When a standard fan has seen one of their favorite bands live once, it is enough, but it is not the case with everyone. I am one of the former, yet will give a band a second chance given the company and/or circumstances.
But first, let's talk about the big fire that Drake White and his band brought to the stage. While I cannot remember most of the songs they had performed in their set, they appeared to be "Livin the Dream," and having a good time bringing one to others. They even enlightened us to their state of being with a short rendition of "I Feel Good."
Safe to say they had a good rapport, good vibes, and good times covered; encasing a cover for Kings(Of Leon) in their original tune "Heartbeat," and covering Queen in an ode to "Fat Bottom Girls" that make the rockin' world go 'round. "Take Me As I Am" could be the spark to engage in more audio bonfires.
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A few years ago I saw the Zac Brown Band with family and friends, not as in close quarters with the band as with fellow fans and I don't think I will forget that feeling I had that night. Nor will I forget that set on Saturday.
Love of music needn't be "Homegrown" to be enjoyed, it can be initiated anytime and anywhere. Hearing a familiar friend at the outset set my heart free, uncaged if you will, and before taking a trek in "The Woods," a new tune, I could visualize myself knee deep in the water somewhere.
I don't visit Zac Brown country often, but occasionally choose the "Highway 20 Ride," which was the same road the band took us on, to the chagrin of my concert cohort, before "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." Their cover was a high energy parallel to the original, and a testament to the notion that they could be one of the great cover bands that aren't.
My only request this time was to hear "Someone I Used To Know." The visual aspect was a pleasing addition to the performance. The song itself, in my interpretation, refers to someone we all know; someone who not only dilutes our own identity, but initiates amnesia to our sense of self, and the only way we could rise like the phoenix, as in the narrative, is by separating from that person.
To the polar, there are people, not only meant to be present within our lives, but help to improve those lives; would it be a stretch to mention "Sweet Annie."
The setlist is a valuable tool, that only appreciates in value as the discography deepens, even if it can foster a stagnancy in its construct.
However, the band has a remedy called the "Wheel of James," which includes Rick James, James Brown and James Taylor, to name a few; the latter especially. It could even be more specific, like the "Wheel O' Willie," or one involving Michael.
Their cover of "Country Road" began this interlude distant from the electric influence of the sound, and the allure of the acoustic guitar still remains prominent. While their next tune may not have your "Toes" tapping, it could, but this is not exactly the intent of this extended acoustic interlude.The denouement debuted another new tune, which led you to believe that they were "Leaving Love Behind."
After the ten minute intermission, they played a set that reminded me and others of why, Zac Brown Band music, we find "Loving You Easy." Aside from the aforementioned, we had the laidback tone of "No Hurry," and then the dance-friendly, serotonin circulating earworm "Beautiful Drug."
Another new song I had heard would feel right at home with the rest of the band's music, the welcome one would expect for a "Warrior." The song in sound is a marriage of the familiar with something different. I couldn't hear all of the passages, but what I did hear, the chorus especially is what was striking:
"no one is born to be a warrior,
no one is born an average man
we may be one or the other
then we try to understand."
The song, as well as the style that the band has been pursuing as of late may serve as a dividing line between older and newer fans, and I can see why; while I liked the sentiment, I'm not ready to give this song a hero's welcome into the fold.
For the sake of familiarity, they played some favorites like their original/cover companion of "Free/Into The Mystic" which did present a sense of satisfaction and had a calming effect, on me at least. "Day for the Dead" was a song released several years prior before I heard it, but sounded like a marriage of earlier Zac Brown, with a more rock infused sound; it was a reminder that they can still rock, even with some of the songs they have been releasing. This was another time where the visual improved upon a captivating tune/performance.
The retrun of "Colder Weather" was more than music to the ears, but was akin to a reunion with an old friend that you missed more than you expected to, in spite of its tone. While hearing "Chicken Fried" was a similar scenario, the buzz was expected.
The encore began with a duel between guitarists, Coy Bowles and Clay Cook, with an introduction often preceding a boxing match and three rounds to spar with those six strings. The riffage that I recall the easiest would be the times they had channeled the White Stripes and ZZ Top, respectively.
The encore encased three metal covers the hair metal of the Halen Bros. with "Hot For Teacher," as well as the syrupy sing-along of Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar On Me," and the last cover which may bring upon an explosion of excitement which may have caused some fans to become "Calm Like A Bomb," me included; to see the alter ego of Jimmy De Martini, channeling De La Rocha was surprising and interesting.
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