Nashville’s neon thoroughfare is lined with honkytonks linked to a few of the greatest names in nation music. The chart-topping performers have been identified to make particular appearances on the music venues that bear their names, however Eric Church takes it to a brand new stage at his brick-and-mortar incarnation, Chief’s.
The six-story bar, named for his multi-platinum 2011 album Chief, opened April 5 with the launch of an unprecedented 19-night residency by means of June titled “Eric Church: To Beat the Satan.” On opening evening, Church delivered a two-hour, solo set for his most ardent supporters generally known as the Church Choir.
Ben Weprin, CEO and founding father of AJ Capital companions, is an investor and companion with Church for Chief’s. He wouldn’t disclose the challenge price. It took three years to repurpose and rebuild the historic, 19,350-square-foot constructing at 200 Broadway. AJ Capital Companions focuses on the hospitality, mixed-use and residential sectors. Its portfolio of greater than 100 properties in additional than 50 markets is valued at $5.3 billion.
“Eric is my closest buddy; it was an honor and privilege,” mentioned Weprin, whose funding in Chief’s is unbiased from AJ Capital Companions. “He’s a world-class artist and storyteller. Translating his songs and tales right into a bodily house to share together with his followers was a present.”
Church mentioned, “Chief’s as a complete is a celebration of the followers which were with us each step of the way in which for 20 years now. The constructing is devoted to them and that journey, so we wished to create a present that was additionally a celebration of the highway we’ve traveled collectively to succeed in this level. The residency present is a solution to mark this second in time of opening Chief’s and to share tales and carry out songs that I’ve by no means accomplished reside earlier than and possibly by no means will once more.”
The multi-level venue contains Chief’s Tavern, a first-floor, reside leisure house papered with 1000’s of live performance posters from Church’s profession and a broadcast studio for Eric Church Outsiders Radio on SiriusXM. The second flooring options the Pleasant Shadows Dueling Piano Bar.
“Whenever you stroll into Chief’s, each intricate design element you see is a product of Eric’s imaginative and prescient,” Weprin mentioned. “The six flooring are a bodily manifestation of Eric’s evolving profession. From 5,000 live performance posters protecting each floor of the primary flooring, to classic Subject & Stream artifacts on the second flooring and the enduring Fiddle & Metal signal the place Eric received his begin in The Neon Steeple, the excellent house displays Church’s journey from a younger musician with desires and dedication to the celebrated artist he’s immediately.”
Chief’s faucets into Church’s Carolina roots in partnership with James Beard award-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott, whose Hell of a Q location, sits on the fifth and sixth flooring overlooking downtown Nashville.
Meals and beverage apart, the central function in Chief’s is The Neon Steeple, a 400-capacity ticketed efficiency corridor on flooring three and 4.
“We designed Chief’s across the concept of a two-story theater being on the coronary heart as we wished a efficiency house that allowed for a dialog only for the folks within the room,” supplied Church. “I used to be nervous as hell on the opening evening, but that type of power does one thing to me creatively. It’s a room we hope brings unique music again to the center of downtown Nashville.”
“We didn’t need Chief’s to be one thing we simply hooked up Eric’s identify to,” Weprin mentioned. “Whereas the behind-the-scenes involvement was apparent to us, his To Beat The Satan residency is a superb instance of what makes him, and Chief’s, stand out on Broadway — he’s intricately dedicated.”
Music curation mattered as a lot because the folklore décor.
“We wished this to be a spot the place musicians may make a reputation, which as soon as was the intention of Broadway,” Weprin mentioned. “Positive, there will probably be covers, however we additionally wished unique songwriting and to be someplace the place musicians attempt to play and get to debut their music to the world.”
A ten-time Grammy nominee and a number of award winner together with the 2020 CMA Entertainer of the Yr, Church has a critically acclaimed catalog of music and a status as a dynamic reside performer. His current “The Outsiders Revival Tour” was his first absolutely out of doors tour following his 55-city, in-the-round area present “The Collect Once more Tour.” Church is a minority proprietor of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the enduring Subject & Stream model, has his personal SiriusXM music channel and his personal liquor Whiskey JYPSI.
“This constructing is lots just like the songs I write. They’re mine till I launch them, after which they’re not mine anymore, they’re yours,” shared Church.
This story first appeared at VenuesNow.com
