On Tuesday night, Rod Laver Arena was a sea of flannel, denim, blonde blowouts and trucker hats.
In the foyer, a complementary shoeshine helped punters dust off their boots. Out the front, a mechanical bull awaited a rider. This could only mean one thing: Chris Stapleton was in town.
More than a decade into his career, with five albums and 10 Grammy awards behind him, the Kentucky native was yet to make it down under – that is, until now.
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Early on in his set, in a rare moment of between-song banter, he asked the crowd who’s seen him before (small cheers) and who was seeing him for the first time (big cheers), saying “That’s the biggest disparity there’s ever been.”
While there were certainly some cosplay cowboys in the crowd (myself included), it was clear many had travelled a long way for the occasion. After the show, they could be heard bargaining with cabbies for trips back out to Bendigo and beyond. Spanning age and gender, this was a crowd that wasn’t afraid to have a couple of bourbons on a Tuesday, seemingly thrilled to finally see the master at work.
And Stapleton truly let them have it. Drawing from his deep discography, the singer and guitarist, backed by his six-piece band, delivered a full-throttle performance lasting more than two hours.
With a glittering disco ball, velvet ballroom drapery and cameras positioned on each player (as well as one inside the actual kick drum), the stage set up was primed to highlight to talented musicianship of all those on it.
Kicking off with the rollicking, arena-ready thumper that is White Horse and the four-to-the-floor Nobody to Blame, Stapleton didn’t let the energy wane from top to tail.
He’s got complete command of his voice, a rare, raw beauty, like a stallion he’s masterfully tamed. From powerful belts to ornate vocal runs, his dynamicness and accuracy was an impressive feat.
On top of that, he absolutely shreds on guitar. Each track was decorated with one or more flourishing solos by Stapleton and other members of the band. Renowned lap steel guitarist Paul Franklin’s moments in the spotlight were a special treat, adding extra sparkle.
Rocking a Canadian tuxedo, Stapleton’s wife and the mother of his five children Morgane Stapleton offered pitch-perfect harmonies, tapping a headless tambourine. Seriously, is there anything better than a love song dueted by lovers? The two rarely broke eye contact throughout the set, with Morgane even seeming to get a little emotional during certain sweet moments.
Mid-set, Stapleton sent the band away to offer a handful of paired back gems – Mountains of My Mind and Whiskey and You – before welcoming them back to round out the show. The crowd took their seats, transfixed by his undeniable talent.
Finally, after a heartfelt rendition of Tennessee Whiskey, Stapleton and co. left the stage to a standing ovation before coming back on for a two-song encore. At the end of the rockin’ Outlaw State of Mind, Stapleton left his guitar to ring out on the ground, walking off to the wail of feedback.
Stapleton’s body of work is impressive, a collection of country-blues bangers that borrow the catchiness of pop, but it’s on stage where he proves why he’s such a star. The dynamics, the emotion, the magic… It’s a joy to watch.
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