Lists: Five awesome things that happened at last night's Eric Church show

Eric Church - shown here at a 2009 State Theatre show - performed a memorable show Tuesday at 9:30 club. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)

North Carolina neo-outlaw Eric Church delivers one of the most spirited live shows in country music -- and his fans follow suit. Church's rowdy 9:30 club debut on Tuesday was no exception. Five highlights:

1. Hands up

Cameras, lighters, bottles of Bud, Stetsons -- all of these things were hoisted skyward when Church barked "Give me a crowd that's redneck and loud!" from his 2006 single "How 'Bout You." And this was a crowd that liked to put its hands (among other things), in the air and wave them they just didn't care. During "These Boots," dozens of audience members raised theirs. One guy lifted his Red Wings over his head. Those don't count, dude.

2. A lotta smoke

During the singer's ode to vice, "Smoke A Little Smoke," an overzealous smoke machine set off the 9:30 club fire alarm. Church ignored it.

3. Tear it down

Before Church's set, the hype man encouraged fans to take home the excessive promotional Jagermeister posters and banners that covered the club. Fans got to work immediately, ripping them from the walls -- an anti-corporate moment that certainly wasn't intended.

4. Shadowboxing

During "Lotta Boot Left to Fill," fans barked along while punching the air. It was if as if we had all teleported to an early-'90s hardcore show.

5. Sunglasses at night

One of the few times Church removed his baseball cap was to sing the line, "I pledge allegiance... to Merle Haggard." The singer's sunglasses, however, never came off his face.