Zach Bryan premiered a new song, “Robot Killed The Working Man,” during a stadium show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Aug. 22, delivering a five-minute-plus performance that takes on artificial intelligence and its effect on working-class jobs.
Bryan has been touring internationally since the January release of his album, With Heaven On Top, playing major venues across the United States and Europe. During a stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, Bryan teased an EP under the working title Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs, previewing snippets including “Lodi When” and mentioning an anticipated October release window.
The Dallas-area concert featured a run of additional tracks and closed with a trio of crowd favorites as the finale. The set list showcased Bryan’s signature songs, including “Overtime,” “Something in the Orange,” “Pink Skies,” “Nine Ball,” “Oklahoma Smokeshow,” “Burn, Burn, Burn,” “Heading South,” “I Remember Everything,” and “Revival.”
Social media teasers, including short clips, built anticipation ahead of a slate of September and October tour dates with partner artists announced for venues in Glendale, Arizona; Dover, Delaware; Toronto; Foxborough, Massachusetts; and Auburn, Alabama.
It remains unclear whether “Robot Killed The Working Man” will appear on the EP, though it aligns with other songs Bryan has been performing live that are expected to be part of the project.
The Dallas show came after a European tour and a late-July U.S. run that included stops in Eugene, Oregon; San Diego; Salt Lake City; and Denver.
The new track reportedly critiques AI and data centers, with lyrics depicting a coffin being sealed and land being sold as automation reshapes employment and ownership.