Rubin has been busy as well. He's been on a fitness kick, for one thing, shedding a whole bunch of weight while keeping his Top-worthy beard intact.

In addition to working with the Avett Brothers, he previously produced five songs from Adele's Grammy-winning album 21 and helmed last summer's Red Hot Chili Peppers release, I'm With You.

Despite such high-profile success, Rubin was forced out at Columbia/Sony in October. Colombia Chief Executive Rob Stringer told the Los Angeles Times "there wasn't a space for Rick."

This bit of musical chairs, according to confidential sources within ZZ Top's management company, is largely why the new album has no release date. With Rubin out of work for the time being, it looks like his imprint American Recordings, which released the acclaimed Johnny Cash albums back in the 1990s and early '00s, is without a distributor.

This leaves Gibbons and his compatriots swinging in the proverbial breeze.

Fortunately, the band remains committed to playing, and although Reliant Stadium probably is not the place for them to break out new material, you can still get your fix while waiting for the new disc.

"We're going to name it something having to do with Tex-Mex, like 'La Frontera,'" Gibbons offered when we spoke.

BFG also had a bit of advice for our listening enjoyment: "If you drink enough tequila, it all sounds good."

7 p.m. tonight at Reliant Stadium. Ticket information at rodeohouston.com.