Zac Brown Band Plays Nashville

The Zac Brown Band launched their 2015 Jekyll & Hyde Tour Friday night in Nashville.  The show was as distinctive and different as the man himself.  The concert began promptly at 7:30, with no opening act.  The curtain went up to reveal Zac’s band on a 3-level set.  Zac himself appeared walking out of a big black door in the center.  Their first song was the lead single from his new album, and his latest #1: “Homegrown.”

A few weeks ago, Zac was Lon Helton’s co-host on Country Countdown USA.  He previewed what fans could expect in Nashville: “What better place than Music City to kick it off?  The cool thing is that on the record, we had some of the best singers in Nashville to sing, and we had horns from Nashville, and they’ll all be part of the show.”  So in fact, Zac had a three part horn section that played with the band.  A local choir joined Zac on several songs.  Plus he had several guests who were also on the new album, including Jewell, Kid Rock, Darrell Scott, and Bella Fleck.

Zac told Lon he had big goals for the Nashville show: “We have a lot to prove with the show here.  We’re excited that it starts here in Nashville.”  Zac certainly delivered on all expectations.  First of all, the musicianship was top notch.  Zac and his band have been playing together for years, they record their albums together, so what you hear on the record is what you’ll hear in his show.  He spiced the show up with several notable covers, including “Let It Be” from The Beatles, “Bohemian Rhapsody”  by Queen, and a fan favorite “Into The Mystic” originally by Van Morrison.  It’s clear that Zac was greatly influenced by 70s rock.  Kid Rock came out to sing the Stephen Stills hit “Love The One You’re With.”

Another unusual element in Zac’s show is the ten minute intermission half way though.  And it’s a hard ten minutes, with a count-down clock projected on the curtain.  Then he returned with more hits, and more songs from the new album, Jekyll & Hyde.  In fact Zac played just about every song on the album.  They did 8 of their 12 #1 hits, including the popular “Toes,” that turned into the loudest sing-along of the night.  Other favorites were “Knee Deep,” “Colder Weather,” “Keep Me In Mind,” “Free,” and of course the debut #1, “Chicken Fried,” which ended the regular show.    The encore songs were “Junkyard” and “Tomorrow Never Comes,” both featuring Bella Fleck.

When Zac co-hosted Country Countdown USA, he described the encore: “The encore will be special, cinematic and theatrical, where it has a bit of live theater aspects to it.  Some of it will be dramatic.” In fact, they dramatized the song “Junkyard,” ending with the band coming out in costume, and dressing up like a huge serpent.  It was very surreal, and just a bit unexpected.

From Nashville, The Zac Brown Band’s Jekyll & Hyde Tour will play over 40 cities, including multiple nights in Boston’s Fenway Park and New York’s Citi Field.  The tour wraps up in November.  Fans are encouraged to buy the optional Eat & Greet tickets where available.  You have to be in Zac’s fan club, and then you go through a lottery.  Go HERE for more information.  You will enjoy a custom made gourmet meal made cooked by Zac’s personal Chef Rusty, and served by Zac and his band.  It’s an amazing sight to walk in and see Zac and his entire band behind buffet tables dishing out the food.  The food is incredible, and cookbooks are available.  Look for Zac’s famous Pocket Knife Cole Slaw.  Plus, Chef Rusty announced that TV show will premiere this year on the DIY Channel.

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