They Got Beards

Long before pop stars specifically set out to create a “brand image,” there were the burly, bearded guys of ZZ Top. From the late ’70s to today, even those who couldn’t name one of the band’s songs could likely recognize its signature look. Bassist Dusty Hill’s and guitarist Billy Gibbon’s matching, wizard-like beards, sunglasses, and biker chic are as much a part of the band as their honky-tonk boogie rock. But while they can appear like caricatures of themselves, the guys, along with drummer Frank Beard, still seriously shred. It’s hard to imagine in the era of prefab pop-rock, but at one time, a band like ZZ Top actually lit up the charts, which it did with watering-hole favorites like “Legs,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Rough Boy,” and many more. Those days have passed, but the music lives on anywhere there’s cheap booze and loose morals, with an immortality that’s helped by the fact that the band continues to tour. It’s been just a little over a year since the act last hit South Florida, a gig at the 2010 edition of West Palm Beach’s SunFest. This Wednesday finds it in much more dignified digs, a proper show at Hard Rock Live’s indoor arena (5747 Seminole Way, Hollywood). The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $46.25 to $67.76, but save a few ducats to round out an evening of vice by hitting the slots on your way out. Call 800-745-3000, or visit livenation.com.
Wed., June 8, 8 p.m., 2011