Tom Dunne's review of Zach Bryan in Dublin: 'Great fun and the music was a revelation'
'Who is Zach Bryan?' is suddenly the question of the hour. And how is he second only to Taylor Swift for music streams in Ireland and now playing to 180,000 people over three nights at the Phoenix Park? Is he the new Pope?
I am despatched to find out. In preparation I dive into Zach world. It is a revelation. The voice, the words, the songwriting, the guests, the storytelling. Where has this boy been all my life?
It is American Country, of a type. There are references to his 'daddy's ford', drinking whiskey, playing pool and nostalgia for a time gone by. The message is simple: The further South you go, the better things get.
But these songs are written by a man familiar with Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago and Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Two of his albums start with poems. You can tell he is in thrall to words and cadence and writing.
Zach Bryan fans at his concert in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney
By the time I get to Phoenix Park, it's all starting. There are girls in cowboy hats, cowboy boots, short skirts and waist coats. It looks like a massive Memphis-themed hen party. Average age, early twenties.
The number of Northern accents is striking. The audience is, I'm told, mostly from the West and the North, with only 10% of ticket sales in Dublin.
Bryan is 29. He spent eight years in the American navy. His mum died of alcohol related health issues when in 2019. He released his first album, DeAnn, named in her honour that year. Since then, it's been four more albums, Grammys and number ones.
Zach on stage is a gentle, mannerly, good looking guy with great songs and great players. There are fiddles a go go. Something in the Orange, I Remember Everything, Pink Skies and Heading South sound like songs you've always known, beautiful, timeless, evocative. The audience know every word.
He seems to have gone to the level Bruce is at here without the intervening 40 years. A tricolour is passed to the stage. 'I love you guys, I love you Dublin' he tells us repeatedly. It as if we have always been there for him, except of course.
Zach Bryan at the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney
Being older than his demographic, I probably pick up on a few influences they might miss: There's a hint of Steve Earle to it, a dollop of Gram Parsons, particularly in the image area, Nudie suits can't be far off here. And then there's Warren Zevon.
He plays Warren's Lawyers, Guns and Money, a song so perfect for 2025 it could have been written yesterday. The audience are eating out of his hands. There are sing along songs but many more have a gentle sadness to them.
'A lot of sad in the songs?' I say to a girl in a cowboy hat.
'Ah sad is good, ya know,' she tells me. No argument there.
I come away with more questions that answers. The sheer speed with which people become huge these days. The sheer range of influences they can quietly absorb. And how did this guy get so good so fast?
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Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Tom Dunne's review of Zach Bryan in Dublin: 'Great fun and the music was a revelation'
'Who is Zach Bryan?' is suddenly the question of the hour. And how is he second only to Taylor Swift for music streams in Ireland and now playing to 180,000 people over three nights at the Phoenix Park? Is he the new Pope? I am despatched to find out. In preparation I dive into Zach world. It is a revelation. The voice, the words, the songwriting, the guests, the storytelling. Where has this boy been all my life? It is American Country, of a type. There are references to his 'daddy's ford', drinking whiskey, playing pool and nostalgia for a time gone by. The message is simple: The further South you go, the better things get. But these songs are written by a man familiar with Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago and Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Two of his albums start with poems. You can tell he is in thrall to words and cadence and writing. Zach Bryan fans at his concert in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney By the time I get to Phoenix Park, it's all starting. There are girls in cowboy hats, cowboy boots, short skirts and waist coats. It looks like a massive Memphis-themed hen party. Average age, early twenties. The number of Northern accents is striking. The audience is, I'm told, mostly from the West and the North, with only 10% of ticket sales in Dublin. Bryan is 29. He spent eight years in the American navy. His mum died of alcohol related health issues when in 2019. He released his first album, DeAnn, named in her honour that year. Since then, it's been four more albums, Grammys and number ones. Zach on stage is a gentle, mannerly, good looking guy with great songs and great players. There are fiddles a go go. Something in the Orange, I Remember Everything, Pink Skies and Heading South sound like songs you've always known, beautiful, timeless, evocative. The audience know every word. He seems to have gone to the level Bruce is at here without the intervening 40 years. A tricolour is passed to the stage. 'I love you guys, I love you Dublin' he tells us repeatedly. It as if we have always been there for him, except of course. Zach Bryan at the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Being older than his demographic, I probably pick up on a few influences they might miss: There's a hint of Steve Earle to it, a dollop of Gram Parsons, particularly in the image area, Nudie suits can't be far off here. And then there's Warren Zevon. He plays Warren's Lawyers, Guns and Money, a song so perfect for 2025 it could have been written yesterday. The audience are eating out of his hands. There are sing along songs but many more have a gentle sadness to them. 'A lot of sad in the songs?' I say to a girl in a cowboy hat. 'Ah sad is good, ya know,' she tells me. No argument there. I come away with more questions that answers. The sheer speed with which people become huge these days. The sheer range of influences they can quietly absorb. And how did this guy get so good so fast? Read More Madness review: One step beyond as Suggs and co roll out the hits in Cork
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Irish Times
Zach Bryan in Phoenix Park: Plenty of welly as yeehaw comes to Dublin
Zach Bryan Phoenix Park, Dublin ★★★★☆ Yeehaw arrived in the Phoenix Park on Friday night for the first of Zach Bryan 's three shows this weekend and there was plenty of welly given from all involved. The American country singer-songwriter and rock musician played to a sold-out crowd of 60,000, with a lot of cowboy hats and boots, lace, denim and fringes in attendance. In fact, the vibe was perfectly summed up by two people behind us on the 50-ish minute walk in from the Heuston Luas stop: 'If you look out, you just see a crowd of people,' the woman says, 'and they all look the same.' A man replies: 'Even the lads – all in T-shirts and shorts – and there's always someone too drunk to get in.' In fairness, the scorching weather certainly called for shorts and the boho-cowboy look many of the women were going for, combined with the sticky heat, gave the lengthy stroll down Chesterfield Avenue a feeling of the US music festival Coachella, which takes place in the desert. READ MORE Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Days after the death of Henry Mount Charles , one can't help but be reminded of the long trek through Slane for the many legendary concerts there and, inside, the queues for most food and drink merchants are similar to those of the Meath venue – long, winding and feel as if they are ever-growing. Indeed, one concertgoer remarked that they were in the queue for the bar for an hour. A ticket for Bryan does not come cheap – upwards of €120 at the time of the initial sale and much more now for resale – so spending a lot of that time waiting isn't ideal. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times That being said, Bryan himself certainly gave fans their money's worth, coming on stage just after 8pm and playing until the 10.30pm curfew. Those at Charli XCX this week in Malahide unfortunately couldn't say the same . His onstage band include trumpets, fiddles, piano, double bass and a multitude of others – most wearing western-style outfits and cowboy hats, which all tied in the howdy vibes perfectly next to Bryan's more subdued short-sleeved shirt and trousers. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times The Oklahoma man has a real southern charm to him and comes across incredibly endearing as he repeatedly thanks the audience and smiling when they are audibly singing along with the likes of Pink Skies – which some may recognise from TikTok – and Something in the Orange, in particular. He offers some titbits from his life between the songs while sipping on a can of Budweiser. Bryan's songs also carry a deep romance to them, reflected in the crowd with couples hugging and swaying together. There is swinging and dancing during the livelier ones too, such as Nine Ball and the encore's Revival. The show's visuals are effective, too, and change throughout the set. Expect all the bells and whistles at the end in the form of fireworks. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Overall, it's a charming performance filled with references to good old American culture, without all of the politics. Bryan really feels like the Garth Brooks of the next generation – though he'd probably qualify for a cooler comparison of Bruce Springsteen. If you're heading to the show tonight or tomorrow, make sure to drink a lot of water – as Bryan himself had to stop the show to make sure a fan was okay after an incident reminding the crowd of the very same message. And maybe leave the cowboy boots at home as there were many soiled socks on the way home as the footwear became too unbearable for the long journey in and out.
The Journal
9 hours ago
- The Journal
It's a busy weekend of sport and music in Dublin - here's what's on, and how to get there
IT LOOKS SET to be a warm and sunny weekend in Dublin – so it's a good thing that there's lots to do across the city. Between a range of concerts, GAA, rugby and even some protests, here's all that's going on across Dublin today and tomorrow. Any good concerts on? US country music star Zach Bryan graced the stage at the Phoenix Park last night, and is set to played two more busy gigs today and tomorrow. The concert today is completely sold out, but at the time of writing, there are a limited number of tickets available for the Sunday show. Those looking to head to the gig are best off getting a bus, as parking is extremely limited. All of the following Dublin Bus routes serve the park: 26, 38b, 39, and 70. Across the city, the hit Irish band Kingfishr will play a sold-out show at Fairview Park this evening. Those heading to the gig can get the train from Pearse, Tara or Connolly stations to Clontarf Road. A number of Dublin bus routes also serve the park, including the 15, 27, 42, 123 and H lines. Rolling road closures and traffic delays are expected near the Phoenix Park and Fairview Park for the concerts, gardaí have said. What about sport? Gaelic football fans are in for a treat this weekend with an important double header is scheduled for Croke Park on Sunday. Advertisement Both of the Tailteann Cup semi-finals will take place – Wicklow will face off against Limerick at 2pm, while Fermanagh clash with Kildare at 4pm. Tickets are still available for the fixtures. Those planning on heading to Croker can do so by train (to Drumcondra or Clontarf Road) or Dublin Bus. Drivers, be advised that gardaí will close a number of roads around Croke Park on Sunday afternoon. (We're well aware that there's a lot more sporting events on across the country, including the highly anticipated Donegal rally, and this is a very Dublin-centric article – but it's a particularly busy weekend in Dublin!) Protests Sunday will also see rolling closures across the city centre, due to two major public gatherings – including an anti-immigration demostration and a counter-protest. Both demonstrations are due to take place on Sunday afternoon, and those travelling to or through Dublin tomorrow are advised to anticipate rolling road closures, which will have a likely effect on public transport such as LUAS and Dublin Bus services. Gardaí and Dublin City Council will provide live traffic updates via social media. As more people are expected into the city this weekend, the public transport network as well as roads in and around the city centre will be busy - gardaí and Dublin City Council have also urged the public plan journeys in advance. Irish Rail will run extra services, including late-night trains from Heuston to Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Belfast after each Phoenix Park concert. Additional commuter trains will serve the Maynooth and Drogheda lines. Dublin Bus is diverting multiple routes (including 11, 26, 37, 38, 69) due to concert traffic and roadworks — check @dublinbusnews for live updates. Luas users should plan ahead - Heuston and Museum (Red Line) are closest to the park, though Heuston will close post-concert. Broombridge on the Green Line is also nearby. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
