Those two songs bookended Bryan’s main set, as he and his nearly 20-member band romped through more than two dozen songs from his five studio albums and multiple EPs (another, With Heaven on Top, is due out in January). It’s a repertoire that’s charted in both rock and country, and ran from his first single — the five-times platinum “Heading South” — to this year’s “River Washed Hair” and Kings of Leon collaboration “Bowery.” In between were favorites such as “Burn, Burn, Burn,” “Open the Gate,” “God Speed” and “28.”

Bryan made a couple key nods to the Michigan Wolverines, the main residents at the stadium. His walk-on music was The Killers‘ “Mr. Brightside,” which has become a ritual played every quarter of a Michigan home game. He also sported a Michigan football jersey with the number two, worn by the team’s Heisman Award-winning defensive backfield star Charles Woodson between 1995-97 — although the shirt had Bryan’s name printed on it. Fans responded with local traditions of their own, including the Wave, sing the hook line to The White Stripes‘ “Seven Nation Army” and chanting for Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, which has become routine at other area concerts and sporting events.

Bryan made sure his Mitten State fans knew that he knew exactly where he was throughout the show, with frequent shout-outs both in-between and during songs. He changed the lyrics of “28” and “Boys of Faith” to include localized references and, while introducing “Starved” he recalled playing it almost three years ago to the day at the Fillmore Detroit before less than 3,000 people. “Things have changed since then,” Bryan understated. “It felt wrong not to play it tonight.”

A Mayer guest appearance was fully expected and indeed transpired 12 songs into the show, when the Dead & Company member joined Bryan for the Grateful Dead‘s “Friend of the Devil,” the first time Bryan has performed it publicly.

“This s one of my favorite songs; I’m gonna try not to ruin it,” Bryan said before the performance.

Mayer highlighted the tune with his usual brand of guitar heroics and did the same on the following “Better Days,” The Great American Bar Scene track he guests on. The two embraced warmly and presented a real mutual admiration society throughout the night; during his hour-long set Mayer saluted Bryan as “The guy right now, and you’re all here for that reason and I’m here for that treason. Congrats Zach; I’m so proud to be part of this.”

Bryan, in turn, told the crowd during his set “how embarrassing it is to go on after Ryan Bingham and John Mayer… I can’t believe I live in a world where they go on before me.”

The War and Treaty, which recreated their guest appearance on Bryan’s “Hey Driver,” was the night’s true surprise — and was, in fact added to Bryan’s set only earlier on the day of the show. The married music makers started their career in Albion, Mich. — not too far west of Ann Arbor — and recorded “Hey Driver” for Bryan’s self-titled 2023 album. Bryan gave Michael and Tanya Trotter plenty of room to shine during the song, including plenty of piano vamping by Michael, who closed with an impassioned delivery of the song’s last line.

Bryan’s down-home charm was on display throughout the night and translated as genuine even in the enormous setting. “I never dreamed I’d play in front of this many people,” the singer noted early on. “Every time I look out in the crowd I’m, like, ‘We do not deserve to be here, man…’ This might be the craziest thing I’ve ever done.” He was characteristically self-effacing throughout, introducing songs with comments such as, “I hope you guys don’t hate it” and, before “Something in the Orange”: “I’m not trying to impress anyone on a Saturday night, but if I play this I don’t think you guys’ll kill me.” And if fans took a shot every time Bryan thanked them or said he loved them, there would not have been a sober soul in the stadium.

Bryan slipped “Sweet DeAnn” from his 2019 debut album into a late-show slot between “Heading South” and “Quittin’ Time,” which usually run together. He introduced it as, “A song I wrote for my mom,” expressing his thanks and love before starting the quiet tune.

Bryan’s only misstep was introducing one of his band members as being “from the great state of O-Hi-O,” whose Ohio State Buckeyes are the mortal enemy rival of the Michigan Wolverines. A sea of boos reigned on him, to which a grinning Bryant responded, “Whoops…”

Prior to Saturday’s show, Bryan posted a social media message cryptically referencing, “the worst and best few years of my life, and ready for the chapter to end. gotta go make music fun for myself again” — although he made gave no indication of such angst on stage. He added in the past that, “Each day I pray people understand I will never regret a thing and I am proud of myself, my family and my friends. there could be a million a—holes who have never had a unique thought in their life preaching a million pounds of negativity and bullshit and it wouldn’t be worth a single soul who’s found strength n [sic] shelter in true song writing and good live performances…Have a good day guys, god speed.”