Review by John Katic
Photos by Steve Kalinksy
ZZ Top rolled into Greensburg’s historic The Palace Theatre on Tuesday night and proved once again that some bands simply operate outside the normal laws of time.
Walking onto the stage in matching colorful “Nudie” suits, the trio immediately looked every bit the larger-than-life Texas institution fans came to see. Billy Gibbons, somehow appearing almost untouched by age, stood center stage surrounded by a towering wall of Magnatone amplifiers while Elwood Francis wielded an absolutely massive yellow bass guitar that became nearly as much a visual centerpiece as the music itself. Behind them, drummer Mike Monahan filled in admirably for Frank Beard, driving the band through a tight, no-frills 75-minute set packed almost entirely with hits.
The stage production perfectly matched ZZ Top’s stripped-down cool. No giant video screens. No distracting multimedia overload. Instead, the backdrop featured skateboards and street-style graffiti artwork, while sharp lighting and outstanding sound kept the focus exactly where it belonged — on the music.
And the music delivered.
Gibbons’ trademark guitar tone remains one of rock’s great signatures: a gritty, fuzzy snarl on the low end paired with surprisingly articulate clarity in the highs. Songs like “La Grange,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’” hit with the same swagger they’ve carried for decades, but it was the crowd participation moments that elevated the night. “Sixteen Tons” turned into a full-theater singalong, while “Pearl Necklace” had longtime fans dancing in their seats throughout the Palace.
Between songs, Gibbons kept things loose with a tongue-in-cheek story about the tour bus driver supposedly getting lost and circling the country before finally making a “right” turn into Pennsylvania — a playful setup for “Nationwide.”
The audience was filled with longtime fans, but there was noticeable new blood in the room too — proof that ZZ Top’s mix of blues, boogie, humor, and swagger still connects across generations.
Setlist – ZZ Top – May 19, 2026 – The Palace Theatre
- Got Me Under Pressure
- I Thank You (Sam & Dave cover)
- Waitin’ for the Bus
- Jesus Just Left Chicago
- Gimme All Your Lovin’
- Pearl Necklace
- I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
- I Gotsta Get Paid
- Sixteen Tons (Merle Travis cover)
- Cheap Sunglasses
- Just Got Paid
- Sharp Dressed Man
- Legs
Encore:
14. Brown Sugar
15. La Grange