I’ll be the first to admit I find it hard to be critical of the Zolas.
Their show at Zaphod Beeblebrox on March 18 was my third time seeing them. I’ve been listening to them for years, as well as to Lotus Child, the band that core members Zachary Gray and Tom Dobrzanski had before The Zolas.
As performers, they are still coming into their own, with a few awkward moments in between songs. But when they play, it’s like it’s all they know. Whether it’s packed into Zaphod’s or filling a Bluesfest stage, their energy is infectious and their shows are always fun.
However, perhaps because it was my third time seeing them, I found more to be critical of this time around.
First off, a mostly unrelated complaint: the all-ages aspect of the show. Obviously, this had nothing to do with the band, but the group of teenagers bouncing in a circle next to me jumped on my toes more than a few times, and put a damper on the night for a lot of people.
Other than that, the crowd was happy to be there. The band mixed their newer, more synth-filled songs with old hits, riding on the excitement of their fans every time those familiar chords begin.
The set began slowly with “In Heaven,” an older song, but segued into the upbeat “Molotov Girls” so quickly that it was as if the first song was a mistake. With this song, the energy in the room was palpable. This is what fans have come to expect from seeing The Zolas live—upbeat music, soulful vocals, and a roller coaster setlist.
The band continued to mix old songs with new, coasting along until halfway through the set, when frontman Gray paused to introduce an older and under-performed track, “Cultured Man.” His introduction struck an odd chord with me—he said the song contained some of the worst lyrics he had ever written. For fans of the song, I don’t think they can ever think of it the same way again.
Ironically, the next song they played was a brand-new track about throwing away his cell phone that, at least to me, felt like it actually contained the worst lyrics I’d ever heard in a Zolas song. I’ve always loved their slightly awkward but honest-feeling lines, but I would be sincerely glad if I never heard that one again.
Maybe I’m just one of those fans who always wants to hear the older hits, always preferring the piano solos to the synth beats. I can admit to that. And regardless of the awkward 20 or so minutes in the middle, The Zolas’ encore songs made up the entire night for me. “Invisible” and “Observatory” are two great songs, but the last one, “Escape Artist,” I had been waiting to hear all night.
When Gray removed his guitar and slung the keys over his shoulder, I knew it was coming. But I didn’t expect him to grab the mic stand and take it as far down into the crowd as he could—which just happened to be right in front of me. With everyone’s cell phone lights illuminating his face, Gray’s performance of “Escape Artist” erased everything and reminded me of my love for The Zolas.
– Photos by Justin Samanski-Langille
