What a year. We wrapped the @ericchurchmusic Free The Machine tour Saturday night in Tampa. By the numbers: 49 shows, 50 string arrangements, 104 musicians & crew. The intangibles: my heart grew several sizes and I will miss getting to create new memories on & off the stage on a weekly basis with this stellar group of humans. I’ve never felt more accepted or celebrated as a band member or arranger. Eric is 1/1 as an artist and I’m eternally thankful for his vision. Huge thank you’s to @katherine_gooch_church@qprimespeets@slyfoxprod@bjschnee03@turbomix66@xoamandagrace@meganharris96@taralimetv@driverwilliams@aruckus@royageemusic and everyone else who kept the wind in our sails and our sets on time. Big love to my quartet @kraitz@laurepling@patrickmonnius . Leaving you with the greatest pre-show pump up jam of all time (not up for debate).
Where do I even start… this tour was truly the experience of a lifetime. I said “this is a dream come true” a lot over the course of the last year. But in reality, I never dreamt that I’d get to do something like this even in my wildest of dreams!
I’m honestly struggling to write this. I have so many emotions and so many thoughts about the whole thing. But the overwhelming two are gratitude and love. I’d heard that the people you tour with can feel like a little family, but boy was I not prepared! I love you all so much and I will miss making these memories with you all. Then there’s the gratitude. I have so much gratitude for @eleonoredenig for asking me to be a part of this, the band for welcoming us into their musical world, the Strings and Things™️ for being so loving and supportive, the entire Eric organization for making me feel so welcome and well taken care of, and Eric and Katherine for putting this whole thing together.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t incredibly sad that this experience has come to an end. But I’m also looking forward to being back home and everything that entails. Making music with my Nashville friends and family! Enjoying my new house and all the baking I’m going to do there! My cats! If you need me, I’ll be around 🧡🎻🕶️
#ericchurch #freethemachinetour #stringsandthings #viola
If you would’ve told me that I would be on a tour singing rock music disguised as country music with one of the biggest country artist in the world I would’ve used an open hand and slapped you. It’s been a one amazing & incredible ride. I will do a proper post later to celebrate the experience, but for now …..the last one was my best one.
We loved the Free The Machine tour.
We visited 8 cities, catching 9 shows and making a million memories. The final weekend was incredible and topped by @spedwybabs joining our Jax to Tampa road trip, running into @shellyfairchild and catching up with @hoav5090 too! We can’t wait to see what Chief has up his sleeve next. ❤️🥹 #craigwright #johnhenrytrinko #mikehaynes
As the Eric Church Free the Machine tour comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to talk about some of my friends. The ECB choir, aka 'Things' (just like us horns).
This group is of the highest level of professionalism. Day after day I've seen the choir hold extra rehearsals as we navigate the musical curveballs of new tunes and arrangements each weekend. Night after night they give their all, dancing another 12000 steps (🥵) on stage while delivering vocally. I do not take it lightly that they give me goosebumps every night when they sing together. Close your eyes and their sound is of 20+ people, but somehow they are just eight.
Best of all these choir members are all tremendous people. They take great care of each other and all of us in the band and crew, making green rooms, buses, hotels, and of course the stage a welcoming and joyful atmosphere. We have shared so many laughs, a few tears, plenty of sweat (not naming names 🤣) , meals, drinks, and stories. I'm honored to call each of the eight of them my friend.
Come cheer us all on these last two nights in Jacksonville and Tampa.
I’ve had a few days off and a couple of days to be a potato and rest. I’m so ready to get back to my road family and back on stage! 📸 @theanthonydangio
