Eric Church - The Future of Country Rock
If you haven't heard of Eric Church, or more particularly haven't heard his music, you're depriving yourself of a singer / songwriter who promises to challenge Ronnie Van Zant in the category of "tell it like it is" lyrics.
Like his Southern Rock predecessor, Church speaks honestly about life and the experiences that hone us. Not only is it easy to draw a picture of what makes this talented North Carolina musician tick, but to relate to what he has to say. Signature songs like "How 'Bout You" and "Guys Like Me" speak to those of us who try to live our lives with honesty, honor and hard work.
"Give Me a Crowd That's Redneck and Loud"
I had the pleasure of seeing Eric perform at Indian Ranch in Webster Massachusetts in August of 2008. Although the venue was modest, the show (and the crowd) still rocked. This was the second time I had the pleasure of hearing Eric play. The first time was at a private acoustic show in Greenwich Rhode Island in 2007. Eric took the time to meet everyone after that show for autographs and pictures, and I found him to be an incredibly humble and gracious guy. Even at this years show, Eric held a meet and greet with some lucky ticket holders. While we weren't among the chosen few, Eric still paused to let me take a picture of one of his signature ball caps for my girlfriend who loves Dr. Pepper.
Wouldn't You Like to be a Pepper Too?
The genre of Southern Rock may never see a savior. Its founders are aging and moving on. Caretakers like The Black Crowes and Blackberry Smoke seemingly unable to spark a Southern revival. For those of us who find comfort in the riffs and roots of Southern Rock, hard driving country rock offers hope, as musicians like Eric Church, Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins provide road music worth listening to.