Eric Church Brings New Persona & Tour To Summerfest
Eric Church's Opening Night of The Outsiders Revival Tour at the 55th Annual Milwaukee Summerfest was an electrifying experience that left the 20,000+ attendees mesmerized by Church's artistic prowess. This was Church's first time back at Summerfest since his opening slot with Toby Keith in 2011. The show started with an incredible performance by Singer/Songwriter Elle King, & she didn’t disappoint with her Country Rock and Blues sound. King had the crowd singing along to one of her biggest hits, "Ex's & Oh's" as well as her Grammy-nominated song "Drunk" which set the stage for Church's captivating act.
As a lifelong Eric Church fan, I had been counting down the days until this opening night, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. As the night progressed, the seats filled up and the smoke started getting heavy. Then, an old classic played over the amphitheater P.A. system, Electric Worry by Clutch, which has been Church's pre-show song for some time, and fans were glad to see it back where it belongs after missing the last tour. Finally, at 9:15, the lights went dim, and the moment everyone had been waiting for had finally arrived.
The opening of Eric Church's performance was a grand spectacle, with two big doors being unveiled, like the doors seen on the cover of his Outsiders album. Two figures in hoods were seen slowly raising a Wisconsin state flag high at center stage, and the crowd went wild with anticipation. Suspenseful drumming intensified, almost as if someone was knocking, and then two big wooden doors opened, revealing beams of light shining from the back. Church slowly strutted out, surveying the crowd, and immediately caught the attention of fans.
One of the most noticeable things about Church's appearance was the fact that he wasn't wearing his signature aviators but had opted for a sleek black pair of glasses. One couldn't help but wonder if this was an indication that the artist was shifting his persona yet again, and if what the audience was about to witness would be something new and fresh for the ever-evolving artist who is coming up on 20 years since his debut album.
Eric Church's band also had a different look to it. His long-time counterpart and backup singer, Joanna Cotten, left the band not long ago to pursue her solo career, so Church had to find the next big thing. Using three powerful voices as his new backup section, the band added a three-piece brass section as well. With the band ready, the set kicked off with a jazzy & charismatic "Chattanooga Lucy," which flowed into "Bad Mother Trucker" and then "Heart On Fire." These performances had the Milwaukee crowd fired up. From there, Church's voice carried us through a journey of different emotions. When Church got to "Drink In My Hand," you could see his evolution starting to happen with the new Church persona. He gave the crowd a brand-new rendition of the song, which was a true cult classic for Church's fans, the Church Choir.
"If you've seen us a lot, tonight's going to be a little bit different," Church told the crowd a couple of songs into his set on opening night of the "Outsiders Revival" summer tour. "But it'll be badass."
One of Eric's biggest hits, "Hell Of A View," found its way early in the set, and with "Country Music Jesus," he took every one of the 20,000+ fans to Church. The crowd was just half of the 40,000+ he played to just a little over a year ago at American Family Field, but way more than just the handful of us at Kelly's Bleachers back in 2008. As the Summerfest fireworks rained down into the night Church played "Mr. Misunderstood," which echoed through the open-air venue beautifully. It was the haunting version of "Creepin'" that caught my attention and had the entire crowd entranced, that was followed by the trumpet solo that gave "Knives of New Orleans" a deep Louisiana feel.
Despite battling with his voice due to a virus brought home by his boys a week prior, Church's energy was infectious, and the audience was enraptured. Heck, it’s nothing a little Prednisone & Jypsi Whiskey can’t fix. This is Church’s Signature brand of whiskey and takes the spot of JD in his cup. Homeboy showcased Church's exceptional storytelling abilities. As he belted out the lyrics, Church's passion and commitment to his music shone through. At the end of Homeboy Church even sounded to be a little choked up as he pointed his finger to the sky, almost as a nod to his late brother who passed 5 years ago on June 29th, 2018.
A highlight of the night came when Church performed a tribute to Little Feat, covering their classic track Sailin’ Shoes. It was a moving moment, and you could feel the love that Church had for this incredible band. One of the most remarkable moments of the night came when Church talked about his debut album Sinners Like Me and how it was released in June of 2006, and how we are only three short years away from the 20th anniversary. He goes on to say, "Y'all We Were Just Kid's." It was a nostalgic moment, for many of the Church Choir faithful in attendance. Pledge of Allegiance To The Hag was a crowd favorite, and as Church sang the lyrics, the energy in the room reached a fever pitch. He paid tribute to Merle Haggard by raising his hat and removing his glasses, much to the delight of his fans. He then walked off stage ending a truly mesmerizing set.
At the end of the set, after the crowd had gone wild and was begging for more, Church reappeared on stage for the encore with just his piano player Billy. The two of them delivered a stripped-down version of Springsteen that left the crowd in awe as the night was slowly ending. It was clear that Church had poured his heart and soul into every moment of his performance, and the audience was left feeling that they had witnessed something truly remarkable. Church gave it his all and left the Milwaukee crowd wanting more.
However, the show wasn't over yet, the crowd was still buzzing with excitement, and they weren't ready for the night to be over. Church waved off his guitar tech and began tuning his guitar, much to everyone's delight. He launched into Old Friends, Old Whiskey, & Old Songs, an unreleased Choir favorite. Even though after a nervous laugh Church admitted that it was a bad idea, he managed to pull off a breathtaking performance.
At 11:19, over two hours after taking the stage, Church waved one last time to the crowd and walked off the stage, The entire performance was nothing short of mesmerizing, and it cemented another epic summer tour kick-off. It was an unforgettable night filled with raw emotion, passion, and pure talent. Church's vocals may have been challenged by a virus, but his spirit and commitment to his fans shone through, making it a night to remember for everyone in attendance.
Of course, no review of the night would be complete without mentioning Eric's incredible band. The musicians backing him up were truly phenomenal, with each member displaying their musical prowess in turn. Whether it was the powerhouse drumming of Craig Wright, the metal poise of Driver Williams, or the virtuosic guitar playing of utility player Jeff Hyde, every note was played to perfection. Together, they created a musical force that was truly greater than the sum of its parts.
As the concert ended, I left with a deep sense of gratitude and joy. This was one of the most memorable concerts that I've ever attended, and it was an honor to witness such an incredible performer at the height of his powers. Overall, Eric Church's opening night of The Outsiders Revival Tour was an unforgettable experience that showcased his remarkable musical talent and his incredible ability to connect with his audience.
Eric Church's Summerfest Setlist
“Chattanooga Lucy”
“Bad Mother Trucker”
“Heart On Fire”
“Hangin’ Around”
“Drink In My Hand”
“Hell Of A View”
“Country Music Jesus”
“Mr. Misunderstood”
“Mistress Named Music” (No Medley)
“Creepin’”
“Where I Wanna Be”
“Knives of New Orleans”
“Round Here Buzz”
“Desperate Man”
“Heart Like A Wheel”
“Homeboy”
“Smoke A Little Smoke”
“These Boots”
“Sailin’ Shoes” (Little Feat cover)
“Cold One”
“Pledge Allegiance To The Hag”
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“Springsteen”
“Holdin’ My Own”
“Old Friends, Old Whiskey, Old Songs”
All photos shot W/ iPhone from the crowd
