zacbrownband.com . What's New

''Toes'' AOL Video Premiere

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:53:35 -0400

Our "Toes" video premiere is now live on AOL Music & The Boot!

To watch the video, click below or visit the AOL site.

You can also view photos from the shoot over in the Media section.

On the Road in the Midwest

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:05:43 -0400

Well, Shazzam! Howzit goin' music fans? We're out here sacrificing ourselves tooth & limb to bring you our humble show. This weekend was one for the books. Where do I start? Let's try at the beginning.� �

Our first day comes after a 17 hour bus ride to Manhattan, KS (home of the K-State Wildcats). This wasn't an ordinary gig. We played the Country Stampede. Dierks Bentley headlined the Friday that we played. We had 3 performances for the day: a short acoustic set for some radio winners, a full set on the main stage, & a late night set on one of the many stages surrounding the grounds. Normally a day like this would be mildly stressful, but the 100?+ heat complicated things a little more than normal. Actually, that's an understatement. I almost cried once.� �

Moving on... our Saturday was spent in Peru, IL (a little 9 hour drive northeast). This day was a familiar pleasure; we got to share the stage with Little Big Town again. We've made a special bond with those cats. The show was delayed by 3+ hours due to rain & lightning. Those fans were utterly crazy to brave those conditions but I gotta give it to 'em... it didn't scare them at all. They were going to see a show, damnit! The show was grandiose but I think the highlight of the evening was held off of the stage: somewhere during the show we found out that "Whatever It Is" went #1! Can you believe it? Our first 2 songs went #1. No pressure from here on (he wrote sarcastically). I guess there's only one direction to go (That's what's great about pessimism... things mostly turn out better than what you predict).� �

Sunday was a completely different vibe. We had ourselves a "Big & Rich Time" in Norfolk, NE. Not much to report about... that wouldn't get us sued.� �

On to the Twin Cities area! We played to a sold out theatre at the Mystic� Lake Casino. We were here in March, but in the role as opener for Little BIg Town. Look who's all grown up now! They were the best 'seated' crowd that we've ever played for... & there was no alcohol to boot. I guess we put on a pretty good show. You fans are so kind to us & all we want to do is find new ways to make you feel good about plopping down money for a ticket or a record. We're trying, we're trying - & I promise you, we will never quit trying!

Country comforts with Zac Brown

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:43:36 -0400

Country comforts with Zac Brown
By JON BREAM, Star Tribune
June 26, 2009
http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/49096826.html?page=1&c=y

Nashville's unlikeliest new star is a stocking-capped, reggae-loving guitar picker who celebrates fried chicken, blue jeans and Mason jars.

With his bushy beard and stocking cap, Zac Brown looks like he stepped out of rock's
jam-band circuit. Although the Georgia farmer has scored two Top 10 country hits in the past year, his Zac Brown Band is versatile enough to play the Bonnaroo neo-hippiefest one day and the Country Music Association's Fan Fair the next.

Bonnaroo "was my favorite show that we've done in a long time," said Brown, 30, who will headline Monday at Mystic Lake Casino."I love the challenge of being in front of people that haven't heard us before. Good music is good music, period."

Whether he's opening for B.B. King, ZZ Top or Keith Urban, Brown is right at home. That's because he's about entertaining whomever shows up, not about playing the Nashville game -- although he's pretty goodat that, too. Last week, the Zac Brown Band won the fan-voted breakthrough prize at the CMT Music Awards, for "Chicken Fried," their homemade first hit.�

The song celebrates life's simple pleasures--cold beer, comfy jeans and fried chicken.Brown thinks the song is "a good pacifier" in tough times.

Piercings instead of polo shirts
Last month Brown opened for Urban at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. He was running late for an interview because he'd lingered too long at Willie's American Guitars, a shop in St. Paul.

"I'm obsessed with cooking, knives and guitars," said Brown, who owned a gourmet soul-food restaurant, Zac's Place, for a couple of years with his father.

A serious acoustic picker, Brown has splurged on 15 vintage guitars since "Chicken Fried" went No. 1. At Willie's, he wound up buying a dobro for a band member, but he had his eye on three other vintage guitars, including one for ,000.

"He was very unassuming, a nice, down-to earth, courteous guy -- and a good judge of guitars," said Willie's owner, Nate Westgor. "He's still in touch with one of our guys."

A brawny guy in blue jeans, black T-shirt and shiny brown leather vest, Brown comes across as thoughtful, humble and ambitious.

Growing up the 11th of 12 kids in Dahlonega, Ga., about an hour north of Atlanta, he played football and absorbed the music of his older siblings and parents.

"When everybody [his age] was listening to Nirvana, I was listening to James Taylor, JimCroce, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Cat Stevens," he said. "James Taylor is the single biggest influence I have, period. The James Taylor 'Greatest Hits' tape, I stretched three of those till they just snapped."

Brown ended up as the artistic child in the family. As a high-schooler he started performing solo in coffeehouses, then studied voice at the University of West Georgia and formed a rock band, Far From Einstyne.

"I was the only one coming home with dreadlocks and tattoos and piercings," he said. "Everyone else is pretty conservative.Most of them are in the business world --khaki pants and polo shirts."

Don't let his looks fool you. Brown is a serious dude. Take his involvement with the Brain Balance centers that use physical therapy and nutrition to treat children with autism and ADHD. Brown is helping to build a camp in Georgia for children with severe disorders.

"I grew up working at camps similar to this,"said Brown, who's married with two daughters and another on the way. "You can see in one week the difference you can make in a child's life. When you integrate these mentally challenged kids with regular kids, they'll have a compassion for those people for the rest of their lives."

Comfort food
Started in 2002, the Zac Brown Band soon was playing 200 gigs a year. It released a couple albums on its own, including a 2004 disc that included "Chicken Fried." Its breakthrough album, "The Foundation," was recorded in 2006 with Nashville producer Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson, Billy Ray Cyrus,Terri Clark), but released nationally by Atlantic Records just last November.

This spring, Brown hit the Top 10 again with "Whatever It Is," a sweet, breezy ballad inspired by his co-writer, Wyatt Durrette, a bartender friend from Marietta, Ga.

"We wrote it about his ex-wife," the singer said. "That word 'it' is a substitute for a lot of emotions for things that you really can't put into words."

That ol' bartender also came up with the key line for Brown's new single, "Toes," a Jimmy Buffett-evoking beach ditty. "I got a phone call about 6 in the morning from Wyatt in Virginia Beach and he said, 'I'm sitting here with my toes in the water and my ass in the sand and we've got to write a song about it.'

"The New York Times described Brown's stuff as "country-rock comfort music." In concert, the Zac Brown Band isn't afraid to go where other country bands won't.

"It's about breaking down doors," he said."We have songs that go reggae, funk, bluegrass. The world is ready for that diversity, as long as the quality of it is there. There is so much exposure to so many things because of the Internet. I am Southern and I am country, but I love great music of all kinds."

For their second Nashville release, the band plans to offer a live album with new tunes, possibly later this year. Brown has signed three acts to his Home Grown label; they will tour with him in the fall.

The band also is looking into mass-producing what has become its trademark--a Mason jar embossed with the band's name.

"We can stuff in them, and my family uses them for drinking out of at home," said Brown.

And that stocking cap?

"My granny always said that you get the croup from cold wind blowing in your ears," he explained. "So I grew up always covering up my ears when it was cold outside. It's comfortable to me. I don't wear it to try to be different. It's what I wear. It's important to be authentic and be who you are.

"But if it's warm outside," Brown added, "I wear a ball cap."

Jon Bream • 612-673-1719

'WHATEVER IT IS' Heading to #1!

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:12:33 -0400

If you want to see ZBB's "Whatever it Is" reach #1 call your fav local country station and get them to play it for you...dedicate it to the person who has "it" in your world.

Let us know you if are out there spreading the word and want to be a part of ZBB's street team. Click here to sign up and for the chance to win tickets and / or meet and greet passes in your area. �We'd love to thank you in person!

Love, Peace and Chicken Grease - ZBB

ZBB Reaches New High at #12 on The Billboard 200 with 'The Foundation'

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:29:27 -0400

After 31 weeks on the charts, Zac Brown Band's RIAA gold-certified debut 'The Foundation' (Atlantic Records) has hit a new high this week at #12 on The Billboard 200.

The chart spike came following the band's fan-voted win at the CMT Awards last week, where their #1 Platinum single "Chicken Fried" was crowned USA Weekend's Breakthrough Video of the Year. �The Zac Brown Band was also awarded many kind words for their performances at both CMA Fest and Bonnaroo earlier this month:

"...when Brown crooned lyrics like "Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand/ Life is good today," he pretty much nailed the sentiment of everyone at the fest for day one." - Rolling Stone

"Brown delivered a set that alternated between light as air sing-a-longs and extended major key guitar-fiddle-keyboard jams." - Spin.com

ZBB with Big D & Bubba in Music City!

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:46:20 -0400

Zac Brown Band recently dropped by the Big D & Bubba show at the WSIX studios in Nashville!� Check out an interview, performance and more here:

http://www.wsix.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=203275&article=5640820

Canadian Date Cancellations

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:45:00 -0400

Zac Brown Band has cancelled their upcoming performances in Canada and hopes to return in the near future.� They look forward to meeting their Canadian fans very soon.�

The following dates have been affected:
July 2, 2009 - Cook County Saloon, Edmonton, Alberta
July 3, 2009 - Telus Country Fever, Grand Prairie, AB
July 4, 2009 - Conexus Arts Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan
July 5, 2009 - Dauphin's Countryfest - Selo Ukrania Amphitheatre, Dauphin, MB

A Big Win at the CMT Music Awards

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:59:27 -0400

Wowsa, folks! Can you believe it? We won an award & got to accept it on TV. �

Super "THANKS" to every fan who voted for us. We won because you thought we deserved it. We won the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year. We were up against Lady A, Julianne Hough, & Jamey Johnson...I still can't believe that we won! �

It's all been very exciting but we're not resting on our laurels. This is still just the beginning for us. We're continuing to tighten up our show for the remaining summer dates. A lot of great gigs to come. See you out there, you wacky music fans, you. �

--Clay

ZBB at Bonnaroo & CMA Music Fest

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:26:59 -0400

With Bonnaroo and the CMA Music Fest, it's been an amazing week for the Zac Brown Band, and we've got photos from the action.� To check out all the photos, head over to the photos section.

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Skilling

The ZBB Triumphs at the CMT Awards

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:34:12 -0400

Last night, at the 2009 CMT Music Awards, the Zac Brown Band took home the "USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year" Award for "Chicken Fried."

Zac expressed his gratitude.� "We want to thank the music fans because without y'all supporting us, buying our music, we wouldn't have a life in music."

Can't get enough of the video?� Check it out again here.

Clay takes to the ZBB Blog

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:15:53 -0400

Well, well, well. If it ain't the old Zac Brown Band Blog...under new management, mind you. Yes, it is I, Clay, the new guy in that band - taking the wheel. I promise more frequent updates that the previous blogger.

Okay, let's see. A great deal has happened since the last blog. So this is more of a facts/catch-up blog than future entries... less minutia. Forgive me for being brief. �

For starters, we played "Whatever It Is" on one of the last broadcasts of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Then we went to our 50th state of the Union, Hawai'i, to shoot scenes for our upcoming video for the song "Toes." Then, we sang our national anthem at an NBA playoff game at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The Hawks lost, but we still had a blast watching LeBron.

We've also played a handful of shows opening for Keith Urban in the midwest. Those have been very eye opening on how "the big boys do it."

Winner of best day ever: May 17th, Detroit, MI. We sang the anthem to open up a Tigers' home game. Stayed for a few innings (in a game they eventually won). Then, onto do something every hockey fan should experience before they die: a playoff game in Detroit. The Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks in the first game of the Western Conference Finals. Then, we opened up for Willie Nelson. During that set we backed up Kid Rock for his hit "All Summer Long." Then, Zac got to sing "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" with Willie. (Still not done). Then, we went back to Kid Rock's house & recorded a new song in his studio. We ended up staying Sunday night on into Tuesday morning - enjoying all of the comforts of a multi-million dollar estate. Kid Rock is way cooler than you could ever imagine. That's all I have to say about that.

Memorial Day, Chastain Park Ampitheatre, Atlanta, GA: runner up for best day ever. Not much to cover here. It's always good to come home & have a wonderful day of food & music with 5,000 of your closest friends. We love our home! �

On this last run we got to play after a Pittsburgh Pirates game in PNC Park. Our set was accompanied by thousands & thousands of fireworks. That was wild. �

Please go to cmt.com & vote for us to win a CMT award (if you are so inclined). Even if you voted in the first round, we need you in the second round - like the Cobra Kai, the bigger acts can show no mercy. Daniel-son needs your help. �

Our song "Whatever It Is" has just completed it's 2nd week at #1 on the CMT Top 20 Countdown. Can't ask for more than that!

On the horizon: We're really excited about Thursday at Bonneroo. CMAfest should be a new level of experience for us as well.

We can't even thank you enough. You are the 95 octane unleaded in this Hemi. Let's roll down the road without a GPS taking pictures of this great country & fist pumping to AC/DC together.

See you soon!

CMT Breakthrough Week continues with Zac Brown Band

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:10:09 -0400

USA Weekend post
Posted by Brian Truitt

The hottest country act around today espouses the Southern virtues of sweet tea, pecan pie, homemade wine and -- of course -- fried chicken. Hailing from right outside of Atlanta, Zac Brown Band is topping the CMT video list with its latest hit, Whatever It Is, but it's the band's breakout song, Chicken Fried, that is up for the USA WEEKEND Breakthrough Video of the Year at the upcoming CMT Music Awards. (It's also in the running for Group Video of the Year.) The images of Brown's group and a whole mess of people hanging out and enjoying themselves is as friendly and inviting as the song is catchy. (His family's getting ready to grow by one more -- Brown's wife is expecting their third little girl Sept. 7. And Brown himself is the 11th of 12 children.) I got a chance to talk with Brown last week about the video and his band's recent success after many, many years on the road so click read more for the Q&A. Take a peek at the Chicken Fried video below and if you like what you see, go here to vote for Brown and see if the group wins live at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, June 16.

Zac Brown Band ��

When did you shoot the video?
We shot it last fall, before the song was coming out. We were between our Live Nation deal and our Atlantic Records deal, and we had plans with Live Nation to do the video with them. We got out of our deal, and we just did it on our own: We went in the back yard and had barbecue and do what we do.

So that's all your family and friends in the video?
Yes, sir. We just let everybody know we were coming and it worked out great. Everybody ended up showing up and helping to make it happen.

Were there any other ideas you were thinking about, or was getting everybody in the back yard always what you wanted to do?
Originally, we were going to do a 300-foot-long picnic table and have every kind of person in the world on either side of the picnic table, to show off all kinds of people. You know how it is, with business changes, you have to adapt and make the best out of it. That's what we did and it ended up being very homemade, but it was also very us: very genuine to who we are and what we do. It was very cool how it all worked out.

Do you like filming music videos?
It's something new. The hardest part is figuring out how to time everything because before we never had to do that, so we just have to put that in our calendar now to set aside this week for video time and this day for editing, etc. We just shot our third one for Toes and it's a lot of fun. It's got helicopters, and Kid Rock's in it. We're working with a great producer on this one, a guy named Darren Doane, and the first two I did with a friend of mine, Clifton Collins Jr., who's actually an actor. It's very cool to work with different people and try to take a lot of the crazy ideas in my head and get those on to video.

I hear you're a pretty good chef.
I enjoy cooking and I've been doing it my whole life. My whole family cooks and I've learned a lot of stuff from them, and wherever I go, I mess around. We squeeze it in and cook for the guys on the road. You gotta eat, you know? We did a big Memorial Day show and cooked for about 50 to 60 people there at the event and then played a show.

Do you have a specialty?
Southern soul food, but with fusion from different places and different things. I call it "Southern gourmet."

You guys are blowing up nationally now. What's been the key to the success?
Hard work. This is my 13th year of touring, I've done over 3,000 shows and we're constantly working. The blue-collar approach to things is the only way you can really have longevity in this business. You get on a reality show these days and become famous, but as far as creating pages in the history of music, that very rarely happens without a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

You name James Taylor as your single biggest influence. How fulfilling will it be in five or 10 years when people cite you as their musical hero?
To have people cover my songs, it's an honor. It lets you know that you're doing the right thing and going about it the right way. There's a great story behind us too, just as far as how we got started and how long it took to do it. I think for other musicians who are coming up and learning how to be a touring musician, you just gotta get out there and do it and work hard. We're the perfect band to carry that flag that it's OK to be yourself and OK to make your music as long as you work hard at it.

ZBB Signing at CMA Music Fest this Friday!

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:24:53 -0400

Hey CMA Music Fest Attendees! �Zac Brown Band has just�announced�they'll be signing in two places THIS Friday! � �

3:00pm�GAC signing for fans at the Nashville Convention Center •�Booth #200 �

4:00pm�CMT signing for fans at the Nashville Convention Center • Booth #601

The ZBB on CMT's Unplugged at Studio 330

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:03:13 -0400

The Zac Brown Band recently performed a few tracks as part of CMT's Unplugged at Studio 330 Series.�

Head over to CMT's site to see these live, exclusive versions of "Chicken Fried," "Whatever It Is," "Toes" and "Highway 20 Ride."

See ZBB perform at CMA Music Fest on June 12th!

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:53:19 -0400

GET DETAILS NOW!

ZBB moves on to Round Two!!! (CMT Music Awards)

Tue, 19 May 2009 12:46:35 -0400

Round one of the CMT Awards is over. And all of us on the Zac Brown Band team want to thank you! Because of your votes 'Chicken Fried' moves on to round two!

That's right, "Chicken Fried" is still up for Group Video of the Year, and USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year! As you know, the winners of both categories are determined by fan votes. Voting began today and ends June 15th.

The 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will premiere LIVE on Tuesday, June 16 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com.

Acoustic version of "Whatever It Is" on Rhapsody

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:47:54 -0400

Rhapsody has a special exclusive acoustic version of "Whatever It Is' up now!� Take a listen and pick up your own copy now!

ZBB on the Tonight Show!

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:51:15 -0400

ZBB will perform "Whatever It Is" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on April 29th!

Here we go again!

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:49:36 -0400

Hi everybody!!! ZBB here wanting to thank you (infinity) not only voting for us on the ACM's, but also for the amazing amount of support when we didn't bring it home for ya... We are hoping that big, burly country dudes beat out cute, little blondes this time around at the CMT Awards in June! Ha

"Chicken Fried" is up for Group Video Of the Year and Breakthrough Video Of the Year.� We had a blast making the video with our friends and family at Zac's farm in east GA and couldn't be more honored that it is up for an award. The even better news is we will be on the road all year and giving everyone (and we mean EVERYONE) a chance to meet the band at the shows when you help us spread the word about the CMT awards and voting for ZBB. Check back for ways you can help and the� chance to meet the guys in your city, festival, fair, radio station, living room, lake, boat and/or bbq restaurant)!

To vote, CLICK HERE!

Love, Peace and Chicken Grease - ZBB

ZBB NOMINATED FOR 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:16:30 -0400

The first round of nominees for the 2009 CMT Music Awards has been announced and voting is underway at cmt.com.

You can vote now in the first round ending May 11th for Zac Brown Band for both Group Video of The Year and USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of The Year.

The final four nominees will be announced May 19 when the next round of voting will begin.

VOTE HERE!