Whoever plans the summer concerts at the Treasure Island Amphitheater should get a raise! On August 30, 2024, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top brought amazing performances and a whirlwind of joy to thousands of fans.
ZZ Top, who formed in Houston in 1969 started the evening with “Got Me Under Pressure” and “I Thank You.” This was my first time seeing the band since Dusty Hill’s passing in 2021, and while it is hard to accept that he is no longer with us, Elwood Francis did an incredible job filling his shoes. It was especially entertaining when he sported a 17-string bass and only played two strings. The talent and legacy of the band was evident as they performed. Billy Gibbons is a master at mixing blues and rock and I never get tired of hearing him play.
A ZZ Top show isn’t overpowering like many modern acts. They use some lights, but there’s no pyro, smoke, or theatrics. It’s all about the blues. When you watch this Texas trio, you will feel the music. The setlist featured nearly an hour and a half of the band’s greatest hits. They performed a mix of songs from various albums, including favorites like “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Pearl Necklace,” “Just Got Paid,” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” The stagehands handed the guys purple fuzzy guitars and ended their set with “Legs;” but that wasn’t enough for the Minnesota crowd and the masses demanded an encore. When they emerged back on stage, they played two songs I had not heard them play before, “Brown Sugar,” and “Tube Snake Boogie.” The last song was the one we’d all been waiting for…“La Grange.” As the song ended, thousands of bubbles shot out from the stage and filled the air. What a wild set!
Headlining the show was the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd. They recruited the Shriners to sell CDs with part of the proceeds going towards Children’s Hospital. Once the stage was set, a video began to play on the screen behind the stage. It was clip after clip of the band over their five-decade career. Few bands survive as long as Skynyrd and even fewer can sound as good. The crowd was pumped as they opened with “Workin’ for MCA.” The band only played two songs that were released after the seventies, “Down South Jukin’” and “Skynyrd Nation.” I was amazed by the crowd- it seemed like a huge family reunion. People sang along to every song and connected in a special way.
This was my first time seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd and it was a memorable night, for sure. Ironically, no original members are left in the band, but Rickey Medlocke has been playing since ‘71 and Johnny Van Zant has been leading the band for nearly as long as I’ve been alive. Each member, regardless of his tenure, played their instrument with talent and southern charm. They rocked popular hits like “The Ballad of Curtis Loew,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” “Simple Man,” and “Gimme Three Steps.” Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top came out to perform “Call Me the Breeze” and it was a highlight of the night. They ended the set with “Sweet Home Alabama” and there was not a soul present that wasn’t singing along. The encore was an emotional performance of one of the band’s most beloved songs, “Free Bird.” I couldn’t have asked for a better evening.
Set Lists
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Workin’ for MCA
Skynyrd Nation
What’s Your Name
That Smell
I Know a Little
Down South Jukin’
Saturday Night Special
The Ballad of Curtis Loew
Tuesday’s Gone
Simple Man
Gimme Three Steps
Call Me the Breeze
Sweet Home Alabama
Encore
Free Bird
ZZ Top
Got Me Under Pressure
I Thank You
Waitin’ for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Gimme All Your Lovin’
Pearl Necklace
I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
I Gotsta Get Paid
My Head’s in Mississippi
Sixteen Tons
Just Got Paid
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
Encore
Brown Sugar
Tube Snake Boogie
La Grange
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