Zach Bryan will head to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this summer for three shows with Kings of Leon, and his opening act was recently announced. Alternative duo The Front Bottoms will take the stage to open for Bryan in their home state.
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The NJ shows will take place on July 18, 19, and 20. They are among some of the only shows Zach Bryan is playing this year, with only a handful of concerts scheduled for 2025. He’ll be playing a few shows in London and Dublin, as well as headlining Stagecoach Festival and one show in San Francisco. Other than that, he has no other shows currently planned.
While the choice of opener may strike some as odd, Bryan has shared his love for emo and alternative music in the past. In 2023, he posted on Twitter that, after his record deal, he would make a Midwest emo album, calling it “the best music in my opinion,” per a screenshot obtained by Brooklyn Vegan.
Still, The Front Bottoms don’t exactly spring to mind when one thinks about compatible Zach Bryan openers. Some fans—of both The Front Bottoms and Bryan—shared this sentiment on the social media announcement.
One person expressed their confusion at the choice by writing, “Oohhhhh that’s not …” in the comments of The Front Bottoms’ Twitter post. Another person wrote, “but why lmao,” with similar sentiments echoed in the comment section. “One of those unguessable moves,” another person wrote.
Zach Bryan Baffles Fans With Recent Opener Announcement But Has Previously Shown Love for The Front Bottoms
Other comments expressed still more confusion at Zach Bryan’s choice of opener. “Look I get Zach Bryan is huge into emo and indie rock than the average country musician but this is one of the most Mad Libs lineups of all time,” one tweet reads.
On Reddit, more fans of The Front Bottoms questioned the duo’s choice to open for Bryan. “Curious to see how they curate the set list for this,” one person wrote. Another brought up The Front Bottoms’ rocky past, writing, “The idea of doing shows with [Zach Bryan] after [The Front Bottoms] has so narrowly escaped being cancelled is wild to me.”
Bryan has caught flack recently for his public breakup with internet personality Brianna LaPaglia last year. Since their abrupt breakup, LaPaglia has shared the red flags she noticed in their relationship, leading to many people to consider Zach Bryan in a new, more negative light. As for The Front Bottoms’ controversy, it seems that the band kept Ciaran O’Donnell as a member of the touring band even though allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct came to light. The main issue seems to be fans’ perception of how the band mishandled the entire situation, as discussed in this Reddit thread.
“Am I excited for the front bottoms to have a stadium show? Yes. Am I happy it’s with him? No….deff mixed feelings on this one,” another fan wrote. Allegedly, these will be the biggest shows The Front Bottoms have played besides festivals. Overall, fans seem to have mixed feelings about the announcement due to nuanced and difficult personal situations with both artists. However, one can’t help but share some excitement as both The Front Bottoms and Zach Bryan are introduced to new audiences.
Featured Image by John Medina/Getty Images
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