Zebra w/ Dixie Duncan
Sunday, November 11, 2018
37 Main – Buford, GA
37 Main is a venue that has really grown on me over the years. I really didn’t like it the first few shows I saw there but since then, thanks to Scoley Entertainment, 37 Main has been a host to some pretty amazing shows and even brought in bands that I never thought I’d get to see again. One of those bands is New Orleans hard rock legends Zebra. For the first time in over 25 years, Zebra would be performing in the Atlanta area and you bet your ass I wasn’t going to miss this. The last time I saw Zebra was back in either 87 or 88 at the St. Bernard Civic Center in Louisiana so you can only imagine the level of excitement within me. One of my all time favorite bands and this was only my 2nd time seeing them.
The show kicked off with “local legend” Dixie Duncan; a one man band that uses loop effects to be a one a band. Not quite sure why he’s a legend as I have never heard of him but hey, not all legends are known, right? He definitely has his shtick down but honestly after about 3 songs I found myself just a bit bored as the novelty started to wear off really fast. One girl in front of me was so drunk she literally asked if she could lean back on me so she wouldn’t fall over. She also informed me that Dixie Duncan was a god and that she traveled a very long way to snuggle with him. Yeah, I know. Again, not while my cup of tea Dixie (who brands himself as Gypsy Trash Motherfucker… yeah, buddy) was moderately entertaining but I was ready for Zebra.
There was a high level of excitement in the air. 37 Main was packed with people who traveled as far as Louisiana, North Carolina, and New York to see the show. The crowd chanted, “ZEBRA! ZEBRA! ZEBRA!”, the band took the stage, and opened with their signature show opener, “As I Said Before” from the debut album. The place went absolutely nuts and I knew right away this was going to be an amazing night. “Light of My Love” from the Zebra IV album as well as “Arabian Nights” were real treats for me as I never got to hear any of these songs live before.
The majority of Zebra’s set was comprised of classics such as “Wait Until the Summer’s Gone”, “Bears”, “One More Chance”, and “Better Not Call.” Bassist/keyboardist Felix Hanneman took over the microphone for a smoking cover the Montrose class “Rock Candy” and drummer Guy Gelso all throughout the night was just an absolute beast on the drums. Hanneman was having some technical difficulties with his keyboard pedals to which Randy says, “You don’t all the little tricks to make it good” and he wasn’t lying. The band played a powerhouse set and they sounded like time hasn’t touched them one single bit.
Guitarist/vocalist Randy Jackson’s voice (much like Geddy Lee) seems to have aged like a fine wine and when it came time to unleash “Who’s Behind the Door”, Jackson played and sang that song like it was the first time they had ever played it. Everything sounded so full of life. Zebra’s music has without a doubt stood the test of time and sounds every bit as fresh and exciting as it did back in the 80’s. Going right into “Take Your Fingers From My Hair” just drew another huge reaction from the crowd and hearing this song was just one of many moments this night that reminded me why I love this fucking band so much.
Hanneman addressed the crowd and talked about what a treat it was to be back in Atlanta after over 25 years. Then there was a discussion about where it was they played and the band literally conversed with the crowd about this which was hilarious. Finally it was revealed that their last show had been at the Strand in Marietta closer to 30 years ago. It was so fun to see the guys interacting with the crowd and as the night progressed it was a show that I just didn’t want to see come to an end. “Tell Me What You Want” rang out through the room and had everyone singing along and while it was such an amazing thing to behold, it kind of made me sad to know that the end was nigh. Zebra returned for a 1-2 punch encore of “Can’t Live Without” and “He’s Making You the Fool” from the 3.V album. The crowd roared with approval as the band left the stage and I was left standing there with a smile even Bruce Lee couldn’t have kicked off my face.
After all these years, Zebra proved to me that not only are they still on top of their game but that there are few that can do it as good as these guys. Forever the underdogs, Zebra has lead a 40 year career of putting on some of the best live shows that barely anyone talks about. Zebra is further proof that not all legends are necessarily bands that the world knows about. If this show is any indication, Zebra still has plenty of fuel left in the tank. I just hope that they come back sooner than 20+ years now that they know that Atlanta loves, wants, and needs more Zebra in our lives! We told you what we want. We want more Zebra!
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