Zanzabar has always lent a laid-back atmosphere provided their food, beer, and, of course, pinball machines. On any given day Zanzabar is usually a place easily maneuvered from one area to the next, but on Saturday the crowd for The Apache Relay and Andrew Combs made a thirty second walk to the bathroom feel more like a ten mile hike.
Opening for The Apache Relay was Dallas native and Nashville local, Andrew Combs. His performance was like drinking a stiff bourbon on the front porch in the evening sun; calm, delightful, and reflective. Definitely one of the better singer, songwriters I have seen live in a while. As an avid fan of Ryan Adams, I couldn’t help but to recognize some of the same enticing Southern vocal qualities. Andrew Combs's also has an impressing romantic and mysterious stage presence. A kind of quality that makes you feel like he's playing just for you even though you're surrounded in a crowd.
The Apache Relay's sound and energy were on point and even played “Katie Queen of Tennessee", appropriately, with Houndmouth’s, Katie Toupin. However, the intimacy of Zanzabar’s venue space just wasn’t big enough for the crowd they drew. Coming in at 5 feet, 4 inches, on a good day, it was hard for me to see anything over the sea of towering heads against the low ceiling. My hearing is better than my height, so what I heard sounded great and from what I could see the crowd was loving it too. Definitely a wonderful change of pace from the dreary winter weather.
Photos by Aaron Mikel
