Chris Stapleton Knocks it Out of the Park at Inaugural Extra Innings Festival

With such a long list of seasoned, reputable acts on the bill, headlining Friday night at the inaugural Extra Innings Festival is a mountain that few acts in country music can climb. However, Chris Stapleton proved to around 25,000 folks in Tempe, Arizona that he deserves the honor.

When Stapleton took the stage, the sun had hidden away, leaving warmer daytime temperatures behind. The comfortable, cool air that accompanied the evening was short-lived, though, as he set the scene on fire.

Coming out of the gate with 'White Horse', the lead single off his most recent Higher LP, the crowd erupted with elation, releasing the anticipation steadily built by a day in the desert sun. Following up with 'Parachute' and 'Second One To Know,' the air was buzzing with a tense electric energy.

Slowing things down to leave some gas in the tank for the nearly 20 songs to follow, 'Starting Over' and 'Millionaire' instinctually sent lovers – young and old – embracing in the arms of one another.

The romance at this point was short-lived as Stapleton once again fired off with his renowned outlaw ruggedness and grit. Rolling through 'Hard Livin,' 'Worry B Gone,' 'Nobody to Blame' and 'Arkansas,' he displayed his captivating soulfulness by belting each verse with equivalent levels of passion, as well as the skillful navigation of his guitar.

Stapleton's next move was to douse Tempe with a steady dose of funk and swagger. Bass resonated through the souls of all in attendance with the performance of his current single, 'Think I'm In Love With You', and the bluesy 'You Should Probably Leave.'

There are rare moments in live music that encapsulate the hearts and souls of thousands at once, leaving an imprint on the minds of all in attendance. Stapleton accomplished this seemingly effortlessly with his rendition of 'Cold', tapping into the depths of his soul to pierce through any emotional armor and swiftly strike the heart.

Following 'Outlaw State of Mind', Stapleton began to sing the iconic 'Free Bird' before swiftly transitioning into 'The Devil Named Music.' This slight taste of the Lynyrd Skynyrd hit struck pride and joy into the spirit of every inebriated good ole boy in the crowd.

Nearing the end of the evening, Stapleton began to close it down with some of the most renowned tunes in his extensive catalog. After 'Traveller,' he invoked a peaceful sense of pain with the equally evocative 'Broken Halos' and 'Fire Away'.

Stapleton ended the night with his trademark hit, 'Tennessee Whiskey', leading couples to realign their gaze from the stage and into each other's eyes. Slow dances broke out throughout Tempe Beach Park as thousands of impassioned voices echoed through the desert stars, capping off the show with a heartwarming aura of romance and hope.

There are certain artists with talents so revolutionary that they can only be fully appreciated once experienced in person. Chris Stapleton is at the top of that list and perfectly fit the mold to cap off a first day filled with some of the best acts in country music.

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