Nashville is gearing up for an electrifying residency as country music sensation Eric Church takes the stage at his establishment, Chief's, starting April 5, announced as part of the grand opening celebrations, Church has promised his fanbase, the Church Choir, an experience filled with unprecedented stories and songs at the newly minted music hub which features a two-story live music space aptly named "The Neon Steeple".
While tickets went on presale for the Church Choir until March 17, the general public will have their chance to snag remaining spots come March 22, with prices ranging from a cool $99 to a princely $499, Church's commitment to his non-profit organization, Chief Cares, will see a slice of the proceeds from ticket sales contribute to the cause, this intimate 350-seat venue located at 200 Broadway isn't just another brick in the establishment's wall, but rather a testament to Church's fans who were each given a brick deed to the place,
According to an American Songwriter interview, Church voiced his intent to create a special environment with the 19-show residency, dubbed "To Beat The Devil", where the essence of country music and raw personal discourse coalesce. "I want to talk about things I’ve purposely never talked about in interviews," Church declared, signaling a departure from his usual modus operandi, expressing a desire for candidness exclusively within the walls of Chiefs.
Fans can anticipate a kaleidoscope of never-performed-before tracks and intimate narratives that paint a picture of the man behind the music during "Eric Church: To Beat The Devil," with Church having teased that attendees are "getting to hear something that nobody else outside of this room is ever going to get to hear," as stated in an interview with Rolling Stone, the residency is slated for a run through June 9, coinciding with the celebrated CMA Fest weekend, perhaps providing redemption for Church after last year's CMA Fest performance left fans divided.
In a nod to The Boss himself, Church told Southern Living that his residency took inspiration from Bruce Springsteen's Broadway stint, which marked a stirring display of the rock icon's openness, Springsteen's revelation of his songwriting fictions over blue-collar narratives struck a chord with Church and now serves as a muse for his forthcoming series of performances that are pegged to be the most distinctive ones he'll probably ever produce and for a limited audience, no less.
