Zach Top performed at the Andrew J Brady Music Center on Feb. 1. Photo: Instagram

On Saturday night, Zach Top took the stage to a sold-out crowd of screaming country music fans at the Andrew J Brady Music Center. Back in April, Top and his band opened at the same venue for the Brothers Osborne. Now, less than one year later, Top has returned to sell out the whole place, bringing his ‘80s and ‘90s honky tonk style back into the spotlight of country music. Top has helped renew interest in one of country music’s most popular eras with his new songs about those classic country themes of lost love, drinking, bad luck and getting cheated on (and cheating).

After the opening act, Cole Goodwin laid down some country rock and an old time jukebox radio was wheeled onto the stage. The only source of light, the jukebox shuffled through country classics by artists like George Strait and Hank Williams as Top took the stage and launched into the opening track, “Sounds Like the Radio,” from his most recent album Cold Beer & Country Music. 

Throughout the concert, between his own original songs, Top paid tribute to some of his major inspirations. The covers of the night included “The Love Bug” by George Jones, “Heaven Was a Drink of Wine” and “Ramblin’ Fever” by Merle Haggard and “Cadillac Style” by Sammy Kershaw. However, the standout covers were Randy Travis’s “If I Didn’t Have You” and Keith Whitley’s classic “Kentucky Bluebird,” songs by artists, who if you are a fan of country music, you will immediately identify as being hugely influential on Top’s style. Top’s vocal ability is right there alongside Travis and Whitley’s, two of the greatest voices in country music at the end of the 20th century. 

In addition to his honky tonk originals and covers, Top (who began his musical career as a bluegrass guitar picker) played a couple of bluegrass tunes, like his original “World Gone Wrong” and “Don’t Cheat in Our Hometown” by the Stanley Brothers.

Top worked the stage like a classic country singer, unphased by yells, things getting tossed on stage and at least one fight in the crowd. As he introduced the band, he also took some time to give a shoutout to the Bengals, as he had actually performed the National Anthem just across the street at Paycor Stadium before the Bengals and Eagles game back on Oct. 27.

As the show came to a close, Top played his biggest hit, “I Never Lie,” and the packed crowd joined him in singing along. Having only released two albums (one bluegrass and one country), there’s no telling how much more popular Top will get from here, and I personally hope he comes back to Cincinnati again sometime soon for another night of boot stompin’ honky tonk country.

This article appears in Jan 22 – Feb 4, 2025.