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Sat. Aug. 14 The Zac Brown Band wants to be all things to all people. And, they nearly are. Although Brown, the full-bearded, skull-capped singer-songwriter-guitarist, is country at the core, his music goes every which way. Their big hit last year – and forever? – was “Chicken Fried,” a toe-tapping celebration of an American’s right to eat fried fowl, drink beer and wear comfortable jeans … all while supporting the troops. I saw them play last October at the soldout Agganis Center Friday (this ite m is culled from a Herald review I did of the show) and they’re at Comcast Center Saturday Aug. 14.
The Zac Brown Band played more somber country numbers, too, like “Highway 20 Ride” and “Jolene.” They unveiled a batch of new tunes the sprawling country-reggae-hard rock jam “Who Knows,” the buoyant singalong “Make This Day” and the Willie Nelson-inspired “Colder Weather.” They dipped into Jimmy Buffett/Kenny Chesney Caribbean light (“Where the Boat Leaves From,” “Toes”) and plunged into Pink Floydian heart-of-darkness art-rock – really! - “Junkyard.”
Covers were plentiful. The best was Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released,” played near the end. Also notable were the Beatles’ “Blackbird” and Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic.” Essentially, the Zac Brown Band gave and gave. The sextet is top-notch – special kudos to fiddler Jimmy De Martini - and adept at sharp shifts in tempo or mood. Brown, a Georgia native, thanked us profusely, conveyed creditable optimism in “Let It Go,” as well as solid Southern pride throughout.
The problem? Remember the line in The Who song that goes “Too much of anything is too much for me”? Bingo.
In addition to his own band’s two-hour 40-minute set, Brown joined each opener during their sets. The crowd that was cheering most of the night was down to a fifth its size by the night-closing Traffic song, “Feelin’ Alright.” You want to build your set, end with a bang, and leave ‘em wanting more. Brown ultimately made too many people hit the exits, giving the show an anti-climactic feel.
Starts at 7. Tix: $42-$28 Rte. 140, Mansfield, 508-339-2331 www.livenation.com |
