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Music Review: ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd rock Civic Arena
Monday, October 04, 1999 By John Young
The folks who put ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd on tour together probably considered the similarities between the bands: Southern roots, songs that are rock radio staples and decades of filling concert halls.
What actually made the bands' show at the Civic Arena last night interesting was the contrast between the two acts.
ZZ Top kept things basic. They played on a stage devoid of color. They wore black. They played the blues. They announced the titles of their songs and said little more.
Such a move might be deadly for some bands, but ZZ Top pulled it off by delivering stylish, distinctive songs. Even when playing traditional blues patterns, guitarist Billy Gibbons made his instrument caw and whine distinctively. His riffing supported subtle, sly songs like "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" and the particularly nasty "Got Me Under Pressure."
While ZZ Top played wry, sometimes surreal, tunes stripped down to their bluesy essentials, Lyrnyd Skynyrd played big, earnest songs that aimed for both the gut and the heart.
Obviously, the band connects with Pittsburgh crowds -- their "Lyve From Steeltown" album documents a 1998 set at Star Lake Amphitheatre. Singer Johnny Van Zant repeatedly thanked the group's local fans and didn't have to work hard to again garner their vocal support.
Skynyrd tried to sell listeners on a trio of songs from their new disc "Edge of Forever." Songs like "Workin'" and "Preacher Man" were some of the band's weakest, though. Their cliché-riddled, moon-spoon-June lyrics lacked any real fire or resonance.
Better were the anticipated classics like "What's Your Name," "Call Me the Breeze" and "The Ballad of Curtis Lowe." Even the 20 minutes of "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird" that ended the band's set sounded raucous and surprisingly energetic.
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd did share a penchant for indulging in a few too many rock cliches. From inserting the word "Pittsburgh" in the middle of songs to asking if fans were ready to rock to flinging guitar picks, both bands skirted just outside Spinal Tap territory.
Their different types of music added just enough zest to the formulaic, though, to keep the show lively and engaging.
John Young is a free-lance music critic.
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