Charles Wesley Godwin Gets Big Boost Opening for Zach Bryan
Ever since being honorably discharged from the United States Navy and hitting the road full-time earlier this year, Zach Bryan has been setting the world on fire with a similar ferocity that followed the release of his homespun debut album DeAnn in 2019. Defying all odds, Bryan is selling out nearly every show he plays, and as attendees will attest, crowds are incredibly engaged, younger than expected, and singing along to every single word of every single song.
Zach Bryan continues to be a musical phenomenon of the likes we just haven’t seen in independent country. It’s like the popularity of Tyler Childers mixed with the rabidness of K-pop fans.
There’s also been a secondary recipient to all of this attention. Charles Wesley Godwin was the opening act for many of the recent Zach Bryan shows, and has not only found a kinship with Zach Bryan himself, he’s found a deep reception with Zach Bryan’s loyal fans. There’s opening slots, and then then there’s an opening slot on Zach Bryan’s tour where fans show up two hours early, and listen to every single song from the opener.
Godwin addressed the rabid fandom surrounding Zach Bryan recently on the Whiskey Riff podcast, saying, “My dad has told me throughout my life about what it was like when The Beatles came to America. And, just the die hard fandom that they had. I’m here to say, and I’ll die on this mountain, I think Zach Bryan… like the energy that his fans have for him… it’s gotta be like some modern day version of that … When he steps out, and him and his guys go on stage and they’re about to start their show, you feel like you need hearing protection. Like, it is electric. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
And Zach Bryan has been reciprocating the love back to Charles Wesley Godwin regularly during the tour. “I feel like we’re all witnessing something really beautiful in music that I will tell my grandkids about,” Bryan said on Twitter recently, prefacing a video of Godwin and his band performing. “Thank you Charles Wesley Godwin for letting us sit in on the best show in music.”
With the way things have been going for Godwin while opening for Zach Bryan—and the positive reception Godwin’s receiving for his recent album How The Mighty Fall that’s up for Saving Country Music’s Album of the Year—Godwin could be selling out his own big shows in front of his own energetic crowds sooner than later. In fact, an upcoming show at Silverados in Black Mountain, NC on December 17th is sold out, which should be a warning to fans to see Godwin in smaller venues while they still can.
Just how Parker McCollum inadvertently lit the spark behind the Zach Bryan phenomenon when Parker shared one of Zach’s early videos, Zach is now helping to pass the torch to Charles Wesley Godwin. And so goes independent country music, where radio and awards won’t be lending these artists a hand anytime soon, but they’re more than happy to lend a hand to each other.
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Zach Bryan is set to play Webster Hall in New York on December 20th, and Royale in Boston on December 21st.
Charles Wesley Godwin has upcoming shows at Amos’ Southend in Charlotte, NC December 16th, Silverados in Black Mountain, NC on December 17th (sold out), and the Bell Theater in Pineville, KY on December 18th.
December 16, 2021 @ 9:53 am
So gutted I’m not making it to the Royale show – didn’t realize I was gonna be in Boston until a couple weeks ago, and tickets were already well over $200.
Saw him in ATL and it was unbelievable.
December 16, 2021 @ 12:39 pm
Too bad. Royale is a great venue..
I was in TX two weeks ago and didn’t know Billy Strings was playing ACL in Austin. Tix were outrageous aftermarket. I wouldn’t pay it. I did get to see him in VT for $40 this summer.
I didn’t try for ZB at Royale.. Wife is not vaccinated and hates all the protocols. Love to see him though.
December 16, 2021 @ 5:52 pm
Was in Boston for Thanksgiving week.
Missed Billy at the Wang the week before, Emily Scott Robinson at Passim and Katie Pruitt at Brighton Music Hall the week after.
Brutal, haha
December 16, 2021 @ 10:02 am
I was lucky enough to see Godwin in the opening slot on a festival bill way out in the middle of nowhere last summer, in front of an eager 500 people. Those days are probably gone, and I am happy for him. He put out the best record of 2021.
As for Bryan, he has been the gateway drug for my son to FINALLY like his old man’s music. Me taking the kid to festivals to see these bands growing up didn’t work. Him listening to this music day and night in my house didn’t work. But he listens to Zach in a way he will never listen to me, and now the kid is into Childers, Whiskey Myers, Turnpike, Colter Wall, etc. Thanks Zach!
December 17, 2021 @ 9:44 am
Love hearing that. Too many people choose to ignore how the industry really works, and that in order to “Save Country Music”, you have to bring the younger folks in and get them interested in a subset of the genre so that they can explore on their own. They need that gateway. And to open that gateway, you need stars.
Zach could potentially be that star for a lot of kids. Happy it happened for your son, and hopefully he drags his friends into it as well.
December 16, 2021 @ 10:50 am
I saw Godwin open for Zach a few weeks back at a mid-sized venue, and both my friend and I agreed that he basically stole the show. High-energy band with a ton of variety, and the crowd was loving it. Zach was great too, but Godwin was just so much more dynamic live, at least at that show. Definitely became a new fan and was happy to see him before he moves onto bigger venues.
December 16, 2021 @ 6:13 pm
I completely understand what you mean. Saw him in a mid-size venue also and Zach Bryan had the crowd mesmerized but CWG and band clearly had the experience and came across much more polished. Not a knock on Zach and his band because that was a special show but it’s also obviously all new to them.
December 16, 2021 @ 11:21 am
For Godwin, Bryan has been that one big break he’s needed after years and years of grinding and working hard and tuning his craft.
If I recall right, Godwin was only signed up for a few shows as the opener, then Bryan made it permeant. The show Bryan show in Louisville I attended didn’t have an proper opener (Bryan’s keyboardist opened). So Godwin made the best of the opportunity afforded him.
Overall, it’s great to see Bryan paying in forward. He comes off as the nicest human in world and I believe that’s genuine.
I see some clowns on social media are commenting it should be the other way around. I ask, “based on what?”
December 16, 2021 @ 1:02 pm
Music maybe?
December 16, 2021 @ 1:47 pm
Personal taste? Ok. You can say “personally, I like music CG better and like for him to be the headliner.”
But by every other metric, the two aren’t even comparable. And I like both guys. But facts are facts.
December 16, 2021 @ 2:16 pm
All implicit, but thanks professor.
December 16, 2021 @ 5:56 pm
Imagine trying to be snarky when you get called out for saying something laughably dumb in order to chase upvotes.
It’s like earnestly bitching that Tyler Childers should have been opening for The Local Honeys, just because they blew his fucking socks off live.
December 16, 2021 @ 7:30 pm
I can’t speak to any of that, and I don’t spend much time on social media, so I’m only speculating that the people who think the order is reversed are saying that because “maybe” they like CWG’s music better. Pretty straightforward really.
December 16, 2021 @ 7:41 pm
Oh, sorry for the confusion.
I was referring to the upvotes and validation you’re nakedly chasing here.
I thought it was implicit, professor.
December 16, 2021 @ 8:02 pm
LOL, that’s awesome, considering I usually assume (and am at terms with) the opposite result when I comment. And, well, look at that…exactly what happened to the very comment in question. I guess I’ll be at least the second person today to tell you to get out of here with that bullshit.
December 17, 2021 @ 8:08 pm
Bryan stans have become a cult.
It is OK to admit that not everyone thinks he is a golden child.
December 16, 2021 @ 11:44 am
Great respect for him. Godwin is still keeping his roots. Played a show at a local bar, 123 Pleasant St in Morgantown, in the last couple weeks. Us fellow West Virginians understand and connect to every song, just like our Kentucky neighbors do with Childers. While there are plenty of local bands and back porch pickers, it is a welcome site and feeling to witness the rise of Godwin. One of the best. Glad to see other musicians and media recognizing that as well.
December 16, 2021 @ 12:05 pm
I was at the show at 123 also. Zach Bryan was standing in the back of the room. About 2/3 of the way through the show the person standing next to me clued me in that he was back there. I’m not sure at what point he came in, but it was cool to see him taking in the show
December 16, 2021 @ 11:52 am
I guess I need to see CWG with a band. I’ve seen him twice acoustic. He was good, but so mellow.
December 16, 2021 @ 12:36 pm
I saw CWG open for Reckless Kelly a couple months a go. I was expecting something acoustic or pretty mellow then like 6-7 guys come out and played a hell of a show.
December 16, 2021 @ 1:30 pm
Reckless Kelly and CWG sounds like an incredible show
December 16, 2021 @ 8:18 pm
The Zach Bryan show was my introduction to him which is strange because I am on here daily and must have missed CWG. After seeing him live, I checked out more of his work and would really appreciate being able to see him acoustic. But the full band really was great and worth seeking out if you are able.
December 16, 2021 @ 1:07 pm
Bryan just doesn’t want CWG coming after him with some TNT.
December 16, 2021 @ 1:50 pm
Seeing CWG tonight in Charlotte. Saw him in July at the same venue and it was a great show. There really wasn’t too many people at that show, so im hoping his new album will get a few more people in the doors tonight.
December 16, 2021 @ 2:57 pm
Diehard Godwin fan here, but can’t seem to get into Zach Bryan. Will check him out live to see what the hype’s about, if he ever comes around DC.
December 16, 2021 @ 3:53 pm
CWH = AOTY
December 16, 2021 @ 5:04 pm
I feel for CWG. It must be tough knowing no matter what he does, he can only be the #2 Charles Wesley when it comes to songwriting.
December 16, 2021 @ 5:22 pm
Trigger,
Sorry for being off topic, but you have got to post your thoughts on the latest from WhiskeyRiff about Isbell and his comments about Wallen and George Jones. Personally, this deepens my disdain for all things Ickbell.
I completely understand if you do not. It would arouse fierce comments. On second thought, maybe you just better leave well enough alone.
December 16, 2021 @ 6:04 pm
It’s not a Whiskey Riff article. It was a Buzzfeed puff piece on Isbell. I may have something on it soon. But yes, there’s one of these coming out every day. I’m not even sure if they’re worth addressing. It’s basically non country journalists virtue signaling to each other on Twitter, and using country music as the whipping boy sound board.
December 16, 2021 @ 6:11 pm
I enjoy wayne responding to the interview by sobbing that Isbell saying that Wallen deserves to be less famous is like cutting Wallen’s fucking dick off.
Unless he’s personally victimized by the suggestion that George Jones should have suffered at least one consequence for regularly beating the shit out of Tammy Wynette?
December 16, 2021 @ 6:53 pm
Trigger is correct. let’s just move on. My bad on this one. I guess my main point of consternation is Isbell is the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. He as well is no saint. Enough said.
December 16, 2021 @ 7:19 pm
I definitely agree that Isbell ain’t a saint…I’d even call him a sanctimonious dick.
I’ve also yet to see him shout the n-word on camera, or be accused of beating women.
Hell, in the full interview, he takes the time to say “I don’t mean to pick on George Jones. I think he’s the greatest country singer that ever lived. But he did a lot of really, really terrible, terrible shit.”
And if there’s one person qualified to say “This isn’t about lynching Wallen for being an alcoholic. It’s about him facing consequences for being an asshole,” it’s Isbell, haha.
December 16, 2021 @ 7:23 pm
As Trigger mentioned, I’d say you should read the full Buzzfeed interview – the Whiskey Riff shit is just pulling the most salacious bits out of the article in order to get impressions, haha.
Like all those articles turning Affleck’s Howard Stern interview from “My marriage was over, but we both tried to stick with it ‘for the kids,’ and I dealt with that stress by drinking until I realized I was actually hurting the kids” to “Jennifer Garner made me drink!!!!!”
…followed up with articles about people tweeting responses to their tweet mischaracterizing the interview, hahaha.
December 16, 2021 @ 7:21 pm
Cool Lester Smooth,
First off, this is an article about Zach Bryan and Charles Wesley Godwin, and I would appreciate if we keep it on that topic. I am likely to address the now two sanctimonious puff pieces on Jason Isbell posted in as many days in due course, and we can discuss it further there.
But I will say this. The idea that George Jones did not suffer any consequences for his actions in his day is just one of many, many egregious falsehoods in this Buzzfeed Isbell suck off. Do you think “No Show Jones” was a term of endearment? George Jones was absolutely ridiculed publicly, and ostracized for his actions in real time. The problem is modern journalists are so self-absorbed, they truly believe that when they discover something for themselves, they are truly the first to ever know it, and it’s up to them to right the wrong, and expose the truth. Anyone who actually knows the George Jones story, knows he suffered huge consequences throughout his life and career, from institutionalization, arrest, fines, and jailing, to being destitute and living in his car in the middle of his career, and with the media covering it all. Get out of here with this “George Jones faced no consequences” bullshit.
December 16, 2021 @ 7:33 pm
A) I literally have the first comment on this article, and it’s on topic.
B) The actual Isbell quote is literally about the bullshit historiography of George Jones’ life within the country music establishment/mainstream journalism.
C) Do you really think that “Jones got in trouble for costing the industry money by missing shows” is an effective rebuttal to the argument “Folks constantly whitewash the fact that George Jones used to beat the shit out of women, and reformat his life as a tale of talent triumphing against alcoholism, just because he’s the greatest country singer of all time,” haha?
…because it sounds a whole lot like an attempt to whitewash the fact that George Jones used to beat the shit out of women, and reformat his life as a tale of talent triumphing against alcoholism, just because he’s the greatest country singer of all time.
December 16, 2021 @ 7:37 pm
Personally, I’d say that Isbell is rather well-positioned to argue that alcoholism isn’t some get out of jail free card for screaming racial slurs and beating women, haha.
December 16, 2021 @ 9:06 pm
I have no idea what this comment means. I didn’t argue alcoholism is a “get out of jail free” card. And I don’t think either Morgan Wallen or George Jones used it as such.
December 20, 2021 @ 11:31 am
I thought it was pretty clear.
Isbell’s explicit point is that people use Jones’ and Wallen’s drinking problems to reframe their beating women and shouting racial slurs as bad things that happened to them, which they have to overcome, rather than choices they made, for which they should face consequences.
…which is why saying “George Jones got in trouble for costing his label money” isn’t an actual counterpoint to “George Jones didn’t get in any trouble for beating the shit out of women.”
December 16, 2021 @ 6:06 pm
A) The only reason you know Morgan Wallen’s name is from his non-threatening, Disney Channel cover of Isbell’s song.
B) \”This guy is an idiot. And he does not deserve to be put on a pedestal. So let’s take him off the pedestal and put him back down on the sidewalk with everybody else. That’s all anybody asked for.” is as innocuous as it fucking gets, snowflake.
Or maybe you’re crying that Isbell isn’t cool with George Jones beating the shit out of Tammy Wynette?
“HE’S AGAINST BEATING WOMEN AND SCREAMING THE N-WORD????? WAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!”
December 16, 2021 @ 7:34 pm
(Sorry, this was overly aggressive. I know you’re a good dude, wayne)
December 16, 2021 @ 8:36 pm
why don’t you quit drinkin’
always actin’ like a clown
we all see your ships been sinkin’
and it’s slowly goin’ down
December 16, 2021 @ 5:33 pm
Sorry it’s off topic but I would appreciate it if you shared any kind of fundraising efforts for the tornado victims in Kentucky and the mid-west, I am not on social media because it’s a cesspool but I imagine Tyler Childers or someone may be doing something, I am sure many of the other readers would want to pitch in as well. Anyway, sorry it’s off topic, I have been expecting you to post something since you usually do. Thanks
December 16, 2021 @ 6:06 pm
I’ve been waiting for some of the inevitable charity concerts to come up before addressing the issue. Just got word about a good one just a few hours ago, and will be posting something about it soon.
December 16, 2021 @ 10:26 pm
Not trying to push OT, but just wanted to note.
1/1 @ The Burl in Lexington, KY. Dozen or so acts, good up and coming talent on that bill – including John R. Miller.
Tickets are $50/per, and OhBoy is sponsoring a livestream. All proceeds go to charity.
December 16, 2021 @ 9:12 pm
“….. singing along to every single word of every single song”. Am I the only one who finds that highly annoying at live shows? The shower or the car is the place to hear yourself sing off-key.
December 16, 2021 @ 10:04 pm
This is different than Childers’ fans screaming “cocaine” on “Whitehouse Road.” Bryan encourages the singing by stepping away from the mic for long stretches and everyone in the room singing in unison is pretty amazing in this case.
December 17, 2021 @ 8:07 am
I checked out several recent live videos, and from what I’ve seen it’s indeed nearly every word and makes it unlistenable in my opinion. I can only imagine how annoying it is while in the actual audience. I guess it’s not surprising given a good chunk of his fans are attending their first “singer/songwriter” show.
December 16, 2021 @ 11:45 pm
I’d much rather people sing along instead of stand beside me and talk/scream/socialize with their friends the entire show…
December 16, 2021 @ 11:03 pm
Sorry to be off topic, but bummed with news I just saw.
Charlie Marie posted on her Instagram “Times have changed and so have I. Taking a break from music for awhile”. You heard anything about the why? Maybe just hard to make a living out of it, especially in the northeast.
December 16, 2021 @ 11:52 pm
Don’t have anything else specific to report at the moment, but I will look into it.
December 17, 2021 @ 6:42 am
Trig do you know if CWG is opening for Zach at the royale or who the opening act is. I can’t seem to find it.
December 17, 2021 @ 7:43 am
CWG is opening for ZB at the Royale, per CWG’s FB & IG
December 17, 2021 @ 8:15 am
Kevin thank you
December 17, 2021 @ 4:20 pm
As a fan of both artists, I find it sort of ridiculous that CWG was the opener at a Zach Bryan show. I appreciate Zach’s humility all the same
December 17, 2021 @ 10:29 pm
Agreed. ZB has an agent who specializes in making people go viral. CWG has the talent. One of those is better at selling tickets than the other, unfortunately.
December 18, 2021 @ 8:35 am
Out of curiosity, did ZB have this agent when his first album came out or was all that hype organic?
December 18, 2021 @ 8:50 am
Danny Kang is Zach Bryan’s manager. He is (or maybe, was) also the manager of Wal-Mart Yodel Boy Mason Ramsey, and Lil’ Nas X. He did not sign Zach Bryan until after “DeAnn” and a bunch of his videos went viral. Kang signed all these guys after their viral moments. That is what he specializes in. So I’m not sure there is a need for a conspiracy theory. Heard from Mason Ramsey lately?
December 18, 2021 @ 11:27 am
I don’t think there’s a conspiracy theory, but I think Danny Kang has played a big role in getting ZB all this access to venues and other media exposure……which is what’s enabled him to be the opener here and defies logic if viewed from a quality of the talent standpoint (imho). Of course ZB showed viral potential before Kang became interested in him. Kang wouldn’t have become involved otherwise.
December 18, 2021 @ 4:49 pm
Thanks for the info. No conspiracy implied on my end. To be honest I think somebody should have encouraged him to pump the brakes a little after DeAnn came out. His stretch of “quantity over quality” over the past couple years was misguided in my opinion and only further showed his immaturity in the music business. I think there was enough good material from all the post-DeAnn output to compile ONE proper sophomore album.
Like I said I’m a ZB fan and of all the viral successes we’ve seen in the music world I’d say he’s one of the few legitimate artists that’s emerged from it. I certainly don’t want to see him relegated to the Mason Ramsey bargain bin
December 20, 2021 @ 11:24 am
Yeah, Kang is a guy who specifically specializes in helping translate “viral” exposure into professionalization (getting gigs, etc) – as opposed to managers who discover folks that are gigging and help them get exposure.
Very canny on the part of Bryan and his team, rather than getting sucked into the bright lights of a traditional agency.
December 18, 2021 @ 5:31 pm
Seeing Mr Godwin pre COVID at Americanafest, in a tiny room is something I’ll tell my grandkids about. Was highlight of my whole trip to Tennessee, and one of the best shows there. Only one close to our, was the Mike & Moonpies set in that same festival. Both real, down to earth artists, and they were pure fire on stage.