How Eric Church Expertly Embraces 'Time-Tested Tradition' In Newest Era

Eric Church embraced a “time-tested tradition” as he launched the latest era in his career.

The trailblazing country star debuted Evangeline vs. The Machine, his eighth studio record, on Friday (May 2). The 8-track album, produced by Grammy winner Jay Joyce, includes “Hands Of Time” — brought to life in a newly-premiered music video on the project’s release day — “Darkest Hour,” and more. 

1.  Hands Of Time (Eric Church, Scooter Carusoe)

2.  Bleed On Paper (Tucker Beathard, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell)

3.  Johnny (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Brett Warren)

4.  Storm In Their Blood (Eric Church)

5.  Darkest Hour (Eric Church)

6.  Evangeline (Eric Church, Luke Laird, Barry Dean)

7.  Rocket’s White Lincoln (Eric Church)

8.  Clap Hands (Tom Waits)

“People keep asking me about the ‘vs.’ in the title,” Church said in a statement via his record label. “They want to know, is it a battle, Eric? And I say, yes. It is a battle. A battle for everything creative. That’s the whole reason I’m here in the first place.”

Church is hailed “one of country music’s most fearless storytellers,” who chooses to fight against the machine — “in a world where a computer program can create a song in a blink of an eye” — rather than go along with it, notes a press release from his record label. Evangeline vs. The Machine aims to demonstrate “experimentation, creativity and surprise” throughout the 8-track listening experience that extends an invitation to others “to stay and fight with it.”

The North Carolina-born country star recently announced his headlining “Free the Machine Tour,” featuring special guests Elle King, Marcus King Band and Charles Wesley Godwin. Church said “these shows will be different than anything you’ve ever seen or heard from us before,.” Tickets will be available on Friday, May 9 at 10 a.m. local time. See the list of tour stops below.

“I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art,” Church said on Friday. “An album is the ultimate creative expression, and the way we consume art now just takes the edges off that creativity. It’s built to confine it, to choke it out. With this record, it’s really my way of fighting for the creative spirit, that spirit of ‘Evangeline.’ Because I know that where we are in the world, it probably shouldn’t exist. But it does. It can live here. It can run free here. And, the best music has to fight the hardest to get out.”

Free the Machine Tour

*on sale Friday, May 16 at 10 a.m. local time

Sept. 12  ||  Pittsburgh, Penn.  ||  PPG Paints Arena  ||  Elle King

Sept. 13  ||  Columbus, Ohio  ||  Nationwide Arena  ||  Elle King

Sept. 18  ||  Philadelphia, Penn.  ||  Wells Fargo Center  ||  Elle King*

Sept. 19  ||  Boston, Mass.  ||  TD Garden  ||  Elle King

Sept. 20  ||  Brooklyn, N.Y.  ||  Barclays Center  ||  Elle King

Sept. 25  ||  Green Bay, Wisc.  ||  Resch Center  ||  Marcus King Band

Sept. 26  ||  Milwaukee, Wisc.  ||  Fiserv Forum  ||  Marcus King Band

Sept. 27  ||  Des Moines, Iowa  ||  Wells Fargo Arena  ||  Marcus King Band

Oct. 2    ||  Detroit, Mich.  ||  Little Caesars Arena  ||  Marcus King Band

Oct. 3    ||  Lexington, Ky.  ||  Rupp Arena  ||  Marcus King Band

Oct. 9    ||  Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Gainbridge Fieldhouse  ||  Marcus King Band

Oct. 10   ||  Grand Rapids, Mich.  ||  Van Andel Arena  ||  Marcus King Band

Oct. 11   ||  Cleveland, Ohio  ||  Rocket Arena  ||  Marcus King Band

Oct. 23   ||  Salt Lake City, Utah  ||  Delta Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Oct. 24   ||  Boise, Idaho  ||  ExtraMile Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Oct. 25   ||  Spokane, Wash.  ||  Spokane Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Nov. 6    ||  Vancouver, B.C.  ||  Rogers Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Nov. 7    ||  Portland, Ore.  ||  Moda Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Nov. 8    ||  Seattle, Wash.  ||  Climate Pledge Arena  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Nov. 13   ||  Sacramento, Calif.  ||  Golden 1 Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Nov. 14   ||  Fresno, Calif.  ||  SaveMart Center  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin

Nov. 15   ||  Inglewood, Calif.  ||  Intuit Dome  ||  Charles Wesley Godwin