Eric Church And Marcus King Laid Down A Killer Cover Of The Band’s “Ophelia” During Grand Rapids Show

I didn’t know how much I needed this until I saw it in person.

Eric Church was at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan last night for a stop on his Free the Machine tour, with Marcus King kicking things off.

I’ll have a lot more to say about the show soon, because it was up there with the best Eric Church tours I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen them all). But right now, I want to talk about this incredible moment he shared with his opener.

Marcus King is undoubtedly one of the most talented guitar players in the world right now. Steeped in the southern music tradition, King’s soulful sound is an amalgam of his country, blues, gospel, and southern rock influences, and along with his own incredible music, he often lays down some killer covers during his live shows.

And last week, Church invited King onstage to join him for a mind-blowing cover of the Tom Petty and Prince version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” a song first made famous by The Beatles from their 1968 self-titled album (more commonly known as The White Album).

At the time, I said that I wouldn’t be disappointed to see these two on stage together this week when I was at the show in Grand Rapids. And ahead of the concert, Church told me that he was indeed bringing Marcus out again – but that they had something different in store. (It didn’t sound like he was really wanting to try to pull off “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” two weeks in a row – understandable).

So last night when Church welcomed King on stage, the two instead broke out into a swampy, smokin’ cover of “Ophelia” by The Band.

Burned it down. (And I also have to give a shoutout to Roy Agee back there ripping it on the trombone). The whole thing was absolutely magical.

This one was a little more in Church’s wheelhouse: He’s performed the cover several times over the years, and often cites The Band and their lead singer, the late great Robbie Robertson, as one of his biggest musical inspirations.

A few years ago, he played the song in New Orleans with special guest Trombone Shorty:

This is the last weekend of Marcus being on the tour with Eric, so we’ll have to see whether the two have anything in store for their final show together tonight in Cleveland. But I’ve gotta admit, it’s going to be hard to top these two jamming out on “Ophelia” together.

Just an insane amount of talent and musical genius on one stage together.

Eric Church ‘Free The Machine Tour’ Setlist – Van Andel Arena

1. Hands Of Time
2. Bleed On Paper
3. Johnny
4. Storm In Their Blood
5. Darkest Hour
6. Evangeline
7. Rocket’s White Lincoln
8. Clap Hands
9. Desperate Man
10. Stick That In Your Country Song
11. Mistress Named Music
12. Smoke A Little Smoke/Proud Mary
13. Creepin’
14. Give Me Back My Hometown
15. Ophelia (w/Marcus King)
16. Russian Roulette
17. The Outsiders
18. Sinners Like Me
19. Hell Of A View
20. Springsteen
21. Drink In My Hand
22. Cold One
23. Round Here Buzz
24. Pledge Allegiance To The Hag
25. That’s Damn Rock & Roll
26. Some Of It
27. Like Jesus Does
28. These Boots
29. Record Year
30. Love Your Love The Most
31. Talladega
32. Those I’ve Loved
33. Through My Ray-Bans

‘Free The Machine’ Tour Dates

Oct. 11 || Cleveland, OH || Rocket Arena || Marcus King
Oct. 23 || Salt Lake City, UT || Delta Center || Charles Wesley Godwin
Oct. 24 || Boise, ID || ExtraMile Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin
Oct. 25 || Spokane, WA || Spokane Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 6 || Vancouver, BC || Rogers Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 7 || Portland, OR || Moda Center || Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 8 || Seattle, WA || Climate Pledge Arena || Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 13 || Sacramento, CA || Golden 1 Center || Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 14 || Fresno, CA || Save Mart Center at Fresno State || Charles Wesley Godwin
Nov. 15 || Inglewood, CA || Intuit Dome || Charles Wesley Godwin
Jan. 22 || Washington, D.C. || The Anthem || Caylee Hammack
Jan. 23 || Washington, D.C. || The Anthem || Caylee Hammack
Feb. 5 || Omaha, Neb. || CHI Health Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 6 || Sioux Falls, S.D. || Denny Sanford PREMIER Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 7 || St. Paul, Minn. || Grand Casino Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 12 || Toronto, ON || Scotiabank Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 13 || Buffalo, N.Y. || KeyBank Center || Ella Langley
Feb. 14 || Albany, N.Y. || MVP Arena || Ella Langley
Feb. 19 || North Little Rock, Ark. || Simmons Bank Arena || 49 Winchester
Feb. 20 || Kansas City, Mo. || T-Mobile Center || 49 Winchester
Feb. 21 || St. Louis, Mo. || Enterprise Center || 49 Winchester
Feb. 26 || Tulsa, Okla. || BOK Center || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 27 || Fort Worth, Texas || Dickies Arena || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Feb. 28 || Austin, Texas || Moody Center || Stephen Wilson Jr.
Mar. 5 || Knoxville, Tenn. || Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center || 49 Winchester
Mar. 6 || Greensboro, N.C. || First Horizon Coliseum || 49 Winchester
Mar. 7 || North Charleston, S.C. || North Charleston Coliseum || 49 Winchester
Mar. 19 || Birmingham, Ala. || Legacy Arena at the BJCC || 49 Winchester
Mar. 20 || Atlanta, Ga. || State Farm Arena || 49 Winchester
Mar. 27 || Hollywood, Fla. || Hard Rock Live || Kashus Culpepper
Apr. 3 || Greenville, S.C. || Bon Secours Wellness Arena || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 4 || Charlotte, N.C. || Spectrum Center || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 10 || Jacksonville, Fla. || VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena || Ashley McBryde
Apr. 11 || Tampa, Fla. || Benchmark International Arena || Ashley McBrydeThe post Eric Church And Marcus King Laid Down A Killer Cover Of The Band’s “Ophelia” During Grand Rapids Show first appeared on Whiskey Riff.