Cassie Allen
Pre-Concert Columnist
This one’s for country fans and fans of that one song they heard on the pop station that was sung by a country artist but actually turned out to be amazing.
####The lowdown
Country singer Eric Church is visiting the Sprint Center in Kansas City on Jan. 31. The show is at 8:00 p.m. with doors opening an hour before the show. Resale tickets for the show are anywhere from $72 for a spot right behind the corner of the stage to $901 for a spot in the general admission pit.
Parking downtown can be a hassle, but the map provided by the venue shows available parking directly east and west of the Sprint Center. Note that farther lots will be cheaper and less busy.
If you’re hanging out in KC before the show, the Power and Light district is near the Sprint Center for food and drinks, or check out the local barbecue at Arthur Bryant’s on Brooklyn Avenue.
####The artist
Eric Church grew up in North Carolina and spent a year in Nashville until he signed his first contract with Sony. His songs were performed by other artists until he was signed by Capitol Records Nashville.
Church has a degree in marketing but has decided not to use social media as a platform to expand his music. Don’t worry, he’s still on Spotify, but Church isn’t personally on Facebook or Twitter and claims he never will be as part of his brand.
####Noteworthy tunes by Eric Church
**“Record Year”**
This comeback song is an anthem that says break-ups can lead to better things, including a record year. CMT broke down the song’s lyrics and explained all the allusions to other songs, including “Red Headed Stranger” by Willie Nelson and plugs to Johnny Cash and Elvis.
**”Give Me Back My Hometown”**
Being from a small(ish) town and hearing this song brings a strange mixture of nostalgia and pride. My one critique of it is that I have absolutely no clue what the music video is about. Death? Gangs? Break-ups? Not even Church knows, according to The Boot. Feel free to watch it here and deduce a meaning for yourself:
**“Springsteen”
Whether you like country music or not, this song is awesome. The song spent months on Billboard’s Top Country charts in 2012 and Top 20 Pop hits in 2012, and the album, **Chief**, almost immediately topped country charts.
_On his past stops of the Holdin’ My Own Tour, Eric Church has played “Talledega,” “The Outsiders,” “Springsteen,” “Mr. Misunderstood” and more. See the full setlist here._
####If you like these, try:
**“Burning House”** by Cam
This emotional song embodies the tone Church portrays in his music from a female perspective and speaks on loss. If you’re like me, pair this song with lots and lots of tissues.
**“Break Up in a Small Town”** by Sam Hunt
If you like some of Church’s work but aren’t a huge fan of country music, this song is a great transition. One of the more powerful lyrics in the song is “her mailbox is seven minutes from mine.” The framing really gives you an idea of the emotion Hunt feels in the song. Still not sure if the song is for you? There’s a great cover of this song by rapper Austin Awake.
