AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF MAJOR ARTISTS PAY HOMAGE TO ZZ TOP ON NEW ALBUM OUT OCTOBER 11

 

The music and legacy of ZZ TOP - “That Little ol’ Band from Texas,” that has been part of the world’s musical landscape for over 40 years - will be celebrated with the October 11th release of A TRIBUTE FROM FRIENDS.

The album, to be released by Show Dog-Universal Music, features 11 classic ZZ Top songs interpreted by top-flight artists working in a broad range of musical genres.  All of the album’s tracks have been newly recorded, specifically for the project. These include Filter’s performance of “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” Grace Potter & The Nocturnals’ take on “Tush,” as well as Wyclef Jean’s “Rough Boy,” “Legs” from Nickelback and Wolfmother’s interpretation of “Cheap Sunglasses.”

The album kicks off with “Sharp Dressed Man,” from The M.O.B., Mick Fleetwood’s ad hoc group that includes fellow Fleetwood Mac founder John McVie as well as Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and guitar great Jonny Lang.  Fleetwood commented, “We’re delighted to honor ZZ Top this way.  Their legacy, like that of the original Fleetwood Mac, is steeped in the blues we all love so much.  I know that Steven and Jonny feel as strongly about their legacy as John and I do.”

After Billy F Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, the original--and continuing-- members of ZZ Top were informed that A Tribute From Friends was in the offing, they issued the following statement:

“When we were told there was going to be a ZZ Top tribute album a while ago and logically asked, ‘Who are we paying tribute to?’  Then we found out that a bunch of great artists were paying tribute to us and we were in disbelief.  For the past forty or so years, all we've done is get out there and crank it and try to have a good time while doing so. To a great extent, we've succeeded since we're still having a good time so that would be reward enough for ‘the same three guys playing the same three chords.’ Now comes A Tribute From Friends and we're so delighted that our music resonates with these great musicians whom we so admire.”

A Tribute From Friends also includes “Waitin’ for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago” by Daughtry, “Got Me Under Pressure” from Duff McKagan’s LOADED and Mastodon’s version of “Just Got Paid.” Coheed & Cambria contributed the anthemic “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” while country superstar Jamey Johnson’s track is the seminal “La Grange.”  Of their invitation to be a part of the album, lead singer Chris Daughtry said, “We were completely honored! A classic great band with amazing songs? We're in!” And of ZZ Top’s music, “It's classic! Simple chord progressions, great riffs with hooky choruses...very inspiring to a band like us.”

The co-executive producer of A Tribute From Friends is Carl Stubner, ZZ Top’s manager, who noted, “A Tribute From Friends underscores the legacy of ZZ Top in the most musical way possible and illustrates just how important Billy, Dusty and Frank have been to successive generations.  It was a privilege to work with the pantheon of brilliant artists who contributed their efforts and so much love to this project.”


Since Billy, Dusty and Frank founded ZZ TOP on the last day of 1969, the band has been responsible for the worldwide sale of over 50 million records highlighted by many of the very same songs heard on A Tribute From Friends as well many others including  “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Pearl Necklace,” “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide,” “Tube Snake Boogie” and a score of smash hit albums that include the RIAA Diamond Award winning (10 million sold) Eliminator as well as gold and platinum winners Afterburner, Fandango!, Deguello, Recycler, Antenna, El Loco, Tejas, Tres Hombres plus compilation sets. Their hit repertoire, iconic and award-winning videos and massive touring schedule has made them a favorite with audiences throughout the world and beyond – they previewed a track from their forthcoming album aboard the Soyuz space vehicle. They are recipients of the Texas Cultural Trust’s 2011 Texas Medal of the Art and had previously been named “Official Texas Heroes” by the state's House of Representatives. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones in 2004 who cited the band’s remarkable consistency and longevity and, first and foremost, the fact that ZZ Top is “steeped in the blues,” calling them “the heartbeat of the whole country and the heartbeat of rock ‘n’ roll.”




A TRIBUTE FROM FRIENDS -  TRACK LISTING


1.    “Sharp Dressed Man” – The M.O.B. (Mick Fleetwood, Steven Tyler, Jonny Lang & John McVie)

2.    “Gimme All Your Lovin’” – Filter

3.    “Tush” – Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

4.    “Legs” - Nickelback

5.    “Cheap Sunglasses” – Wolfmother

6.    “Got Me Under Pressure” – Duff McKagan’s LOADED

7.    “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” – Coheed & Cambria

8.    “Just Got Paid” – Mastodon

9.    “Rough Boy” – Wyclef Jean

10. “Waitin’ for the Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago” – Daughtry

11. “La Grange” – Jamey Johnson

Rob Blaine – Rob Blaine’s Big Otis Blues

After just writing about Derin Dow’s guitar histrionics, I turned around and plopped this spicy dish of hot blues into the player and suddenly my world was swirling in another alternate universe of guitar wizardry.  When  I say that Rob Blaine is a Guitar God, I mean that with two capital “G’s.”  Not only is this a fantastic blues album, it’s just one of the best damn guitar albums I’ve heard all year.  Period.

Rob Blaine is one of those precocious youths that I’d love to hate if they weren’t so damn lovable.  I mean come on, the guy didn’t even get his first guitar until age 15 and by 17 he was already gigging regularly around Michigan and sitting in at Chicago’s famed Rosa’s Lounge.   There, he immersed himself in the heart of the blues, working as a doorman, sound tech, and house musician.  If this was an apprenticeship, it paid off in dividends, because on Big Otis Blues Blaine emerges as a full-on, hurricane force blues guitar hero, a true wresting wind to be reckoned with. 

Signed to the dynamite new Blues Label, Swississippi Records, this is an album no fan of the blues should miss.   You love Joe Bonamassa?  Dig on Kenny Wayne Sheppard?  Got a thing for Jonny Lang, Corey Stevens, or Chris Duarte?  I got a new name for you.  One that’s gonna brand itself indelibly in your inner ear, your heart, and your blues-lovin’ soul.  Rob Blaine.

“Not the Forgiving Kind,” launches us onto that path of blues nirvana in it’s very first second. After a staccato burst of snare, Rob Blaine erupts in flaming guitar glory.  Talk about making a strong first impression!  Dig that tone.  I mean really dig that tone.  Rob’s notes are so meticulously chosen, his playing so intuitive and heart-felt, it’s a blessing to behold.  He tears up and down those frets like a man possessed, never over-playing, dropping in some reverb and nuance, holding notes, sustaining them, bending them . . .heck, he could probably make them do backflips if he wanted.  He can funk it up, he can rock it out, and he can blues it down.  And he can do it all seamlessly.  Yes, he’s that good. 

While it’s so easy to lose yourself in Rob’s playing, let’s not forget that voice.  That oh-so-rough-and-weary voice that bellows out aged way beyond it’s years.  I don’t really know how old this cat is.  From his picture he looks early twenties, but that voice, that beautifully deep, whiskey-weathered baritone is ageless.

Big Otis Blues alternates between fierce rockers like “Not the Forgiving Kind,” and slower, moodier, no-less-stunning blues ballads, like the next cut, “Only Mine.”  Rob shines on both.  On “Only Mine,” his guitar literally cries.  It moans.  It whispers in notes of pain and love. 

“Affection and Pain,” picks the rock back up and, my God, does it rock.  Thick and heavy, searing and sparkling with electricity, this song’s a terror.  Rob’s band locks right in with him, Joewaun “Man” Scott blowing the doors off the bottom end, James Knowles raising the ceiling with his snare and highhat.  This is the way I like my blues, gritty and dirty and hitched onto the back of a roaring Harley.  This song really puts the rock back into the term blues rock.   From there every song is just one killer cut after another, but a special nod has to go out to “Must be Nice,” which makes an appearance in both full-on electric and acoustic versions.  It’s a testament to Rob’s talent that he can play that song both ways, such different versions, and each one hits me just as captivating.  Whether sweaty and full of muscle on electric or nuanced and dramatic on acoustic.  I’m there.  Take me where you want to Rob, I’m there.

Blues lovers, it’s time to sit up and take notice.  Rock lovers, you too.  I don’t care if this is a blues album or not.  The guitar work is so intense, the overall feeling so damn heavy, Big Otis Blues is gonna make it’s appearance on my year end “Best of” list.  Yes, it really is that good.

--Racer

Buy here: Rob Blaine's Big Otis Blues

www.bigotisblues.com