La Grange (2019)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the gritty, blues-soaked vibes of La Grange (2019) by ZZ Top, featured on the album RAW: ‘That Little Ol’ Band From Texas’ Original Soundtrack. This version of the iconic track was recorded during a raw, unpolished jam session at Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest continually operating dance hall, as part of the band’s 2019 Netflix documentary, That Little Ol’ Band From Texas. Unlike the polished 1973 original from the Tres Hombres album, this rendition captures the band—Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard—in a stripped-down, live-in-the-room setting, paying homage to their early days. The session, described by Gibbons in a 2022 ZZ Top website post, was unplanned, with the band’s gear unexpectedly set up, cameras rolling, and tape machines capturing the magic. Dedicated to the late Dusty Hill, who passed in 2021, the RAW album, including this track, reflects the trio’s roots, with Gibbons noting it was “just us and the music, no audience of thousands, no concession stands.”

The song itself, a staple of ZZ Top’s catalog, is a boogie-driven ode to the Chicken Ranch, a real-life brothel outside La Grange, Texas, that operated from 1905 to 1973. According to a 2023 American Songwriter article, the song’s popularity, alongside the Broadway play and film The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, drew so much attention that authorities shut the brothel down in 1973. Gibbons, in a 2013 Howard Stern Show interview, shared that the song came together in just two minutes, calling it “lightning in a bottle” that didn’t need overthinking. He also told Louder in 2023 that the song’s infectious riff, inspired by John Lee Hooker’s Boogie Chillen, set the band on the right path, and its simplicity—built on just two chords—remains a fan favorite. The track’s “a how how how how” vocal hook, Gibbons admitted, was lifted from Hooker’s Boom Boom, a nod to their blues influences.

Posts on X highlight the song’s enduring appeal. In April 2024, @historyrock_ shared a clip of ZZ Top performing La Grange live at Gruene Hall, noting that the 50-year-old classic “sounds just as good as when it was new.” Another post from @rocknrollofall in September 2024 celebrated a live performance featuring Gibbons joined by Slash, calling it one of the best productions of all time. The song’s cultural footprint is massive—it’s been covered by artists like Hank Williams Jr. and Phish, and featured in everything from Wrangler Jeans commercials to South Park and NASCAR The Game: 2011, as noted on Rock Music Wiki. A 1992 lawsuit claimed the riff ripped off Boogie Chillen, but a federal judge dismissed it, ruling Hooker’s song was in the public domain.

ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969, emerging from the ashes of Gibbons’ earlier band, Moving Sidewalks. Gibbons, a guitarist with a knack for gritty riffs and sly lyrics, teamed up with bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard, whose tight rhythm section became the backbone of the band’s sound. Their early years were steeped in Texas blues, drawing from legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, as well as rock influences like The Rolling Stones. They signed with London Records and dropped their debut, ZZ Top’s First Album, in 1971, but it was 1973’s Tres Hombres, with La Grange, that catapulted them to fame, hitting No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Their blend of boogie, blues, and Southern swagger, paired with Gibbons’ growling guitar tone, carved out a unique space in rock. By the 1980s, they embraced synthesizers and MTV-friendly visuals, with albums like Eliminator cementing their global stardom.

Fans can connect with ZZ Top through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates, whiskey releases, and tributes to their legacy. The band’s official website offers merch, tour dates, and news, like the 2022 RAW album release. Fan communities thrive online, including the ZZ Top Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks and others swap stories, rare photos, and concert memories. For deeper dives, check out fan sites like ZZ Top Discography, which chronicles their albums and singles with meticulous detail.