The official start to spring/summer in St Louis has to be the first country concert at Hollywood amphitheater.
Zac Brown Band may be evolving their sound, but for the most part they are still country, making the concert April 25th the official start of spring/summer.
Zac Brown Band did not disappoint. Zac mostly stays pretty stationary during a show, but the show is still highly entertaining due to the talent of the band, and variety of songs played. Zac and company played their mainstream radio hits as well as many covers and mash ups.
Some in the audience were taken back by how many covers they played. Many were heard discussing this on their way to the car – some loved it, others did not. More and more bands and solo artist are going the route of performing, taking a small intermission and then coming back to finish the show. Zac Brown and friends went that route, complete with a countdown clock till their return, but the ZBB grabbed the audiences attention coming back one by one with a drum. They formed the ultimate drum line which had to be highlight for me – but I love a good drum line!
They gave the audience a taste of new music with “God Given” which was rather catchy, but with an almost rap like chorus I was half expecting Nelly to come out to help. Yes the new music is a long way from their country roots, but it will find a place on country radio which is mostly pop/country/rap mashup at this point.
Zac Brown Band can’t get off the stage without performing their greatest country hit – Chicken Fried. During the lyrics, “I thank god for my life and for the stars and stripes May freedom forever fly, let it ring. Salute the ones who died The ones that give their lives so we don’t have to sacrifice All the things we love”, the video board opened to show a woman in her army uniform and she saluted – the first time in any concert I got real chills .
Zac Brown said, “I don’t care what they say this is the best country in the world” to cheers from the audience.
Zac and crew left the stage only to come back of an encore of a guitar battle, which spilled into covers of other peoples songs.
Overall I would call the show a success. As most know it can be a real challenge to get out of the Hollywood Casino Parking lot after a show, I was told by security they had a new and improved way to get people out quicker and from my experience I would say their new way definitely is helping get people moving quicker.
