Eric Church’s Huge Inflatable Devil Stirs Controversy
Photo via Air Works
Spinal Tap, eat your heart out.
On Eric Church’s current arena tour, there’s been a special guest making a surprise appearance at each show—a giant multi-story inflatable devil that blows up and towers over the crowd with shimmering eyes and skin on fire. It is conjured during the rendition of Eric Church’s song “Devil, Devil (Prelude: Prince of Darkness)” off his recent album The Outsiders.
Nicknamed Lou C. Fer, the big blowup Satan was designed by a company called Air Works based in Amsterdam who specializes in “inflatables that don’t look like inflatables” and prefer you call their creations “air sculptures.” “LED lights make his burning eyes glow, and UV paint effects give him a fiery feel,” says the company about the particular air sculpture making an appearance on the Eric Church tour, but some are calling the air sculpture inappropriate for a country show, unethical as a symbol of Satan, while some feel it’s just downright tacky.
When Eric Church’s tour made a stop Saturday night (12-13) at Birmingham, Alabama’s BJCC Arena, one concert goer was not impressed by El Diablo making an appearance. “From one of the biggest music lovers: Eric Church, you have some great songs and I have been around since your ‘Workplay’ days, however your concert in Bham tonight was disheartening,” said Allyson Protho. “A ginormous Satan…. No thank you…Children were at that concert… That should be enough said right there.”
The Alabama resident echoes the concerns others have voiced about the appearance of Lou C. Fer over a string of recent concerts based on religious concerns, and about an artist who’s name dropped Jesus numerous times in his songs, including the hit “Like Jesus Does.” But others have a problem seeing a big Satan prop that smacks of the heavy metal world make an appearance at what is supposed to be a country music show.
Underscoring this point, an early 90’s episode of The Simpsons guest starring the fake metal band Spinal Tap featured the band worshiping a big inflatable Satan doll hovering over the stage. The scene was meant to illustrate how out-of-touch the band was by launching the menacing inflatable. Church’s deloyment of a massive Satan sculpture could also be compared to the now notorious moment Garth Brooks put on a harness and flew around Texas Stadium like Peter Pan. Though such theatrics might be welcomed in the rock world, they’ve been thought for decades as crossing a line in country, and even many of today’s country music mega concerts stop short of featuring such histrionics.
In fairness to Eric Church and Lou C. Fer, the devil in this instance isn’t being worshiped, he’s being offered up as a symbolic representation. Though hard to see in many of the pictures of the inflatable from concerts, the picture of the balloon outside in the daylight from Air Works clearly shows it’s wearing a “Nashville” belt buckle made of an upside down pentagram, symbolizing the greed and malfeasance of the country music business and Music Row. So unlike Spinal Tap, Eric Church isn’t attempting to prove how cool he is by allying himself with the Prince of Darkness, but putting himself in opposition to the evil country music scoundrels. This truth may not stave of a child’s nightmares who might attend one of these concerts and see the massive sculpture, but it definitely is a difference in representation.
However as has been pointed out about Eric Church before, it’s ironic that a man that works completely within the Music Row system, is signed to a major label, regularly performers and is honored at major country music award shows, has made millions of dollars within the mainstream system, and once called Taylor Swift a “dear friend” and collaborated with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan recently, would attempt to pass himself off as an “Outsider,” or as the antithesis of the evilness of Nashville. One could make the case that Eric Church maintaining this stance is even more of a devilish maneuver than most of Music Row’s activities, and is simply an element of marketing. Other Nashville residents also may quarrel that the evils of mainstream country don’t blanket the entire city, and Eric Church’s should be more selective with his symbolism.
Most Eric Church fans in attendance seem to be impressed when the inflatable sculpture makes its appearance. After all, since they paid to get in, they’re more likely to sympathize with Church’s perspective on things. But just like Garth’s flight over Texas stadium, or Taylor Swift’s first CMA for Entertainer of the Year, or the time Ludacris rapped with Jason Aldean at the CMT Awards, Eric Chruch’s devil may symbolize not just Nashville’s evils, but yet another watershed move towards the erosion of what makes country music different from other genres.
Or maybe Eric Church is just carrying on the tradition of The Louvin Brothers.
Photo via Air Works.
December 15, 2014 @ 10:00 am
The inflatable devil is only up for one song, so those who are offended by it or those who have young children (even though it’s not exactly a kid-friendly environment and those who bring kids should expect these sort of things) may leave during this single song and come back when it is over. Like you said trigger, Church is not worshipping it, but instead uses it as symbolism and I think he tries to make the concert more exciting for those who enjoy concert flair. The devil is essentially a Halloween decoration that shouldn’t be taken offensively. As to what you said about it being ironic that a successful artist in mainstream country music is criticizing the Nashville music industry, eric church has said in the past that prelude of “devil, devil” references his time before becoming famous when he played bars and got small gigs where very little people showed up. Being that his success is relatively recent, Chief being his first commercially popular album, I don’t think his criticism of Nashville is too far fetched.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:16 am
Yup . If you are aware of this guy’s newer music ( I was a way bigger fan of his songs early in his career …I don’t know WHAT planet he’s on now ) and bought a ticket to his show , this bit of theater shouldn’t be offensive , shocking or considered blasphemous .
Saying that …I’d be more frightened by the recently ‘sculpted’ Church himself more than his inflatable cartoon devil . This is one strange dude .
December 19, 2014 @ 10:12 am
Go listen to Hunter Hayes then…maybe he’ll inflate a giant flower with sparkles and lady bugs. Sounds like that’s more on your level.
December 15, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
These people paid for a ticket just like you. They shouldn’t HAVE to leave at all. This is a very dangerous line Eric is towing. I’m not a fan of his & never have been but I would be very disappointed & even asking for my money back!!
December 17, 2014 @ 12:24 pm
Because of a blow up doll? Get a life…
December 17, 2014 @ 12:51 pm
I do not think the expression “toeing the line” (yes, it’s “toe”, not “tow”) means what you think it means.
December 15, 2014 @ 10:12 am
That thing looks frickin ugly
March 28, 2015 @ 7:14 am
LISTEN TO THE LYRICS NOT WHATS GOING ON AROUND YOU AND MAYBE YOU’LL ALL GET THE BIG PICTURE
December 15, 2014 @ 10:13 am
If Charlie Daniels Band did this for Devil Went Down to Georgia, no one would bat an eye.
December 15, 2014 @ 10:23 am
Charlie Daniels Band don’t need to. They have talent so there’s no need for props in their shows.
December 15, 2014 @ 10:25 am
Bingo!, key word talent!
December 15, 2014 @ 10:27 am
Can’t argue with that!
December 16, 2014 @ 12:48 am
Indeed, it is the old magician’s trick of misdirection — draw the audience’s attention away from what you are actually doing. In this instance, Church is the magician and the trick he’s trying to pull is that he’s got talent.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:28 am
I think trying to compare Charlie Daniels to Eric Church because they both have “Devil” songs is a bit of a stretch, just saying.
December 16, 2014 @ 6:45 pm
The entire concert rocked. I want to go again in January to Nashville. I love how versitle he is, and how he keeps it fresh. He really thinks up some cool, deep lyrics. Ppl just listen or read the entire set of lyrics before making judgment please. If u weren’t actually at the concert, don’t judge. The only thing offensive that night was Hailstorm saying the “f” word quite a bit. However, that girl was amazing with an amazing voice. Pray for your concerns. Don’t judge someone else’s heart.band
December 15, 2014 @ 10:42 am
I dislike that song. But…especially his early stuff, I like Eric Church and he puts on a great show.
Despite the comments here I believe he is talented, but that is really beside the point.
But this is stupid. If you don’t like it – don’t go. As for kids – I would never take them to a concert like his and expect a clean and clear show – just based on how many of his songs have adult content (alcohol, death penalty and teen pregnancy). But, even on that note, they take their kids to shows where the performers are half naked and are dance e around like hookers and don’t see an issue with that….head scratching.
So…bottom line. STFU. And get your bustle out a bunch.
December 15, 2014 @ 10:45 am
I think I’ll reserve my concern for people who:
1. Don’t bring little kids to concerts.
2. Don’t teach those kids to be afraid of some boogeyman in the first place.
December 17, 2014 @ 10:19 am
It’s funny to me how insignificant these cry babies opinions are. You would think that if it were that big of a deal you would have heard about it right after it happened. Yet, this happened at the concert I was at a little over a month ago in Tulsa Oklahoma of all places and I’m sure it was a part of his show well before that. Only when we get to Alabama this becomes an issue. I’m sorry but if our society was based around what the majority of people from Alabama thought was acceptable, then we might as well be back in the dark ages. Kids are exposed to far worse on a daily basis! Keep crying bitches!
December 17, 2014 @ 11:39 am
I just want to point out that one of the reasons I felt it was important to run a story on this issue was because a lot of the people up in arms did not know the context in which the devil was being portrayed as a symbol of Nashville. I understand he’s been using the prop for a few months, but as the tour makes each stop, it’s new to the attendees of each concert. With the amount of interest this story has received, it would be hard for me to say it is not topical. I honestly can see all sides of this issue, and thought it would make an interesting discussion point, which I think it has.
December 15, 2014 @ 10:55 am
Another case of idiots crying about something that doesnt matter. I’m sorry, I’m not the biggest Eric Church fan (even if I like his stuff a lot more than most mainstream Country), but people really have no place to be offended by this. It’s a freaking inflatable, it’s not like he is a Swedish Metal band and is slaughtering animals on stage or something. As other’s have pointed out, don’t bring little kids to concerts.
I could understand people being offended if Scott McCreery did this or Josh Turner or some artist that tries to pass themselves off as “wholesome” or some crap, but Eric Church (for better or worse) has constantly screamed about how “bad-ass” he is or how his shows are closer to rock concerts than Country shows.
This is like going to a Taylor Swift or Britney Spears concert and being upset by the quality of singing, if you have half a brain you should be able to pick up on these things before you walk through the Arena door.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:02 am
Eric Church is neither a musician or artist. He is an act.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:52 am
Well said, amigo.
December 15, 2014 @ 7:59 pm
I’m sorry, but songs like Sinners Like Me, These Boots, The Hard Way, Livin’ Part of Life, Where She Told Me to Go, Carolina, Creepin’, Hungover and Hard Up, and Over When It’s Over beg to differ.
I didn’t include songs from The Outsiders because it’s an awful album. It’s a goddamn mixtape with a couple of good songs. No cohesion.
Eric Church is headed in the wrong direction.
On topic–everybody is too goddamn sensitive.
December 18, 2014 @ 7:06 am
A guy can have some decent songs but that doesn’t change that he is fake and an act.
You can’t tell me you don’t listen to those songs and wish someone else more credible sang them.
December 19, 2014 @ 8:05 pm
I wish this site had a downvote or dislike button. He wrote every single song of his except Like Jesus Does. All of those songs the person above me mentioned are well written songs. He puts on the best shows in country music. He shows great passion and emotion while singing his songs. I don’t understand where you’re hate is coming from. Did you have a bad encounter with him or something?
December 22, 2014 @ 8:30 am
Scott,
I’ve acknowledged the guy has some decent songs. Whether someone writes a song or not, to me doesn’t matter all that much. Waylon Jennings didn’t write the majority of his songs. George Strait either. George Jones either.
Not that they aren’t good songwriters but because someone writes a song doesn’t mean it must be good or gives someone more cred. Again, Church has some decent songs.
“He puts on the best shows in country music. He shows great passion and emotion while singing his songs.”
– He puts on a rock show. Passion and emotion aren’t always a good measuring stick.
“I don”™t understand where you”™re hate is coming from. Did you have a bad encounter with him or something? ”
– No, I haven’t had a bad encounter with him face to face, but I have read and listened to many interviews he has given and seen his marketing at work. I’ve seen him live. He is an act and I don’t think there is any dispute of that. My biggest problem with him is he thinks it is okay to compare his little act to being a groundbreaking artist fighting the industry. Very disrespectful to a genuine artist that is groundbreaking.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:22 am
Eric Church is an imposter anyway. He claims to be an “outlaw” but he’s just as much a tool of Music Row as anybody. How can you make a song with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan and claim to be an outlaw. And people don’t realize an outlaw is somebody who completely rejects the system and does things their own way. Waylon and Willie had a really hard time starting the outlaw movement and all that. This “new outlaw” crap is fabricated by the system. And you should ask yourself why Eric Church is considered a country artist if he is more into the rock and metal world. I believe he does it because these idiots find his sound “revolutionary” for country, and the mono-genre ushering pop country world is the only place he could be successful.
December 15, 2014 @ 4:02 pm
Couldn’t agree more with your comment. I’ve been telling folks that this guy is nothing but a made outlaw(outsider). In my opinion the people in charge of his label are just using him to tap into another market in a sense. That market are the people that want to hate a lot of the sure enough ” pop ” sound in country music. For instance someone saying…… Man! I hate all this Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flats, Band Perry, Luke Bryant etc…… But I love me some Eric Church.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:25 am
Considering how Church has previously talked about the people fighting and fornicating in his audiences, I think parents would have more than a giant Satan balloon to worry about if they are going to be bringing their kids to his shows.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:51 am
“Old Hank Senior didn’t need no laser show / You call it country / I call it bad rock ‘n roll.”
December 15, 2014 @ 11:52 am
If having an inflatable doll of his daddy makes Eric happy, that’s his business. Who am I to question it? It probably makes him feel more secure, like his daddy is right there onstage with him.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:54 am
Should be a 6-story inflatable douche bag and not a devil.
December 15, 2014 @ 5:28 pm
I don’t know man. A big inflatable balloon of himself would be a little narcissistic; don’t you think?
December 15, 2014 @ 8:02 pm
Eric Church is like 6’6, so I don’t think his show needs a douchebag that’s any bigger.
Granted, I like his music and think he’s awesome, but that was too easy to pass up.
December 15, 2014 @ 11:56 am
You can still be an outsider while being signed to a record label, its the music that counts. And Eric Church’s music is far off of music row’s beaten path. He just happened to get luckier than others.
December 15, 2014 @ 12:16 pm
Yeah, but he sings with Bro-Country artists and they’re nowhere near outlaws, just puppets, and that’s not very outlaw-like of Mr. Church. Besides, he says he grew up listening to rock and doesn’t really care about country, so if that’s his attitude, he shouldn’t win country awards. Even if you want to call Crurch an outlaw, you can’t call him country. Even he wouldn’t say he’s country, not does he want to be.
December 15, 2014 @ 12:36 pm
I don’t think it’s fair to say that Eric Church doesn’t care about country. He has said that some of his favorite artists are Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings (both who are mentioned in his songs and Merle even sang with him on a song). He has also said that he loves George Strait music, describing himself as a “strait freak.”
December 16, 2014 @ 2:58 pm
It’s pretty easy to name-drop one or more of a half-dozen country legends as influences in an effort to make people think you’re a big country fan, but it doesn’t mean much to me.
The day a mainstream act states that he’s a big fan of Gary Stewart, Mel Street, Johnny Russell, or Warner Mack is the day I’ll assume that the singer in question is doing any more than pandering to the traditions of the genre.
December 15, 2014 @ 12:11 pm
Oh, Alabama…the devil fools with the best laid plans
…
Alabama, you got the weight on your shoulders that’s breaking your back
You Cadillac has a wheel in the ditch and a wheel on the track
…
What are you doing, Alabama?
You’ve got the rest of the union to help you along
What’s going wrong?
December 15, 2014 @ 6:51 pm
How long, how long?
🙂
December 15, 2014 @ 12:30 pm
Eric CHURCH…. hmmm, church of Satan?
December 15, 2014 @ 1:09 pm
Won’t somebody please think of the children?!
December 15, 2014 @ 1:31 pm
It’s certainly tacky, in my opinion, but I just find myself shrugging more than anything over the fact that this has even generated controversy.
We’ve seen this before. It’s all been done before, even if this may seem somewhat unprecedented in a live country/”country” music concert. And it’s only a matter of time before the Westboro Baptist Church started picketing his shows anyway, devil or no devil: decrying him for alcoholism, promiscuity (“Two Pink Lines”, “Keep On”, “Like a Wrecking Ball”), murder (“Dark Side”), and wildly and randomly speculating being a closet gay.
December 15, 2014 @ 2:55 pm
Eric Church does not play country music. Eric Church plays rock music tinged with country accents. I like some of Eric’s music, but these people saying they expected a “country music show” deserve a dose of truth.
December 16, 2014 @ 10:02 am
Soooooo…yeah. I was there. The devil thing was kinda weird. Detracted from the music (I happen to like the song “Devil, Devil,” but hey, that’s just me). However, I’ve been going to Eric Church shows for years, and there’s been a steady progression with respect to lights, images, backdrops, etc. The big inflatable representation of the devil didn’t really bother me, at least not on the level some folks seemed to be bothered by it. I just kinda shrugged.
With respect to the broader comments regarding EC and his country music bonafides…again, meh. I like the music I like. Last Saturday night Dwight Yoakam came blazing out of the gate with a cover of “Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Loud, Loud Music,” and I was tickled beyond belief. Yoakam didn’t let up for his entire set, and I dug that Tele-driven country music. Later Eric Church came on, and I was just as happy with the quality of that show as I was with Yoakam’s portion. Was it the same kinda music? Nah, not really. Church has some country songs and some rock songs, and some that walk a little line between the two. I dig it. If you don’t…well, that’s your business.
December 15, 2014 @ 3:19 pm
I could rant and rave about this shit all day long, but I’ll just say this:
You didn’t see George Strait feeling like had to pull these types of shenanigans.
“All he did was stand at the microphone, hold his guitar and sing. And the fans fell all over him. He”™s pretty much now the way he was then. He sang those songs, and that was enough.” ”” Tom Kotzur, bass player for the Younger Brothers, who opened for George in the mid-’80s
December 15, 2014 @ 8:09 pm
Not everybody has to perform the same way.
Look, I defend George Strait when stupid people say “All he does is just stand there” but Eric is just as captivating when he does the same thing. Playing solo with just a guitar and mic when he opened for George on his final tour was a testament to the way George performed and Eric was probably the only one of his openers where George even liked most of the music that was being player.
As long as he reels himself in on his next album he’ll right the trajectory that The Outsiders has interrupted.
December 15, 2014 @ 4:47 pm
Eric is a “different hang”.
December 15, 2014 @ 4:53 pm
Why do people get offended over this silly $hit?
December 15, 2014 @ 5:17 pm
I think Spinal Tap was less Satanic, and more pagan or druid, evidenced by their hit song “Stonehenge”.
December 16, 2014 @ 10:44 pm
He’s talking about the Simpson’s episode that featured Spinal Tap, not “This Is Spinal Tap”.
December 15, 2014 @ 6:51 pm
Ok, I’ll admit I listen to Eric Church. But why does he always come across as a poser? He obviously has musical talent, but I swear every time I listen to the guy talk about himself, his music, or how genres don’t matter, he sounds douchy. This whole devil thing just continues that trend. It’s tacky and borderline insulting. I don’t need to be entertained in ‘that’ way, bro! The music will suffice.
December 15, 2014 @ 7:28 pm
At first glance I though the title was “huge inflatable ego”
December 15, 2014 @ 9:21 pm
Alright. I was at the Birmingham show. And the Greenville one the night before. AND, the one in Duluth, the night before that. In the pit. Right up in front of the stage. Just to the left of center stage. All three nights were great. Lzzy Hale, Dwight Yoakam, and their respective bands were outstanding, to say the least. Chief knocked it out of the park all three nights. As he has at the 12 shows I’ve been to prior to the three-day jaunt around the Southeast.
I’ve always said I’m a fan, and that hasn’t changed. That all being established, the inflatable devil is certainly way over the top and unnecessary. The song is good enough to stand on it’s own merit. There’s my opinion on that.
As to people who get their Bible-thumping bloomers in a knot about it… Why are you bringing CHILDREN to these shows?? If you listen to his music, and are a fan, you should be well aware that the subject matter alone is inappropriate for young children! As previous commenters have said, there seems to be no problem with blatant promiscuity and objectification of women, or songs about psychotic rednecks stalking their ex, or “Crazy Women” (see what I did there, Brandy Clark?), destroying the private property of an ex. That’s cool. Hell. I’ve been to this dude’s shows 15 times, and can’t remember one where there wasn’t at least one drunken white trash hillbilly making a fool of themselves. And, my god, my clothes REEK of weed after leaving the pit at a Chief show! But, all of that is cool. Illegal narcotics and public intoxication is perfectly acceptable. An inflatable representation of the evils of the Music Row machine that happens to be in the form of a boogeyman that doesn’t even exist? Well, that’s crossing the line!!
Selective morality makes me sick. Almost as much as willful ignorance.
December 16, 2014 @ 10:42 pm
I think it’s hilarious when his biggest fans refer to him as “Chief” because it was an interview where he kept referring to himself as Chief in the third person like it was some sort of alter-ego that made me decide that I didn’t like him.
December 17, 2014 @ 7:28 am
His grandfather’s nickname was “Chief.” His crew began calling him that on the road. He named the third album as an homage to his grandfather. He began using the name to refer to the stage persona when he wears the hat and glasses while performing. This information, and much more, is available in a plethora of interviews.
You don’t like the guy? That’s perfectly fine. Really. That’s the great thing about technology and the music scene these days. There is such a wide array of music to suit any taste, and it’s available with the click of a mouse or the tap of a screen.
I could spend hours complaining about the garbage I don’t like. Y’know. The vast majority of the dreck on the radio. The Florida Georgia Lines, the Jason Aldeans, the Luke Bryans, the (newer) Blake Sheltons, and on and on Matter of fact, when I had a Facebook account, I spent a lot of time doing just that. Bemoaning the state of modern country music. Then, I found this site a couple of years ago.
I was introduced to amazing artists like Matt Woods and Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell and Arlo Mckinley and Brandy Clark and Whitey Morgan and Wayne Hancock and Lindi Ortega and so many more. Lest it seem I’ve drifted too far off-topic, I’ll make my point. Some time either earlier this year or late last year, Sturgill made a comment that stood out to me. He referenced how he is frequently asked about the Mainstream Country Music scene, and how people expect him to start trashing popular acts of the day. He said, and I’m paraphrasing, that he felt we should spend more time and energy promoting the good music we love and getting the word out about the artists who are making great music, instead of pissing and moaning about how much we may not like what’s currently popular.
That’s what I’ve tried to start doing. Instead of wasting my time trying to convince people why Mainstream Country Music sucks so bad, I offer up a positive alternative. Do I always succeed in biting my tongue when a friend starts talking about how much they “LOVE that new Jason Aldean song!”? No. Not always. But I’m working on it.
Honestly. What do you think will work better? “You’re music sucks and those guys and girls aren’t ‘real’ artists!”, or, “Hey, I just found out about this new band/artist. Check them out!”? From experience, I’ve had far greater success with the latter than the former.
As a recent example, I was wearing my Matt Woods t-shirt at a Chief show recently. While waiting in line, several people asked who he was. I pulled up my playlist and spun a couple of tunes. Three people in line downloaded “With Love From Brushy Mountain” right then and there!
I know I’m rambling, but I just wanted to make the point that people are more receptive to a point of view when it isn’t served with a heaping helping of condescension and mockery…
December 17, 2014 @ 8:12 am
“He began using the name (Chief) to refer to the stage persona when he wears the hat and glasses while performing.”
That is all I need to know….it’s all an act, all marketing, all made up. I think I’d like him much more if he were just Eric, and didn’t take his grandpa’s nickname and turn it into a WWE act.
What a d-bag.
December 17, 2014 @ 8:23 am
Jaimito,
I understand your points on sharing good music vs. bashing bad, but you have to consider that acts like FGL, Aldean, Luke Bryan, etc… they are what they are. They don’t hold themselves out to be something else. When it comes to “chef” he holds himself out there as some hero/outsider/fighter and country music icon when he is nothing of the sort.
He made excuses about the sunglasses being due to lighting on stage and smoke bugging his eyes. But now the glasses and hat are part of the chef act? He should seriously come out wearing a big white chef’s hat. That would be awesome.
Chef is all about chef and doing whatever he can to bring attention on himself. He has a handful of good tunes, but so Billy Ray.
So to simply say if you don’t like it turn elsewhere isn’t easy with chef when he is hijacking and disrespectful to the genre of country music. FGL isn’t disrespectful, they are just dumbasses.
Ole’ chef should have a little acoustic session during the show and invite Dwight up to jam one on one with him. See the cream separate and chef will only be left with a drink in his hand.
December 17, 2014 @ 10:42 am
I’m not sure what the rambling, incoherent post was all about, and I’m not sure what part of my post you took as “condescension and mockery”.
I’ve always been on the fence about this guy, not really hating his music other than a couple of songs (I might jab knitting needles in my ears if I ever hear “Springsteen” again) but not really finding myself drawn to him, either.
I just find it ironic that the “Chief” image that pushes me toward the “anti” side of the fence is so whole-heartedly embraced by his most diehard fans. It was more a comment about human nature than Mr. Church.
December 17, 2014 @ 11:33 am
The comment about condescension and mockery was with regards to how I have acted in the past when talking to Mainstream Country fans. It was a problem I realized I needed to rectify. I didn’t think you were being that way at all. One of the things I have always enjoyed about the threads on this site is that, for the most part, thoughtful dialogue and exchange of ideas carries the day.
I’ll give you rambling. It’s a hereditary curse, I’m afraid. My dad’s an old-time preacher, and I suppose I get it from him. The point of the “rambling incoherent post” (which, if you took time to read thoroughly, instead of speed reading to find things to argue about), was to highlight the fact that I believe we can do more to promote REAL Country Music by spending less time trashing what we hate, and more time spreading the word about the good stuff that’s out there. That’s all, really.
December 17, 2014 @ 12:49 pm
Thank you for the clarification. I should also clarify that when I stated that your post was incoherent, it was in the context of trying to reconcile it as a response to my comment. I did read the entire thing, and as a general commentary in and of itself it makes much more sense; I actually agree with many of your points.
I’m standing by my “rambling” comment, though.
December 17, 2014 @ 12:54 pm
Guilty as charged, I’m afraid…
December 16, 2014 @ 6:10 am
Love him or hate him (and I DO happen to love him), you know what you’re getting into when you buy tickets to an Eric Church show. Hes sang about teenage pregnancy, being hungover, getting hammered, getting stoned, fighting, etc. If youre taking a child to his show, you would think you would be more concerned about the songs he sings rather than a cheesy giant inflatable. Whether you like him or not, why would you be bringing a kid to a show like that? What did you expect? The Freshbeat Band?
December 17, 2014 @ 2:27 pm
“Hes sang about teenage pregnancy, being hungover, getting hammered, getting stoned, fighting, etc.”
There are many true artists that sing about the same topics that I would have no problem taking my child to see.
I think many of Church’s fans think by singing about these topics make him some tough guy. No doubt Church himself thinks it does.
These topics are nothing new to sing about. But since Church has a self-esteem problem and can’t just let the song be on it’s own, he adds all the B.S. and encourages his concert goers to act like complete fools. I.E. his bragging about when you go to his shows is it all fighting and sex in the crowd. I really wonder if those glasses he wears are maybe virtual reality glasses, and he sees all this made up stuff????
Concertgoers Upset With Eric Church « Seattle Country Music Radio, News, Artists, Gossip – 94.1 KMPS
December 16, 2014 @ 8:41 am
[…] The big blowup Satan was created by a company called Air Works based in Amsterdam according to Saving Country Music. […]
December 16, 2014 @ 8:58 am
WHHOOOAAA!!!Seriously that looks too badass for an Eric Church concert. But what do I know.
December 16, 2014 @ 9:16 am
Eric Church is in no way shape or form even close to being “Metal” the devil has really no place in Country music even I know that and I am a HUGE Metal fan! Except when he comes down to Georgia that might explain Luke Bryan.
December 16, 2014 @ 9:25 am
What do Kiss, Gwar , Dart Punk, and Insane Clown Posse have in common besides wearing make up and using props? They all suck. Like BJones said Hank sr only needed an acoustic guitar.
December 16, 2014 @ 10:01 am
That’s not satan, that’s Scott Borchetta!
December 16, 2014 @ 3:04 pm
My questions are,
1) How many people went to the show specifically because there would be a huge, inflatable devil there? And,
2) How many people were so turned on by the inflatable devil that they went to a second show just so they could see it again? And,
3) How much did this thing cost, and how much are the operating expenses plus repair and upkeep? And,
4) If the answer to the first two questions is “zero” and the answer to the third question is anything more than zero, is this really an effective way for him to spend money?
December 16, 2014 @ 3:10 pm
Since he’s a douchebag, shouldn’t he have had an inflatable box of Summers Eve on stage with him instead?
December 16, 2014 @ 5:32 pm
When Florida-Georgia Line implements an inflatable pink umbrella going in to a giant drink is when I will start to worry.
December 16, 2014 @ 5:45 pm
Don’t give them any ideas. The same company that made Lou C. Fer could accommodate:
http://www.airworksinflatables.com/index.php?page=Rental&subpage=Body%20parts#Body%20parts
December 16, 2014 @ 5:55 pm
Haha, oh boy! Actually, I think I know what my brother-in-law will find on top of his Jeep on the morning of this coming April Fool’s Day now..
December 17, 2014 @ 12:11 am
The devil IS actually Garth Brooks in his natural form.
December 17, 2014 @ 12:30 am
Ugh, way to make the devil seem uncool.
The devil is best whispered about as a teacher of mean blues guitar. The Spinal Tap on The Simpsons comparison is disturbingly apt here.
December 17, 2014 @ 6:02 pm
Personally: seeing him with an inflatable devil is tame compared to what we’ve in the past. This is nothing. Besides, Eric Church’s music isn’t for kids or folks who are politically correct or hypersensitive. Its a concert.
Anyhoo, I’d spend my money on seeing Halestorm instead. Lzzy Hale and Co put a spectacular show.
December 18, 2014 @ 7:20 am
Music is subjective. Can be argued and debated at length and no one is right or wrong.
But I don’t think there is an act or legion of fans more delusional than Chef Church.
The guy might have some good songs. FGL has a good song (Dirt).
The guy might be out to just have a good time. Brantley Gilbert likes to have a good time too.
The guy might be misunderstood. Miley Cyrus is too.
Chef is a complete d-bag for many reasons but the #1 and what sets him apart from those I mentioned above is he has no self-awareness or humility. I’ve called him an “act”, but maybe he isn’t. He truly believes he is god’s gift and some fighter against the system. He couldn’t be more wrong.
I can’t believe people try to defend him. Sure, defend his music, but he is a complete tool. I like Chesney music in the summer on the beach. But I don’t defend Chesney the person. He’s a dork.
December 19, 2014 @ 10:02 am
Chef. That’s awesome.
December 19, 2014 @ 2:47 am
I’d like to say that Eric Church is probably the most contraversial artist amongst listeners of real country music. Very strong opinions on both sides. Trigger, you do pretty good by him. Eric Church in the title of an article and the comments go through the roof. Not going to lie. That’s how I found this site, 3 years ago (Googling EC).
December 19, 2014 @ 10:08 am
Church is not controversial at all. He is just an idiot. He gets some of going because we are beyond perplexed as to how anyone can buy into the B.S. act of his.
Sure, some decent songs, some toe tappers, but Church is one, if not the single most fake ass act out there. I even support FGL over Church cause at least they don’t try to be something they aren’t.
December 25, 2014 @ 3:08 pm
Why would you assume the Eric you see on stage and in the media is a total act in the first place? He seems pretty sincere and gas always, I repeat always, been against the grain with Nashville and country music in general. He’s not half the outlaw that hank3 is but people can’t call him out on that because a major record label keels him around just because he gets sales right? The guy has always been rock and roll and has repeated that he was basically shunned from playing country joints and had to kick ass in rock clubs. Experiences make us who we are (different or not) but this “act”
That you say he is is really bs
April 6, 2016 @ 12:59 pm
I’m late to the party, but I had to put my two cents in. Church has sneered at performers like Aldean, Luke Brown, Blake Shelton etc…
Funny. The guy that attended prep school, was president of the school golf club – now dons-aviator glasses-feigns-disdain-toward-industry-establishment-while-accepting-all-the-accolades-the-hype machine-from-that-establishment-comes-from etc…. now sings about ‘blue-collar’ life, Springsteen etc… and suddenly he’s a bad ass?
Shelton is an example of a point I want to make. He wanted to be famous, tried a mullet, cut his hair, went on a tv show and now he’s a star.
Shelton doesn’t pretend to be anything he isn’t. And you know what else he doesn’t do? Trash other artists. You know what else he does? He takes down the Westboro Baptist Church, he openly expresses tolerance toward gays, and at the same time doesn’t shy away from his stance on guns and hunting. That’s more of an individualist than Church could ever be.
March 5, 2015 @ 1:09 pm
Nothing suprises me anymore when it comes to modern so-called “music” The whole world is upside-down, why would country music, or any other music genre be any different? Just watch these idiotic award shows.
November 25, 2016 @ 10:07 pm
Hey you know what’s cool? The fact that as time goes on and newer generations of people show up things change. So logically the things that get corporations money are going to change around these new people so logically music is going to change as well. It wouldn’t make sense keeping things the same way if when newer generations of kids show up they’ll have different tastes than you and these corporations won’t get any money by keeping things the same and eventually all the fans of the older singers like Merle haggard will get old and die and then who’s to buy their music?
July 1, 2015 @ 7:33 pm
I loved the concert Eric and his band played in Salt Lake City on Memorial Day! They really played their hearts out. It was amazing and the devil prop was awesome. I’m Christian and I wasn’t offended. Listen to the lyrics and move on with your life people! It was a really cool prop and Eric “shoots” it in the end with his guitar and “kills” the devil.