Eric Church told me to put a drink in my hand, so I did—along with the rest of the record-breaking crowd at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Saturday night (Jan. 10).

18,411 fans joined him for the more than two hour rampage through his catalog, making The Outsiders World Tour the venue’s highest attended event ever. Church—an advocate for getting fans in the door through fair ticketing practices—has a 360-degree stage configuration, so he can sell seats all the way around the arena.

But Church did more than lead a drinking party—he gave fans a killer show that kept them on their feet all night. They knew every album cut—old or new—and the way they recited “Pledge Allegiance To The Hag” it could’ve been the real Pledge of Allegiance. Their connection with Chief was tangible, even saluting him by taking off their boots and waving them in the air during “These Boots.”

In sight and sound, it was like a careening rock show that veered down a country road. In rock fashion, lighting effects and metal contraptions were the centerpiece of the fluid set which moved throughout the concert, with parts climbing from the floor or suspended from above. The stage was shaped like a fork lift, with Church and company often venturing into the crowd on the platforms. The metal-inspired musicians were accented by Joanna Cotten’s soaring backing vocals.

Lighting rigs moved up and down from the ceiling, the glowing tentacles hanging like swampy weeds. Lasers sliced the sky in a display of power rock glory. Red lighting set the mood for the scorching “That’s Damn Rock and Roll,” performed with opening act Lzzy Hale.

Monitors suspended above the stage showed a video feed of Church with an authentic-feeling black and white display. There was also an eerie pre-recorded video of Church’s spoken word recitation of “Dark Side,” showing the singer with soulless eyes. He led fans further into the night with the song “Devil Devil,” during which a giant devil wearing a belt buckle inscribed “Nashville,” inflated at the back of the arena. Whether the inflatable was cool or crazy, it definitely made an impression.

Next Church sought redemption by singing “Country Music Jesus.” Throughout the night he kept the show exciting, and plenty country, with a set list that included “Guys Like Me,” “Talladega,” “Cold One,” “Homeboy” and “Give Me Back My Hometown.” He covered parts of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “The Ballad of Curtis Loew,” and later, The Boss’ “Thunder Road” before segueing into “Springsteen.”

Today Church announced that The Outsiders World Tour will continue into the spring, with guests including Brothers Osborne, Drive-By-Truckers, JD McPherson, The Cadillac Three and The Lone Bellow.

MusicRow engagement escalated this year setting new readership records in 2014. Below are the ‘most viewed’ stories of this year:

1. Country Singer Kevin Sharp Dies at 43
April 20, 2014
Platinum-selling Country artist Kevin Sharp has died at the age of 43. He passed away Saturday evening (4/19) due to ongoing complications from cancer treatment, specifically from “past stomach surgeries and digestive issues” according to his website. Sharp died at the Fair Oaks, Calif., home of his mother, Elaine Sharp. The singer, author, and motivational speaker made his big debut in Country music in 1997 with the No. 1 hit, “Nobody Knows,” a cover of a song originally made popular by R&B artist Tony Rich. The single topped the Billboard country charts for four weeks. Sharp’s debut album Measure of a Man was released the same year, producing […]

2. All Five Garth Brooks Comeback Concerts Canceled
July 8, 2014
In a statement made today, July 8, by Aiken promotions, all five Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event shows, scheduled at Dublin Ireland’s Croke Park have been canceled. No concerts will take place. “Aiken Promotions have exhausted all avenues regarding the staging of this event,” a press release read. Dublin City Council refused licensing for two of Brooks’ shows at the venue. In news that broke last week, Brooks responded to the Council’s decision by saying he would play all five shows or none at all. Today’s statement notes the return process for the 400,000 fans who purchased tickets for the Dublin events will be “outlined tomorrow.” A previously […]

3. Lifenotes: Bobette Dudley Passes
March 10, 2014
Longtime CMA executive Bobette Dudley has died. She passed away Sunday, March 9 following injuries sustained in a car accident on Friday night, March 7. Dudley was a much loved member of the Music Row community. During her 25 years with the Country Music Association, she climbed the ranks to Sr. Vice President, heading the organization’s acclaimed Events and Special Projects Department, before resigning in December 2011. She contributed to the CMA’s growth and success including the relocation of Fan Fair, now CMA Music Festival, from the Tennessee State Fairgrounds to downtown Nashville. When the CMA Awards made a one-year move to New York City’s Madison Square Garden, and then back to its new home at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Dudley was one of the key team members behind the move. This earned her a spot on the Top 15 Event Planners of the Year list from BizBash, a magazine covering the event-planning […]

4. CMA After Parties 2014: BMLG, UMGN, Sony Music Nashville, WMN
November 6, 2014
Big Machine Label Group packed The Rosewall for their CMA after party. The annual late night soiree was in full swing at midnight as native Nashvillians The Cadillac Three took the stage with their “we came just for the party” lyrics and swagger. Universal Music Group Nashville celebrates after the 48th Annual CMA Awards with winners Dierks Bentley, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan and Vince Gill. Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton welcomed Sony Music Entertainment CEO Doug Morris, as well as Sony artists, executives, and guests, to celebrate their post-CMA Awards gathering at Adele’s in Nashville. Warner Music Nashville celebrated another historic CMA night, with Blake Shelton scoring a record-tying, fifth consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year win and Brett Eldredge taking home the CMA New Artist of the Year award. […]

5. Ronnie Dunn Announces Signing With Nash Icon
December 1, 2014
Ronnie Dunn says he has signed a new recording contract with Nash Icon. In a Nov. 27 Facebook post, Dunn told fans that he has inked with Nash Icon, a co-venture between Big Machine Label Group and Cumulus Media. “Got my new company cap yesterday…..NASHIcon / NASHChetta / Big Machine. Thanks Narvel, Jim Weatherston, Scott Borchetta,” Dunn wrote on Facebook, thanking Nash Icon GM Jim Weatherson, and BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, and (presumably) manager Narvel Blackstock. In the comments below the post, Dunn states, “Record deal with Big Machine / NASH Icon.” The status update included this photo of Dunn wearing a cap emblazoned with the words “NashChetta.” The signing would put Dunn on the same label with Reba […]
6. Sony Music Nashville To Move Headquarters
August 27, 2014
Sony Music Nashville has reached an agreement to relocate its Nashville staff members in 2016 into the new Gulch tower, 1201 Demonbreun. John Eakin, Manager of Eakin Partners says, “We are super excited to have a high profile tenant like Sony to be one of our initial lead tenants.” Construction of the building started at the beginning of August and is scheduled to be complete in October 2016. The new structure will consist of 15 stories and offer panoramic views of downtown Nashville. With parking becoming such a hot commodity, this development provides 940 parking spaces and a […]
7. Historic 1800s Music Row Building Demolished
April 17, 2014
The Queen Anne style building located at 1 Music Sq. W. is no more. Construction crews tore down the iconic building yesterday (4/16) that sat across from ASCAP at the corner of Division and Music Square West (the lower end of 17th Ave. S.). Members of the Music Row community drove by the landmark countless times. According to public records, the building was originally recorded as a single family home with six bedrooms and six baths and is estimated to have been built in 1836, containing 6605 square feet on .52 acres. ASCAP’s Suzanne Lee shared via Twitter, “It *was* the most gorgeous house on Music Row. R.I.P.” “All of us at ASCAP are mourning the loss of this beautiful landmark,” added Lee. A sentiment undoubtedly shared by many on the Row. Announced today (4/17), Virgin Hotels, part of the brand established by billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, will open its third U.S. […]

8. Lifenotes: Bob Montgomery
December 4, 2014
Bob Montgomery, one of the key figures in Nashville’s evolution into Music City USA, has died at age 77. During his six-decade career, he made major contributions as a songwriter, record producer, music publisher and label executive. Bob Montgomery’s song catalog includes such standards as “Misty Blue” and “Love’s Made a Fool of You.” He produced records that boosted the careers of Vern Gosdin, Janie Fricke, Bobby Goldsboro and Joe Diffie. He published such iconic songs as “Behind Closed Doors” and “The Wind Beneath My Wings.” He created hit-making rosters for the record labels United Artists, Epic and Columbia. Born in West Texas in 1937, he first made his mark as the 1949-1955 duet partner of future Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame member Buddy Holly. “Buddy & Bob” became local radio stars in Lubbock, TX and opened the concert there by Elvis Presley. Montgomery subsequently wrote […]

9. Eric Church Turns The Tables on Ticket Scalpers
April 25, 2014
Eric Church has turned the tables on ticket scalpers for his upcoming concert at Minneapolis’ Target Center on Sept. 16. More than 14,000 tickets have been sold since Friday, and only a small number of tickets directly behind the stage remain. However, that will change today (April 25) at 5 p.m. CDT. 902 tickets that have been identified as having been purchased by scalpers in violation of sales limits have been canceled, and will be put back into the system for sale at that time. “A lot of acts just want to sell as many tickets as they can and they don’t care who they sell them to,” said Church.“I want my fans to be the ones who buy tickets to my shows, and I want scalpers to back off. I can’t stop ticket scalpers completely, but I can definitely make it harder for them.”  […]

10. Luke Bryan Sets Record at Chicago’s Soldier Field
September 2, 2014
Luke Bryan set a new record this weekend, when he wrapped the last of four stadium concerts at Chicago’s Soldier Field Sunday night (Aug. 31). The entertainer performed for a combined total of 225,000 fans, setting the record for the best-selling Country concert held at the venue. Live Nation is the tour promoter for Bryan’s current That’s My Kind of Night Tour. Sponsors for the tour include Miller Lite, Texaco, and Cabela’s. Bryan will launch his sixth Farm Tour on Oct. 1, performing eight concerts in the Southeast through Oct. 11. A portion of […]