CONCERT REVIEW: ZZ Top at Dodge Arena

HIDALGO — Flanked by two towering stacks of vintage amplifiers and in front a digital Max Headroom-looking screen, three of the baddest boys of rock took center stage Friday night.

Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and the unbearded Frank Beard strummed their way into the hearts of some of the biggest fans in the Rio Grande Valley. Thunderous applause and chants followed the first chord as the trio opened their rockin’ set with “Under Pressure.”

Though not a sold-out performance, the cheers and hollers from the wildin’ out crowd were enough to build a chest-pounding show from the git-go.

Givin’ props to South Texas on the mic, Gibbons, wearing his trademark smooth hat and dressed in a black and silver-trimmed suit, wowed every man, woman and leather-clad biker in the arena.

Early in their set the trio belted out some vintage tunes, treating fans to “Nation Wide” and some choreographed guitar work.

Even after four decades of performing, the Dallas/Houston natives showed fans what true rock looks and feels like. But they also proved you’re never too big to keep from poppin’ a string — as Hill demonstrated midway through a song.

Gibbons led the antics Friday night, with his raspy voice garnering plenty of hoots and hollers from the audience.

He spoke of hot sauce, Texas culture and most of all, the pretty señoritas around the way.

With that said, the band quickly gave everyone some “Cheap Sunglasses” to sing along to.

With some more chuggin’ riffs and amazing, syncopated beats from the very shy Beard, the guys couldn’t leave “Pearl Necklace” out of their set.

Few felt the urge to sit throughout the show (though the front row seemed to be mostly sitters, for some reason), while the band continued with its energizing performance. Further into the night, the guys seemed to get comfy with the stage and treated it more as an opportunity for a jam session than as a venue for an all-too-predictable show.

The band slowed things down later, smoke emerging to the foreground, and played the ballad “Rough Boys.”

Just when things couldn’t get any more exciting, images of their trademark candy-apple red hotrod flashed on the pixelated screen. Armed with fuzzy guitar and bass, the boys took off with the hits everyone seemed to be waiting for: “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp-Dressed Man” and the favorite, “Legs.”

(This is the moment I flashed back to being a kid, singin’ that song and getting grounded after my folks saw the rather racy video.) Good times.

“Everybody havin’ a good time now?” Gibbons asked the crowd, as the rest of the guys moseyed on in to “La Grange.”

I don’t think even the band expected such a response. Fists pounding in the air — heck, even an electric guitar waved in the crowd — and dozens of people dancing in the aisles. It was possibly the most memorable several minutes of many people’s lives.

But how could we go home without a little “Tush”? Well, we wouldn’t have to. Cigar smokin’ and all, Gibbons and company truly rocked the house down with the bluesy ditty.

These are icons of rock, three of the forefathers of the genre, right here in the Valley.

We have to tip our hats to that.