Classic Rock Revisisted founder Jeb Wright has posted a review for the kick-off show of the Rebels And Bandoleros Tour featuring ZZ TOP and LYNYRD SKYNYRD, which took place on May 12th in Wichita, Kansas at the Intrust Bank Arena. An excerpt is available below:

"Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top, two of the Midwest’s favorite bands, teamed up to rock the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas as they kicked off the opening date of their Rebels & Bandolerous Tour.

Opening night for new tours usually has a few issues and tonight was no exception. Lynyrd Skynyrd had audio issues early on. Truth be told, the sound was poor. Guitarist Rickey Medlocke was playing his rear end off but unless you had six-string experience, you wouldn’t have known it because his guitar was low in the mix. That said, the band soldiered on and ended up performing well. Skynyrd has always been a great rock n’ roll show, both musically and visually. There is a lot going on with this band, from the guitar solos, to the various other musicians to Johnny Van Zant to the background singers, there is never a dull moment.

Unlike Skynyrd, it’s the same three guys in ZZ Top that have been there since day one. Reverend Billy Gibbons, the star of the show, plays a mean guitar and his gruff vocals only get better as time erodes his vocal chords. Dusty Hill shares lead vocals and plays the bass like he is the second lead guitarist in the band, while the beardless one, Frank Beard, sits behind the drum kit, often closing his eyes while keeping the groove.

ZZ’s two bearded banditos took the stage wearing FFA jackets, yes, Future Farmers of America. On the back it said 'Hollywood.' Reverend Billy said, 'People say that there are no farmers in Hollywood. Let’s just say we know a lot of farmers in Hollywood.' With that he raised his right arm and put his index finger and thumb together and put them to his mouth. The crowd roared at the marijuana joke."

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The setlists on the night were as follows:

Lynyrd Skynyrd:

'Working For The MCA'

'Saturday Night Special'

'What's Your Name'

'Skynyrd Nation'

'That Smell'

'Down South Jukin''

'Gimmie Three Steps'

'Sweet Home Alabama'

'Free Bird'

ZZ Top:

'Got Me Under Pressure'

'Waitin' for the Bus'

'Jesus Just Left Chicago'

'I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide'

'Future Blues'

'Cheap Sunglasses'

'I Need You Tonight'

'Party On The Patio'

'Gimmie All Your Lovin'

'Sharp Dressed Man'

'Legs'

'La Grange'

'Tush'

Remaining dates on the tour are as follows:

May

19 - Bangor, ME - Bangor Waterfront Pavilion
20 - Big Flats, NY - Tags Summer Stage
21 - Albany, NY - Times Union Center
22 - Youngstown, OH - Covelli Centre
26 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center Theatre
27 - Lampe, MO - Black Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
28 - Bossier City, LA - Centurytel Arena
29 - Orange Beach, AL - Amphitheater at the Wharf

According to Gary Graff from Billboard.com, ZZ Top were "in full production" on a new album back in March, its long-awaited follow-up to 2003's Mescalero, which guitarist Billy F. Gibbons predicts will be out "by the end of the year."

As for the sound, Gibbons notes that he, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard are "still just making a lot of loud noise. We still pose as interpreters of the blues. We can't invent it; It's already been invented. But we can do it our way."

The album is being produced by Rick Rubin (METALLICA, SLAYER, THE BLACK CROWES).

Read more at Billboard.com