This performance was scheduled July 21, 2024.
As a cranky, old retired guy, I must always remind myself to switch things up and get out of my comfort zone.
Nope, I’m not climbing Mt. Everest anytime soon or anything even close to being that adventurous. But as the California Mid-State Fair made its annual return to Paso Robles, I realized in my 21 years living on the Central Coast and attending dozens of concerts there, I had NEVER seen a country music show.
This large twangy band . . . doesn’t easily fit into any musical stereotypes, country or otherwise.”
That omission seemed kind of sacrilegious with northern SLO County being the unofficial country music capital of California, so on Sunday night I donned my starched jeans, western button-down shirt, and John Deere trucker hat before heading north to check out the “southern fried” Zac Brown Band.
Man, 100-degree discomfort never felt so good.
Now a big disclaimer is in order. This large twangy band, fronted by a bearded, energetic Zac Brown and complete with the ubiquitous fiddle player, doesn’t easily fit into any musical stereotypes, country or otherwise.
Sans opening act, with a prompt 7:30 p.m. start despite hundreds of concertgoers still stuck in line at the entrance gate, the band delivered a rollicking but way too short (90-minute) performance in the nearly sold-out Chumash Arena that epitomized the irresistible lure of our big, small-town fair: clear, warm summer nights, cold beer, and the total freedom to let it all hang out.
Okay, back to the music.
With long guitar jams, several song mash-ups and colorful, psychedelic videos on three big screens surrounding the stage, I thought maybe I had stumbled into a Grateful Dead gig.”
Despite this being a “country music” show with more boots, jean shorts, and cowboy hats than you could shake a turkey leg at, their 18-song set was extra-genre-bending, with Van Morrison “Into the Mystic,” “Layla,” and Beastie Boys “Sabotage” covers. Then a 30-second snippet of the Eagles’ “Take It to the Limit” got everyone flashing their smartphones. With long guitar jams, several song mash-ups and colorful, psychedelic videos on three big screens surrounding the stage, I thought maybe I had stumbled into a Grateful Dead gig.
But then Zac began to sing about meeting a girl in a truck-stop diner, followed by a heartfelt rendition of “America the Beautiful” and a rousing finale of their big hit “Chicken Fried,” so I knew it was all just a mirage and I safely remained in countryfied Paso.
The Zac Brown Band is currently doing some dates on Kenny Chesney’s tour so this was their one-off chance to play headliner. Unfortunately, their setlist was identical to a Sofi Stadium stop in LA the night before: a big, missed opportunity to showcase their deeper tracks and give everyone at least two hours of entertainment.
Still, it’s the Mid-State Fair, where several live music options that dot the fairgrounds provide the all-important soundtrack to its unique summer evening country vibe.
And that’s not a bad thing.
:: Colin Jones