The Zac Brown Band formed in 2000 in Dahlonega, Georgia. They are considered a country band, with elements of jamband and Southern rock. Their current lineup includes Zac Brown on lead vocals and guitar, Jimmy De Martini on fiddle, John Driskell Hopkins on bass, Coy Bowles on keyboards and guitar, Chris Fryar on drums, Clay Cook on mandolin and steel guitar, and Daniel de los Reyes on percussion. In 2010, the band won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and tour extensively, especially at festivals such as Bonnaroo.
Zac Brown is a tenor with a country, yet bluesy style. All of the members of the Zac Brown Band provide vocals, so one will need a vocal selection of musicians from bass to high tenor. For guitars, Zac plays a Taylor NS72 acoustic, and a 2008 Collings Winfield Mahogany Adirondack Sunburst. Zac does use some effects, including a Boss TU-2 tuner, a Boss GE-7 EQ, a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus, and a LR Braggs Para Acoustic DI. For amplification, Zac uses Taylor K4 and Avalon U5 DI preamps.
Fiddle player Jimmy De Martini plays an undisclosed $8,000 fiddle, and is responsible for composing much of the Zac Brown Band’s music. To sound like ZBB, you will definitely need a talented fiddle player. Bassist John Driskell Hopkins plays a Modulus bass.
Guitarist Coy Bowles plays a Gibson guitar and often fills in on keyboards. Clay Cook is a full multi-instrumentalist who focuses mainly on mandolin and steel guitar. Cook also provides the high-tenor harmony for the band. Drummer Chris Fryar endorses and plays only Gretsch drums, with a 20-inch bass drum, four toms, and a 6.5×14-inch snare. Percussionist Daniel de los Reyes plays a conga, bongos, and other percussion instruments, as well as a Practice Pro Pad.
To sound like the Zac Brown Band, you will need a rather large group of musicians with a simplified, yet talented sound. The music itself is not too difficult to replicate, but getting the right group of people together is a must.
Keep Rockin’!!!
Zac Brown Band by chrisstreeter taken on March 9, 2010
Zac Brown by ConcertTour taken on June 18, 2012
Zac Brown Band by Lunchbox LP taken on July 11, 2012
