Whatever was in that whiskey, was not only infectious, but transcendent of the fact that to feel its effects you must drink it; everybody was in fine spirits in spite of the fact that the "Whiskey's Gone." It was what the crowd needed to start their experience off right, with a more energetic rendition. I vaguely remember the comment, but Zac said something akin to "we have a couple of hours together, so lets make this our own paradise," which I believe they had achieved, before playing "Castaway." The latter of which was another crowd pleaser, but on the mellow end of the spectrum; which is what their repertoire is known for. With their abundance of hits there are bound to be some misses from the set list, yet you couldn't see any dejected concertgoers. In fact, the atmosphere that Zac and his phenomenal band had fostered was that of mutual respect and love; I will take into account there could have been a decent amount of happy drunks, and watching a favorite artist perform at this level would please most people . A query for the selective and frugal concertgoers: If an artist's execution of their songs mirrors that of their recorded material, is there a difference in seeing them live? Yes, there were plenty of reasons to see them live. One, to reconvene with old and current pals and cohorts while listening to some great music. Two, to be a part of something larger than oneself, you could participate in a huge singalong or support the aspirations of their camp, Southern Ground, whose aim in simplest terms is to provide a pleasant experience that will aid the attendees in finding the best within themselves and others to positively change the world, while attuning themselves with nature and all it has to offer. Their music reflects their positive aspirations and outlook on life, which is not without its "Colder Weather," not only one of my family's favorites, but one of the sadder singalongs, and realizations that none of us are without our worst days. I have been a fan for about a year, so I'm not a seasoned veteran like my brother, who has seen them three times, but I recognized most of the songs and enjoyed every one of them. "As She's Walking Away," "Free," and "Homegrown" remain three of my favorites. However, the crowd really enjoyed "Toes," and what would their set be without their "Chicken Fried" I must ask. I never tried it, but it sure sounds great. What made it even more special, was when they honored a woman in the service during the bridge full of thanksgiving and the verbal salute to all veterans. Which is a respectable gesture, and I would not be surprised if they choose someone to honor every show. Who could forget the covers? Do they require the assistance of magic to rival the original's quality? "No Way No."
When my brother and I heard the first few chords of "Teenage Wasteland" I could envision my father singing the chorus, and his ecstatic response; I don't want to assume anything, but I think that the original creators would be proud, not that you need me to tell you who. At first, I did not recognize this cover, because I have not heard the whole song, but they didn't let The Chainsmokers down with their cover of the band's plead for security or a backscratch; leaps ahead of their ode to the "Selfie," but that is open to discussion, at another time. This concert was a surreal experience, just from the time that I had and this feeling of joy, acceptance, and love that appears to be a staple of their performances. Their cover of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was not a fantasy, they really brought that one home. Last but not least was their ode to Prince with "Let's Go Crazy," an appropriate choice, and a lively rendition; may the purple one rest in peace, and instead of turning in his grave, I hope he was cracking a smile. A shame he had to pass so soon, but another reason to applaud them. It has only been three days and I miss the time spent with them already; okay that feeling I shared with my loved ones also played a big part in that, for they are my beautiful drug.
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