I would be doing you all a disservice if I didn't give some back story here before we get to all the nitty gritty of an epic weekend at Gillette Stadium for Zach Bryan.
If it's your first time here reading one of our reviews or what we do here, welcome. What you're going to get is an honest to gods review of a show. You're going to get it in my voice, the way I would talk in real life. So if it sounds like I am going round and round and uneducated, well that's the ADHD and the brain sometimes move faster than my fingers can type. You're welcome.
Okay, seeing that's out of the way, because that is the biggest issue here with this review right? ha... ya ok... we will address the elephant in the room first and foremost. But don't be a dick and stop reading after the "Tee Shirt" incident, I have some good stuff to say about the shows themselves too. Unless you're only here for the "controversy" then do whatever the hell you want I guess. Yes, controversy is in quotes, but we will get there.
So, let's dive into it.
For those of you living under a rock or something along those lines, a few weeks ago some artist named Macklemore made some Free Palestine/Pro Palestine comments on stage at Met Life Stadium. Well, that pissed New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft right the fuck off and Kraft went on a tear and said that Macklemore wasn't welcome at Gillette because his comments were "anti semitic" and urged other owners to back him and got Macklemore booted off Ed Sheeran's tour. It's a long story, this is probably a bastardization of it, but you get the point and really I only put this in here incase you have no idea what's been going on.
Well that brings us to this past Friday October 2, 2026. Zachary Lane Bryan walks into Gillette Stadium with a "Free Palestine" shirt on. We were in section 130 row 7, shout out Mike, and I almost shit my pants. He comes into focus on the giant ass screens he has for the shows and there he was in this shirt. My "let's stir the pot" mentality was tickled pink. We posted the photo and within minutes it had more views than we have ever seen that fast ever in 5 years. The comments started rolling in, because you know everyone on the internet has a Political Science degree whenever something like this happens. It was awesome! We got some great views, comments, etc. We weren't upset at all. Hell even the local news here in Boston picked up our photo and broadcasted it across the region. Thanks WBZ for the eyes!
I do want to make it clear as crystal, and you won't like this, because everyone has to have a stance on everything...but... here we don't. He could have walked out in a "Free Israel" shirt and we would have posted the same way. Actually, that's probably not true because it wouldn't have been controversial. But, that doesn't mean we give a shit either way either if I am being honest.
For me, what made me excited and happy to see this, was purely the fact someone had the balls to walk into that building after knowing all the bullshit with Macklemore and Ed Sheeran and him ultimately having to cancel "due to weather" and the owner of that buildings thoughts on the matter and still having the courage to stand up to him and pretty much flip him the bird. It was awesome. I tip my hat to Zach for that. And I am sure this won't make me friends over at Patriot Place, but at the end of the day, the Kraft's, the Patriots, etc are not the gate keepers of Free Speech. Say and do what you want. Now, will Zach ever be invited back? Maybe not, but that's also the consequence of that speech right? If Zach is welcomed back, I do think the Kraft's owe Macklemore an apology and maybe more, but that's a whole other can of worms.
Oh and to add insult to injury, he wore the same shirt again in night 2!
OK! Can we move on from this now and talk about the shows themselves?
Let's dive into them!
Both nights same openers, Gabriella Rose and Gregory Alan Isakov. Did we know much about these acts going in? Nope. Do we know more now? Also, not really, but it's also only been 24/48 hours since the shows have completed and well other things like writing this review and kids and sleep have come first. However, I will say this. Both were very good live. I may be speaking out of turn and if I am, apologies, but both nights sets seemed to be identical or pretty damn close to identical. Which, for an opener on a show this scale, totally understandable and probably should be that way. I mean, let's face it, the only folks who go in for the openers are the ones who really care about the concert as a whole.
Gabriella is a true power house and she can really sing her ass off! She said some really interesting things on stage this weekend and she's certainly someone we would love to get on the podcast and hear her story.
Gregory Alan Isakov is an absolute legend in his own right. He has done some incredible things in the world of music and has been nominated for a Grammy, but take award nominations as you will, they don't mean much like they used to unfortunately. But, in this case, Isakov is an absolute power house. If you like bands like The Lumineers, Mumford and Sons and other acts in that same exact sound, you will love this guy for sure. I even enjoyed it and I don't understand The Lumineers hype at all. Like at all. Don't get it. He would work much better in a small club or theater setting, just a much better vibe than in a "Football Place" as he so affectionately referred to The Razor. Overall, a great set and someone I certainly want to hear more from.
Now, let's talk about the man of the evening, Mr. Zach Bryan.
If you went to both shows, I would argue you saw two totally different shows. At least you got two totally different experiences.
In night one, we did see a thinner crowd then in night 2. Friday night shows at Gillette are an absolute disaster unless you plan ahead, call out of work, use a sick day, whatever and can get there when the lots open at 3pm for a 7pm show start time. If you can do this, there's not much of a headache. If you can't you're battling 495, 95 and Route 1 rush hour traffic which sucks on a Tuesday afternoon let alone a Friday with a major event happening. I was hearing stories that it was taking folks 2 hours or more to go down the street, that's insane and honestly not far fetched at all. But I guess, what are you gonna do about it? The infrastructure won't change, so we have to adjust and if we can't well, traffic it is.
Night 2, Saturday, it looks as if it was much smoother sailing. I arrived early both nights because I knew what to expect and well, I am a professional concert goer. That sounded douchey, but here we are.
Going into night 1, I have to admit, I didn't look at other show setlists for this tour, I wanted to be surprised. Well right off the rip I was surprised with the tee shirt choice, and then surprised we got 'Overtime' to kick it off as that was the first song 2 years ago when I saw him last as well. Wasn't expecting the same opening song 2 years later, but it's a classic and blew the roof off the place. Song after song it was hit after hit. We got a few new tunes off the upcoming EP that will be out soon and those tunes did not disappoint and I seriously can't wait to hear them done and produced. That tune 'Lodi When' is going to be the next BIG one. If you haven't heard it, go find it, it's floating around. If you can't relate to it, I am envious, and if you can....I am so incredibly sorry, I know how you feel.
I may get shit for this, but night ones setlist, I think out weighed night two. I will say the crowd in night two, outweighed night one. The intensity in night two was insane. I mean to be fair night two did see a record in Foxboro with 73,538 attendees. The last record was held by Ed Sheeran, the irony there huh?
But night two, was something totally special. It reminded me of my first ZB show. There's nothing better and more exciting than a sold out crowd that knows EVERY WORD TO EVERY SONG. There is nothing better in this world if you ask me. Outside of being called Dad, that's the best and my kids laughter. Ok, I digress,
It really did bring me back.
That night 2 years ago, really was the moment I was like "okay I am a fan" because I didn't get it before then I really didn't. 'Something in the Orange' was just OK to me at the time, and then it was like "well golly. the other songs are worlds better".
Anyway, night 2, crowd, music, it was all just a big ass sing along. The songs were standard go to songs for a crowd that size and that isn't said with a slight, it was the right move. When you have that many people you want to make sure they are singing every song and you don't want to deviate and make 70,000 plus take a bathroom break during a song. Kills the vibe. No vibes were harmed in the production of night 2.
I am going to post both nights set list and I want to hear what you think! Which night had the better songs?
Link for night 1 - https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/zach-bryan/2026/gillette-stadium-foxborough-ma-334c90e5.html
Link for night 2 - https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/zach-bryan/2026/gillette-stadium-foxborough-ma-234c90db.html
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