My Night with Eric Church

I am a West coaster for life.  I love everything about living west of the Mississippi.  Unless of course, New York City called and needed me, I could make an exception for that, but beyond Manhattan, just not so much.  That’s why this trip to Nashville was especially interesting for me.

Every time I have been to Nashville or Memphis I am greeted with the utmost Southern hospitality and the rich Southern culture can be seen all around.

One of the places that blows my mind every time is The Ryman Auditorium.  Built in 1892 as a tabernacle, it has become the “home” of country music.  The Ryman doesn’t discriminate with just country music as its stage has housed numerous bands from Neil Young to Mumford and Sons to Coldplay.   Since it was built as a tabernacle the seats in the Ryman are wooden pews no different than what you would see on a Sunday morning, but between the stage, the seats, the acoustics, there’s a haunting feeling inside the Ryman.  Not haunting like American Horror Story but more like Casper had a baby with The Ghost of Christmas Past. 

When the opportunity came to see Eric Church, who is clothed in his own mystery, at midnight in The Ryman during the Country Radio Seminar I seated myself front and center.  Okay.  A little to the left and three rows back, but only because it was the only aisle seat. Anyhow, I grabbed a plate of bacon and a beer and prepared to be amazed.  Yes.  It was that amazing.

As The Chief took the stage you realized why he has seen so much success in the last few years. He commanded a presence of cool, calm, but yet outlaw with a little rebel.  He started out with A Man Who Was Going To Die Young followed by Talladega, Cold One, The Outsiders, Give Me Back My Hometown, my favorite Like A Wrecking Ball (a HOT song about coming off the road and home to his wife), Roller Coaster Ride. Ffinally he closed with his haunting ballad Dark Side.  Dark Side tells the story of a man who is conflicted between being a family man and the dark side he is trying to suppress.

I got a wife and got a son that don't know half the stuff I've done,
And I pray that's the way it stays
And that's why my dark side don't ever see the light of day

Eric Church has grit and an authenticity that hasn’t been duplicated in years.  If you haven’t heard Eric’s new album The Outsiders you can get it here.