Childers was far more than just music as he played Geodis Park in Nashville over two nights

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When you go see Tyler Childers live you will find out that he is multifaceted.  This article is more than just music because Childers is a preacher, a carnival barker, a comedian, a motivational speaker, and oh yeah, a wonderful singer and songwriter.  In between songs he can make you laugh or rile you up or make you sink into deep reflective thought… and when he plays… you are completely engaged. That’s exactly what he did on Saturday night in Nashville at Geodis Park.  Tyler was in town supporting his “On The Road” tour both Friday and Saturday nights on October 11^th and 12^th at Geodis Park. This tour comes in the wake of Childers’ Rustin’ in the Rain album, which debuted at #10 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart. Childers was there along with special guests Charley Crockett and Cory Branan.   

I saw Tyler in Louisville, Kentucky nearly a year earlier headlining one night of a four-day festival called Bourbon & Beyond. I was in the back of a heavily attended field with nearly 40,000 people (estimated by the event) in front of me, so I didn’t have the best perspective.  It was also the last day of the 110-band bill and I had seen at least 60 of the performances and I was absolutely drained.  So, when my ride or die concert bestie, Andrea, asked me if I wanted to see Childers from floor seats with lounge access, I happily jumped at the opportunity. 

I have been saying “yes” way more than usual lately and the next day I like to thank my past self for seizing the day.  With this show I thought about the fact that it was a nearly 4.5-hour gig (7 hours with travel and parking), and my dog left alone, my plans for the next day, the long work week I had and all the stuff one uses to talk themselves out of going to an engagement like this.  My advice is that advice that my friend Carrie Jo once laid on me, “You need to say ‘Yes!’ more”. Plus, the tickets were free (to me) and food and drinks were included.  

Tyler creates an inviting atmosphere that is all inclusive.  He is not divisive or standoffish but rather endearing with a charm and wit that fills the human heart.  His shows are a testament to his love of his fellow humans. He opened the show by stating, “Feels like we were here only yesterday. I wonder why that is”, referring to the fact that this was the second night of the two-night gig.  It is always good to open up with a joke, and he had plenty of them.  Before he dove into his song ‘Bitin’ List’ which tells the tale of not being able to stand someone, he did a five-minute monologue about those folks that leave their shopping carts in the middle of the parking lot at Kroger. I caught the clip from the Friday night show where he said; 

“This song right here is about those people in your life that you just can’t stand. I’m not talking about those people in your life that just kind of aggravate you. Like people who don’t pick up their dog’s shit.  

Or people who put their chewing gum anywhere, willy-nilly on the sidewalk. Nobody wants your gum on the bottom of their shoe, and chances are, if you’re going around willy-nilly throwing gum on the sidewalk, you’re gonna get gum on your shoe.“

He continued… 

“The other thing I can’t stand is people who ride their bicycles on the sidewalk. Stop it. It’s irritating. It’s called a side-walk. Or those people who ride those scooters. You all still got those here?” 

“People who leave their grocery carts in the middle of the parking lot. Those are the kind of people that are usually the most indignant when they get a scratch on their car. Also, that’s just laziness. You’ve been pushing that thing around for the last hour and a half.  

At certain times during your trip, it’s been heavy. It has not been any lighter since the time you started, and you couldn’t go that last extra step? Your shopping experience isn’t over!” 

His performance was laced with jubilance.  Tyler Childers is also not alone on this journey.  His backing band, The Food Stamps, are a tightly knit group of brilliant players. The show was a 25,000-person singalong with everyone knowing all the words to every song.  I admittingly did not know his catalogue, but I appreciated his catchy hooks and sometimes whimsical lyrics.  Tyler resonates as a strong songwriter that structures wonderful stories into his tunes.  

Tyler started his musical career as a youth in church choir which certainly translates to his style today.  He delivers a message of love, healing a community within his showcase, and we are all better for it.  I originally thought here is a man acting as our personal therapist and giving us a safe space to feel warmth and security, but upon thinking about this more I found that maybe we are the true session leaders and it is he that is using us as a backboard for his vetting.  Either way, we are working together in unison to achieve commonality. 

All this love and community broadcast throughout the evening was accented by absolutely stunning backgrounds. The giant screen that donned the stage was a magnificent highlight of the song’s themes.  Some sequences were reminiscent of 80’s video games, while another was a forest that shifted around to reveal moving trees and wild animals. During his second to last song, ‘Universal Sound’, dreamy scenes from the Milky Way glowed from the electronic wall. There was also television screens placed about the stage that occasionally played clips of ranting preachers. It was visually stunning. In a fitting sentence about the whole of this gathering Tyler said, “We are now one great big organism that won’t ever be this thing again.” 

I was happy that I said “yes”. 

@rock.oracle.music

It was an incredible show last night at Geodis Park in Nashville with Tyler Childers leading an evening of sing-a-longs. Tyler was the quintessential showman and the band was electric. #rockoracle #livemusic #tylerchilders #nashville @Tyler Childers

♬ original sound – Rock.Oracle.Music

The SETLIST

1. Eatin’ Big TimePlay Video
2. I Swear (to God)Play Video
3. Dirty Ought TrillPlay Video
4. Trudy(The Charlie Daniels Band cover)Play Video
5. Rustin’ in the RainPlay Video
6. All Your’nPlay Video
7. In Your LovePlay Video
8. Jersey GiantPlay Video
9. Bitin’ ListPlay Video
10. Watch OutPlay Video
11. Lady May(B stage solo acoustic)Play Video
12. Nose on the Grindstone(B stage acoustic trio)Play Video
13. Follow You to Virgie(B stage acoustic trio)Play Video
14. The Old Country Church(T. Texas Tyler cover)Play Video
15. Whitehouse Road(After band introductions)Play Video
16. Down UnderPlay Video
17. Honky Tonk FlamePlay Video
18. Way of the Triune GodPlay Video
19. Snipe HuntPlay Video
20. Universal SoundPlay Video
21. Heart You’ve Been Tendin’