Sunny Side Up: Zac Brown Band and King Calaway’s Musical Fiesta Scorches West Palm Beach!

November 2nd, 2023

As the lone opening band for the Zac Brown Band, King Calaway didn’t arrive with nearly as much fanfare, but they definitely left with a new set of fans. Their brief set was filled with infectious, upbeat tunes, many of which included cover songs from Free’s “All Right Now,” The Eagles’ “Desperado,” Electric Light Orchestra’s “Don’t Bring Me Down,” Cut Copy’s “Sex is on Fire,” and Steve Miller Band’s “I’m Feeling Good.” Yet, as much fun as those were with the crowd, they still showcased plenty of talent behind their own tracks like “Good Time to Me” and “California Gold.” Recently, they’ve collaborated with Zac Brown as their producer on several tracks, creating a seamless transition to the main event of the night.

King Calaway performs at West Palm Beach’s iThink Financial Amphitheater. © South Florida Insider

Finally, the band we all came to see, the Zac Brown Band, came on with guns blazing. Their performance packed West Palm Beach’s iThink Financial Amphitheater from the seats close to the stage to the farthest spaces across the lawn. Yet, regardless of the fans’ location, Zac and Co. radiated so much energy that the crowd couldn’t help but showcase their excitement all night. The show promptly kicked off at 8:15 pm with the song “Make This Day” and immediately had the crowd on their feet dancing and cheering. 

Zac Brown Band performs at West Palm Beach’s iThink Financial Amphitheater. © South Florida Insider

However, Zac did mellow things for a bit as he got personal with the audience, profoundly stating his gratitude for performing in sunny and warm South Florida. Soon after, he dove right into his monstrous hit song “Toes,” with beach scenes joining the screens above him, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The crowd was in an uproar. 

Yet, the energy didn’t waver as he transitioned into “As She’s Walking Away,” where seemingly everybody sang along in unison. You could see the crowd on the screens as they went back and forth from the band to the audience. Some of the other slow songs they played throughout the night were “Goodbye in her Eyes,” “Sweet Annie,” and “Colder Weather.” The most enjoyable part of these ballads was that you really felt the passion Zac had while he belted the lyrics. Fans sang every word with him too while swaying with their loved ones and friends.

Still, the band did pick up steam plenty with several high-energy tracks like “Whiskey’s Gone,” “Same Boat,” “Knee Deep,” and “Beautiful Drug.” In similar fashion to King Callaway earlier, one of the coolest parts of the show were the cover songs Zac performed including Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos, U2’s “With or Without You,” Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville,” and a mashup of several popular tracks, blending seamlessly into the band’s setlist.

Also, it was notable the interaction Zac had with the crowd. Throughout the show, he connected with the audience with his humble words of gratitude and friendship, leaving the audience feeling appreciated and valued to be his fans. I can’t wait to see what the band does next, as their performance was nothing short of spectacular, creating an unforgettable night for everyone in attendance.