ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		4.0

ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 Blu-ray Movie Review

They have beards and they know how to use them.

Long before the Roberston clan (Duck Dynasty: The Complete Seasons 1-4) made scraggly beards some kind of post-modern fashion statement, the good ol' boys of ZZ Top were proving that an aversion toward tonsorial splendor need not mean a lack of success in the world of rock. Incredibly, the band has been around since the late sixties, even if many tend to associate it more with such eighties fare as "Legs". Still rocking strongly after all these years, the guys (now in their sixties) maraud through a scorching set list that covers a number of their hits as well as gems from the earlier part of their career. Especially notable is a fantastic cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Foxey Lady", perhaps a belated "thank you" to the kudos Hendrix reportedly gave to Gibbons back in the 1960s.

• Got Me Under Pressure
• Waitin' For the Bus
• Jesus Just Left Chicago
• Gimme All Your Lovin'
• Pincushion
• I Gotsta Get Paid
• Flyin' High
• Kiko
• I Loved the Woman
• Foxey Lady
• My Head's in Mississippi
• Chartreuse
• Sharp Dressed Man
• Legs
• Tube Snake Boogie
• La Grange
• Tush

ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

ZZ Top Live at Montreux 2013 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eagle Vision (an imprint of Eagle Rock Entertainment) with an AVC encoded 1080i transfer in 1.78:1. This is a really nicely sharp presentation that pops especially well in close-ups (see screenshot 1). Colors are accurate looking and nicely saturated, and there's very little of typical problems like posterizing on display here. The interlaced presentation occasionally offers some minor combing artifacts, and there's similarly occasional light moire that shimmers across the pinpoint lighting display behind the guys, but otherwise fans of the band should be very well pleased with this release.

ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

ZZ Top Live in Montreux features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix as well as an LPCM 2.0 stereo fold down. Both of these sound crystal clear, with a good surging midrange and low end that excellently support the hard charging music. The 5.1 mix significantly opens up the proceedings and provides an especially pronounced boost to the drums. There are no problems of any kind to address in either of these tracks.

ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill Interview (1080i; 6:00)


• Billy Gibbons on the Montreux Jazz Festival (1080i; 5:46)

ZZ Top: Live at Montreux 2013 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Still surprisingly fiery despite being well into their AARP years, ZZ Top cranks out a visceral set here that is strong on guitars and kick drum, with a nod or two toward Montreux's jazz heritage as well. Technical merits here are first rate and ZZ Top Live at Montreux 2013 comes Highly recommended.