More Than Just An All Night 'Revival'

 By Jami Morain

    Zach Bryan, who just wrapped up the Burn, Burn, Burn, tour and is preparing for his newly announced Quittin' Time tour, is one of country music's most popular performers right now. During this last tour he even found himself breaking records.

    No one knew that on Aug. 27, while performing for Wichita in Intrust Bank Arena, Bryan was breaking three of the arena's all-time records. The attendance record was broken, highest grossing merchandise sales was broken and finally, highest grossing food and beverage sales. In an interview with KWCH, general manager, AJ Boleski said Bryan and fans' energy is unmatched in the arena's history. 

My view of Bryan at Intrust Bank Arena on Aug. 27.

    That was just one example of how Zach Bryan is making musical history. Another comes from Grady Smith, a "country music youtuber." In a TikTok video, Smith explains why he thinks Bryan is bringing a new touch to the genre. 

    He begins by explaining 80s rock music with the glam and the big hair, think Poison. This music was about having fun, doing drugs, living fast and lots of women. Until Nirvana came along. Led by Kurt Cobain this music was "sloppy aesthetic and droning vocals," Smith explains. Once "Smells Like Teen Spirit" caught attention, the 90s were dominated by bands like Pearl Jam and REM. He sees Bryan doing this for country music.

    For the last decade "bro country," as Smith calls it, was country music's sound. Songs about beer and girls with long, tan legs. However, Bryan brings a new attitude shifting the focus from partying to this slightly sadder, more thoughtful sound. 

    The opening of his new self-titled album had 233 million streams. Billboard considers Bryan's genre rock and country, with this in mind, the album was the first to top the charts in over a year. On the country side, the album is the fifth largest for streams in a week. 

    He also tried to take on ticket prices. For his Burn, Burn, Burn tour he paired with AXS to  ensure fair ticket prices, then released another album titled, All My Homies Hate Ticketmaster. However, this is newly controversial because for this next tour he did not make those arrangements again. He did this with fans angry about not being "selected" for presale in the process in mind. Once again, the prices are outrageously high and fans are angry, calling him a hypocrite. Seems like a lose-lose to me. 

    Regardless, in a few short years Zach Bryan went from the sweaty TikTok guy posting videos of him and his guitar to breaking stadium attendance records.

    If you ever get the chance to attend his concert, absolutely go. The musicians support and work together on stage, the crowd sings his lyrics back to him and Bryan's voice itself brings an energy that is unforgettable.

Smith's explanation: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT86cYyNN/