You may know him as one-third of the rock group ZZ Top, but Billy Gibbons proved last night at San Francisco’s Regency Ballroom that he can command a stage alone. With his band, the BFG’s, Gibbons took on the blues with a bit of a Cuban fusion thing going on. Compared to the usual trio I am used to seeing the bearded one with, the BFG’s two drummers, two organists, a percussionist, with Gibbons on guitar and vocals, gave the small stage a pretty epic feeling.
On tour in support of his new solo album, Perfectamundo, Gibbons strayed away from the hits and instead focused on many under-rated blues numbers, really allowing his guitar work and gravelly deep voice to carry the show along. He paused after most numbers to address the audience and connect with the crowd. He seemed so approachable, a few fans even came up to the stage with albums for him to sign – for which he happily obliged.
Gibbons gave a nice shout-out to the hospitality of the venue and the sound guy. Apparently, when Gibbons arrived to the stage for sound check, there was an array of monitors surrounding his mic stand. He immediately asked for their removal because, well… “Do you know how much I spent on these shoes?!”
What really got the crowd going was when Gibbons introduced the two drummers, both females, and gave a little story. They both told Gibbons that if they were to be on the tour he would be adding a ZZ Top song to the setlist. Billy agreed, but they would need to dig deep down- and played “Ten Foot Pole.”
Over the course of the evening, the band only played a few songs from the new album. This new material seemed to cross Santana with Buddy Guy. The show finished with a gospel-rock preacher-type number before the encore of “La Grange” and a cover of Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”
If Billy Gibbons and the BFG’s make their way to your town, ditch the ten-foot pole and go see them.
