Zac Brown Band – Atlantic City Boardwalk – Atlantic City, NJ – September 1, 2016 – Photo by Caroline Serling © 2016
Zac Brown Band – Atlantic City Beach – Atlantic City, NJ – September 1, 2016
Country Music With A Twist.
Seven piece group, Zac Brown Band, certainly made a splash on the Atlantic City Beach early Monday evening with a killer set list that proved to be an eclectic mix of original songs and iconic covers. The band struck a perfect balance of their unique hits and old time favorites; one that left the audience unable to resist stomping their feet along to the twangy upbeat selections and belting out the words to every song.
The venue could not have been more perfect for the band, who made t-shirts and jeans look absolutely dashing. The backdrop of adoring fans, miles of sand and surf, in addition to a multitude of colorful beach balls, only added to the incredible atmosphere that Zac Brown Band brings to the table. The environment they created was both as rocking as “S.O.B.” (a Nathaniel Rateliff song that they covered), and as serene as Zac Brown Band original, “Island Song”.
Zac Brown Band – Atlantic City Boardwalk – Atlantic City, NJ – September 1, 2016 – Photo by Caroline Serling © 2016
They opened up the show with “Jump Right In,” a hit off of their 2012 album, Uncaged. The song set the tone for the fantastic performance to come, showcasing the country style harmonies and diversity of instruments that the Zac Brown Band is known for. The group continued with the same high energy and talent that they exhibited until the very end, which was certainly a high note. The band treated the crowd to an unbeatable two-song encore, wrapping up the evening with their rendition of The Who’s “Baba O’Riley,” and what is considered to be their biggest hit, “Chicken Fried.”
As I stood among the ecstatic audience, one thing became absolutely clear: these people love the music, love the people who make it a reality, and of course: they really do love their beer! Even as an outsider looking in, it isn’t hard to see why fans from near and far came out to see show – nor is it hard to see why the band has won three Grammys and sold over eight million records to date.
Zac Brown Band – Atlantic City Boardwalk – Atlantic City, NJ – September 1, 2016 – Photo by Caroline Serling © 2016
Front man Zac Brown’s mix of southern charm, bold charisma, and unparalleled talent, leaves absolutely nothing left to be desired. There is something incredible about the warm manner in which Brown treats his audience, which is almost more like he is reconnecting with a bunch of old friends, rather than staring out into a sea of unfamiliar faces. While his talent is very prominent and immense, his down to earth nature makes Brown all the more admirable, both as a performer and as a person.
Zac Brown Band – Atlantic City Boardwalk – Atlantic City, NJ – September 1, 2016 – Photo by Caroline Serling © 2016
Another essential member of the band is fiddle player Jimmy Demartini, who was one of earliest additions to the Zac Brown Band. With his unique sense of style and mad talent, he seems to embody the group perfectly. Not to mention his incredible solos, which had a way of making the fiddle seem like the most badass instrument of all time. Yet, that’s exactly what makes the Zac Brown Band so special: the unique blend of talent that you really can’t find anywhere else.
There is a little something for everyone in the show that the Zac Brown Band puts on, whether you’re a diehard country fans or rock and roll lovers. The combination of country, rock, bluegrass, and reggae is one that is absolutely a winning one, making the band one that can, and does, appeal to a diverse blend of listeners.
Upon having the privilege of seeing the Zac Brown Band perform, there is seemingly only one thing left to do: see them again.
Margo Kaplan
Copyright ©2016 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: September 2, 2016.
Photos by Caroline Serling © 2016