Finally Getting To See Zach Bryan Tonight At Windy City Smokeout, And Even Though It Won't Be Red Rocks In The Snow, We Are Fucking Pumped!
So tonight kicks off, what has turned out to be, in my opinion, the best weekend of the summer in Chicago, The Windy City Smokeout. Our friends Ed Warm from Joe's On Weed St., The Melman family, and a slew of other super-talented hard-working folks have turned what started out as a small stage music festival in the Tribune building dirt parking lot into one of the premier country music festivals in the country. It's now taken over the United Center parking lots, and has a headliner list that would rival any festivals- Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Zac Brown Band, and tonight's headliner, Zach Bryan.
I haven't had the chance to hear/see Zach Bryan in person yet, but that changes tonight. I cannot fucking wait.
Sure, it won't compare to the lucky bastards who got to see him play in the virgin snow at Red Rocks this past November.
A friend showed me this a few months ago and my mind was instantly blown. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience. For anybody who's been to Red Rocks, they can attest, there is no other music venue like it in the world. Between the aesthetics, the jaw dropping back drops, the natural impeccable acoustics, the weather, the crowds of good-natured fun loving people, just everything top to bottom. It's the fucking best. And it should be on every music fan's bucket list to see any show you can there.
I've watched this concert back dozens of times now. This is the best video I've found of most of it (chopped and compiled by a loyal fan of Bryan's)
The set was recorded for potential future release. Which I am PRAYING happens eventually. Because this in high def, high-qualityy audio will be a must purchase.
Red Rocks Set List-
Take Me Home, Country Roads (with Charles Wesley Godwin and Jonathan Wilson)
Open the Gate
God Speed
Highway Boys
Condemned
Oklahoma City
Quittin’ Time
No Cure
Sweet DeAnn
Heading South
The Good I’ll Do
Flying or Crying
From Austin
Traveling Man
’68 Fastback
Snow
Something in the Orange
Oklahoma Smokeshow
Billy Stay
Jamie (with Charles)
Heavy Eyes
Burn, Burn, Burn
Encore:
November Air
Revival
But back to tonight and this weekend.
Little old White Sox Dave and I have grown our little fledgling, boot strapped project BARSTOOL BACKSTAGE into something that music festivals want at their fests, on media row, interviewing their acts, dining in catering, drinking the free High Noons, and playing bags among the artists.
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Sure its not getting called out on stage like Billy Football
But if we can brush shoulders with the guy, and line up a 5 minute interview where Dave can manage to slide in a question about who his favorite 1980's White Sox player was, it's a win. And a win is a win.
If you're going this weekend, be on the lookout for us and the Chicago crew and say hi. Going to be an awesome one.
p.s. - if you see my crying during the 10 minute "Revival" close out and want to give me a hug, that's fine too.