As part of Zac Brown’s Sphere show is imagery that some are characterizing as Satanic to the point where a legitimate moral panic has set in with scores of news articles and Christian exposé’s about it.
The post Zac Brown Isn’t a Satanist. He’s Just Seriously Bored first appeared on Saving Country Music.
In 2014, as part of Eric Church’s arena tour after the release of his album The Outsiders, the rocker masquerading as a country artist decided to invest in a massive inflatable “air sculpture” of Satan that appeared during the performance of his song “Devil, Devil (Prelude: Prince of Darkness).” When one of the first stops on the tour happened to be in Birmingham, Alabama in the heart of the American Bible Belt, you can imagine the reception for the multi-story representation of Satan was mixed to say the least. Why exactly was Eric Church featuring a massive Satan inflatable at his concerts? Along with the song tie-in, the devil air sculpture had a Nashville belt buckle, and was supposed to represent the evils of the music industry. But for a one-song gag, it seemed a little excessive. People made comparisons of Church’s Satan mascot to the parody metal band Spinal Tap, and a specific episode of The Simpsons that featured Spinal Tap and a big inflatable Satan prop.
But Eric Church didn’t feature the devil at his concert due to him being a satanist. He did it to be edgy, to be unusual, to be an “Outsider” as he was trying to sell himself at the time. But even more so, Eric Church did it because he was bored, including with country music. That was very much the theme throughout Church’s The Outsiders era, and into today. Tired of the country tropes, he wanted to make an edgy (in his mind) rock record. Zac Brown Band just released their new album Love & Fear on December 5th. The album is a weird mix of immature, pot-heavy songs indicative of the ’90s—including an unfortunate collaboration with Snoop Dogg and a slew of unnecessary ‘MF’ bombs—interspersed between ultra sappy, Kathie Lee Gifford-style morning show scented candle positive affirmations, including one with Dolly Parton. There’s also a couple of surprisingly good songs on the album among the weird, incongruent stuff. To coincide with the new album, Zac Brown Band booked a residency at The Sphere in Las Vegas December 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th, along with a couple of other dates in January. Leading up to The Sphere shows, Zac Brown couldn’t have been more hyperbolic, saying The Sphere show was his “masterpiece”—not really the new album mind you, but the presentation they’d put together for the massive screened experience. As part of the almost 360-degree Sphere show is imagery that some are characterizing as Satanic to the point where a legitimate moral panic has set in with scores of news articles and Christian exposé’s about it, dissecting the imagery, and explaining why its scandalous, with one of the prevailing conclusions being that Zac Brown has “sold out for Satan.”The show opens with Zac Brown singing his silly, self-affirming rock song “Heavy Is The Head” he originally cut with Chris Cornell back in 2015. During the song, a massive skeletal character appears on The Sphere screen, and Zac Brown comes out wearing a crown himself. During other portions of the presentation you also see what looks like a hell hound, people being bonded in chains, and other sort of dark, underworld imagery.
I was disappointed with Eric Church’s last album although I think it does get better with subsequent listens. It well below his best. Maybe he is losing his way. I too doubt Zac Brown is a satanist. I can’t help but feel Zac Brown has lost his way. I thought his last album might be him starting to find his way again but his latest ‘Love and Fear’ is a mess and it is all over the place. There are a few decent tracks but some truly bad tracks such as the one with Snoop Dogg. It is just horrible. I don’t mind artists experimenting and I understand them doing so but on this album, in my view, Zac has completely lost his way. Disappointing.
Oh, E D G Y to the maximum.
Uh-huh.
The “Sphere” is nothing more than an obnoxiously oversized eyesore in the Vegas landscape.
And, predictably lauded by the Carnival Cruise line adjacent groups of average losers, as being just so exquisitely, exquisite.
For the record, if it walks, and talks, like it has underworld vibes, then am pretty sure it was not meant to instill a joyous response of Christ centered truth.
I’m not a fan of Zac Brown or terribly knowledgeable about his work. Unfortunately, it seems that he’s bought into the old saw about any publicity is good publicity. He does seem unmoored and is flailing to get back to relevancy. Thanks to Trigger for his perspective.
The devil has been showing up in blues, bluegrass, rock, country, etc. since music began. If someone gets verklempt at this point over the devil popping up in a song, they are especially fragile and need to stop listening to music to avoid a psychotic breakdown.
Give me “satanic back masking” or take a hike! I wonder how many evangelicals think of Tom Sawyer as a classic with no knowledge of the fact that Twain wrote extensively about Satan being the good guy. Oh wait, they don’t read so never mind!
Almost 60 years after you Americans lost your minds (well some of you anyway) over John Lennon’s ‘more popular than Jesus’ comment and still some bible bashers manage to be offended by nothing. You’re a funny lot sometimes!
I hadnt really heard anything about this so i dont think its realy a big thing. Far as zac brown band goes, its been a long fall for them. They used to be pretty good but in chasing relevency or whatever they are chasing, they have just lost all credibility.