Performance Critique

The Concert Environment: Appearance of the Hall, Performers and Audience

            The live performance took place at Coral Sky Amphitheatre, popularly known as Perfect Vodka. It is an open air amphitheatre. For the concert, the amphitheater was lit by several stationary lights and more moving lights. The speed of movement of the lights was in tandem with the songs being performed. Fast songs had fast light movements, while slow songs had a slowed movement. The lights contributed in creation of audience’s lively moods and a cheerful concert environment throughout the performance.

            The performers were members of Zak Brown Band. The members present included Zac Brown, Coy Bowles, Clay Cook, Daniel de los Reyes, Matt Mangano, Jimmy De Martini and Chris Fryar and John Driskell Hopkins. All the songs they performed were of the country music genre. Each of the seven performers had an instrument that they play best. They did not have a special dressing for the concert, their dressing differed from one performer to the other. Most of them were in t-shirts and jeans trousers. Three of the performers were in cowboy hats and one was in a cap.The performance was attended by a large audience, hundreds to thousands. Unlike in other performances, the audience was not in a defined mode of dressing. Everyone wore what they were comfortable with. During the performance, the crowds cheered in joy and liveliness.

General Music Observations: Number and Types of Instruments

            The performers in the concert were country music performers. Each band member seemed to understand all the songs they performed. They used a wide range of instruments which included guitars, fiddles, keyboards and mandolin. They used different types of guitars, those that I noticed were bass guitar and baritone guitar. When performing, the members of the band ensured that all playing instruments were in tandem with each other and with the songs to create the music. Sometimes, some would stop playing the instruments just to ensure that the instruments rhymed with the songs.

Musical Observations, Dates of Compositions and Historical Periods

            The performers sang a wide range of country music, most of which are songs they have composed. Some of the songs they performed included: Chicken fried song, a song written by Wyatt Durrette and Zac Brown and recorded in 2003; toes song, composed by John Driskell Hopkins and Zac Brown in 2008; Highway 20 Ridesong, composed by Wyatt Durrette and Zac Brown, and recorded in 2009; free song, composed by the band in 2008; As She’s Walking Away song, composed by the band in 2010; Colder Weather song, composed by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey and Coy Bowles. Additional songs they performed included: day of the dead, use somebody, it’s a great day to be alive, start over, love the one you are with, tomorrow never comes, intermission, colder weather, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

General Reactions to the Concert

            This was one of the best live performances I have attended this year. They had a wide range of instruments that made the performance lively. Each member of the band seemed to know, understand and enjoy the instruments they were using. In some of the songs they performed, they could pause using the instruments and just sing out loud. At other times, they would just play the instruments without singing. Either way, they managed to keep the audience cheerful and bubbly. There were more people attending the performance on Saturday than it was on Friday. On both days the manner in which the audience enjoyed the concerts was the same. Everyone was happy, satisfied and in a joyful mood.