ZZ TOP PLAYS THE TENNESSEE THEATER

“We’ve been here before,” Billy Gibbons said, “…the same three guys, playin’ the same three cords!”

ZZ Top has played Knoxville, Tennessee several times in the past, but back then it was to larger crowds at the coliseum. Tuesday night they played to a packed house of around 1600 at the grand Tennessee Theater. Ron, Gary, and I were three of the best entertained ol’ rockers there!

Prior to the concert, which started at 8 PM, we dined at the Downtown Grill and Brewery, which is a tradition with most concert goers. Ron always goes for the White Mule and I go for the Downtown Alt pale ale! Gary tries them, but loves his Miller Lite more.

Ron went for the big burger and fries, Gary and, for the first time, I tried the “Burro,” a gigantic burrito with beans and rice that repeated on me all night long! I didn’t mind though, it just served to remind me of the delicious meal I had!

After a little walk around Market Square, and another beer at the Preservation Pub we made it to the Tennessee Theater and ordered another round before taking our seats in the balcony.

The seats offered me the advantage of being able to steady my pocket Nikon on the railing, and use my zoom. I think they turned out pretty well for a little camera that easily hides in any pocket! Note the one with the shadow of Billy Gibbons on the wall. Ron pointed this out to me and I just had to get it. It you notice, there is a larger shadow that appears to be a cowboy wearing a hit! I don’t think this was intentional, just a coincidence of the lighting setup.

“Blackberry Smoke,” a very good “southern rock” band kicked things off with about 45 minutes to an hour of hard hitting rock, sounding very much like early Lynyrd Skynyrd. I really enjoyed them and will be downloading some of their songs soon!

Billy recalled one of his first trips to Knoxville, explaining that he experienced an earthquake here worst than any he had in California. “I had a room up in the Hyatt House (called the Marriott today), but I slept in the bus that night! Then the next morning I learned that a garbage truck had backed into the building!”

“What do ya wa’na hear?” he asked, as the crowd began shouting out their favorites. “It don’t matter ‘cause yer go’na hear’em all tonight!” And we did!

There were two songs where the primary mics were over driven, but the rest of the song lyrics were easily discernable. The music, well, it was ZZ Top and it rocked us for about two hours.

The best part was that I was home in bed by 11:30, a little buzzy from the pale ales and the amplifiers! Life is grand.

Make these larger by clicking on them, and check out more photos on my Flickr page.

From Atlanta’s Phillips Arena...

Roger Waters 2007 Dark Side of the Moon Tour!

Five of us from the East Tennessee area drove down in two cars for the concert – even fighting our way through an hour backup on I-75 north of Atlanta.

After checking in to the Holiday Inn in Decatur, GA, we promptly found a wonderful little pub call The Brick Store Pub and began the evening’s festivities. It was about a 20 minute MARTA ride from Decatur to the front door of the 21,000-seat arena. Inside we found the nearest BASS ALE tap to our Portal 5 entrance. Before going in, I stood in line for about 30 minutes to get a 2007 Tour t-shirt, and made $10 for also ordering for a stranger who stepped up beside and asked me to oblige…and, for $10, a third of the cost of my shirt, I ordered for us both!

Inside we found that our seats were directly above the portal entrance, which meant no one could stand up in front of us! The rail also helped in steadying the camera for the included existing light shots!

Wonderful set list, which included all my favorites except “Young Lust,” wonderful stage set, and wonderful lighting and special effects. I am so glad I went!

When the (spoiler alert) background screen comes alive with a hand retuning the radio, picks up a cigarette and lights if off screen, then comes back for the glass of scotch, you know it’s about to become a HAPPENING! The hand tunes the radio a couple of more times then settles on “In the Flesh,” and you see the 6’4” Roger Waters standing on stage, you’re off!

I began the concert still wishing Doyle Bramhall III would be there, but by the end of “Mother” I was ready to party with Dave Kilminster and Snowy White. They did not miss a lick and believe me we have them memorized!

I have sent other shots to Brain Damage - don't know if they'll post them or not, but check Flickr for the same shots!

UPDATE! They posted me...so click on the embedded link above!

UPDATE 2! OMG, now the Snowy White Fan Club has posted my shots!

CLICK ON SHOTS TO MAKE THEM LARGER!

UPDATE ON ROGER WATERS!

We got our tickets! Hopefully, my right will be limber enough by then to hoist a few!

An Evening with Roger Waters

Philips Arena
Atlanta, GA
Tue, May 22, 2007 08:00 PM
5 American Express Cardmembers Presale
209 E 8 - 4 PRICE LEVEL 2
LOWER LEVEL OF ARENA

Seats could be closer, but are what was available. Makes my arm feel some better.