CLEVELAND, Ohio — Country music’s iconoclast did it again.
Expanding the boundaries of the genre for nearly two decades, Eric Church last night showed why he’s the Chief, turning in another roughly 30-song, 2.5-hour set to a nearly packed Rocket Arena.
The “2025 Free The Machine Tour” stop began before it even started with a wink from the singer blasting Pink Floyd classics, including the apt “Welcome to the Machine,” over the PA.
The show kicked off with Church — backed by a 24-piece band that included full string and horn sections, as well as background singers — doing the most prog rock thing possible by performing his latest effort, “Evangeline vs. The Machine,” in its entirety.
Such a risky and bold move — rarely, if ever, seen in country music — is normally associated with often self-indulgent, creative and confident artists challenging audiences to keep up.
Well, the Rock Hall City crowd enthusiastically passed the test, singing along to the new album’s eight songs, which included lead single “Hands Of Time,” the back-porch swagger of “Bleed On Paper,” Charlie Daniels tribute “Johnny,” gospel-driven “Darkest Hour” and off-tempo “Clap Hands.”
Crazy as it sounds, the latter is a Tom Waits cover, which climaxed with the arena singing and clapping along.
Despite the fact Church is undeniably a country music artist, there’s a reason why seemingly every one of his concert reviews for the past 20 years has included “rocking” in the headline.
The streak continued last night after the 10-time Grammy Award-nominee — four years removed from his last Rocket Arena show and two years since he appeared at Blossom Music Center — launched into hard-hitting rockers “Desperate Man,” “Stick That in Your Country Song” and “Smoke a Little Smoke.”
“How are you guys feeling?” he said. “Sorry about not talking. I made it pretty clear this tour is going to be about the music.
“It’s great to be back here. I used to play the Dusty Armadillo. Sometimes, I go to bed and can still smell bleach, beer and urine. Love the Dusty.”
Other highlights included the ripping guitar sound of “Creepin’,” the anthemic “The Outsiders” and crowd-favorite “Springsteen.”
The Boss tribute of sorts included what will most likely be the lasting visual memory for many in the crowd.
Church traded a guitar pick for an American flag that he draped around himself while singing “Like a soundtrack to a Cleveland Saturday.”
It was a special evening for Jeff Hajek, who makes it family policy to always bring his boys anytime Church comes through Northeast Ohio.
“It’s time to spend together as men,” said the Broadview Heights resident.
“Eric Church talks about faith, God and family. That’s why we are here.”
A recent Nashville transplant, son Nick Hajek said, “I’m here with my dad because it’s always fun getting to not only see Church, but to get to spend time with the boys, since I don’t live in Ohio anymore.”
As if on cue, Church commented during his set about how special it is to look out into the crowd — through his Ray-Bans, of course — to see a multigeneration crowd.
“You guys are raising these kids right,” he said.
