I will Dive back in here
Real Quick for a mind Blowing Show, personal share, ZZ Top Afterburner. I saw in Austin, Frank Erwin Center, Mid 80s..maybe 85? The Frank Erwin Center right off IH 35 was built like a Tornado as it funneled the seating where the person in front of you is lower. Not a bad seat in the house.
The Afterburner Stage was the Old ZZ Top Car Dashboard, Complete with the 10 ft ZZ Key and Chain in the Ignition. Guitarist/Vocalist standing on each far side of the stage. One Standing on top of the Dash Board Glove Box Door, and One above the Speedometer on the other side.
Huge, Impressive looking stage maybe 10 ft tall? The Middle was lower and it was the Radio of the car, with the Drum kit sitting on Top where the drummer, Frank Beard Sat.
Anyway about half way thru the Show the Arena Goes Dark and Silent for about 5 min. Boom, Lights reappear, The Facade of the Dash now was now Digital, LED Read out, with Lazers tucked in there to shine the visual effects in the air of the venue playing to
Legs and all the songs that album produced. I am guessing they pumped the Arena with that disco ball myst, or maybe the crowd was inhaling, while it was dark? The Laser show was the best Stage Performance, with Effects I have ever been to, Bar None. No Hi Definition stuff back then, and I can't find any great footage of those shows.
Saw ZZ as a Warm up to Aerosmith concert I went to in The Woodlands, North Houston in 2009. I remember thinking I just saw the Last show ever by Aerosmith as the next show he fell off the stage and broke his shoulder at Sturgis Buffalo Chip. I think at that time Steven Tyler had fallen off the wagon sobriety again. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion was the place of the show which is a Perfect Place to catch a show and I was there right after they repaired it after Hurricane Ike that tore up Galveston and that Whole Area of the Gulf in 2008.
Venue is outdoors, and is shaped similiar to a Pro Baseball Field it has 6500 covered seats in what would be the Infield, and out field is blanket, lawn chair grassy area. The stage would be located behind the home plate area to paint the picture in your mind of how it looks. It now holds 16,000 as the total capacity. Google image that place, Beautiful environment we staggered back to the Marriott afterwards where we were staying. In 2009 ZZ just touring with the Gear to Play, nothing elaborate. Playing the Old Stuff...to Old fans like myself.
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