ZZ Top Day in Atlanta

When it comes to helping open and close arenas, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top likes to think that his band, which is headed for a show tonight at Atlanta's new Philips Arena, is one of the most experienced groups around.

"We closed Denver's McNichols Sports Arena, which we helped open in 1975, last week, and now we're helping open the replacement for the Omni," Gibbons said. ZZ initially played the Omni during the group's first major tour in 1973, soon after the venue's opening in 1972.

Told that Philips formally opened last Friday with a solo show by piano-playing Elton John, Gibbons said, "We'll have enough volume cranked up to give the building and its acoustics a real test."

In addition to playing Philips, Gibbons and bandmates will celebrate Mayor Bill Campbell's proclamation making today ZZ Top Day in Atlanta --- locals sporting unkempt beards is optional --- by doing their first-ever in-store performance at 5 p.m. today at Wherehouse Music on Peachtree Road.

"We like coming to Atlanta and doing things," Gibbons said. "Atlanta always has had some edge over the rest of the planet in having fun."