Update: On Tuesday, Zac Brown Band announced it was postponing the rest of its tour in response to the coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak. The band was scheduled to play Enterprise Center on Thursday. A rescheduled date is expected. You can read more about St. Louis’s first case of COVID-19 here.
Original story:
There’s an expression in the music industry, particularly in the South, to describe when a band is getting into a groove and giving consistently powerful, in-sync performances. That band is said to be “hitting the note.” Zac Brown Band guitarist Coy Bowles thinks that on this most recent tour, ZBB is definitely hitting the note.
The band, known for country-rock anthems such as “Toes,” “Homegrown,” and “Knee Deep” formed in 2002 in Georgia and earned its first No. 1 radio spot in 2008 with “Chicken Fried.” Now more than a decade later, the band has three Grammy awards, seven studio albums (six with a major label), and countless live albums, collaborations, and side projects. The eight-member ensemble is traveling the country promoting its most recent album, The Owl, and will play Enterprise on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Zac Brown Band last performed in St. Louis at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in April 2019 during the Down the Rabbit Hole tour. One of the secrets to the band’s continued success? According to Bowles, it’s not to get too caught up in that success.
“I try to remain mesmerized by it, and innocent in the sense that, I really don’t want to get used to playing in front of 30,000 people,” Bowles says. “I want it to always seem like Christmas morning when we walk on the stage, and go ‘Whoa, this place is huge.’”
Bowles says fans heading to Thursday’s show can expect a mix of new takes on old tunes, more recent material, and—of course—the eclectic covers the band is known for.
“We’re excited about showcasing the different ways we can turn on a dime stylistically,” Bowles says. “One of the amazing things about this band is being nimble. We’re able to cover a lot of a lot of ground in different genres.”
In addition to the genre-bending, living set lists, Zac Brown Band is also known for giving high-energy shows night after night, which each member gears up for differently. About three hours before each show, Bowles grabs a guitar and starts getting his fingers comfortable, like an athlete warming up for a game. Some members have been laying low all day, while others hit the gym. No matter the individual routine, the reason for the dedication is the same.
“A lot of people have saved up money to make this an experience,” Bowles says. “People are excited about coming to the show. (We) want to make sure to bring our end of the table.”
While that aspect of the band hasn’t changed in 18 years, other aspects have developed as bandmates matured. The 2015 album Jekyll + Hyde notably experimented in other genres, while The Owl marks a “heavier” and more personal record. The bandmates have also grown in more ways than music. Zac Brown Band has become a big family—literally—with members’ wives and “an army” of around 30 kids filling in the ranks.
“It’s become the nucleus,” Bowles says. “Everybody’s heart and soul is coming from his family.”
Tickets for Thursday’s show start at $29.50 before fees and can be purchased through this link.
