ZZ Top at Wembley Arena, advice please

adampeter Frets: 798
09 Jul, 2024
First gig at arena since the 80s (probably pre vai Whitesnake), and a long time since been to any large gigs like this for a while, need advice from those who have been to shows there.
1. What time to main acts go on?
2. If i wanted to have a beer beforehand am i better off going into London beforehand or trying a pub local to the arena? i assume local boozers will be mobbed?
3. Any recommended pubs local to Wembley?

Happy for anything else i should consider?
Comments
mrkb Frets: 7697
09 Jul, 2024
I usually check facebook for posts from the band (or support band) and venue a few hours before the gig to get stage times.
Main band will usually be around 9 - 9:30pm assuming no early curfew,
adampeter Frets: 798
12 Jul, 2024
How was the gig?
ZZ top were excellent, all in good form, was very surprised that they were only onstage for 1 hour 20 minutes,
mrkb Frets: 7697
12 Jul, 2024
adampeter said:
How was the gig?
ZZ top were excellent, all in good form, was very surprised that they were only onstage for 1 hour 20 minutes,
Did you see Rival Sons? Their Facebook followers group mentioned they were on better form than zz top.
Seems they’re playing for 1hr15mins on this current tour. Planet Rock were discussing this yesterday, I think it was. 
In my opinion, for the money an arena show costs to see, 90 minutes should be the absolute minimum.


adampeter Frets: 798
12 Jul, 2024
mrkb said:
adampeter said:
How was the gig?
ZZ top were excellent, all in good form, was very surprised that they were only onstage for 1 hour 20 minutes,
Did you see Rival Sons? Their Facebook followers group mentioned they were on better form than zz top.
Didn't see Rival Sons, benefit of hindsight i wish i had, too busy enjoy cold drinks at the pub  ;)
adampeter Frets: 798
12 Jul, 2024
Seems they’re playing for 1hr15mins on this current tour. Planet Rock were discussing this yesterday, I think it was. 
In my opinion, for the money an arena show costs to see, 90 minutes should be the absolute minimum.


Over £100/ticket i would consider 2 hours a fair show
adampeter said:
Seems they’re playing for 1hr15mins on this current tour. Planet Rock were discussing this yesterday, I think it was. 
In my opinion, for the money an arena show costs to see, 90 minutes should be the absolute minimum.


Over £100/ticket i would consider 2 hours a fair show
Blimey, at that price I agree that 2 hours is fair!

There’s not a lot that artists can do about the huge overheads that tours incur or the huge ticket prices that are needed to cover them. Pretty much all they CAN do is make sure, as best they can, that the show is worth coming to see - play their best, play for a reasonable amount of time. 

Taylor Swift tickets cost a kidney but at least she plays for over 3 hours.
fretmeister Frets: 26242
12 Jul, 2024
Billy is 74 now.

His 2 hour show days are behind him.
Billy is 74 now.

His 2 hour show days are behind him.
It's not a high energy show. 90 minutes is doable. 

OR don't charge 100 quid for the privilege.
StefB Frets: 2637
12 Jul, 2024
They only did 80 minutes when I saw them at Manchester Apollo in June 2013 so this is true to form sadly. 
How has the miming situation been on this tour? Are they still doing the high pitched, auto-tuned version of Legs?

EDIT: I just checked YT and sure enough there's a video on there and it's the same version. Oh dear, what a shame.
mrkb Frets: 7697
13 Jul, 2024
How has the miming situation been on this tour? Are they still doing the high pitched, auto-tuned version of Legs?

EDIT: I just checked YT and sure enough there's a video on there and it's the same version. Oh dear, what a shame.
Wow. £100+ to watch a band mime for an hour doesnt seem like good value for the fans.
StefB Frets: 2637
13 Jul, 2024
mrkb said:
How has the miming situation been on this tour? Are they still doing the high pitched, auto-tuned version of Legs?

EDIT: I just checked YT and sure enough there's a video on there and it's the same version. Oh dear, what a shame.
Wow. £100+ to watch a band mime for an hour doesnt seem like good value for the fans. 
They don't mime for an hour; there are some tracks where the vocals appear to be on 'tape'...It's something they appear to have done for a while, and amounts to something like three songs per gig, I think?

Still don't agree with it, I should add.
Angus is 69, Brian is 76.  AC/DC are playing for 2.5 hours.
mrkb Frets: 7697
13 Jul, 2024
They don't mime for an hour; there are some tracks where the vocals appear to be on 'tape'...It's something they appear to have done for a while, and amounts to something like three songs per gig, I think?

Still don't agree with it, I should add.
Ah ok, so its not "Billy Vanilli" ;)
Hootsmon Frets: 16456
13 Jul, 2024
StefB said:
They only did 80 minutes when I saw them at Manchester Apollo in June 2013 so this is true to form sadly. 

Bloody Yanks
adampeter Frets: 798
13 Jul, 2024
Angus is 69, Brian is 76.  AC/DC are playing for 2.5 hours.
This is the point, its doable for bands of any vintage
adampeter said:
Angus is 69, Brian is 76.  AC/DC are playing for 2.5 hours.
This is the point, its doable for bands of any vintage
Yes, or retire when it gets too much.

EVERY band says they’ll “know when it’s time to quit” yet they never do.
Bezzer Frets: 635
16 Jul, 2024
They don't mime for an hour; there are some tracks where the vocals appear to be on 'tape'...It's something they appear to have done for a while, and amounts to something like three songs per gig, I think?

Still don't agree with it, I should add.
I think those are Dusty's vocals ... might be wrong.

Saw Billy solo last year, can't say he was low energy on that tour. I'd imagine ZZ Top is a bit of a different feeling for him though after 50+ years as the same line up.
adampeter Frets: 798
16 Jul, 2024
Bezzer said:
They don't mime for an hour; there are some tracks where the vocals appear to be on 'tape'...It's something they appear to have done for a while, and amounts to something like three songs per gig, I think?

Still don't agree with it, I should add.
I think those are Dusty's vocals ... might be wrong.

Saw Billy solo last year, can't say he was low energy on that tour. I'd imagine ZZ Top is a bit of a different feeling for him though after 50+ years as the same line up.
Pretty sure you're correct in the Dusty vocal point.
the band had plenty of energy, and sounded great, same they bailed early
Watch the video earlier in the thread. It’s not Dusty’s vocals were talking about here.
Legs, Gimme All Your Lovin' and Sharp Dressed Man are all mimed in my opinion. Admittedly, Legs is quite high pitched, but the others aren't. Who sang these 3 originally?