Stapleton puts on a scorching, soulful show
There’s no such thing as a bad Chris Stapleton set. At least when it comes to his RodeoHouston performances.
His four previous shows have been master classes in pacing and delivery, and they have consistently drawn some of the biggest crowds. His voice is the crown jewel, able to reach scorching, soulful heights.
The first several songs during Thursday night’s show, including “Parachute” and “Starting Over,” were expectedly solid, if a little sleepy. Not bad by any means, but missing some of the urgency of past performances.
The gushingly romantic “Millionaire” was an early highlight. “You Should Probably Leave,” a No. 1 single and arguably his most standard radio song, drew one of the night’s biggest responses from the crowd of 73,101.
But something clicked into place when Stapleton kicked into a cover of Guy Clark’s “Worry B Gone.” The energy felt more immediate. His voice took on another layer of emotion.
“Fire Away” was chill-inducing, as it built to the first chorus. Stapleton himself noticed the shift in energy.
“Sure is a good feeling,” he said as the crowd roared.
When the song was over, he asked everyone to hold up lighters and phones. He then led everyone in an extra chorus.
“Sing so loud that someone who’s not here with us that you love can hear it where they are,” he said.
A sublime “Broken Halos” was followed by “Tennessee Whiskey,” the song that introduced Stapleton to huge audiences. He used it to introduce his band, stretching it out to at least twice its length.
See you next year, Stapleton.