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Zach Top at Faster Horses: A Traditionalist’s Triumph

By Clarissa Darling on July 31, 2024

Amidst the sweltering heat and the buzz of nearly sold-out crowds, Zach Top’s performance at the Faster Horses Festival in Michigan was a refreshing nod to the roots of country music. On a clear Friday, with the sun still intense, Top took the main stage, offering a setlist that felt both nostalgic and invigorating.

File Photo: Zach Top performs at the Faster Horses Festival in Brooklyn, Michigan, 2024. (Copyright 2024 Larry Philpot / SoundstagePhotography.com)

Zach Top, a Washington native, has carved out a niche for himself in the country music scene with his neotraditional style. His journey from a family bluegrass band to the stages of Nashville has been marked by a deep reverence for the genre’s greats. Top’s debut single “Sounds Like the Radio” and his album “Cold Beer & Country Music” have solidified his place as a modern-day torchbearer of classic country vibes.

The band, featuring the likes of Brent Mason on Telecaster, Andy Leftwich on fiddle, Gary Primm on piano, Glenn Worf on bass, Scottie Sanders on pedal steel, Tommy Harden on drums, and Top himself on acoustic guitar, brought an authenticity to the performance that resonated with fans of all ages. Each member, a seasoned musician, added layers of richness to the sound, transporting the audience to a simpler time.

Top’s set included his hits like “Sounds Like the Radio,” “The Kinda Woman I Like,” and “Ain’t That a Heartbreak,” each song a testament to his ability to blend storytelling with melody. The emotional honesty of “I Never Lie” and the poignant “In a World Gone Wrong” showcased his range as a songwriter and performer.

The festival’s headliners, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Hardy, brought their own flavors to the weekend, but it was Top’s Friday performance that captured the essence of country music’s enduring spirit. With the weather hitting the 90s on Sunday, it was Top’s cool, classic sound that provided the perfect antidote to the heat.

Zach Top’s presence in film and television may not be extensive, but his music videos, directed by Citizen Kane Wayne, offer a cinematic quality that complements his lyrical narratives.

Zach Top’s performance at Faster Horses was a standout moment, a blend of honky-tonk rhythms, heartfelt ballads, and an unapologetic love for country music’s roots. It was a performance that not only paid homage to the past but also pointed towards a bright future for this rising star.