Zac Barnett Is Counting Down

The alternative band American Authors lead singer and guitarist Zac Barnett spent an hour with me last week discussing how he and the band are adapting to the pandemic environment.  He was refreshingly earnest and honest. 

The intended purpose of our conversation was the collaboration between the Authors and Smallpools who joined forces to record a new version of Counting Down (Smallpools Remix), the single which originated on the EP of the same name released in September of this year. I like the music both bands create, so this collab was right in my wheelhouse. 

The new remix of Counting Down is found here:

After the success of Old Town Road, with its endless remixes and guest artists, I’ve become jaded about the process. This time it made sense. The pairing of American Authors and Smallpools brings together two complimentary bands which is how you cross promote at a time when you simply cannot be on the road. 

Talking to Zac who was relaxed and unguarded was different than my expectation. There is often too much “publicist” preparation before one of these discussions, with the answers seeming canned or deposition ready. Not here. Zac was the kind of guy with whom I like to spend time. There was simply no pretense. He was authentic, informed and kind. We even met his dog Nala who has a great Instagram account @bestdogofmylife, a sly nod to American Authors’ hit song Best Day Of My Life.

Following the path of my series about how to maintain continuity with fans during the pandemic, Zac explained the ways in which he uses social media to stay in near constant communication with fans. This is critical, particularly for a band which holds itself out as a band which likes to go out on tour in support of others, while playing private events as a headliner. This is exactly the sort of group which is in transition to becoming an arena draw, but whose progress has been frozen as a consequence of the pandemic.

There are many elements to survival as an ongoing entity when ticket events are in the distant future, and we discussed them all: publishing rights fees, commercial use of songs, merchandise sales and continuing to create and release content.

What we didn’t discuss, but which was evident during our interaction was how it important it is for the front man to be charismatic. Fans relate to their musicians in two separate ways: the music and the way in which they invest emotionally in the musicians. For that reason, and rare for me in this column, I have included the video as well as the audio podcast. Watch and see how Zac builds affinity. That’s the skill which is my early indicator of a band which could wind up with a lengthy run of full events.

No one likes the way live entertainment has been shut down. The dreamers are just coming around to the idea that nothing of substance will take place before late 2021 or likely even into 2022. There are so many obstacles including health concerns, the dismantling of road crews and venue staffs, and the difficulty of scheduling both new shows and those which have been postponed into a time frame when there is enough audience to attend them all.

The bands who make it through need a variety of skills. Most important, in my opinion, is the ability to remain interesting to fans through alternative mechanisms to communicate until they can get back out on tour.   I am now on the record that American Authors will, in make it in the way set out by Grand Funk Railroad. When this Coronavirus shut down is over they’re going to be back out as an American Band coming to your town to help you party down.