Massachusetts Daily Collegian

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A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

Church brings the heat to Mullins

Courtesy Driscoll Photography
Courtesy Driscoll Photography

Last Thursday night’s concert headlined by Eric Church didn’t just feature a musician and his music.

It was an experience.

Church, Justin Moore and Kip Moore – who served as opening acts – brought some country twang to the Mullins Center while on the “Blood, Sweat & Beers” tour.

Church continues the fall leg of his arena tour throughout the rest of the United States, with his next stop in Dallas.

Opening with “Country Music Jesus,” off his most recent album, “Chief,” Church started the night off on the right note with a fan favorite.

He certainly brought the heat, too, as pyrotechnics and smoke were featured during the performance.

He appropriately didn’t forget to bring his beer, continuously sipping out of his red solo cup that was nestled in the holder attached to his microphone.

After Church launched into the song “These Boots” from his first album “Sinners Like Me,” fans who had worn cowboy boots to the show all took one off to hold it up and wave it around, similar to how typical concertgoers would wave lighters in the air.

One of the most soulful moments of the evening was when Church played “Carolina,” dedicated to his home state of North Carolina.

Church also played a wide variety of songs, mostly from his new album.

He played “Jack Daniels” and switched up the lyrics with it. Rather than follow traditional lyrics “Jack Daniels kicked my ass again last night,” Church excited the crowd when he belted out, “Amherst kicked my ass again last night.”

The drinking theme didn’t end there. Church chugged from his red solo cup as he sang, “Drink in My Hand,” a true alcohol anthem.

It wasn’t all partying and drinking songs from Church, though. He recalled those terrible hangover mornings in the song, “Hungover & Hard Up.”

He did more than just rile the crowd to start singing along. Before Church’s final song, and as the lights dimmed, the crowd went into a frenzy with “U.S.A” chants.

As expected, judging from the success of the single, Church’s hit “Springsteen” was the highlight of the night. Beginning the song by playing piano, he started off the song with a slower than usual pace.

Fans chimed in to sing with Church.

Like earlier in the night, Church switched his lyrics to suit the crowd. He sang “like a soundtrack to an Amherst Thursday night.”

He didn’t end the song in traditional fashion, either. Church paused midway through and, panting, revealed he was going to do something different.

Cue “Born To Run.”

Church ended the night on that note, paying dedication to Bruce Springsteen and giving the crowd something to smile about as they left Mullins.

Before Church, Justin Moore rocked the stage with an hour-long, wide-variety performance.

Moore brought a crazy amount of energy to the stage with the opening act. He executed each note and lyric near-perfectly before a smaller crowd that would later pack the Mullins Center.

His songs ranged from the tearful, yet moving, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” to the easy and soft ballad of “Small Town U.S.A.” and the fast-paced, thrilling “Bait a Hook.”

When he was finished, Moore left the stage as normal. But then, he came back out and gave the crowd a taste of his No. 1 smash single, “Backwoods.”

Another Moore got his chance on stage. Kip Moore, the first of Church’s opening acts, also brought a heavy amount of energy to a light crowd.

Kip Moore also played his newest and more recognizable single “Up All Night,” the title track of his debut album. For a newcomer, Kip Moore was on point with each song, as he and his band not missing a single beat in his rather short set.

Kip Moore closed his set with his most well-known “Somethin’ Bout a Truck,” an instant country classic. Again, he was near perfect in his performance, interacting with the audience while still delivering a great rendition of the song.

Ashley Berger can be reached at [email protected].

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