

Billy Gibbons
& The BFG's
Brought The Texas Blues To Cleveland
![]() Billy Gibbons | ![]() Billy and Mike | ![]() Chris "Whipper" Layton |
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![]() Billy Gibbons | ![]() Mike Flanigin | ![]() Billy Gibbons and the BFGs |
![]() Billy Gibbons | ![]() Billy Gibbons | ![]() Billy Gibbons and Mike Flanigin |
![]() Billy and Chris | ![]() Billy Gibbons | ![]() Billy Gibbons |
![]() Billy Gibbons | ![]() Billy Gibbons and Mike | ![]() Billy Gibbons |
February 3, 2025
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Billy Gibbons, the legendary front man and gunslinger for ZZ Top, brought his solo band that features Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer Chris Layton (Double Trouble) and Mike Flanigin on bass/B3 Hammond to the House of Blues to warm up a cold Ohio night.
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Although Gibbons has released three solo albums in his career, he opted for playing mostly ZZ Top classics and deep cuts and a few tasty cover tunes.
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Gibbons and Flanigin came out wearing matching bedazzled suites, just like he and long time partner Dusty Hill used to do. However Flanigin went right to the Hammond B3, Billy picked up his strat and the ever trustworthy Layton behind the skins, the trio launched into a bluesy instrumental titled "Kiko." ​
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Flanigin then strapped on his matching bass and the power trio was off to perform a set of ZZ Top classics that included "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "Waitin' For The Bus," "Gimmie All Your Lovin'" and "Cheap Sunglasses."
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Gibbons and the boys did play one solo tune, "Got Love If You Want It." Then long time ZZ Top fans were thrilled to hear a couple of deep cuts from Fandango, "Blue Jean Blues and "Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings."
Billy did tell a few stories through out the evening, one that stuck out was saying when he was a young man in another band called The Moving Sidewalks, they were asked to open up for a new artist called The Jimi Hendrix Experience. He said the he and Jimi became fast friends talking about the guitar. So in tribute to his buddy, they launched into "Foxy Lady."
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More ZZ Top classics closed out the main set that included "Just Got Paid," "Sharp Dressed Man," and "La Grange."
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The trio returned to encore with a raucous version of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and another Fandango deep cut "Thunderbird."
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Another fine performance by one of the true legends of rock and roll.
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Photos and review by Greg Drugan
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