Zac Brown Band Jams in Chicago

The Zac Brown Band gave fans a rousing, jam fest performance during a two and a half hour performance at Chicago’s Northerly Island on Thursday, Aug. 19.

　

The night was filled with fiddles, fun and flat-out musical freedom as Brown joined forces with Jimmy De Martini, John Hopkins and Clay Cook to bring those in attendance a once in a lifetime performance.

　

“We have no choice but to whip this show with a belt,” Brown said as they opened with “Whiskey’s Gone.”

　

De Martini nearly set fire to his fiddle’s horse hair as he tore through the opening ballad.

　

Just 200 feet from the shore of Lake Michigan, Brown set the mood with songs like “Where the Boat Leaves From,” in which he managed to fit a few verses of Bob Marley’s “One Love” and “Knee Deep,” which the band recently recorded with Jimmy Buffet.

　

“I hope that tonight whatever B.S. you had to deal with all week, you can let it go,” Brown said before Hopkins sunk into his deep, rapid-fire “It’s Not OK” jam.

　

Brown played a few future hits from his upcoming album, You Get What You Give, including “As She’s Walking Away,” a track recorded with Alan Jackson.

　

“Colder Weather,” a song Brown said was “my favorite song we’ve ever written,” was played as the night started to cool down. Though the fans were hearing it for the first time, the reaction made it seem like a long-time hit.

　

Before the city’s sound curfew set in, the band was able to let loose on a near 10-minute session of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely,” along with hits “Highway 20 Ride,” “Toes” and “Chicken Fried.”

　

The No. 1 hit, “Free,” ended the night, but fans can see the Zac Brown Band again when they head to the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre in Oklahoma City.