ZZ Top are one of rock’s greatest under-valued acts, a kind of Southern American version of Motorhead that has a similarly monomaniacal musical methodology.

The trio are captured in top form in sparkling clarity on HD in this entertaining and never less than highly choreographed performance. If you think that two guys with huge white beards and a drummer sounds like a chore to watch, think again.

Sure, the raw, riff-heavy rock of their music could get too much of a good thing, but these guys, while coming through the ’70s, really hit the big time in the early ’80s when the art of the video clip was at its peak. Like groups like Devo and The Cars, they knew how to put their particular thing across to an audience lusting for an image to go with their music, and they’ve kept that in mind for this recent presentation.

All the hits (who could forget ‘Legs’?) are here, along with some earlier, lesser-known numbers, but they all rock and everything about this works: the filming is spectacular, the lighting and backdrops must have been complex to stage but work entirely to the benefit of the show.

Without the humour that lies at the heart of ZZ Top, they’d be a whole lot less effective, and it’s this leavening agent that they use so well, for instance, by using fluffy guitars during the aforementioned ‘Legs’.

Superb visuals and sound and a great performance that looks like it was staged especially for the Blu-ray/DVD release, and if you’ve ever harboured a grudging admiration for the ZZ Top boys, this is where to get the tonic. GARY STEEL

Sound 4

Vision 4.5

Overall 4