The song from “El Loco” was recorded as part of an intimate session at Gruene Hall, “the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas”, as captured for the 2019 Netflix documentary, “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.”
“It was, in a very real way, a return to our roots,” share Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard in the new album’s liner notes. “Just us and the music, no audience of thousands, no concession stands, no parking lot social hour, no phalanx of tour busses. Just us and the music. We knew right then it was a very special circumstance, all of us in the same place at the same time and what a time it most certainly was!
“It was as bare bones as when we first started touring in a behemoth Chrysler station wagon, driving vast stretches between those early far-flung shows under blackened Texas skies and first hearing our records on the radio. We were bonded as brothers.
‘The Dust’ may have left the building but he’s still very much with us.”
Due July 22, “Raw” is dedicated “in righteous memory of Dusty Hill”, the bassist who passed away at his home in Houston, TX last July after stepping away from a 2021 tour to address a hip issue; the group enlisted longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis to handle bass duties during what was expected to be a short-term absence, and who continues to perform with the group.
“Raw” will be available on 180 gram vinyl, CD and through digital platforms.
ZZ Top will launch the Raw Whisky tour in San Diego, CA on May 27.
See also:
ZZ Top share La Grange performance from Raw live album
ZZ Top stream Brown Sugar performance from Raw live album
ZZ Top announce Raw live album and tour
ZZ Top sells music catalog for $50 million
Search ZZ Top at hennemusic
