Whoo Hoo ZZ Top !!!!

We got our tickets a month ago through a friend. Good thing too because people were hocking theirs for about $500. We paid $50 each for pretty good seats. The first time in 30 years ZZ Top has been to Central Texas and we were there, the mind set that we might never get this chance again. I mean, these guys are pretty old, after all.

The Bell County Expo Center is a crappy little dome that is usually home to livestock shows and cattle auctions. Last night it was a rockin' and roarin' setting for a rock concert with waaaay too much sound for such a small place. Yeah, the sound guys coulda been a little more experienced.

In fact my ears are still ringing.

We sat on the freeway for an entire hour just trying to get to the center. Then we stood in line for about another hour trying to get in, and find our seating section. We missind the warm up band completely. But we weren't there to see some no name local guys. We were there for Top.


What completely amazed me was that 4 genersations had come together in this place to watch the same show. Pushing age seven or seventy, they were all there.

It was the most mild, the most tame show I had EVER been too. Really. I am not kidding when I tell you that I have been to Sunday morning church services more rowdy than this event. When I was a little girl, we went to a church where most everyone stood up, raised their arms and danced and shouted.

At the show last night, people jiggled in their seats and stood for applause now and then, but for the most part, acted as if tranquilizers had been passed out.

It was the first concert I had been to where I was freezing cold the entire time.

It was the first concert I had been to where I didn't have my face pressed into some stranger's sweaty back. (ew)

It was the first concert I had been to where I go to see the whole show from beginning to end (remember, I am 5 feet tall)

It was the first show I had been to where people hollered at other people to sit down.


The drunk in the row of seats in front of us began to whistle, clap, and shout to get the attention of a small group of boys about the age of 13 or so. Inside an arena, where 10,000 other people are clapping, shouting, and whistling, this man is trying get these boys attention in the same way.

Drinking inhibits your ability to make logical decisions.

The boys stood and danced and had a good time. Determined to get their parents' money's worth, they ignored the man shouting, "Get down! Hey kids! Hey kids! Hey kids! Hey kids! Hey kids!"

Finally Shawn told the guy to shut up. "I'm here to listen to Top, not you! I wanna listen to the show!" he shouted.

"What are you gonna do? What are you gonna do?" the man slurred.

Shawn warned him to shut up, and he did. Shawn can be pretty scary just by being agitated. And he's had a hell of a week.

The kids were not unsupervised. "Those kids aren't hurting anyone!" I shouted to Shawn.

"I know!! It's a concert!!" he shouted.

"It's not a movie theater!" I screamed.

And all the drunk had to do was shift in his seat a bit to the left or the right to be able to see. But every now and then, he and the older lady who sat in front of him shouted at the kids to sit down.

It was the first concert I had ever been to where people shouted for others to sit down. And my butt was numb afterward. Strange.

And oh, you know the saying, "White men can't jump"?
Well, Drunk rednecks can't dance. Especially while still seated.


When we got home, Shawn said the drunk was about to get the butt-end of a very bad week. A beating that wasn't meant for him if he didn't shut his mouth.

Oh, he'd do it alright. But not with three 9 year olds sitting next to him. I know that, even though Shawn would never say so. Thank God Himself for placing those kids there and making the drunk shut up or it could've turned in to a bad night!


We were home by 11pm. Once again, it the most mellow concert I'd ever been to.