THE ZAJAC BROTHERS BAND: A HOMETOWN 4TH
TOWN COMMON — FRANKLIN, MA
The Zajac Brothers Band took the stage at their hometown’s Fourth of July festival, bringing the kind of bluesy rock sound that instantly evokes the golden age of rock and roll. Grooving through their entire set with a fluid energy and raw emotion, it’s obvious that they feel music, and there’s something magnetic about sound that’s driven purely by feeling.
Rooted in classic rock, the band draws inspiration from legends like The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin, while also nodding to more modern music like Radiohead and The White Stripes. Their show leaned into those influences, but it’s important to note they weren’t simply imitating—they reworked the spirit of that sound into something current yet vintage, and entirely their own.
The Zajac Brothers Band features multi-instrumentalist Tyler Zajac on vocals and keys, and brother Matt Zajac on drums. Nolan Leite on guitar and Ryan Philips on bass complete their live set. Together, the brothers write and record their original music, layering vintage sound with their modern arrangements.
Their Fourth of July set reflected that blend. Playing classics like “Whipping Post” by The Allman Brothers Band, “Sugaree” by Grateful Dead, and “Suzie Q” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, they wove in originals like “Sidetract” and “It’s Love After All”, showing the audience their take on classics while proving their own ground.
That balance is captured on their debut album, Fleeting Memoirs–a cohesive, emotionally resonant release. Standouts like “Cherry Blossom” drift into a sense of psychedelia, while the title track leans into the introspective storytelling they do so well. “Sidetract,” a highlight of their live show, is filled with a sense of slow-burning rhythm, fusing influence with the band’s core identity.
Their upcoming sophomore album, Crowded Avenues in No Man’s Land, is set to release this fall. “You can expect more psychedelic rock influence,” says Tyler, “with many of the songs weaving passages in an unusual structure before landing back home (or landing somewhere else).”
When asked about songwriting methods, Tyler says, “I try to let the song bring itself where it should go with as little interference as possible.” He notes that while their sound has classic rock influences, he avoids consciously referencing those bands in his songwriting. “However, the music of these groups, and many others, is embedded in my playing, my writing, and my outlook on the world.”
Matt Zajac also cites hidden undernotes of less obvious influences, such as “the inspiration that is Art Tatum’s musicality, the dependency of a hypnotic groove drawn from Fela Kuti’s music, the gentle touch and spacing that Kind of Blue (by Miles Davis) has enlightened me to.” Matt notes that these are classic musicians that are often seen as foundational heroes to many, including the Zajac Brothers Band, and while playing, they “carry [the] honor of their impact within [their] playing, measure to measure. And you might hear it if you listen for it.”
For music-enthusiasts who enjoy a mix of classic rock and bluesy soul, who love passed-down vinyl and think of all of the hands that have once touched them, who search for sound that evokes warmth, feels handcrafted, and is purely heartfelt—The Zajac Brothers Band shows strong songwriting skills mixed with instrumental synergy, offering a compelling mix of groove, emotion, and atmosphere.
