Eric Church Brings his ACM Performance to Chicago
Just a few nights after Eric Church stunned the ACMs with a medley that spanned his 16-year career, he rolled into Chicago ready to showcase that career again. Church has come a long way since the album “Sinners Like Me” debuted in 2006, & Chicago has been no stranger to Church’s success over the years. Joe’s Bar on Weed St. was the epicenter for the foundation built by Church and his Die-Hard fans the Church Choir. Many memorable nights happened inside that legendary Chicago venue, which paved the path for Eric Church to draw nearly 24,000 to the United Center on a very Chilly Chicago evening.
Shortly after 9:00 PM, the lights went down, but if you’re from Chicago & have ever been to the United Center for a Bulls game, or were a 90’s era basketball fan, what happened next would’ve told you, you were in for a good show. After the lights faded out a familiar Chicago anthem started to play, “SIRIUS” by the Alan Parsons Project echoed the Sold-Out Chicago arena. Just then the announcer comes on “And now from North Carolina The Chief” it was a flashback for me of all the Bulls games I attend or watched of our 6’6 guard from North Carolina Michael Jordan. As the band and Church made their way through the crowd, the In The Round set up set the stage for a night Chicago won’t soon forget. Once everyone was set, the banjo was fired up & Church’s first radio single “How Bout You” opened what was going to be a unique show for the legions of Church Choir members in attendance. The next few songs that followed quickly set the pace for the night. Church tore into a classic “Two Pink Lines” which showcased newly added Eric Church Band member Billy Justineau’s harmonica skills with the opening of the song. This was a throwback to shades of Church’s original guitar player Ed Smoak, & a part of the Live Show that has been missing for over 10 years. Once Church fired up his 3rd song of the evening “Guys Like Me” I started to see the trend. Was Church going to give us a taste of his ACM performance right here in Chicago & play his singles in order? The answer was yes, Eric Church kicked off with singles from the Sinners Like Me album followed by songs from Carolina, Chief, Outsiders, Mr. Misunderstood, Desperate Man & his new triple album Heart & Soul. Church always makes sure when he is in Chicago he gives a shout-out to Joe’s on Weed, even mentioning he has played there “Seven Times”. I even remember Church playing multiple nights a year at Joe’s On Weed St.
The Night went on for almost three full hours of music with no intermission. Church kept the Sold-Out United Center crowd hungry for more and even threw in a few songs for an encore that was not on the setlist. This was a first to see Church perform his hits in chronological order, but I doubt it will be the last. Back in 2011, Eric Church did perform his album CHIEF in track listing order, but this is something that has not been done for 11 years. Still goes to show that after all these years Eric Church will still surprise his legion of fans the Church Choir with the unexpected.
Chicago Set-List: (9:05 PM – 11:55 PM | No Intermission)
How Bout You
Two Pink Lines
Guys Like Me
Love Your Love The Most
Hell On The Heart
Smoke A Little Smoke
Carolina
Country Music Jesus
Homeboy
Drink In My Hand
Creepin’
Like Jesus Does
The Outsiders
Give Me Back My Hometown
Cold One
Talladega
That’s Damn Rock & Roll
Like A Wrecking Ball
Mr. Misunderstood
Knives Of New Orleans
Round Here Buzz
Record Year
Chattanooga Lucy
Kill A Word
Desperate Man
Drowning Man
Some Of It
Stick That In Your Country Song
Hell Of A View
Heart On Fire
Springsteen
---------------------
Sinners Like Me
These Boots
The Load-Out & Stay (Jackson Browne Cover)
The next stop on The Gather Again Tour will be a Double Down in Green Bay, WI. The tour will wrap up in May at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Eric Church will then headline Stadiums & Festivals throughout the summer.
March 18, 2022 – Resch Center Green Bay, Wis.
March 19, 2022 – Resch Center Green Bay, Wis.
March 25, 2022 – Legacy Arena at The BJCC Birmingham, Ala.
March 26, 2022 – Simmons Bank Arena Little Rock, Ark.
April 1, 2022 – Dickies Arena Fort Worth, Texas
April 2, 2022 – AT&T Center San Antonio, Texas
April 8, 2022 – Toyota Center Houston, Texas
April 9, 2022 – Smoothie King Center New Orleans, La.
April 15, 2022 – Moda Center Portland, Ore.
April 16, 2022 – Spokane Arena Spokane, Wash.
April 29, 2022 – ExtraMile Arena Boise, Idaho
April 30, 2022 – Vivint Arena Salt Lake City, Utah
May 6, 2022 – Pechanga Arena San Diego, Calif.
May 7, 2022 – STAPLES Center Los Angeles, Calif.
May 11, 2022 – Golden 1 Center Sacramento, Calif.
May 13, 2022 – T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas, Nev.
May 14, 2022 – Gila River Arena Glendale, Ariz.
May 20, 2022 – Madison Square Garden New York, N.Y.
