Zach Bryan: Old Soul, Heart of Gold
Sometime around mid-summer last year, my son forwarded me a video from the Twitter feed of a young man; the video was short, not the best quality, and wholly focused on the man singing a couple of verses of a song I had never heard. I don’t remember much about the tune or the words he was singing, nor can I tell you what else was in that post. What I do remember of my introduction to Zach Bryan’s music is the instant realization that this guy was beyond talented and definitely should be sharing that talent with many more folks than just those on his social media pages.
I was in the process of trying to book an artist or two for an upcoming house show, so I asked my son to reach out to Bryan and ask if he would be interested. He was, but had obligations that precluded him from being in Oklahoma on the date of the show; he was in Washington state. His response to my son was a modest unassuming statement about being out of town for the dates in question and a request to reach out to him the next time because he would be incredibly grateful for the opportunity, appreciative of the fact we asked him to perform, and happy that we enjoyed his video. And, that was my first introduction to Zach’s humble and beneficent personality. Bryan was in Washington and previously obliged because he is currently serving our country in the Navy. Yet, he made no mention of that; he was entirely focused on trying to be available the next time we might ask him.
Since then, recognition of Bryan’s incredible talent has exploded at a mind-blowing pace! He’s recorded and released his first album, DeAnn. He’s released a single or two from what we all hope will be a soon-to-be-released studio album and has been in talks with people who want to bring his music to a bigger audience. He’s also been busy stacking his schedule with live performances—not an easy task since the only time he has available is during leave from the Navy. During his last break (in the midst of the Thanksgiving holiday week), he played shows everywhere from eastern Kentucky to Kansas. And, at the midpoint of this run, he came home. He spent most of his time away from the Navy singing for those of us who are fortunate enough to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma—an area that is rapidly becoming a hotbed for musical talent, promoters who philanthropically support said talent, and badass venues who do not hesitate to book them all (Cain’s Ballroom, The Tulsa Theater, The Mercury Lounge and The Venue Shine, just to name a few).
I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Backyard BBQ and concert Zach’s family hosted during his brief return home and to catch him at both of his shows at The Mercury Lounge Tulsa. Before we get into the incredible energy of the Merc shows, let’s talk about the Backyard BBQ, a free event that Zach’s dad, Dewayne, organized. Donations accepted during the event went to support a local charity primarily working with addiction and dependence issues, a charity important to the Bryan family for very personal reasons. J.R. Carroll, Zach’s trusted friend and confidant, opened the night, making it apparent that they share an exceptional talent for music. Even though the evening was chilly, Zach stood on the outdoor stage, fingers freezing, and played every song from DeAnn and others he’s written since. There were folks who had traveled from as far away as West Virginia and a couple from Texas who were personally invited to the event by Bryan’s dad after desperate, yet futile attempts to secure tickets to any of Bryan’s completely sold-out shows!
And, sell out they did. The show Bryan booked in Pineville, KY grew to such an incredible capacity that it had to be moved to a larger location—and the same happened in Kansas. The Mercury Lounge Tulsa announced their show, and once tickets went on sale, it was only minutes before the event sold out. Zach asked if he could put on another show that same evening to accommodate the fans who didn’t get tickets to the first one, and again, within minutes of ticket release, the second show sold out, too. The Merc was filled to capacity twice that night, and anyone in attendance would tell you that Zach put on a hell of a performance both times. The crowd sang along to every song and shared in every emotion his music revealed. What’s more, despite a packed schedule and limited time home for the holiday, Zach took the time after each show to not just meet with his fans, but chat with them, listen to their stories and share his own. That seems to be typical Zach Bryan, though.
Although Zach’s schedule was already tight, he, his girlfriend, Rose, and his dad agreed to meet me for lunch before he had to return to Washington from leave. They didn’t really have the time, but are simply such gracious people that they were willing to find a minute to sit down and chat with me. After a bit of back and forth about the previous day’s Thanksgiving dinner and the hectic schedule they’d been keeping, we settled into a conversation ranging from pondering whether or not the “Good Ass Beer” Zach ordered would indeed be good ass beer, to the rollercoaster of the ride he’s been on since posting that video on Twitter, to emotions he felt upon the death of his mom, DeAnn.
Zach says he fully believes his mom is watching and guiding him, and that his relationship with her is absolutely the catalyst for his success. His dad agrees and says that DeAnn suspected the talent of her son and knew his potential. Dewayne launches into several stories from Zach’s childhood about his determination and unwavering resolve to succeed. Zach balks a bit, not because his Dad is telling an almost complete stranger stories about his childhood, but because he sincerely believes that the things he’s accomplished aren’t worth “bragging” about. He attributes his career in the Navy to family tradition, his day-to-day successes to “just shit people do,” and his rise in music to a social media post that he only really intended for friends to watch. He never dreamed of the attention it’s brought him and again humbly assigns his success to perhaps only being in the right place at the right time. I ask Rose if Zach is really the meek and unpretentious fella he’s coming across as. She says probably more so than what I’m quickly coming to realize. Rose, too, is in the Navy and stationed in Washington. She says Zach almost never talks about his recent success with the people there, and up until the last couple of months, when his name started to garner recognition outside of the Navy context, folks hadn’t really taken notice of his capabilities other than Navy-based.
He tells me the story of producing DeAnn, the unexpectedness of its fruition, and the friends he holds dear for helping him make it happen. Zach was in Florida with a group of his Navy buddies for a brief break and, without any real forethought, decided to record the album. He says he would have never dreamed of the success and attention it brought him, but somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that the friends who piled into that room in Florida, stacked mattresses around the walls for sound absorption, provided the support for making it happen, and believed in his talent, would always be a part of his career and its successes. Even though he’d been writing songs and singing for a bit, until the success and recognition of DeAnn, Zach was never sure that he expected a career in music. Regardless of where this all takes him, he always wants to be in a position to create the same sort of music he’s singing today and never wants to outgrow his roots.
Zach says he’s just an everyday guy blessed with the talent to do what he does and has no qualms about either the overwhelming positive response or the sporadic criticism he’s received. He asks what kind of person that would make him if he wasn’t capable of understanding and accepting both ends of the spectrum equally? He welcomes the criticism and says that it only makes him want to work harder and do better. After I ask, he contemplates how he’ll react/what he wants when he reaches the status of the artists he admires: Tyler Childers, Turnpike Troubadours, Colter Wall, Jason Isbell, and a slew of others. With just a moment’s hesitation, he counters my question with “Do I decide that “status” or do the people who listen to and love my music decide it for me, and, if that’s the case, is it fair of me to think about it until, if the time comes?” He goes on to say that he knows he never wants to reach a point in his career where he isn’t capable of playing free shows in his Dad’s backyard or continuing to have complete creative control of the music he makes.
A guy with an almost irreproachable natural ability to write lyrics that speak to the feelings of so many, Zach is just a 20-something kid with a mess of living to do, yet his fans have described his music as soul-shattering and life-changing. He says he’s got a bit more growing to do in regards to his music and wants to continue expanding his guitar playing skills. However, the explosion of his fanbase, as of late, can only be an indicator that his fans are damn happy with his music just the way it is now. Zach wonders where the path will take him and won’t consider giving up the Navy duties he’s committed himself to anytime soon, especially with the events on the world stage developing as they are right now. He says if the time comes when he’s called to duty to protect the rights and liberties of his fellow citizens, he will not hesitate to do so, but will continue to make music for as long as anyone will listen.
I was a fan of Zach Bryan’s music from the moment I heard it, but spending time with him, his family, and friends, witnessing the kindness and genuine giving spirits of all their hearts, I have to say I can’t help but be a fan of the person behind the music. He is an old soul, created by too many heartaches in his young life, nurtured by a dad who is nothing less than a force to be reckoned with and a proud supporter, guided by his late mom’s presence, and encouraged by his amazing sister, MacKenzie, his stepmom, and countless others. His lyrics are made of the stuff that musicians spend a lifetime searching for, his voice a resounding vessel of emotion that makes us feel it all with him, and his soul obviously old enough to carry everything he is on his young shoulders.
Zach Bryan:
YouTube Channel:
DeAnn: