Country music is in a bit of a rock phase. Need proof? All you needed to do was attend day one of baseball-themed country music celebration Extra Innings Festival.
On Friday, I heard plenty of long guitar solos, saw country musicians dressed up like ’80s rock stars, an actual ’80s rock star (hello, Bret Michaels) and even a little bit of “Stairway to Heaven” during a Luke Bryan song. I wasn’t expecting that at all, but I was delighted by what the first day of the Extra Innings festival had in store for me.
Crowd Notes: Being a country concert, I saw plenty of cowboy hats and boots in addition to cutoffs. I also saw a fair amount of alcohol themed shirts, but that’s to be expected at pretty much any concert. I must mention the woman I saw in the VIP lounge area who was wearing gold booties and custom leggings with Dierks Bentley’s face all over them. That was my favorite look of the night. You rock, lady.
Luke Bryan, 9 p.m., Home Plate Stage
Hit machine Luke Bryan — who really defined country in the 2010s and is largely seen as being the poster boy for “bro country” — closed out the first night. I’ve seen a ton of performers, and I must say that there’s no one else I’ve watched who doesn’t seem to be self-conscious in any way. He really lets loose and is just so fun to watch. He never stops moving.
Wearing his signature tight jeans (how he doesn’t rip those jeans more often is a mystery to me) and white T-shirt, he started the night off with “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” a lively but sad track about having to accept the end of a relationship, but not before spending one more night together. He then played “Kick the Dust Up” and “One Margarita.” It’s remarkable how many hits he’s had. There were only maybe two songs in the entire set list that I didn’t know by heart.
The most surprising musical moment of the night was during the track “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day.” The track featured a few long guitar solos, and at one point, the guitarist even played a few notes of “Stairway to Heaven.” I love that iconic track but was surprised to hear it during a country show.
As much as Bryan has so many songs about partying, he also has plenty of tender tracks, too. I enjoyed the part of the night where he sat behind the piano and belted out “Buy Dirt.” It broke up the set in a way that was interesting to watch. As fun as he is loud, I also enjoyed seeing a softer side to him.
The night wrapped up with a few high-energy jams that reminded the fans why Bryan is one of the best. It was fun to see the whole crowd rock out to hits like “Rain Is a Good Thing” and “Country Girl, Shake It For Me,” the last song of the evening. This lively track celebrates having a good time, which is what going to a Luke Bryan show is all about.
I’m looking forward to what day two of the Extra Innings Festival will bring. Rock on.
Brothers Osborne, 7:55 p.m., Right Field Stage
After watching Bentley, I headed over to watch the Brothers Osborne’s hour-long set. Not long after I got there, the group started playing a cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” This just made me feel like I was at a rock festival, but I’m not going to complain. My two favorite genres of music are country and rock, and I love this trend.
The group then performed a very long version of Bob Marley’s “Every Little Thing.” At one point, lead vocalist T.J. Osborne talked about how he loved playing music for a living and loved how music brings people from many different beliefs and religious backgrounds together. I always try to think about that whenever I’m at a concert. We’re all there together enjoying music despite all our differences. Music is so powerful in that way, and that’s why it matters.
Lead vocalist T.J. Osborne’s singing voice sounds exactly like his speaking voice. It’s low, deep, steady and soothing. I could honestly listen to it all day. The group then performed a pretty upbeat rendition of its 2015 hit song “Stay a Little Longer,” which is about wanting more and more of someone. I just love the guitar part here. It’s so soaring and strong. The brothers took opposite sides of the stage and played their respective guitar parts before finishing the song. T.J. remarked how we probably thought the set was over (I did) before playing a long intro into “It Ain’t My Fault.” It’s such a funny song about blaming external things for our own bad decisions. A few of my favorite lines: “Blame the ex for the drinkin’ / Blame the drinkin’ for the ex.”
After that track wrapped, I walked over to hear Luke Bryan close out the night. I could hear the band playing an extended piano solo in the background for a while as I made my way back to the Home Plate Stage.
Dierks Bentley, 6:50 p.m., Home Plate Stage
Hometown crooner Dierks Bentley took the stage following Michaels. Bentley and his band immediately launched into “Burning Man,” a spirited track about how we all contain multitudes. I just love the guitars here. Next up was “5150,” a song about how heady falling for someone is. Bentley then paused to talk about how he remembered tailgating as a teen in the same areas where Tempe high rises now stand. He then launched into “Living,” which is all about weathering life’s ups and downs.
Bentley mentioned that his mom was in the crowd and how he and his father drove across the country from Arizona to Nashville when he was a budding musician. He said he always thinks about the trip when he’s out here and then started singing “I Hold On.” His father has passed, and the song is about holding onto an old truck to keep his memory alive. It’s such a touching tribute. I’ve seen him four times, and I always enjoy hearing him talk about growing up here.
One of my other favorite moments? When the band played a cover of Alabama’s “Mountain Music.” I loved the extended fiddle solo, which is just not something you get every day.
Bently introduced “Drunk on a Plane” by saying that we had reached cruising altitude. Although the song on the surface is about what the title says it’s about, it’s also tinged with plenty of sadness, as it’s about a man whose engagement has ended. It’s a party anthem with a sad breakup tune underneath.
To close out the set, Bentley and his band dressed up like ’80s hair metal members. Think “This Is Spinal Tap,” but a country version of the rock band. As an aside, I wish someone would make that film. Also, RIP Rob Reiner. The mullet-ed group played snippets of classic country tunes. A few tunes I recognized included “Two Dozen Roses,” “Friends in Low Places” and “It’s Your Love.” During the cover of Brooks & Dunn’s “Brand New Man,” I saw two cowboy hat-clad middle-aged guys singing this song to each other, and it just gave me so much joy. Thank you both. The set concluded with Garth Brooks’ “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘til the Sun Comes Up).”
Bret Michaels, 4:40 p.m., Home Plate Stage
I was pretty surprised to see ’80s hair metal band Poison frontman Bret Michaels on the bill. Unless he released a country album (he hasn’t), I wasn’t sure how he fit in. But I was thrilled to hear him. I loved watching the charismatic, long-haired blond frontman on the trashy yet fun “Rock of Love.” It’s easy to see why he was so successful as an entertainer, as he just exudes effortless charm. What you see on TV is what you get in real life. He opened the set with Poison’s “Talk Dirty to Me” and came out wearing a shirt with a picture of himself on it and a cowboy hat, naturally. He then launched into a dynamite cover of “Sweet Home Alabama.” His covers were excellent, and he had such enthusiasm for each one. I also enjoyed hearing covers of the 1972 tune “Your Mama Don’t Dance” along with “Drift Away” and “What I Got.”
Micheals also mentioned his ties to Arizona throughout the set. He mentioned living here for 16 years — he listed his home in 2020 — and how the doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute saved his life following a brain hemorrhage. His enthusiasm for the state seemed genuine, and it’s always nice to hear artists connect with the audience by sharing stories of their time here.
The second-to-last hit of his set was Poison megahit “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” I’ve always wondered how one of hair metal’s biggest names crafted such a touching breakup anthem. It’s such a departure from his other work, but I’m glad I got to hear such an insightful tune live. I love that song. We can’t expect love to be pain-free, and that song captures that so well with the acoustic guitar lending a softness and intimacy to the track. He closed out the set with Poison’s second most famous song, “Nothin’ but a Good Time.”