Zac Brown Band - Play maybe their biggest show yet!!!

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Zac bland Band!

Zac Brown Band *** (Great Oak Stage) are a band that I had been looking forward to seeing; lots of people have been raving about them. And they had played successful headline shows all over the World, including headlining the Country to Country (C2C) festival in London. So I was expecting to see something quite special at British Summer Time (BST) at London's Hyde Park. But what I was greeted with was a band that are great musicians but for me lacked flair and individuality. Like all their outfits, which looked like they had just grabbed them from the Gap shop, there was no wear and tear to them or any history. For me, a Country artist sings about their life and history. Things that have gone right, and things that have gone wrong.

Their clothes also show this, with the logo and the name of the band. I expected something a little bit more gritty, with life and soul to the band's identity. And for me it was not there for most of the band's set, I am saying for most of the set because there was one moment when Zac Brown did do this and is was brilliant. So there is no excuse why it couldn't be done with the rest of the set, but this didn't happen. A lot of the set is played on one level, one monotone. With the band even doing a cover of 'Devil went down to Georgia' by Charlie Daniels, like it was done by a cover band at your local wedding. The way I best describe this is that they played like a band on a Jimmy Buffett Cruise on the Margaritaville at Sea for the over 80s.

This is very disappointing because the band has it in them I think to do something special, and they have gathered a big following. But I think the following is more the new school Country fans, who like their Country on the Pop side. You can see their musicianship is really good, they have been working on it for over sixteen years. I really didn't realise that songs in their set were so old, because 'Toes', which you can hear at the bottom of this page, was recorded over a decade and a half ago and is a highlight of their set. I also like how they play as a unit, ok I said they were on one level. But they are all on that level together. And I don't think I heard a note dropped; they are very accomplished musicians.

I have to say my favourite songs in their set is actually their opener 'As she's walking Away' and 'Colder Weather'.  'Colder Weather' is the song they put the most emotion into, if every other song was like this and opener 'As she's walking Away'. I think we would have had a little more of what we expected from them. Because of which were very good, I really was not expecting a mid-section cruise. With songs like 'Jump right In' making me feel, like I could go and hang out at Senor Frogs on a land visit. I think this is really all I have to say about their set, it just for me was very disappointing. But people around me seemed to have really enjoyed it.

But they were in their early sixties to eighties, and maybe that is their audience, and they are doing nothing wrong. And I am the one in the wrong, thinking they should change. Because they have done very well the way they are, and have gathered a massive fanbase. When other acts that I like in the genre have not. They get a final bit of a sing-along for the slow-groover almost Summer single 'Chicken Fried', which seems to float the band to a close. I will give them another chance, but I think the Zac Brown Band maybe isn't for me. 

Review and Photos by Dan Devour 

Zac Brown Band - Setlist 
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As she's walking Away
Toes
The Devil Went Down to Georgia (The Charlie Daniels Band cover)
Hard Run
Highway 20 Ride
Jump Right In
Keep me in Mind
I ain't worried about It
Free / Into the Mystic
Knee Deep
Colder Weather
Chicken Fried

Check Out! the Video for 'Toes' Below...