Concert Review: Chris Stapleton At The Ryman

Written by Chuck Dauphin
Concert Review: Chris Stapleton At The Ryman

Since his CMA triumph in November, and all the way through to his Grammy wins earlier in the week, the name of Chris Stapleton has been mentioned as one of the major hopes for the Country format turning back in a more organic direction. So many people have proclaimed themselves as fans, you begin to wonder if they are jumping on the bandwagon to buy the album – and then back to the tailgate world.

THEN……you see him in concert.

Stapleton kicked off his three-night stand at The Ryman on Thursday night with a set that could very well (dramatic statement alert!) have been the most electrifying musical force to hit the iconic stage since Hank Williams encored six times with “Lovesick Blues” back in 1949. Once in a while, an artist comes along who defies trends – but isn’t trying to make his or her own statement. They are just being …..real. Chris Stapleton is such an artist.

Kicking off the night with the gritty “Nobody To Blame,” the night was off and running. The sold-out crowd was singing along with the lyrics from the opening bars – continuing throughout the night. He then segued into the moving title cut with the relative ease of someone who has been in the spotlight for many years. The vocal power and bluesy bravado, already in place, came to light even more on “Fire Away,” which featured his wife Morgane on harmony vocals, prompting the crowd to rise to their collective feet for the first of several standing ovations. The crowd reaction moved the couple greatly, inspiring her to say “Y’all going to have to quit doing that. I’m going to have mascara running down my face all night.”

He then turned up the tempo with a rowdy version of Rodney Crowell’s “Ain’t Living Long Like This,” a huge 1980 hit for Waylon Jennings. Then, he turned on a dime, and gathered his ace band – highlighted by producer Dave Cobb and longtime Jennings steel player Robby Turner – around the mic for a sobering version of “Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore.”

Honestly, there was nothing on the stage that wasn’t a highlight – whether it was his soaring version of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin” – in collaboration with opening act Maren Morris or his reunion with The Steeldrivers on two songs – accentuated by the eternal bad-assery of fiddler Tammy Rogers. He gave a  gripping version of “The Devil Names Music” – a song about sacrifice on the stage that many have given it all on which to perform, and shared the spotlight with Morgane again on “You Are My Sunshine,” which is included on Cobb’s upcoming Southern Family. Her voice is so emotional and riveting, that she could have very well garnered a Female Vocalist of the Year trophy by popular vote at The Ryman.

The night progressed to the apex with “Tennessee Whiskey,” which starred with Stapleton singing the band intros – a novel approach that worked well with the crowd, and closing out the night with “Outlaw State Of Mind.” He encored with the powerful “Whiskey and You,” and very well could have stayed on the Ryman stage all night long. However, there are two more shows that have to be done, after all!

Every now and then an artist comes along that is simply too good to be denied. I think back to Ricky Skaggs’ commercial heyday in the 1980s as a mainstream Country artist. He made Ray Price and Bill Monroe hip to an audience that likely had never heard of them. And, he managed to do so by being as hip and cool as anyone on the market. He was so good at his craft that you couldn’t overlook him. He’s a different artist, but Chris Stapleton compares in a similar way. He’s going to make you listen…..and you’re going to like it….and you might even be the better for it when he’s done!