[Live Review] ZAC BROWN BAND

Hi-Fi Bar, Sydney
Wednesday March 27, 2013 :

To be completely frank, if the Zac Brown Band had arrived in Australia and not played a solo show in a major city, as a fan you have fair reason to be ticked. Touring on the back of supporting Jason Mraz and the first Deniliquin Blues and Roots Festival, Sydney got its one and only look at the complete Zac Brown Band show on Wednesday night at the Hi-Fi Bar.

On a warm steamy night I must say I was excited to be witnessing this band in such a small intimate venue as the Hi-Fi. I am sure I was not alone in my thoughts with some fans lining up outside since 2.30pm in the afternoon just to get front and center to this band. Brown and band has seen a meteoric rise in popularity since releasing their third album The Foundation in 2008. Initially playing small venues throughout the United States their popularity grew to support country giants like Kenny Chesney. The Zac Brown Band now regularly plays venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, a true testimony to their ever increasing popularity.

Taking the stage just after 9.00pm, following a very crowd pleasing 45 minute warm up by support Busby Marou, this seven piece band originating from Georgia hit the mark from the first note. Opening with ‘Keep Me In Mind’ from the 2010 album, You Get What You Give, it opened the gates for the audience to find their voice and engage with the stage loudly and emotionally. The look on Brown’s face combined with a cheeky smirk was priceless as he was given an introduction into how passionate Australian music fans are.

The band moved promptly into the hit ‘As She’s Walking Away’, ‘Uncaged’ and ‘Goodbye in her Eyes’, with the tune ‘Day that I Die’ from the 2012 release Uncaged exposed the band’s harmonies and for me was one of the highlights of the show. For music critics the Zac Brown band has always been difficult to categorise – are the country or blues, are they roots or reggae? Combine this with an obvious love of rock, who would be game to say. One thing is for certain, with the band’s success they will continue to throw all of the above into the creative melting pot.

Continuing with the set, ‘Who Knows’ followed by ‘Colder Weather’ and ‘The Wind’ found a strong audience voice. At this point Zac Brown made some disclosure to the audience, informing them the hit song ‘Free’ was written about his experiences in Australia some 10 years earlier. This heartfelt ballad was molded perfectly with Van Morrison’s classic ‘Into the Mystic’. Covers of John Mayer’s ‘Neon’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Isn’t she Lovely’ were both played with the typical Zac Brown take on them.

On such a small stage it is easy to get lost in the true dynamics of this unique band. Backing Brown on stage is a six piece outfit comprised of very different yet harmonious musicians all working synergistically for the cause. The band comprises of John Driskell Hopkins on bass, Coy Bowles on guitar and organ, Clay Cook on guitar and organ, Jimmy Martini on violin, Daniel de los Reyes on percussion and Chris Fryar on drums.

Moving effortlessly through the set the audience was promptly confronted with ‘Toes in the Water, Ass in the Sand’ which could be heard echoing throughout the venue. Brown promptly swapped the lead microphone with Hopkins and moved to bass. Hopkins returned an upscale version of Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman’ complete with acoustic guitar and violin. Favorite’s including ‘Whiskey’s Gone’ and ‘Knee Deep in Water’ pushed the crowd to the limit before ending the show with the Charlie Daniels classic ‘The Devil went down to Georgia’, a tribute to the band’s native state. After promptly returning for a four song encore the band finished with their own version of Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’.

I have no doubt this band will return to Australian shores hopefully in the not too distant future. I doubt they will occupy a small venue like the Hi-Fi again opting for the larger stadiums. For the fans that witness this show, they truly got to see something unique and memorable.

Reviewer and Photographer: David Jackson

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