The Variety Playhouse in Atlanta’s eclectic Little Five Points neighborhood played host to the final stop on Billy F Gibbons (of Grammy-nominated ZZ Top fame) and the BFG Band’s winter tour on Saturday. Established in 1940, this converted World War II-era movie theater is one of the city’s most beloved mid-size concert destinations. With a capacity of roughly 1,000 people, the venue footprint combines theater-style seating with a lowered front pit for general admission standing, while a balcony and tiered mezzanines offer viewpoints that keep patrons close to the stage no matter your vantage point.
Few guitarists can walk onstage, hit a single note, and instantly bend the room to their will, but Billy Gibbons has been doing exactly that for more than five decades. Backed by his BFG Band consisting of Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin on bass and Chris “Whipper” Layton on drums, Gibbons delivered a nearly two-hour, swagger-heavy set that felt loose, loud, and deeply rooted in the blues, kicking off the night with “Waitin’ for the Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” both from ZZ Top’s third studio album, Tres Hombres (1973).
From the jump shortly after 8:00 p.m., the BFG Band locked into a thick, greasy pocket, giving the 76-year-old Gibbons plenty of room to roam. His guitar tone — snarling, fuzzy, and unmistakably his — cut through the mix with ease, while his economy of playing continued to prove that he can say more with a bent note and a well-timed pause than most players manage in a full solo. Every riff landed with intention; every lick served the song.
Saturday’s setlist pulled freely from Gibbons’ ZZ Top catalog while tipping its hat to musical institutions such as Slim Harpo, Jimi Hendrix, and Fleetwood Mac. When familiar grooves surfaced, they weren’t carbon copies of the originals but reworked, stretched, and soaked in extra blues grit. The result felt alive, with songs breathing and shifting in real time rather than being locked in nostalgia.
Vocally, Gibbons leaned into his trademark drawl — half-sung and half-spoken — delivering lyrics with a sly grin and effortless cool. Between songs, his stage banter was anchored in charming storytelling, the kind of offhand remarks that come from someone who’s spent a lifetime in front of amplifiers and audiences. However, he didn’t need to say much; his guitar did most of the talking.
What stood out most was the chemistry within the BFG Band. The rhythm section stayed tight and unflashy, prioritizing groove over showmanship and giving the songs their muscle. Solos never felt indulgent; instead, they rolled in and out naturally, driven by feel rather than volume or speed. Fans of ZZ Top were treated to spirited performances of radio-friendly classics, including “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Cheap Sunglasses,” “La Grange,” and “Sharp Dressed Man.”
By the time the final notes of “Thunderbird” rang out to close the evening, the takeaway was clear: this wasn’t about revisiting past glories or proving anything. It was about a master craftsman still deeply in love with the sound of a cranked amp and a dirty blues riff. Gibbons and the BFG Band delivered a set that was raw, confident, and effortlessly cool — proof that swagger, when earned, never goes out of style.
While Saturday may have marked the final gig on this tour for Gibbons and his BFG Band, he is showing no signs of slowing down. Gibbons is next scheduled to participate in the tenth annual Love Rocks NYC benefit concert for God’s Love We Deliver at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City on Thursday, March 5th. Following a few weeks off, Gibbons and his ZZ Top bandmates will kick off their new tour at the Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley, Colorado, on Tuesday, March 24th.
Band
Billy F Gibbons – Lead vocals, guitar
Mike Flanigin – Bass, Hammond organ, backing vocals
Chris Layton – Drums, backing vocals
Setlist:
1.) Waitin’ for the Bus (ZZ Top song)
2.) Jesus Just Left Chicago (ZZ Top song)
3.) Gimme All Your Lovin’ (ZZ Top song)
4.) Cheap Sunglasses (ZZ Top song)
5.) I Got Love If You Want It (Slim Harpo cover)
6.) Q-Vo
7.) Kiko/Let’s Have a Party
8.) Blue Jean Blues (ZZ Top song)
9.) Foxy Lady (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
10.) Brown Paper Bag
11.) Rattlesnake Shake (Fleetwood Mac cover)
12.) Francine (ZZ Top song)
13.) Just Got Paid (ZZ Top song)
14.) Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers (ZZ Top song)
15.) Manic Mechanic (ZZ Top song)
16.) Precious and Grace (ZZ Top song)
17.) Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings (ZZ Top song)
18.) Wild Thing (Chip Taylor cover)
19.) Brown Sugar (ZZ Top song)
20.) La Grange (ZZ Top song)
21.) Sharp Dressed Man (ZZ Top song)
22.) Thunderbird (ZZ Top song)
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Elliott is a music photographer covering shows in Atlanta, Georgia, and the surrounding area. The highlight of his photography career was back in the early ’90s, when he sold Neil Diamond the rights to his negatives from a show and then purchased a set of tires for his 1979 280ZX during college with the money.