By Mary Geyer

The lights dimmed, and the roar of the crowd became overwhelming. A long line of people emerged and made their way towards the stage, fighting the outstretched hands of spectators as they walked. Country music star Zach Bryan looked around and gave everyone a wave as he took his first step onto the large stage at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, on March 25.

Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. Photo credit: Mary Geyer.

Zach Bryan is a 25-year-old from Oologah, a small town in Oklahoma. His music reflects the pride and love he has for his hometown, and he frequently references both Oologah and the state of Oklahoma in many of his songs, including “Oklahoma Son” and “Oklahoma Smokeshow.” Bryan also carries a great deal of pride in his military background, after serving for seven years in the US Navy before being honorably discharged. The video for his song “Heading South“ was filmed in front of his old Navy barracks in Washington.

Bryan’s Quittin’ Time tour features videos, music videos segments, and other clips depicting key themes from the songs on a large screen, visible to the whole arena. This is Bryan’s first large arena tour. He has previously played at smaller venues, such as Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones arena last year. During his song “Open the Gate,” which uses analogies related to bull riding and rodeo life, Bryan played clips from a rodeo. He sings, “I heard you died out in Cheyenne / With my mother’s ring on your hand / A note in your pocket said I love you till I die / I can hear the bulls are coming to claim / what they’ve been huntin’ / The son of a cowboy can’t claim his daddy’s right.” With “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” Bryan explained the story behind the actors in the music video before playing clips of it throughout the performance. He described convincing his guitarist Noah Le Gros to act in the video, and that with Le Gros in it, the video turned out exactly how he wanted it. 

Bryan also made a point to have the members of his band frequently shown on the large screens in the arena. One person in particular, Lucas Ruge-Jones, was praised for his talent by Bryan. Ruge-Jones plays the fiddle, trumpet, and mandolin for the band but is most well known for his fiddle playing. Bryan talked about how when he first began making music and singing, he would drive around Oklahoma with his small band, but he was missing a fiddle player. Bryan recalls, “I didn’t know how to find a fiddle player, so I did what I thought was best and posted on Twitter that I needed a fiddle player.” Laughing at his own story, he then went on to explain that a woman reached out to him recommending Ruge-Jones. Bryan explained that the woman who introduced him to Ruge-Jones is now married to him, and they are expecting a baby. The crowd erupted in a loud cheer as Bryan named him “the greatest fiddle player alive.” Ruge-Jones was then featured in a fiddle solo in “Oklahoma City.”

Zach Bryan with The War and Treaty. Photo courtesy of Holler.Country.

Bryan and his band were not the only ones featured during the concert. Levi Turner, the first singer to be signed by Bryan’s record company Belting Bronco Records, performed as an opening act, along with The Middle East, an Australian indie rock band that reunited for the first time outside of Australia in 14 years to tour with Bryan. In addition to the openers, Bryan brought two special guests on stage: Micheal Trotter, Jr., and Tanya Trotter, who make up the duo The War and Treaty. The duo performed the song “Hey Driver” with Bryan. Bryan’s ability to share the spotlight with others is part of what made the concert so memorable.

Throughout his multiple tours and many concerts, Bryan has not been afraid to express his opinions. He is known for bold statements made through his clothing, social media posts, and jokes he tells during his concerts. During his concert in Washington, Bryan wore a tank top that read “RIP mainstream media.” Many have speculated about the exact message he has been trying to convey, but the most common idea has been that the shirt was his way of responding to his many critics. From newspapers to people on the social media site X (formerly known as twitter), Bryan has received significant amounts of criticism for the way his concerts are performed and how he interacts with his crowd.

The official Quittin’ Time Tour concert list. Image courtesy of Zach Bryan’s official tour website.

Bobby Olivier with the New Jersey Star-Ledger wrote that Bryan is “still performing like he’s playing a backyard barbecue, freely chatting with around 18,000 pals. That easy intimacy would be an asset if not for the half-dozen or so mistakes Bryan made during his set… For each gaffe he apologized and hopped back in, the adulating crowd forgiving him again and again as they howled the lyrics without issue. At least someone was prepared.” Bryan frequently tells stories throughout his concerts and talks to the crowd before, during, and after all of his songs, which is part of the reason people love his shows so much, but these unconventional methods don’t seem to please everyone. Bryan remains unswayed from his personal beliefs and sticks up for what he thinks is a characteristic lacking from many in today’s music industry.

Bryan’s concert at the Capital One Arena was a night I will never forget. The energy of the crowd, songs that sounded even better in person, and captivating lighting and visual effects made the concert incredible and different from other concerts. If I was asked to name a favorite song from the show, I would have a hard time doing so. I loved his performance of “Open the Gate” because of the way the crowd was engaged, “Oklahoma City” featured the playing of the marvelous Ruge-Jones on fiddle, and “Hey Driver” welcomed special guests that performed as well as Bryan did. His growth in such a short amount of time is remarkable and is a testament to his ability as a musician. I would highly recommend both Bryan’s music and attending a concert of his to anyone interested in either country music or folk music.

Featured image courtesy of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.