Zach Bryan conquered Golden Gate Park with a lot of help from his friends, and 50,000 fans
Bryan was working his way through 'American Nights,' the thumping and stuttering song soaked in the warm nostalgia of summertime fun as the chilling moonscape overtook the day. The fog was sliding in, adding that thin coat of mist to all it touches, as women in hats and boots and jean jackets jumped and swayed in rhythm with the song that's country only by association. All lost in the whims and wonder of this cinematic moment.
With apologies to the locals who've had to endure three straight weekends of massive concerts overtaking their quiet neighborhood, moments like this are why live music at the iconic park are so special. Ringed by trees, surrounded by paths that aren't all paved and close enough to the ocean that it kisses us with its exhalations, the space can feel like a place where nature and music conjoin to remind us why that lore about the music of the spheres is so affecting.
Bryan understood the moment, and the setting on Friday, Aug. 15. 'It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world and we're glad to be here.'
The country singer who wears a lot of denim and draws comparison to Springsteen was different than his previous stop in the Bay Area. That was more than a year ago, his stadium debut in Oakland. He's since released another album. He had a public breakup that became social media discourse. And he no longer seems in joyful awe of the thousands who congregate to sing with him in public. He's more comfortable, more understanding of the growing scale attached to his songs.
But the core of him remains.
What Bryan does so well is capitalize on the universalities of our human experience. Regret. Sadness. Depression. Missing family. Or home. His concerts become communal singalongs because his words feel borrowed and familiar, even if they're minted from his small town Oklahoma background that's far away from our coastal setting.
Strumming a slightly worn acoustic guitar with his blue eyes sunk in his head under a fashionable crew cut, Bryan rarely sang alone. Some fraction of the 50,000 or so people in attendance accompanied him throughout the two-hour setlist that danced through hits like 'I Remember Everything' (so many singers that it felt like mass karaoke), 'Dawns' (one of the greatest country songs of this century) and 'Pink Skies' (overheard during the funeral tune: 'All the feels come out with this song').
Caleb Followill, of opening act Kings of Leon, joined Bryan onstage to sing their new collaboration 'Bowery,' an uplifting bit of melancholy and stinging pride. Another opener, Noeline Hofmann, stepped up wearing some tassel-heavy garb out of Tammy Wynette's closet to sing the Canadian fuel anthem 'Purple Gas,' which she wrote. And Gabriella Rose offered her demure Kacey Musgraves-like voice for the duet 'Madeline.'
But, it was a spontaneous guest who stole the show.
After messing up the start of his smoldering 'Burn, Burn, Burn,' because he said he was distracted while reading a fan's sign, Bryan ended the song by bringing up the fan who crafted the vexing message. It listed three goals, with two checked off: Beat cancer. See Bryan at Red Rocks in Colorado.
The third on the list: Sing 'Heading South' with Bryan.
Coincidence or not, that was the next song. And this young man in a black T-shirt and blue jeans who said he's from South Dakota was given a guitar and a mic and the bizarre opportunity to sing the driving song with Bryan in front of thousands. His nerves cleared, his voice gained some grit and he completed his checklist. Afterward, some dude yelled out: 'Somebody get that guy laid tonight.'
Y'all know how the concert ended. Bryan's 'Revival' has become one of the most dependable and anticipated live aspects in today's popular music scene. Ending every one of his concerts with an extended play of this simple song that plays like a cleansing gospel built from popular culture, rotgut whiskey and the timeless affection for friends and family. It turns static onlookers into dancing revelers, some gesticulating like inspired church congregants.
Despite his sincere songs of personal pain and his stoic aesthetic of the American Everyman in country music, the core of Bryan's growing appeal remains his ongoing reminders that he's not doing this alone. He wants help from his friends. And fans. And we can all relate because, in a society that's increasingly fragmented and isolated, camaraderie and community are the balms that bind. And heal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Digital Trends
19 hours ago
- Digital Trends
The Usual Suspects: Why it's still one of the best crime movies ever
The Usual Suspects made its theatrical debut on August 16, 1995, introducing audiences to one of the cinema's greatest, most shocking crime thrillers. Directed by Bryan Singer, the story follows an interrogation of a con artist (Kevin Spacey) who, after surviving a drug robbery gone wrong, tries to prove the existence of a mythical crime lord who sent him and his partners to carry out their fateful heist. Disregarding the controversies surrounding Singer and Spacey, The Usual Suspects has left behind a prestigious legacy that lasts to this day. Presenting a mind-blowing story told by a fearsome, cunning villain with spectacular performers, The Usual Suspects remains a classic of cinema 30 years after its release. Recommended Videos The American Film Institute even placed it in the Top 10 list for the best mystery films ever made. Though many people already know the movie's legendary twist, The Usual Suspects continues to captivate audiences. An iconic villain steals the show The movie's antagonist, Keyser Söze, cemented himself as one of cinema's greatest villains by executing one of the greatest twists in film history. During the movie, Söze is built up to be a legendary, ruthless crime boss who may or may not exist. The only thing people know about Söze is the story of how he killed his family and the criminals who held them hostage just to prove his willpower. Such a tale established him as a ruthless and fearsome villain driven by the sole purpose of controlling others through fear and lies, turning him into the Devil or Boogeyman of the criminal underworld. The movie also delivers some truly memorable quotes to build up the terror and mystique of Söze. However, the movie changes everything in its final moments, revealing Spacey's character, Verbal Kint, was Söze, who had fabricated an elaborate story based on things he saw in Agent Kujan's (Chazz Palminteri) office to lie his way to freedom. Kint convinced Kujan and the audience that Dean Keaton (Gabriel Byrne) was the real Keyser Söze without even saying it. This resulted in a mind-blowing double twist. As he sheds his disguise as a cowardly, pitiful man with a physical disability, Söze proves how fiendish and frightening a figure he is. Using his skills of deception, he tricked the criminal justice system into letting him go before he retreated into the shadows, proving that evil can take the most unsuspecting form. By portraying such a conniving character with so many emotional masks, Spacey won an Academy Award for his performance as Söze. A memorable twist makes the film more rewatchable Even after the film's big twist, The Usual Suspects still warrants multiple viewings from audiences. Many small details hint at Söze's identity and his clever scheme. For instance, when Kint sits alone in Kujan's office, he is seen looking around all the agent's belongings, silently building the false narrative in his head. Kint is also said to have legal protection from the Prince of Darkness, foreshadowing the reveal of his true identity, Keyser Söze. Audiences may need to watch the movie more than once to catch what they missed the first time, making for an elaborate and surprising narrative that is much more compelling. Despite its deceptive nature, The Usual Suspects tells some hard truths about the real world, and the audience comes to appreciate the story through its rewatchability. The Usual Suspects proves that not everyone is who they appear to be and that the truth is a construct that can easily be distorted. Like a true devil, Söze mixes his lies with the truth to show the flaws of the criminal justice system. Naturally, for his work on the film's mind-blowing script, future Mission: Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. The Writers Guild of America even put the film's script in its list of the 101 Best Screenplays Ever Written. The film features an engaging story, nevertheless At times, it seems like this twist ending of The Usual Suspects has overshadowed the rest of the film. While Söze's story was predominantly false, that shouldn't detract viewers from seeing the value of what came before the film's big twist. What Söze made up remains unclear. Kobayashi turned out to be a real person, proving there may be some truth to Söze's story. Although Keaton's portrayal was based on Söze's fabricated story, it is difficult not to feel sympathy for him. He tries to move on from his criminal past, only to feel compelled to pull off a heist to make money and exact revenge on the NYPD for ruining his chances at a new life. Kujan argues that Keaton wasn't a changed man, and while that may have been true, Söze proved to him that he was wrong about Keaton as well. Perhaps he was trying to change, and the NYPD did prevent him from doing so. Thus, in a bit of tragic irony, the police may have inadvertently driven Keaton and his partners down the road to their destruction. In addition, Spacey's performance shouldn't overshadow the rest of the cast. The Usual Suspects features spectacular performances from its other main players, particularly Byrne, Palminteri, Benicio del Toro, and Pete Postlethwaite. It even shows Giancarlo Esposito giving a noteworthy performance long before he broke out on Breaking Bad. The Usual Suspects may be best known for its twist ending, but the film as a whole has held up three decades after its release. The movie is a gripping, gritty, and gut-wrenching crime thriller, only to flip the script and make everyone revisit and rethink what they witnessed. Few films have come close to replicating such a surprising story, making The Usual Suspects even more remarkable.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Zach Bryan conquered Golden Gate Park with a lot of help from his friends, and 50,000 fans
There was a moment during Zach Bryan's set at Golden Gate Park that felt almost perfect. As if it was scripted by the music gods who like to dance with Mother Nature. Bryan was working his way through 'American Nights,' the thumping and stuttering song soaked in the warm nostalgia of summertime fun as the chilling moonscape overtook the day. The fog was sliding in, adding that thin coat of mist to all it touches, as women in hats and boots and jean jackets jumped and swayed in rhythm with the song that's country only by association. All lost in the whims and wonder of this cinematic moment. With apologies to the locals who've had to endure three straight weekends of massive concerts overtaking their quiet neighborhood, moments like this are why live music at the iconic park are so special. Ringed by trees, surrounded by paths that aren't all paved and close enough to the ocean that it kisses us with its exhalations, the space can feel like a place where nature and music conjoin to remind us why that lore about the music of the spheres is so affecting. Bryan understood the moment, and the setting on Friday, Aug. 15. 'It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world and we're glad to be here.' The country singer who wears a lot of denim and draws comparison to Springsteen was different than his previous stop in the Bay Area. That was more than a year ago, his stadium debut in Oakland. He's since released another album. He had a public breakup that became social media discourse. And he no longer seems in joyful awe of the thousands who congregate to sing with him in public. He's more comfortable, more understanding of the growing scale attached to his songs. But the core of him remains. What Bryan does so well is capitalize on the universalities of our human experience. Regret. Sadness. Depression. Missing family. Or home. His concerts become communal singalongs because his words feel borrowed and familiar, even if they're minted from his small town Oklahoma background that's far away from our coastal setting. Strumming a slightly worn acoustic guitar with his blue eyes sunk in his head under a fashionable crew cut, Bryan rarely sang alone. Some fraction of the 50,000 or so people in attendance accompanied him throughout the two-hour setlist that danced through hits like 'I Remember Everything' (so many singers that it felt like mass karaoke), 'Dawns' (one of the greatest country songs of this century) and 'Pink Skies' (overheard during the funeral tune: 'All the feels come out with this song'). Caleb Followill, of opening act Kings of Leon, joined Bryan onstage to sing their new collaboration 'Bowery,' an uplifting bit of melancholy and stinging pride. Another opener, Noeline Hofmann, stepped up wearing some tassel-heavy garb out of Tammy Wynette's closet to sing the Canadian fuel anthem 'Purple Gas,' which she wrote. And Gabriella Rose offered her demure Kacey Musgraves-like voice for the duet 'Madeline.' But, it was a spontaneous guest who stole the show. After messing up the start of his smoldering 'Burn, Burn, Burn,' because he said he was distracted while reading a fan's sign, Bryan ended the song by bringing up the fan who crafted the vexing message. It listed three goals, with two checked off: Beat cancer. See Bryan at Red Rocks in Colorado. The third on the list: Sing 'Heading South' with Bryan. Coincidence or not, that was the next song. And this young man in a black T-shirt and blue jeans who said he's from South Dakota was given a guitar and a mic and the bizarre opportunity to sing the driving song with Bryan in front of thousands. His nerves cleared, his voice gained some grit and he completed his checklist. Afterward, some dude yelled out: 'Somebody get that guy laid tonight.' Y'all know how the concert ended. Bryan's 'Revival' has become one of the most dependable and anticipated live aspects in today's popular music scene. Ending every one of his concerts with an extended play of this simple song that plays like a cleansing gospel built from popular culture, rotgut whiskey and the timeless affection for friends and family. It turns static onlookers into dancing revelers, some gesticulating like inspired church congregants. Despite his sincere songs of personal pain and his stoic aesthetic of the American Everyman in country music, the core of Bryan's growing appeal remains his ongoing reminders that he's not doing this alone. He wants help from his friends. And fans. And we can all relate because, in a society that's increasingly fragmented and isolated, camaraderie and community are the balms that bind. And heal.
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Series of concerts at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park draws music lovers despite traffic, noise complaints
While some neighbors in the Richmond District have complained about traffic and noise caused by concerts, it's a different story for those attending the events. On Friday night, a series of August concerts wrapped up with headliner Zach Bryan performing at Golden Gate Park. For three weekends in a row, people have been piling into Golden Gate Park to see their favorite music artists. This was Jenn Russo's second time coming to the venue this month and had a plan to avoid any parking issues. "It wasn't too bad," said Russo. "I was here a couple of weeks ago for Dead and Company, and we took the shuttle in and out and they didn't have that shuttle going north this time. So, I enlisted my husband to drop us off. He's going to go to the movies, go have dinner and pick us up." While Russo and her daughters made the drive from Healdsburg, two other people who are friends traveled a little farther to see Zach Bryan. It took them several hours to get there from Madera in the Central Valley. "It was great," said Hudson Groh and Sam McPherson. "It was easy. We always love coming to the Bay. We love where we come from, though. We love living there with all the space and stuff. A lot different than the city that we are at right now, but making the trip is always fun. A road trip with your friends. Oh yeah." There was a lot of traffic in the outer Richmond area the last few weekends, and one man named Nicholas, who only wanted to go by his first name, decided to cash in on the extra foot traffic. He set up a snack stand with his brothers. Business was slow before the show, but he's banking on selling out after the event. "I think we'll get the most money in the way back when there's a lot of people," said Nicholas. "They are also really hungry then and thirsty." While some neighbors have become annoyed with three straight weekends of music and visitors, some locals said they felt that overall, it's good for the city. "I think it's amazing," said Yvette Corkrean from San Francisco. "I mean one, we want to bring people back to the city in a positive way. Last week's event was a little bit more for the youngsters and then this week it's for us older generation, but for everybody." Those we talked to say they enjoyed this venue and like that more and more concerts have returned to Golden Gate Park. Russo, though, feels accessibility may be the one thing to keep it from becoming the "go-to" place for live music. "I like it here," said Russo. "It's just the whole parking thing is a bit of an issue if you don't live here and know the MUNI and the buses and all the trains and stuff. So, that's the part that's a little challenging for us."
