Eric Church Stuns with Pink Floyd, Symphony in Live Show

Eric Church delivered a truly unexpected and thrilling concert experience at St. Paul's Grand Casino Arena on Saturday night. The North Carolina native, known for his willingness to take risks, opened the show by playing his entire eighth album, "Evangeline vs. the Machine," in full. This marked a significant departure from his usual sound, delving into dramatic progressive rock and symphonic pop, featuring seven original songs and a Tom Waits cover.

To bring this ambitious project to life, Church was joined on stage by horn and string sections, eight backup singers, and his own band, totaling two dozen musicians. The performance included a 20-minute prelude of Pink Floyd selections and immersed the audience in the full 40-minute album before shifting to his catalog of hits.

Despite the challenging, unfamiliar material, the immersive sound and impressive performance captivated the crowd. Songs like "Darkest Hour" and "Evangeline" were lauded for their power and unique arrangements. After the new material, Church transitioned seamlessly into beloved hits such as "Desperate Man" and "Springsteen," even transforming "Smoke a Little Smoke" into a medley with "Proud Mary."