Zac Brown Band – Live From Bonnaroo

The Zac Brown Band is perhaps the biggest story of surprising success in the realm of popular music in the last year or two. The ZBB was a hard working, relentlessly touring band who found themselves being signed by Atlantic Records and then watched their record, The Foundation get re-released (after selling a good amount at gigs and independently online), and then likely watched in amazement as their lead-single, “Chicken Fried” hit the top of the country charts. That specific chart-topper isn’t what  makes them unique in today’s glossy wasteland of mainstream pop country – it’s easily the worst song on that record – it’s their attitude and approach to the material that seems to stand out. Their vibe is distinctly southern without the shtick. Laid-back to the point that you think they’re from California instead of Georgia.

It is that very loose vibe that makes the Zac Brown Band a favorite at large festivals around the country, making them one of the few mainstream country acts that can command the stages at events that feature very small amounts of artists from the bubble gum streets of music row, if any. Earlier this year, ZBB played the storied tents of Bonnaroo and captured 4 of their tracks on a new EP. Zac Brown Band – Live From Bonnaroo (Atlantic) is a great example of a band that gets it. In a world where the environment is rife with cheeseball hat acts and whiny, self-indulgent indie princes, ZBB seems to find a happy medium in a live setting.

The selection of songs for the EP is inspired. “Toes”, a summery beach sing-along based in bittersweet reality, is what Kenny Chesney likely wishes he could record, but knows he would wreck it beyond belief. “Free”, another laid back original, gently leads into Van Morrison’s great, “Into the Mystic”. The following track is a breakneck rendition of “Devil Went Down to Georgia”. The closing number, “Who Knows”, a ska-tinged country jam (yes, you read that right) that brings the set to a satisfying end. The extended jamming at the end of the song is likely a nod to the historically jam-band intensive festival. Possessing a String Cheese Incident like quality, ZBB never delves into the drudgery of noodling, that would be too laid back for these guys from GA.

Tags: Bonnaroo, String Cheese Incident, Van Morrison, Zac Brown Band