2008 Woodie Awards
Local groups combine party atmosphere with classic covers
SETH MCKELVEY
Issue date: 3/20/08 Section: Out & About
Despite the disturbing implications of its name, local cover band ZZ Topless does not plan to take the stage half-naked.
"There's not any kind of ulterior nudity motives behind it," said Dave Weiglein, front man of the local cover group. "Maybe down the road we can have some girls in cages or something like that."
However, the band does play in costume, mimicking the characteristically long beards and bluesy garb of the legendary Texas blues trio ZZ Top - especially fitting considering the band first started at a Halloween party.
When: 9 tonight
Where: Georgia Theatre
Cost: $5
More Information:
myspace.com/zztoplessband
Jay Gonzalez, who plays guitar for the band, said it has become a tradition to dress up and do covers on Halloween. Gonzalez also plays guitar for Heavy Petty, a Tom Petty cover band that was formed in the same manner on a previous Halloween.
Three-fourths of local band Nutria make up ZZ Topless, with Weiglein and Gonzalez joined by drummer Jason Eshelman. Andy Pope of local band The Eskimos fills out the lineup on bass.
While the original ZZ Top was a three-piece outfit, Gonzalez said it really worked out best for the band to have four members.
"I'm kind of the extra guy that doesn't really exist in real life," he said. "But since they used prerecorded tracks, I feel like it's more than warranted."
Weiglein added that ZZ Top overdubbed multiple guitar parts on studio recordings.
"It just makes it sound better," he said.
Weiglein said that as a blues guitarist, forming a ZZ Top cover band felt like a no-brainer.
"All three musicians in the real ZZ Top are probably some of the best rhythm and blues players to ever tackle that genre of music," he said. "Not to mention they've got 15 songs that get played on the radio all the time and everybody immediately knows them."
Gonzalez added that he normally dislikes playing covers, but because of the nature of both ZZ Top and Tom Petty, he enjoys playing in both bands.
"All the songs are really popular and fun, but they're also just so good, that it makes it a lot easier to do," he said.
Heavy Petty will be headlining tonight's show, and the band is made up of a group of long time local musicians as well. Kevin Lane, who played with Gonzalez for local band The Possibilities, fronts the group while drummer Jeff Griggs and bassist Chuck Bradburn provide the rhythm section for the band.
Gonzalez said the show tonight, much like the band's past shows, will be one big party for musicians and fans alike.
"Kevin kind of looks like Petty, and he wears the top hat and everything," he said. "After we finished playing [a past show] all these girls were getting up and taking pictures with him. It was pretty hilarious to see actually."
"There's not any kind of ulterior nudity motives behind it," said Dave Weiglein, front man of the local cover group. "Maybe down the road we can have some girls in cages or something like that."
However, the band does play in costume, mimicking the characteristically long beards and bluesy garb of the legendary Texas blues trio ZZ Top - especially fitting considering the band first started at a Halloween party.
ZZ TOPLESS
Opening for Heavy PettyWhen: 9 tonight
Where: Georgia Theatre
Cost: $5
More Information:
myspace.com/zztoplessband
Jay Gonzalez, who plays guitar for the band, said it has become a tradition to dress up and do covers on Halloween. Gonzalez also plays guitar for Heavy Petty, a Tom Petty cover band that was formed in the same manner on a previous Halloween.
Three-fourths of local band Nutria make up ZZ Topless, with Weiglein and Gonzalez joined by drummer Jason Eshelman. Andy Pope of local band The Eskimos fills out the lineup on bass.
While the original ZZ Top was a three-piece outfit, Gonzalez said it really worked out best for the band to have four members.
"I'm kind of the extra guy that doesn't really exist in real life," he said. "But since they used prerecorded tracks, I feel like it's more than warranted."
Weiglein added that ZZ Top overdubbed multiple guitar parts on studio recordings.
"It just makes it sound better," he said.
Weiglein said that as a blues guitarist, forming a ZZ Top cover band felt like a no-brainer.
"All three musicians in the real ZZ Top are probably some of the best rhythm and blues players to ever tackle that genre of music," he said. "Not to mention they've got 15 songs that get played on the radio all the time and everybody immediately knows them."
Gonzalez added that he normally dislikes playing covers, but because of the nature of both ZZ Top and Tom Petty, he enjoys playing in both bands.
"All the songs are really popular and fun, but they're also just so good, that it makes it a lot easier to do," he said.
Heavy Petty will be headlining tonight's show, and the band is made up of a group of long time local musicians as well. Kevin Lane, who played with Gonzalez for local band The Possibilities, fronts the group while drummer Jeff Griggs and bassist Chuck Bradburn provide the rhythm section for the band.
Gonzalez said the show tonight, much like the band's past shows, will be one big party for musicians and fans alike.
"Kevin kind of looks like Petty, and he wears the top hat and everything," he said. "After we finished playing [a past show] all these girls were getting up and taking pictures with him. It was pretty hilarious to see actually."
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