The Greensboro Coliseum, now known as First Horizon Coliseum, has hosted its fair share of legends over the years, but on Thursday night, it belonged to Zach Top. The rising country star had no trouble filling one of the largest indoor arenas in the country, and after releasing a limited batch of $25 box office tickets earlier that day, the building was packed wall to wall with fans eager to experience his brand of honky-tonk revival in person.
I last saw Top in Raleigh when he opened for Dierks Bentley, and even then it felt like half the crowd had shown up just for him. That performance gave me a small glimpse into what a full Zach Top show might look like, but nothing could have prepared me for what Greensboro delivered.
The energy in the building was electric even before he took the stage. Country music fans mingled with members of the NASCAR world; I spotted driver Austin Dillon and Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice walking the concourse, but once the lights dimmed, the focus was all on Zach.
The moment he launched into “Honky Tonk Till It Hurts,” the crowd roared. The singalongs were instant, and by the time he tore into “Sounds Like the Radio” and “Guitar,” there was no way anyone would be sitting down the rest of the night. But what stood out most was Top himself, the sheer joy radiating from him on stage. When I saw him in Raleigh, he was outstanding. In Greensboro, he was alive. Every grin, every glance toward the band, and every stomp of his boot felt like he was playing with sheer passion. He wasn’t just playing songs; he was living them.
At one point, my wife turned to me as Top stood at the mic, cigarette in his mouth. She said, “Now that is country.” And she was right. It wasn’t an act; it was a statement that traditional country is very much alive, and Zach Top is leading the charge.
I’ve been to many concerts, but few have left me genuinely speechless. When the show ended and I walked out those coliseum doors, it honestly felt like I had stepped back into 1994.
The first concert I ever attended, Alan Jackson, set the benchmark for what a country performance should be. But I’ll say it, Zach Top might’ve just topped it. This tour is something special. If you’re on the fence about grabbing tickets, don’t be. Go. Don’t hesitate. Because what Zach Top is doing right now isn’t just a concert, it’s a movement, and you’ll want to be able to say you were there when it all started.
