[ad_1]
Eric Church's Double Down 2019 tour, where singer-songwriter plays two nights in each city, kicked off Friday in Omaha, Nebraska. For three hours each evening, Church drew on every phase of his career, from the unyielding confidence of his first two albums to the introspective and often funky troubadour fare of his last Desperate man. Here are 10 things we learned about the tour, which will resume Friday in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to last until June.
There are not two identical shows.
Church insists on giving fans their own experience and, with two concerts in each city, he says he will play four unique sets at each stop of the tour. The opening weekend selections in Omaha were very varied: the second night, Church played 22 different songs from Night One.
The church is always a Sinner.
While some artists with six albums to their credit only provide a wink at their debut, Church has a special affinity for her debut album, Sinners love me. During the two Omaha shows, he played 11 songs from this 13-year-old album, ranging from rarities ("Can not Take It With You") to musts ("These Boots").
Joanna Cotten is a force of nature.
The long-time singer of Church, on stage and on record (she harmonizes with him in "Chattanooga Lucy" on Mr. misunderstood), is essential to his live show. During the opening night, she played several times, including covers of "Runaway" Del Shannon and "Just Kissed My Baby" Meters.
Lighting is a key element of tour production.
Nowadays, the church is no longer pyro or concussion, preferring a stripped-down but no less impressive set built around three levels of video screens that move and transform to form half of a Borg cube. But what catches the eyes are the lights: flashing red during "Desperate Man", bathing the stage in green for "Smoke a Little Smoke" and, thanks to a platform that runs the entire length of the arena , targeting individual fans with white light silos.
Church pays tribute to the poet of the common man.
Another track Sinners love me, the tribute to Merle Haggard, "Pledge Allegiance to the Hag" has always been a fan favorite. During this tour, he seems to have reached a place of honor: Church sang it in both Omaha shows, while various images of Haggard's career appeared on the video screens behind him.
Whiskey drinkers have the opportunity to buy high quality products.
It's no secret that Church loves his Jack Daniel's – he paid tribute to brown alcohol on both nights of this weekend and, at one point, came down on the stage to make a shot with his crew. The Lynchburg, Tennessee distillery sells an Eric Church edition of its unique Jack Daniel's barrel. Available on the Friday of every show weekend in the city's designated liquor stores, the bottle is accompanied by a replica of the police badge that Church wears around his neck. (And sales help support his charity Chief Cares.)
He takes requests.
During Night One, Church told the crowd that each show would include a song he had never played before with his band – and that it was up to the public to shout out what it would be like. On Friday, someone shouted to Rodney Crowell "Is not Living Long Like This." Saturday was "Get Out of Denver" by Bob Seger. If you are not in the front row of the pit, shout very loudly.
The tradition of scarves continues …
During the 2017 Holdin 'My Own Tour, fans began throwing red, white and blue scarves like the one Church wore in the Springsteen video on stage, which the singer would have draped around his neck. This common experience with fans continued in Omaha: at the end of Night One, he had three hanging proudly from his shoulders.
… and the raised boots too.
Even the most casual fans of Eric Church know what to do every time the artist sings Sinners love me"These boots." The legs of the pants rise, the boots are detached and the heels are raised in the air. Near the end of the song, Church scans the crowd, looking for some fans to throw their boots on stage. Watching him sign is a thrill, but it encourages him to send it back exactly to his owner, which is a lot of fun.
"Springsteen" remains the ultimate set-close.
Assuming that he does not really explode the set list, the church preceded the reminders of his first two shows with "Springsteen", his nostalgic anthem off Chief. Delivered with unwavering determination, it is impossible not to feel the bond that unites Star and the audience, who, while singing lyrics to musical memories, create their own music. So meta.
Source link
