ZZ Top with Special Guest Cheap Trick presale codes

Texas roots run deep for ZZ Top, whose dry humor and fat boogie took them from smoky bars to MTV fame.

Oil, dust, and a new chapter

What they might play and who shows up

After bassist Dusty Hill's passing in 2021, longtime tech Elwood Francis slid in, keeping the pocket tight while the songs keep their grin. Expect a compact, riff-first set built on shuffles and swagger, likely anchored by La Grange, Sharp Dressed Man, and Gimme All Your Lovin'. With Cheap Trick opening, you can bet many will sing along to Surrender before the headliners hit. Crowds skew multi-gen, from guitar hobbyists clocking Billy's right hand to families in vintage tees, with folks swapping stories about first car stereos. Lesser-known detail: Gibbons often uses a Mexican peso as a pick and favors super light strings, which help that buttery pinch and wide vibrato. Another quiet quirk is how the Eliminator era's synth touches are tucked under the trio live, enough to color the groove without crowding it. Setlist and production ideas here are informed guesses from recent stops and can change night to night.

Beards meet checkerboard: ZZ Top x Cheap Trick crowd notes

You will see a lot of vintage denim and work shirts, offset by the black-and-white checks that Cheap Trick made iconic.

Patches, chants, and shared rituals

Patches from past tours mix with fresh caps, and guitar picks on chains are a quiet flex for players in the room. People clap the snare on I Want You to Want Me, then do the low, laughing howl on La Grange without being prompted. Merch leans practical and playful, from beard-comb keychains and bold Eliminator art to checkerboard scarves and bright logo tees. Pre-show chat skews gear and tone, with folks trading notes on fuzz pedals, pick choice, and the myth of the peso. Between sets, you hear parents introduce riffs to teens like old friends, and the kids nod along when the shuffle lands fat. The vibe stays neighborly and unhurried, more about the groove in the room than posting the perfect clip.

How ZZ Top make the groove breathe on stage

ZZ Top run lean, which leaves room for Billy Gibbons' grainy baritone to sit right on top of the shuffle without shouting.

Grease, space, and swing

Guitar parts stay simple but purposeful, with open-string boogie figures and short fills that answer the vocal, while bass locks to the kick for that loping feel. Live, the trio often tunes a half-step down, which softens the top end and adds weight to the riffs. They will bump tempos a notch on Tush and relax into a deeper pocket on La Grange, using stop-start breaks to let the crowd breathe. On the Eliminator staples, subtle keys or tracks mirror the album's synth pulse, yet the mix keeps drums and guitar bone-dry so the swing stays front and center.

Cheap Trick's punch, ZZ Top's stew

When Cheap Trick join the night, expect crisp, high-tenor vocals and chiming rhythms that contrast nicely with the Texas grease. Their power-pop snap sharpens the evening's arc, setting up ZZ Top to lean heavier on texture, pinch harmonics, and those unison sidesteps. Lights tend to track the groove rather than overwhelm it, with warm ambers on the slow burns and sharper whites for the boogies.

If you like ZZ Top and Cheap Trick, try these

Fans of boogie blues with big hooks often also ride for Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose guitar harmonies and barroom tempos hit a similar nerve.

Kinship across riffs and eras

The Black Crowes share the Southern-leaning swing and gospel-tinged choruses, and their live jams stretch in the same loose, smiling way. If you like tight, bluesy swagger with a party grin, Sammy Hagar brings that arena bounce and sing-back refrains. For crunchy riffs delivered with veteran showmanship, Aerosmith draws a comparable mix of lifers and curious younger fans. All four acts favor big choruses, unfussy grooves, and a crowd-first pace that treats the hook as the main event.