Eric Church Brings Sanctuary To Broadway In Nashville!
Cover Photo By: John Shearer for Getty Images
Disclaimer: If you have tickets to a residency show, stop reading now and go enjoy the show.
As the first hints of dawn painted the Nashville sky, the hum of anticipation along Broadway whispered tales of an event unlike any other. Eric Church, the renegade poet of country music, was set to unveil not just his latest venture, Chief's, but to baptize it in the spirit of music with the opening night of his To Beat The Devil residency. It was the grand opening of Chief's On Broadway, a labor of love three years in the making, meticulously crafted by Church and his partner, Ben Weprin.
“This building is a lot like the songs I write … they’re mine until I release them, and then they’re not mine anymore, they’re yours,” shares Church.
Under the glittering neon lights of Nashville’s bustling Broadway, a distinctive aura of anticipation enveloped the air as the early hours of the morning marked the beginning of an extraordinary day. By 4 AM, a line had already begun to snake its way in front of Chief's On Broadway, These dedicated souls, members of the storied Church Choir, were there for a singular purpose: to bear witness to the opening night of Eric Church’s To Beat The Devil residency, a series of 19 intimate performances that promised to blur the lines between artist, music, and audience. By 9 AM, Premium Choir Members were ushered into the warm embrace of Church’s new bar, setting the stage for an evening that would etch itself into the annals of music history.
Photo By: Wade Hall Photography
Stepping inside Chief's was like entering Eric's heart and mind - every nook cradled a story, every artifact a piece of his soul. But it was the Neon Steeple that called us to worship. As we surrendered our phones to Yondr bags, it wasn't just about preventing recordings; it was an invitation to truly be present, to engage with the music and stories in a way too often lost to us now. The intimacy of the venue mirrored the pit at Church's concerts – a close-knit congregation eager to connect with their musical shepherd.
The opening salvo came unexpectedly, not from the twang of a guitar or the beat of a drum, but through the roaring declaration of the Lion-Speech from Poolhall Junkies, setting a tone of defiance and resilience that resonated through the venue.
Photo By: John Shearer for Getty Images
With the stage set under the soft glow of the original neon sign from Fiddle & Steel, Eric Church took his place, not above us, but among us. Flanked by six guitars, he looked every bit the preacher ready to deliver his sermon to the choir. Welcome To Chief's, he greeted, his voice tinged with the gravitas of the moment. This wasn't going to be just another performance. This was going to be a journey.
“When I came to Nashville in search of a place to play my songs, nowhere on this strip would have me. I went to Fiddle & Steel in Printers Alley and found my tribe,” Church shared with the original neon sign illuminating the theater balcony. “So, when we started building this, it was designed to be a place to bring original music back to the heart of historic Broadway.”
Opening with two unreleased tracks felt like a confession, an unburdening. Through his songs and the tales woven between them, Eric took us back to the genesis of his career, painting a vivid picture of a young man with nothing but a Chevy Blazer, a soon-to-be-stolen guitar, and dreams as big as Nashville itself. As he covered Thom Schuyler's 16th Avenue, it was a tribute not just to his own journey, but to all who come to this town with songs burning in their hearts, chasing the same dream. His homage to the Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar and the friends he made there underscored a theme of finding one's tribe in the unlikeliest of places. One of them is a co-writer of his still to this day Michael Heeney.
Photo By: Rick Diamond
The evening traversed through Church's discography, with songs from Sinners Like Me to the prophetic Lightning, capturing moments of defiance, revelation, and introspection. Church's collaboration with producer Jay Joyce and manager John Peets emerged not just as career highlights but as pivotal chapters in his life story.
“I got a producer, that never produced Country Music, and a manager from the wrong side of the tracks.”
The narrative thread wove through anecdotes of life on the road, embellished with humor and humility. From pranks on the Brad Paisley tour to the time spent touring with legends like Toby Keith and Bob Seger, Church painted a vivid picture of his journey. His recounting of a pivotal conversation with Seger, where he was asked about being fired from the Rascal Flatts tour, evoked laughter and a shared sense of camaraderie within the room.
Photo By: John Shearer for Getty Images
But it wasn't just a night of nostalgia. As Eric shared his trials - from label rejections that questioned his dedication to his roots, to the whirlwind success following Springsteen. As Church navigated the audience through the chronology of his albums, from Carolina to the unexpected birth of Chief and the transformative Springsteen, each song was a brushstroke on the canvas of his career. It was in these moments that Church shared a deeply personal saga of resilience, a tale where determination and a refusal to compromise were the driving forces. His story of the surprise release of Mr. Misunderstood, disguised as a Country Christmas Album to unsuspecting fans, showcased not just Church's inventive spirit but his profound connection with his audience.- it was clear this residency was as much about sharing his triumphs as it was his scars. Each song, a chapter of his life, was rendered with raw honesty, the stories between them as integral to the experience as the lyrics themselves.
“We just like to drink and raise a little noise; we were the Church Boys” – Church Boys Lyric
The vulnerability Eric displayed talking about personal trials - from the heartache of the Route 91 shooting to the loss of his brother - and performing Man Who Was Going To Die Young, stripped back any semblance of the superstar. At that moment, he was every one of us, facing life's cruel unpredictability with a guitar in hand and songs as his shield.
“Seen the devil stop a show in Vegas” – On The Road Lyric
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the night was the surprise appearance of a choir, seamlessly blending into the crowd before elevating a remix of Smoke A Little Smoke & Take Me To The River into a communal hymn of resilience, a beautiful fusion of gospel and grit. It was a reminder of the collective power of music to heal, to unite, and to uplift. Life is about embracing the moment, acknowledging our struggles, and finding redemption in our connections with each other.
Photo By: Anthony D'Angio
As the night drew to a close with Hell Of A View, sung arm-in-arm with those who had journeyed with him through the ups and downs, it is clear that this residency will be more than just a series of concerts. It was an intimate gathering, a heartfelt thank you to those who have walked with him, believed in him and found a piece of their story in his songs.
Those lucky enough to witness these To Beat The Devil shows will see it is an affirmation of the transformative power of music and the enduring legacy of an artist who, like the mythical phoenix, has risen from adversity to shape the landscape of country music. It was a night that exemplified the essence of Eric Church — raw, authentic, and unequivocally real.
“Life is a series of fragile moments that are endured when they’re not beautiful.”
Eric Church's To Beat The Devil at Chief's isn't just about marking a new chapter in his career but about cementing the bond between an artist and his fans. In the heart of Nashville, under the soft neon glow, he turned the quiet up, not just opening a bar, but creating a sanctuary for the stories, the songs, and the souls who find their way to Chief’s door.
The night at Chief's On Broadway was more than just a concert; it was an immersive experience that blurred the boundaries between artist and audience. In a space where every song carried the weight of memories and every anecdote painted a picture of the trials and triumphs of a musician's journey, Eric Church offered more than performances; he provided a window into the soul of an artist who has remained unflinchingly true to himself and his music.
“Life is about living in the moment & we all wrestle with demons.”
Leaving Chief’s that night, the music lingering in our hearts, it was clear this was only the beginning. As Broadway returned to its nocturnal cacophony, inside Chief’s, the echo of Eric Church’s promise reverberated - to provide a space where music, in its most honest, raw, and unfiltered form, reigns supreme.
And for one night, under the Neon Steeple, we all found our tribe.
More at ChiefsonBroadway.com
Eric Church Set-List
(Not Official Titles On Some Songs)
Broadway Lights
Mr. Heeney
16th Avenue
Medley (How Bout You, 2 Pink Lines, Hag, Sinners)
Lightning
Closer Than You Think
On The Road
Country Music Jesus
Springsteen
Cold One
Record Year
Man Who Was Going To Die Young
Church Boys
Johnny Oh Johnny
Smoke A Litle Smoke/Take Me To The River
Hell Of A View
