ZZ TOP / THE JOE PERRY PROJECT 7.22.2022
Photos and Words By Maria A. Mata
Legendary blues rockers ZZ Top turned up the heat at the Leader Bank Pavilion on the Boston stop of their Raw Whisky Tour, joined by special guest The Joe Perry Project. Fans braved the heatwave and made their way to the waterfront venue, on an evening full of straight up rock & roll.
Aerosmith’s lead guitarist Joe Perry kicked things off with “Let the Music Do The Talking”, off his first album as The Joe Perry Project, then quickly moved on to the classic “Toys In The Attic”. Joining him on vocals on tour is Extreme’s Gary Cherone, whose voice and stage presence blends in perfectly with Perry’s blues sound, making for a powerful performance. Fans were treated to a balanced mix of solo tracks like “Rockin’ Train”, as well as some Aerosmith classics such as “Walk This Way”. The set is part of a limited run of shows for the band, the first in this format since 2018.
Despite the high temperatures, fans were rocking out on their feet, ready for ZZ Top to take the stage. A mixture of pop hits and rancheras played through the speakers, as the venue reached almost full capacity. The Texas band kicked the show off with “Got Me Under Pressure”, off their 1983 album Eliminator, followed by classic tracks such as “Pearl Necklace” and “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”.
The band’s sound is as solid as ever, returning to the stages after the untimely passing of bassist Dusty Hill last year. Longtime tech Elwood Francis stepped in for Hill on the bass, blending in well with Frank Beard’s drums and Billy Gibbons’ blues guitar. Fans were excited to see the band’s return, and many were seen dancing, or simply in awe of Gibbons’ smooth riffs and licks. The hits kept rolling in, from “Sharp Dressed Man”, “Legs”, and the iconic blues rock anthem “La Grange”.
After over 50 decades of music, ZZ Top has stayed true to their roots, with a vibrant and consistent sound that starts a rowdy party wherever they go. Make sure to catch the long running Raw Whisky Tour in a city near you.
