Guys' night out: ZZ Top, Zebra gigs

Guys like to chill together; it's in their nature. If you and your hombres want to change things up -- something besides poker nights and video game marathons -- there are two concerts coming up that have the making of a men's night out.

You can get into a southern state of mind with Texas bluesmen ZZ Top as they deliver hits such as "Legs," "La Grange" and "Sharp Dressed Man" -- or catch up with L.I. fave Zebra as the band from the Big Easy returns to rock its old stamping grounds. Here's how you can make a night out of either show:

Besides their music, Hill and guitarist Billy Gibbons are known for their matching beards, which happened by accident during a break from touring.

"We let them grow separately. When we walked in to start rehearsing, it was like, 'Whoa, what's this?' It just fell into place," says Hill. "It wasn't a planned-out thing."

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are $39.50-$49.50 (800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com).

Despite their New Orleans roots, Long Island claims Zebra as one of its own. Back in the day, the band was a regular at Hammerheads in Levittown, Speaks in Island Park and the Mad Hatter in Stony Brook.

"Long Island is our second home," says lead singer/guitarist Randy Jackson of Centereach. "I think we mean a little more to L.I. fans because they saw us back in the clubs. To put it in a sports perspective, we're their team."

In fact, Zebra's hits, "Tell Me What You Want" and "Who's Behind the Door," are still in rotation at WBAB, and last fall the trio was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

"That's very satisfying," says Jackson. "It's special because we're not the biggest band in the world."

Showtime is 7 p.m., tickets are $39.50 (800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com).