Panhandle; free, donations accepted; 806-236-2933
Ellis Bullard: 9 p.m. Saturday; Golden Light Cantina, 2906 S.W. Sixth Ave.; cover; 806-374-9237
The Jimmy Lee Jordan Band: 9 p.m. Saturday; Broken Spoke Lounge, 3101 S.W. Sixth Ave.; no cover; 806-373-9149
The Roman Carbajal Band: 9 p.m. Saturday; Western Horseman Club, 2501 E. Interstate 40; 806-379-6555, Ext. 2999
The Stray Sons: 9 p.m. Saturday; Blind Pig Cocktail Lounge, 609 S. Independence St.; 806-412-4251
Gilmore Girls Trivia: 7 p.m. Monday; Pondaseta Brewing Co., 7500 S.W. 45th Ave.; 806-418-6282
Email submissions to info@brickandelm.com.
Movie options:
Opening Thursday: Sci-fi adventure Project Hail Mary and horror sequel Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive, and Cinergy, 9201 Cinergy Square)
Special engagements: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (through March 26, Hollywood 16); cult horror fave Leprechaun (Tuesday, Hollywood 16); DC League of Super-Pets (Tuesday through Thursday, Cinergy); Indian thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge (opens Thursday, Hollywood 16); Blade Runner 2049 (Thursday, Cinergy); Rad 40th Anniversary (Sunday and March 24, Hollywood 16); and Secret Movie Series (Monday, Hollywood 16)
