This gem of an Eric Church recording comes courtesy of CMA’s Music Festival Fan Fair back in 2007 for his fanclub, The Church Choir.
Whether it’s 2020 or 2007, if you watch some Eric Church – he’s going to have his hat & aviators on. Such is the case in this amazing throwback to Nashville of over a decade ago. Within, Church plays in a parking lot for his fan club – directly from his own tailgate. But this isn’t just any ol’ parking lot gathering!
While the video may seem obscure, it comes from a well-documented event. The footage, shot by fan and videographer Trevor George, takes place as a then-budding Eric Church performs naked (just open vocals and acoustic guitar, mind you) for The Church Choir. The Church Choir is, of course, Eric’s perfectly named fan club, and not an actual church choir.
The event was a smash hit for Church and his fans. And if his truck looks mighty gorgeous and exceptionally shiny – that’s because it is. Before this intimate concert began, the country icon was gifted the very Chevrolet truck he sings from.
That’s right! The 2007 CMA Fan Event was sponsored by Chevrolet/GM. As part of their promotion, GM gave Church a brand-spanking-new black Chevrolet E85 FlexFuel Silverado. It pays to be a country boy, huh?
Two Years After His First Album From Capitol Nashville…
The throwback video comes from a time when Eric Church, 43, was gaining huge momentum, but still had a long way to go before becoming the country icon we know today. At that time, in 2007, Church was hot off the heels of his 2006 debut smash, Sinners Like Me.
Sinners is an iconic country album today – something no Church fan needs to be told. The album produced three Billboard Country-topping singles: “How ‘Bout You”, “Two Pink lines”, and of course – “Guys Like Me”.
A song conceptualized by Church, “Guys Like Me” in its radio form was co-written by Church and Deric Ruttan. While the song was part of Sinners’ release in 2006, it wouldn’t hit the air as a single until January 2007. Afterward, it peaked at #17 on Billboard’s US Hot Country Songs chart. “Guys Like Me” even managed to break the Billboard Hot 100 – the chart measuring all genres, not just country – at spot #99.
Eric Church Plays “Guys Like Me” From Tailgate in Nashville (2007)
Church Choir members will surely get a kick out of this fantastic throwback. The fan club remains active to this day, and even has a Facebook group, online forum, and special spot on Church’s official website.
As the performance begins, Church gets settled onto the tailgate of his brand new Chevy. If he looks a tad sweaty and worn – he is. The event included Church planting trees in Nashville with fans before his performance. Behind the cameraman is The Church Choir, showing in huge numbers to support their favorite country artist.
“Recorded by Trevor George – Nashville – Eric Church at a local park June 8th 2007 downtown Nashville on his tailgate playing the future #1 hit “Guys Like Me” for some fans.”
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