Bloglander

Country music seems to be a big deal around here. From downtown Spokane city dwellers to rural Northern Idaho farmers, most everyone gets a kick out of country-pop anthems celebrating the real American party scene — the one with cheap beer, boots, ripped jeans and lakeside campfires.

Eric Church successfully covers this ground in a bro-country way, yet simultaneously attempts to embrace the grit of the down-home good guy and the misunderstanding of the bad boy. 

Church is to the country music scene what Kanye is for everyone else - the attention-grabber who gains fame by self-proclaiming his alternative status, making public statements dissing other stars and doing whatever the hell he wants in the name of "not caring." A couple years ago, Church called out fellow country stars Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton for their involvement in reality TV (though he appeared on CMT Cribs two years earlier talking up his "mancave").

In line with the outlaw image he's going for, Church's tour and latest album bear the name of The Outsiders. This world tour makes its way to the Spokane Arena, continuing the venue's pattern of booking country bands, on Thurs. Jan 29, 2015; more information on ticket sales to come soon. 

Now, most importantly, a word on the Mancave: