Billy F. Gibbons has always been a unique character.

The bearded wonder who fronts ZZ Top is bringing his solo performance Saturday to the Borgata.

He continues to deliver potent bluesy rock whether with ZZ Top or on his own. 

The leader of “That Little Ol’ band from Texas,” renders ZZ Top classics regardless of who is performing with him and is impressive in the process. When Gibbons performed at the Borgata last February, the crowd was up and moving to such hits  as “Cheap Sunglasses,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “La Grange.”

And then there are the deep ZZ Top cuts, such as “I Gotsta Get Paid,” “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” which pleased the diehards.

Gibbons just continues to roll at 76. 

“I love what I do,” he said. “Why stop?”

ZZ Top never stopped, even after bassist Dusty Hill passed away in 2021. 

Gibbons, Hill and drummer Frank Beard were a power trio for 52 years. It’s incredibly uncommon for a band to exist intact for more than a half-century. 

How did ZZ Top manage that?

“Three factors encapsulate the fact that we’ve never broken up, ergo never had to get back together for the inevitable reunion tour,” Gibbons cracked while calling from his Los Angeles home. “First, we’re an odd number so there can’t be any ties when we vote on what to do so there can’t be factions. It’s either us or it’s not us.”

“Us” now includes former guitar tech Elwood Francis, who is ZZ Top’s bassist. However, Gibbons is out with his solo group, which includes drummer Chris Layton and keyboardist Mike Flanigin. 

Expect some covers and some favorites from ZZ Top’s most popular album, “Eliminator.”

The word was that ZZ Top was influenced by British synth legends Depeche Mode when writing the “Eliminator” album.

“Yes, they did (impact ZZ Top),” Gibbons said. “The use of synth sounds and sequencers secretly sneaked into the studios around the world inspiring a legion of global playing outfits with Depeche Mode capturing a special inspiring mystique. The success of “Eliminator” remains a solid statement to the time. It still comes out as based in the blues but with some refreshing touches. Again, at the root, it’s still the blues.”

It’s always been about the blues for Gibbons, who is a guitar hero and charismatic frontman, who enjoys engaging the crowd.

  

   

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will return to Ocean on Friday. 

The veteran rock tandem — who sold out the venue in July of 2024 — will deliver the hits. 

“Hell is for Children,” “Heartbreaker,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “You Better Run” and “Love is a Battlefield” are regulars in the set.

Benatar, who remains a fixture on classic rock radio, has considerable chemistry with Giraldo, who is her husband.

Philadelphia singer-songwriter Musiq Soulchild will perform Friday night at the Tropicana. 

The soulful entertainer, who delivers an amalgam of  R&B, funk, blues, jazz and gospel and R&B , has been nominated for 13 Grammys but for some reason has yet to bring any hardware back to Philly.

Led Zeppelin is one band that will most likely never reform. But there are some solid Zeppelin cover bands, like Zeppelin USA, which will perform tonight at the Borgata.