How Long Is Zz Top Concert?

In summary, ZZ Top concerts usually last for 90–120 minutes, including opening acts. Expectations and Implications of Rocking Trio

Since the creation of the band in 1970, ZZ Top has been entertaining fans across the globe with its blues-rock sound and facial hair. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are still active more than three decades into their career, and they are still touring to entertain their millions of fans and earn more with their huge collection of rock and roll hits.

However, if you are to attend your first ZZ Top live show, you may be in a position to ask yourself a question such as, How long does this concert last? Is it going to be the standard 1-hour set or the all-night-long endless show? Below is the schedule of the set you are likely to encounter from ZZ Top during a live performance.

It is recommended that this set of covers take about thirty to forty-five minutes of a typical ZZ Top set time.

Although there may be differences in the exact schedule of the shows, the length of the ZZ Top show, and the specifics of each tour may differ from one another, the general timeline of the show has remained relatively consistent for the band throughout the many years of its activity.

Only in circumstances where ZZ Top has other bands opening for them will they likely go on at 9 pm. In some cases, the start time is shown as 8 or even 7:30 PM for the show. But usually, the first band gets to play for almost an hour and then ZZ Top gets on the mic. So you can expect to be asking them to provide your favorite type of music around 9–9:30 pm, even if the venue doors opened earlier.

Sometimes there will be two opening acts and even longer time gaps between the acts, although ZZ Top does its best not to make its fans wait too long if they are performing as the headliners. At festivals and other occasions when the time of the concert is set, they might start at 6 PM or even earlier, but pure ZZ Top concerts take place in the evening.

Typical Set Lengths

When they get on stage, ZZ Top often plays for approximately 90 minutes. Their sets will range in between 75 and 100 minutes. Although there are some bands that may go on stage and perform for more than 3 hours, like Bruce Springsteen's recent concert, ZZ Top performances are usually shorter and better packaged.

It's only 90 minutes long now, but one must realize that they have a discography of 15 studio albums. Over a half century's worth of material has now been created by them as a band. Despite having a shorter show, they still performed 20–25 songs, and for some of those selections, they had to play a particular set list and keep their jams relatively short.

Encores

As with most bands, ZZ Top plays some of the more popular hit songs during the encore break after they step off stage for a short time. Then, an encore, which averages 10–15 minutes per 2 or 3 songs, comes to mind. Hence, in general, expect a performance duration of 45 minutes shorter than the main stage in addition to a standard encore, bringing the total live concert time to 105–120 minutes.

Though the audience gets the feeling that encores are being done on-the-spot, it is usually a well-choreographed sequence. ZZ Top will have all their radio hits in the main set of their performance, while their biggest hits, Sharp Dressed Man and Gimme All Your Lovin, will be played during the encore. Therefore, make sure you stick around until the very end if you want to see them!

Longest and Shortest Shows

To be more precise, ZZ Top has set a record by performing their 1975 show, The Worldwide Texas Tour, in just 25 minutes! Well, of course, this was all planned and orchestrated to hype their new album Fandango! and movie of the same title. Generally, their shows are longer than that, but of course, these are not normal circumstances.

On the other side of the spectrum, their longest show occurred during the opening act for the Rolling Stones in Mexico City during the bands Voodoo Lounge Tour in 1994. ZZ had the crowd going wild for 2 and a half hours, playing all of their songs to get the crowd going for the Stones!

Although 2.5 hours is a far longer time for them, it is evident that they can adapt to anything. If they need to, as one of the most professional live bands out there, they can surely go for hours non-stop belting out classic rock anthems.

Songs Per Set

As mentioned earlier, setlists typically contain approximately 20–25 songs in an average set. Concentrates largely on their biggest hits but will occasionally vary it with 4 to 5 songs from the list that are considered to be less popular but are actually great songs as well. Had it not been for the fact that their singles cut across the seventies, eighties, and nineties and that they have more B-sides that should have gotten airplay than can be performed in a 90-minute set, people would have probably forgotten all about the Eagles.

There are a few staples you know they're going to play every time, like La Grange," "Tush," "Leg, and cheap sunglasses. The others might be rotated, which helps change things up. One of the pleasures is that you never really know what obscure pieces they might whip out"—or that you might request!

Factors Impacting Show Length

Several circumstances can alter ZZ Top's typical show duration, leading to substantially shorter or longer runtimes in some cases:

A full-length headlining set that lasts over 90 minutes is being announced for them at their own show. They can be restricted to a mere 60–75 minutes, which makes them more appropriate as warm-up bands or as groups invited to perform at festivals.

Outdoor concerts and festivals have strict rules regarding the duration of the performance and may limit the hours ZZ Top will have to perform during later set times.

For instance, on occasions like New Year's Eve shows, the shows might take longer than usual.

Live performances feel limited in size and cannot always be produced as grand, shortening their duration.

ZZ Top is a band that does not disappoint its audience, no matter the duration of the concert.

In conclusion, it is also understood that, excluding the unusual case of the Seattle show, the length of ZZ Top concerts typically ranges from 90 minutes; nonetheless, the aim is to deliver a good show every time from beginning to end. They have been packing dance floors with their energy and blazing guitars for over half a century, whether that is 75 minutes for a live radio session or over 3 and a half hours for a special event.

ZZ Top has remained faithful to its live performances, reasonably portraying all the elements of their formative years: the blazing guitars, the wild beards, the intensely bluesy and bold inclination, the steady beat, and the irresistible charisma that has placed them in the annals of music history. It no longer matters how long the match will take; fans will be standing on their feet to enjoy every single moment of it. And so whenever preparing to go to a ZZ Top concert, do not expect more than a little over 90 minutes of guitar-tapping tunes in their usual high quality.