If you want to know what makes Eric Church tick, listen to his just-released album “Chief.” Church went to a secluded cabin in his home state of North Carolina to write most of the 11 songs that are on the album. They’re songs about family and loyalty — such as “Homeboy” — and, of course, all kinds of memories. For all the bad boy bravado Church shows on stage — and which he’ll certainly show at his local concert as part of Toby Keith’s “Locked & Loaded” tour — the truth is that he’s a truly gracious man who takes life’s knocks in stride and turns them into music.
“I’ve been there,” said Church with a laugh talking about co-writing “I’m Getting’ Stoned,” about a lost love. “We have all been there. She moved on to somebody and it’s up to you to get over that. It’s one of my favorite songs.”
| Onstage |
| Toby Keith with Eric Church and JT Hodges |
| » When: 7 p.m. Saturday |
| » Where: Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow |
| » Info: $20 to 110; ticketmaster.com 202-397-SEAT |
Perhaps that’s because Church is the living embodiment of another old say, “the best revenge is living well.” The happily married Church was just preparing with his wife, Katherine, for the birth of their first child, a son, at the end of September when “Chief” landed at No. 1 besting such heavyweight musical forces as Adele and Kelly Rowland.
One reason Church’s success was so unexpected is that he’s never had a top five single. The other is that although he has a rabidly strong fan base, his music has occasionally drawn criticism from those who take exception with his hard-rocking style of country that has earned him the outlaw country title.
It’s also earned him a legion of fans that music insiders have credited with many facets of Church’s success, including boosting his album to the top chart position.
As he prepares to headline his own tour next year, Church said he’s savoring his time working with Keith.
“I have had a chance to write with him and get to know him a little bit,” said Church thoughtfully. “I respect how he works. Another thing I respect is that he is the guy who [has the] same people working for him that he had when he started out. That says a lot about him.”
Noticing such details is just another trait that makes Church tick.
