Nothing Stops Eric Church

Church’s band and crew came down with the stomach flu, which meant they were not available to play music or hang the video, lights and sound at EnergySolutions Arena Jan. 31.  But instead of canceling, Church did a 19-song acoustic concert and promised to return with full production May 25, honoring all tickets.

“If you’ve seen our show so far on this tour, you’re probably wondering what the hell is going on right now. Well, so am I,” Church told the crowd. “Here’s the deal: Yesterday, we had the stomach flu strike our band, our crew, everyone. We had no one to hang video, lights, nothing. But I’m still here. I’m still standing. We’ve talked about how every show on the Outsiders Tour is different. Well, tonight will be the most different one. Shit, there’s nobody left.”

Halestorm opened with a full set, and Lzzy Hale joined Church for “That’s Damn Rock and Roll.” Guitarists Jeff Hyde, Jeff Cease and Driver Williams also joined in on a few songs.

The central stage had been set up, so Church worked six mics throughout the set. The event harkened back to Church’s club days where he had no problem playing for six hours straight.

“I usually get drenched in sweat. In Charlotte, I had to come off and be packed in ice, and they ran an I.V.,” Church told Pollstar in 2009, when he was playing honkytonks and theatres. “I think three nights in a row, the temperature was 100-plus on stage. We have a thermometer and, in Charlotte it was 103; it’s like you go and run for 100 minutes. I read a quote by Springsteen once that if you come off stage and you don’t feel like you’ve run five miles, you didn’t give everything you could.”

The full band is expected to recover by the Sacramento show Feb. 4. Those who cannot attend the May 25 performance can – even though they saw the acoustic event – return their tickets for a full refund. Opening acts will be announced later.