Ann Arbor — In case you weren’t already aware, Zach Bryan headlined the biggest concert in our nation’s history this past Saturday at the Big House. Never in all my years of attending games there have I seen the stadium as crazy.
Reports estimate that the crowd was around 112,000 in total. I was once lucky enough to be in the crowd for a night game with 115,000 in attendance. This concert felt even bigger.
That night felt like all of us were there to see our good friend Zach play at a local event, even if that wasn’t exactly the case. Every person was simply there to have a good time and forget about the rest of life for a few hours.
That is what was so special about having a concert at the Big House, a strong feeling of an amazing community without the stress or competition of a big game.
Regardless, Bryan still ended up breaking the record previously held by George Strait, and the night was filled with an energy previously unknown to mankind.
Ryan Bingham opened up the show early and brought that country-western vibe and sweet raspy voice familiar to anyone who has watched “Yellowstone.” After making everyone feel like they worked on a ranch their whole life, John Mayer came out to serenade us with the way he makes the guitar cry.
Proceeding the two openers, a little after 9 p.m., Zach Bryan came out to the Ann Arbor anthem, “Mr. Brightside.” The stadium erupted with everyone belting out the words to the songs they knew or listening cheerfully to every sung poem.
Every girl felt like the small-town “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” and every guy felt like one of the “Highway Boys.”
Bryan played songs that make you want to fall in love, to appreciate the best people in your life, songs that make you tear up a little. I have to imagine that everyone there that night had that experience in their own way.
At the end of the set, Zach announced the band was playing “Quittin Time” as the last song of the evening. After it, almost no one left, as we anxiously awaited an encore. After what felt like forever, I turned to my brother and said, “There is no way he doesn’t come back out to play ‘Revival’ right?”
Sure enough, after a break, the band came back out and played that song. Every member of his band got a moment of recognition and a solo riff.
The band was incredible. When the banjo player got his turn, he faked passing out. The stadium went silent only for him to get back up and shred that banjo like he had a grudge against it.
The last rendition of “Revival” went on for 15 minutes, but we would have all gladly sang it for another hour if we had the chance. The moment almost felt like worshipping in church. Thousands of people came together in that final moment to sign along and form a community. I hope I run into people who were at the concert and reconnect with them over our shared experience.
A fireworks show concluded the concert. As the last few notes of the show rang out, the sky was lit up with red, white, and blue that brought home that sense of feeling proud of the country we live in. Initially, I thought it was just one round of fireworks, but they kept shooting them off as the crowd began exiting.
The show of patriotism was refreshing, a rare break from the cynical stereotype of the younger generations.
I hit the merch tent on the way out. The lines are always shorter as people race out to their cars. I ended up paying way too much for a T-shirt, but I had to have something to show that I was there the day we set the new record.
There were moments during the concert Zach had vocal miscues and technical issues, but that didn’t matter.
He is still human. He also admitted that he might’ve made a mistake when introducing a band member from Ohio, as the Michigan faithful greeted him with boos. The hatred for the team down south never fades, especially in Ann Arbor.
I find it beautiful that an imperfect man created such a wonderful experience supported by an amazing community. It made me proud to call myself an American and a Michigander.
It truly was “an all night revival,” an incredible performance, and a moment that I and over 110,000 others will talk about for many years to come.
Cole Sias is a contributing writer for Michigan Enjoyer.
