GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) ZZ Top With Jeff Beck / The Woodlands 2022 / 1DVDR / Uxbridge
Live at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX, USA 25th September 2022
Click image to enlarge
ZZ TOP has released a new album, RAW, which was produced while the late Dusty Hill was still alive, and continues to tour vigorously. A superb video that allows you to experience a special performance in which Jeff Beck also participated is now available.
“The Woodlands performance on September 25, 2022” is imbued in this work. It is the superb view audience shot. Dusty died suddenly on July 28, 2021. When he left, the band decided to continue their activities, following his last wish, “Keep on tour no matter what!” I am still touring. This is the first time to report the show after Dusty’s death at our shop. It’s a good opportunity, so let’s look back on the steps from the sudden death to the present.
● 2021
・July 16-18: USA #1a (3 performances)
《Dusty Hill leaving → substitute for Elwood Francis》
・July 23-25: USA #1b (3 performances)
《July 28: Dusty Hill passes away》
・July 30-August 24: USA #1c (17 performances)
・September 10-October 16: US #2 (23 performances)
・November 6-December 12: US #3 (24 performances)
● 2022
・ February 25: Rancho Mirage Performance
・ April 22-May 14: Canada (16 performances)
・ May 27-July 9: US #4 (29 performances)
《“RAW” will be released on July 22nd》
・July 22-August 28: US #5 (27 performances)
・September 17-November 14: USA #6 (27 performances) ← Coco
・December 2-10: US #7 (6 performances)
● 2023
・ February 11-11: New Zealand (3 performances)
・ April 28: Indigo Performance
This is the outline of activities from 2021 to 2023 that have been announced so far. As soon as he recovered from the new corona pandemic, he was hit by a tragedy, but after that he immediately resumed the tour with guitar tech Elwood Francis as a substitute. The same as before … No, I am doing a more energetic tour than that. In fact, this year’s show will exceed 100 performances, but it was the first time in nine years since 2013 that it was in triple digits. The Woodlands performance of this work is the final stage of such a tour. It was a concert that was the 5th performance of “US # 6”.
This work, which is a vacuum-packed version of such a show, is a superb shot that depicts a “superb view”. Although the show was two months ago, it was the latest video that was released just recently, and collectors around the world are in a commotion because of its high quality. The scene is right out “just like a professional shot”. It’s actually an audience shot taken from behind the arena seats, and it’s not even multi-camera editing, but the quality is too high. The field of view with no obstructions, the camera work that captures the highlight in the center, the perfect composition that even the screen composition was worked out in advance, the image quality that does not blur at all even though it is a bold zoom, the stability that makes you think you are setting up the venue… …. That is enough to convince those who are told that “one angle of the professional shot has leaked”.
As a matter of fact, the photographer who made this work seems to be a real master. JUDAS PRIEST’s “AUSTIN 2022 (Shades 1649)”, which will be released at the same time this week, is also a work by the same person, but the position is completely different, but it is still the best finish. It may have been taken by a professional photographer as a hobby… It’s the work of a craftsman who knows the characteristics of “concert footage” so well that it makes you wonder.
A full show of the new ZZ TOP, featuring Jeff Beck, was captured by such a professional (?) audience. First, let’s organize the contents of the set.
● LONDON record era (5 songs)
・Tres Ombre: Waitin’ for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago/La Grange (★)
・Other: Brown Sugar / Just Got Paid
● WARNER record era (9 songs)
・Eliminator: Got Me Under Pressure / Gimme All Your Lovin’ / Sharp Dressed Man / Legs
・Others: I Thank You / I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide / Pearl Necklace / Rough Boy (★) / My Heads In Mississippi
● Others (2 songs)
・I Gotta Get Paid／Sixteen Tons（★）
*Note: “★” marks encore songs in which Jeff Beck participated as a guest.
… and it looks like this. While concentrating the classics of the past, it also interweaves “I Gotsta Get Paid” from “LA FUTURA” and Merle Travis’ standard “Sixteen Tons”. And the performance that spells the set is wonderful. I do not know how old it is now from the appearance of Billy Gibbons who transcends time and space, but the sight of Elwood standing next to me is extremely fresh. As I have accompanied the tour for many years, there is no sense of incongruity as if Dusty has changed the performance and action, but it is wonderful that it is not just a complete copy. The beard that he grew out after his replacement was decided is also impressive, but on the contrary, the short and unruly hairstyle is very cool. They have masterfully accomplished the difficult task of maintaining the ZZ TOP-likeness while also renewing the iconic image that has solidified.
And the biggest highlight is the encore. Jeff Beck will appear and show off three songs. Jeff on this day was the opening of ZZ TOP, but Johnny Depp seems not to have accompanied him. Anyway, Legend and ZZ TOP are old acquaintances, and have experienced coupling tours and co-stars. Familiar as part of the band, you can enjoy a gorgeous co-star with a breathtaking view.
“Even so, it’s wonderful.” It’s beautiful cinematography. Nowadays, multi-camera editing of audience shots is no longer rare, but on the contrary, “excellent one-cam video” has become prized. This work is the cutting edge. The latest ZZ TOP captured by a photographer who can be called a “current master”. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.
★The latest video of the new ZZ TOP, which welcomed Elwood Francis as a substitute for the late Dusty Hill. It is the best audience shot of “The Woodlands performance on September 25, 2022”. The field of view with no obstructions, the camera work that captures the highlight in the center, the perfect composition that even the screen composition was worked out in advance, the image quality that does not blur at all even though it is a bold zoom, the stability that makes you think you are setting up the venue… … That is enough to convince those who are told that “one angle of the professional shot has leaked”. You can fully experience the live performance where Jeff Beck also appears in the encore.
Uxbridge 1779
