What could be better than sitting outside on a cool October evening? The answer is sitting outside on a cool October evening while listening to Zac Brown Band. The highly anticipated southern rock and country infused band did not disappoint the audience. It is safe to assume that the majority of the crowd woke up the next day with a sore throat and a smile. I truly enjoyed this concert for its music, venue and crowd.
The Ak- Chin Pavilion provided a great setting for this fantastic band to perform. While I was sitting on the lawn, the venue was well groomed and cleaned. There was little to no trash to be seen and while guests were outdoors they did not have to worry about stepping on glass or other foreign objects. In addition, the venue was easy to navigate as the bathrooms on either side of the amphitheater are sanitary and was large enough to keep the lines down to a five minute wait. The venue was also convenient for meeting up with friends or family as the one common area was easily accessible from all sections of seats. The parking was also plentiful at this venue. The only concern regarding transportation was leaving because of the massive crowd exiting the lot at once. Concessions were also easy to find as the stands are plentiful throughout different sections of the venue. The beverages and snacks served were also consistent so one did not have to walk all the way across the lawn to get a soda. The fan merchandise was well supplied as I was able to purchase three T- Shirts in different sizes halfway through the concert. While there was only one T- Shirt tent, the line was not unbearable. The most important attribute for this venue was the security. While the Ak- Chin Pavilion is located in an undesirable area of Phoenix, guards and officers made the venue secure and safe by keeping the crowd regulated and searching bags upon entry. The unique experience provided by the amphitheater in the Ak- Chin Pavilion was unbeatable.
Perhaps the most entertaining part of the Zac Brown concert was the crowd that showed up to watch them. Whether it was the beverages or the beat of the music, everyone I bumped into at this concert was incredibly friendly and welcoming. While a common issue at large venue is fighting, the only contact I saw in the crowd was hugging and singing along. I must also attribute some of the entertainment of the evening to the melodic vocals, or lack thereof, coming from my neighboring crowd members. The crowd roared with excitement as everyone knew the words and bonded over each other’s favorite songs. During the concert, no one had to worry much about stepping on each other’s toes as cowboy boots covered the lawn. Unique shoes were not the only western apparel that made an appearance at the concert. Grown men prowled the outskirts in overalls and plaid shirts looking for their next cute cowgirl. While under normal circumstances this would be creepy and unacceptable, these fun loving country fans made the concert amusing and memorable. Zac Brown Band has a very distinctive crowd that not only knows how to have fun, but also radiates American spirit.
Last but not least Zac Brown Band put on the concert of a lifetime with music that sounds even smoother than the record the acoustics provided by the venue allowed for every sound to reach the pit to the back row of the lawn. The great sound and adequate volume allowed for Zac Brown’s “sweet as honey voice” to echo through the crowd. The set list was also well constructed as the popular and well known songs were all put into circuit as well as some new material to surprise the crowd. I enjoyed how the band slowly built up the anticipation for their most popular track “Colder Weather” as the finale. This concert was also unique from simply listening to the recordings as each musician of the Zach Brown Band was introduced and allotted time to perform individually. I enjoyed this because it put the spotlight on the band as a whole rather than the individual vocalist. Watching Zac Brown Band perform live solidified their rank as my favorite artist. This concert is not one I will and I highly recommend for anyone who has the opportunity attend their concert to make it happen.