ZZ TOP @ The Hall – Zurich

On 14 July 2026, ZZ Top brought their legendary Texas boogie to Zurich, packing out The Hall to its absolute limit on a swelteringly hot midsummer night, and with the crowd shoulder-to-shoulder, the humidity inside skyrocketed to tropical levels. Condensation was literally dripping down the walls, setting a sweaty, primal atmosphere that perfectly matched the band’s gritty, blues-soaked aesthetic.

The night mirrored their recent European run, delivering a highly polished, hits-heavy setlist that proved the band still has plenty of gas left in the tank. Billy Gibbons remains the ultimate master of ceremonies, effortlessly tearing through iconic riffs on “La Grange” and “Gimme All Your Lovin'” with his trademark gravelly charm, while Elwood Francis held down the low end with spectacular grit. Up back, the groove remained steady as ever, but it wasn’t Frank Beard behind the kit. Due to ongoing health issues sidelining the veteran drummer on this leg, fill-in Michael Monahan anchored the rhythm section. Monahan handled the duties with tight, heavy-hitting precision, keeping the engine roaring. But, as the band ripped through their classics, the question hung in the air: with only Gibbons remaining from the classic era, is this still truly ZZ Top, or has it transitioned into a highly polished legacy tribute to themselves?

In the end the blistering heat and the high energy (for Switzerland at least!) of the Zurich crowd washed away any doubts. When the opening notes of “Sharp Dressed Man” echoed through the steam, the collective roar of around 5,000 ZZ Top Swiss fans made it clear that nobody in the building cared about the semantics. It was loud, it was impossibly hot, and it was pure, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll. Dusty Hill’s spirit undoubtedly lives on in the music, and while the lineup has inevitably evolved, ZZ Top proved once again that they can still deliver the goods, even when the heat is literally dripping from the ceiling.

Check out the photos of the gig below….