Eric Church Fans in Pittsburgh & Philadelphia Just Got Lucky

There’s an artist from down in Texas named Possessed by Paul James. A one man band who plays guitar, fiddle, and banjo like a madman, he is one of the best artists ever to see live if you have the opportunity. Seeing him play is less a performance, and more a religious experience.
Most of the time the performances of Possessed by Paul James are flawless, despite being completely improvisational. But every once in a while, something will go on the fritz. His guitar will short out, or he’ll pop a sting or something, and he’ll immediately start singing a capella, clapping his hand and stomping his feet. Secretly, I always pray for one of these occasions. Because in those impromptu moments of adversity is often when the greatest magic happens.
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Eric Church fans who have tickets for his show Friday night in Pittsburgh (10-8), and Saturday night in Philadelphia (10-9) were just notified that some of Church’s band have come down with COVID. So in an abundance of caution, the band and crew will not be participating in the shows this weekend. But since Church was traveling separately, he will be moving forward with the performances, just himself and his guitar.
Sure, if you’ve been working all week and were looking forward to getting your face rocked off this weekend by the kind of raucous show Eric Church brings live, you may be feeling a sense of disappointment at this news. But I’m here to tell you, you’ve lucked out. You’re about to receive a treat.
Every city on Eric Church’s current Gather Again Tour will get the same basic show, barring a few shake ups in the set list. But these Pennsylvania performances will be something special. As Eric Church has proven multiple times over the years, he can hold an entire audience with just a microphone and an acoustic guitar. Actually, it’s where he shines.
A similar scenario transpired in 2015 when Church’s entire crew and band came down with a stomach flu in Salt Lake City. Once again traveling separately, as everyone else was backstage puking their guts out, Eric Church came out with an acoustic guitar and put on a show that the fans who were in attendance are still raving about.
Then in 2019 at the CMA Fest in Nashville, Eric Church chose to perform a 17-song acoustic medley as opposed to performing with his band. Church had just played Nissan Stadium three weeks prior, and just didn’t want to play the same show in the same venue twice. Once again, the moment became more epic than performing with his full band.
Of course what makes these moments special is because they’re rare and unique. It may not work as the impetus for an entire arena tour. But make no mistake about it Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, you’ve hit the lottery here, and only one that a performer like Eric Church can deliver on.
It gets you to thinking, how many of today’s big mainstream country stars beyond Eric Church could actually pull this off? Brad Paisley and Keith Urban could. Regardless of what you might think about their music, they’re both accomplished guitar players on both acoustic and electric instruments. Blake Shelton can and does perform songs acoustically. Miranda Lambert can hold a crowd with just an acoustic guitar, like she recently did on Austin City Limits with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram. Hell, even Taylor Swift could do this, and has in the past.
But these are still the sort of “old guard” of mainstream country music. It used to be a requirement to be a great acoustic performer before they’d even consider giving you a major label deal. But could Breland or Kane Brown pull this off? Of course not. Dan+Shay or Walker Hayes? Not even close. Maybe for a song or two they could hold a crowd, but not an entire concert on less than 12 hours notice. They’re just not good enough.
But Eric Church is one of those rare performers who can not only pull it off, but excel while doing it. Where other entertainers may have cancelled the entire thing, or wouldn’t be able to step up to the task of performing an entire repertoire of music with just an acoustic guitar, it’s in times of adversity that someone like Eric Church shines. It’s also one of the reasons he’s the current CMA Entertainer of the Year.
Congratulations Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, fortune has smiled fondly upon you.
October 8, 2021 @ 10:45 am
He is a real talent who can put on a great show with or without a band. He really does put on a great show.
October 9, 2021 @ 4:44 pm
We lucked into a pair of tix last min to the show due to a wonderful person (Doug). We feel so lucky and privileged to have experienced such a rare opportunity. The article above couldn’t have said it any better….of how he didn’t back out of the show….he demonstrated just how truly passionate and talented he is!
Last night’s show was the best we have ever been to!!! Thank you Eric Church….thank you Doug!
October 8, 2021 @ 10:53 am
I was at the show in SLC He later came back with the whole band, But that acoustic show was one to be seen. It was probably better then the whole band in my mind. As far as Taylor Swift cant stand her voice or music but I took my daughter to see her and that lady held her fans in her hand and took them for a ride for about 2.5 hours.
October 8, 2021 @ 11:10 am
In 2015, Taylor Swift did an entire solo performance at the Grammy Museum. There are videos of some of it on YouTube. At the time I remember thinking that many, if not most of country’s current performers could probably have not pulled that off.
We love to get “old man syndrome” and complain about today’s mainstream performers. But I do think it’s a good delineation point of talent to ask if an artist could get up on stage by themselves, and hold a crowd for an hour. I think there are significantly less of those performers than there were in 2015.
October 8, 2021 @ 1:02 pm
So you’re saying that Taylor was good, just wanted to ask lol
October 8, 2021 @ 2:22 pm
I transitioned from a staunch Taylor Swift opponent early on to sort of an apologist when she released “Speak Now,” and then back to a critic when she started getting into pure pop. Then the last few releases she’s been mostly off my radar. I will say that I do think you have to respect her as an artist, especially after she stood in front of an audience and cameras at the Grammy Museum completely by herself and held the room. You just can’t fake that. There’s nothing to hide behind.
October 8, 2021 @ 4:20 pm
I would love to read a review of Folklore!
October 12, 2021 @ 7:08 am
Speak Now may be a pop country album made out of spun sugar…but I’ll be damned if it isn’t well-written and flawlessly executed.
Its threads aren’t cotton candy. They’re gossamer.
October 8, 2021 @ 10:59 am
But…. the Pittsburgh Hard Rock Cafe pulled the plug on Scott H. Biram tonight due to low ticket sells. We were scrambling to find him an alternative venue, but to no avail. The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh.
October 8, 2021 @ 11:12 am
That sucks, both for the low ticket sales, and Hard Rock has to be cucks and cancel the show. You would think with live music struggling, they would keep it on the calendar regardless. Also, many folks are waiting last minute to purchase tickets these days since there are so many cancellations.
October 8, 2021 @ 11:21 am
We saw Chris Knight there in 2016 (maybe 2017) and they sat regular dinner patrons outside the concert area perimeter. It was hilarious because you had all these non Chris Knight fans walking a ramp to use the bathroom past the stage and Chris Knight is up there working his 3rd homicide.
Maybe someone there actually listened to Biram and said we can’t do that.
October 8, 2021 @ 12:08 pm
Comment of the week right there: “and Chris Knight is up there working his 3rd homicide.”
First time I saw Christ Knight (ok, I have only seen him twice because he doesn’t come out west much) he played acoustic at a shitty little bar and there were 5 people there to see him. Literally 5. Four of those people were me and my friends. Maybe that is why he doesn’t come west much, but I guaranty you there would be a shit ton of folks turning out next time if he did.
Oh, yeah, would love to see Church play an acoustic set.
October 8, 2021 @ 12:39 pm
Scott H. Biram once performed attached to an IV drip after getting run over by an 18 wheeler and they’re worried about lackluster ticket sales? Perspective man, perspective.
October 8, 2021 @ 12:37 pm
Great to see some love for Possessed By Paul James. He is incredible live. Up until recently, he’s also been living a dual life with a day job as a special education teacher. He’s just an all around, outstanding guy.
October 8, 2021 @ 12:56 pm
Saw him open for Brad Paisley in Atlantic City on July 30 2006. Was just him and his guitar. I still get chills just thinking about it. He was so good. So different from the many times I saw him after that with the band. I never forgot it, but that opening gig was never matched again. He’s good with the full band, but great solo. They are truly lucky.
October 8, 2021 @ 1:33 pm
Kip Moore is great acoustic. Idk if I’d consider him new or old guard but his acoustic stuff stands out from the pack.
October 8, 2021 @ 2:15 pm
Saw Eric open for George Strait on his Cowboy Rides Away Tour and he played solo acoustic that night. It was really, really good.
October 8, 2021 @ 4:23 pm
I was at the wharf in oba for one of his shows where he opened up acoustic. It was great. He’s a hell of an entertainer.
October 8, 2021 @ 5:17 pm
Jon Pardi and George Strait at Austin City Limits Fest tonight, along with tens of thousands of people.
October 8, 2021 @ 7:34 pm
Yep. That’s “tens of thousands of people” who are mature enough to show proof of vaccination, or go through the trouble of getting tested before the show without throwing a hissy fit.
October 9, 2021 @ 4:40 am
*wanking motion*
October 9, 2021 @ 11:01 am
Laughing
October 8, 2021 @ 5:50 pm
All of my luck got used up when I was born as not one of those Eric Church fans.
Nothing against Eric Church…but his fans suuuuucccckkkkkkk. 😛
October 8, 2021 @ 5:54 pm
I thought the intro was leading to news that PbPJ was going to open for Church. I would have loved that.
I attended a PbPJ show about 6 or 7 years ago and still remember hanging out with a stranger for the show, who had never heard him, and watching her jaw hit the floor over and over. She said it ended up being one of the best performances she ever saw. Not a well attended show and was awesome.
I thought he was supposed to have a doc come out a couple years ago about his life on the road and his teaching profession, but can’t find anything about that anymore (not The Folk Singer doc, which had awesome music but was a little weird).
October 8, 2021 @ 8:20 pm
He’s in Denver next Friday night. An outside chance next weekend is the same thing. 10 day quarantine. We have tickets, kind of hoping for the acoustic show.
October 8, 2021 @ 9:48 pm
Garth’s one man show at the Wynn was Brilliant. Artists that can pull these types of shows off are something special.
October 8, 2021 @ 10:12 pm
Combs and Wallen are still today’s superstars. And either one could absolutely pull it off
October 9, 2021 @ 6:44 am
I agree with this. Wallen isn’t my cup of tea but I will give credit where credit is due, he does really well with just him and a guitar.
October 11, 2021 @ 9:33 am
Kinda funny that Morgan ended up joining Eric for the show in Philadelphia. Proved even further that he can succeed and even thrive in an acoustic setting along with Church.
October 9, 2021 @ 4:34 am
I know this isn’t always a Garth friendly place… but add him to the very top of the list of rarified artists who can hold any room with just him and a guitar. Just pop in the DVD of his Vegas residency and you’re taken to a new height. Very few artists of any genre can do what he does, it’s simply awesome. I’d say Elton John, Prince, Billy Joel, Springsteen… could also do the same. The ability to hold an intimate room like that is cool to experience. Garth’s knowledge of and love for his craft I think is beyond measure. You either have it or you don’t… there are singers and there are entertainers… you’re in rare company to find both. That’s what you have in someone like Eric and Garth.
October 9, 2021 @ 4:54 am
I just want a review of the John Prine cover album so I can loudly state how fucking terrible Amanda Shires is.
October 9, 2021 @ 6:45 am
Second so I can talk about how much I liked John Paul White’s cover of Sam Stone
October 9, 2021 @ 7:02 am
Ha! They were very close to the vest with that comp. They weren’t even letting us see the track list until they day before, so I’m playing catch up with it. But I might have something on it soon.
October 9, 2021 @ 8:33 am
I wonder what the strategy was for that? Because in the end, it ended up being the the usual suspects. Fiona was on Steve Earle’s show last week and she wouldn’t say anything either. But after seemingly not knowing the names of many of John’s songs, I don’t know if she even was in the know.
October 9, 2021 @ 8:53 am
Well remember, they also originally had a bunch of events planned this week at the Ryman, Basement East, I think the CMA Theater at the Hall of Fame, and sold them all out without mentioning what any of the lineups were. That was all canceled due to COVID, but folks were ponying up hundreds of bucks for tickets to shows who they had no idea who was playing. Oh Boy Records has folks eating out of their hands.
October 9, 2021 @ 9:02 am
She made it a point to say on Earle’s show that no one has requested a refund and will be holding on to their tickets until next year.
October 15, 2021 @ 12:06 pm
After hearing the album, I’m debating if I should get a ticket refund for the birthday concert.
October 11, 2021 @ 5:39 am
No need to wait. Apparently you just stated it here. And you’re just as wrong here as you would be anywhere else.
October 11, 2021 @ 6:58 am
Nope, she sounds like a bird being strangled.
October 9, 2021 @ 11:00 am
Went to the Pittsburgh show last night and it was AWESOME. Wasn’t perfect, didn’t need to be. Chief brought out Cam, who held the audience in the palm of her hand for a rendition of “Burning House” and she did a decent job filling in for Joanna Cotten as Eric’s backup singer. The “Like Jesus Does” duet that he usually does with Joanna, he did with Cam, and she held her own. The solo performances of songs like “Talledega”, “Sinners Like Me”, and “Through My Raybans” were super special. The crowd essentially became the band singing every word back. After seeing his full band show twice already this year, the Pittsburgh show was a nice change of pace.
October 9, 2021 @ 12:01 pm
Only an Acoustic guitar? Who comes up with this fake news? His crew was there, a full stage including drums
It’s amazing how people spin information In Order to make their story relevant. Electric guitars were very present depending on the song and yes his band members participated throughout the night including Craig on the drums.
October 9, 2021 @ 1:36 pm
Who comes up with the fake news? Um, Eric Church?
Eric Church released a statement saying QUOTE, “Despite thorough safety protocols, a limited amount of breakthrough COVID-19 cases have occurred within the Eric Church band. In the best interest of everyone’s health and safety, Eric Church will perform this weekend’s shows as a special solo performance.”
You can see the whole concert here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Zz5HXHKyI
Appears he’s performing mostly on acoustic guitar. Maybe a couple of songs he played electric, but that’s not the point. Yes, Cam and some of the band mates joined him for some songs as well. But I’m not sure that’s tantamount to “fake news.”
October 9, 2021 @ 3:24 pm
Hank Jr. often does a few acoustic solos. He pulls them off nicely. Ole Hank.
October 10, 2021 @ 7:23 am
Was in Philly last night. It was freakin awesome! Like article said was initially disappointed at the news, but glad it wasn’t cancelled been looking forward to it for months. Church rocked! Morgan Wallen came out.
October 11, 2021 @ 9:33 am
Eric Church was amazing! It was the best unexpected treat ever to get just him and his guitar in Philly. I’ve seen him with the band before, but he killed it with the solo performance!! It definitely drew you in and it made it feel much more intimate…like he was performing in a small bar. There aren’t too many artists that could pull that off the way he did. The crowd clearly loved every minute of it!
October 12, 2021 @ 7:12 am
Saw Jade Bird solo with a guitar a few years back.
Colter Wall had his full band for the follow up…and they couldn’t hold a candle.
October 25, 2021 @ 11:47 am
HONESTLY Is Eric Chruch authentic country or is he more pop rock? I mean the guy is super talented….BUT he is NOT authentic country. Where is the George Striat, Conway Twitty, Alan Jackson country? Its all gone. Again nothing on Chruch cause he puts on a great show and is very talented….Its just weird that the genre pushes these pop and rock artists down our throats. I hope that Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen stay around for a while. People loved them and it showed in the album sales. WE NEED That old country music back. Theres a market for it and listeners are craving that sound.