On day two of Stagecoach, Kentucky native Chris Stapleton came on before the sun went down and eased us into a night of amazing performances. The only artist to play both Coachella and Stagecoach this year, Stapleton had cancelled his earlier performances in Southern California to rest his voice from the Coachella dust. It was well worth it–tonight, Chris’s voice was as smooth as Tennessee whiskey.
“[Stapleton] brought an old school ruggedness to the stage—something missing from today’s pop country music scene,” said fan Alex W. Stapleton’s face might be new to you but his lyrics definitely are not. He’s already seen success as a hit songwriter for artists such as Sunday’s headliner Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, and George Strait. His sound a mix of outlaw country and blues, his guitar wailed and the harmonies between Stapleton and wife Morgane added an element of sweetness to the rocker’s set.
Image Source: The Band Perry Instagram
For many, Saturday night was a night of powerful females. Kimberly of The Band Perry burst onto the stage in a bright orange top and a contagious energy that spread through the crowd of 75,000 screaming country fans. In keeping with Stagecoach’s ability to mix the old on the new, TBP played some sing-along-worthy covers such as Justin Timberlake’s ‘Sexy Back’, Ceelo Green’s “Crazy”, The Eurythmic’s ‘Sweet Dreams’, Justin Bieber’s ‘Love Yourself’, and their staple cover, Queen’s ‘Fat-Bottomed Girls’. TBP also brought down the house with their most popular songs, encouraging the crowd to “get crazy, get wild, get loud!” These sibling musicians were raised on rock and roll and their performance completely embodied that-in talent, musical references, and pure energy.
Joe Nichols marched out some of his classics as well but sandwiched between TBP and Queen of Country, Carrie Underwood, his set came off more like an intermission than a Mane Stage performance. He did, however, jokingly put the festival on blast for integrating so much rap into country music. Declaring he was going to put more country into rap music, he launched into a banjo-heavy version of Sir Mix-A-Lot’s ‘Baby Got Back’.
And then was it was time for Ms. Underwood. Tonight her third Stagecoach appearance, the Queen did not disappoint. In fringe and glitter, Carrie belted out the songs we love—pausing only to kick off her stilettos.
“I’m going to do something I swore I would never do onstage. I feel like these shoes are keeping me from getting down.”
She trotted out her classics like “Jesus Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats”, and the newer hit “Smoke Break”. And for those of you with any doubt that this is indeed a country music festival, Carrie also wooed the crowd with a cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You”. She may be of American Idol fame, but this Checotah county girl had grown up a lot in the last ten years. She is a powerful female vocalist, a storyteller, with the ability to bring the house down and to bring the crowd along on her journey.
Image Source: Elana Rose Creative
