Skip to content

Show Preview: Chris Stapleton and Maren Morris at KeyArena

Stapleton and Morris occupy opposite poles in country music’s ever-expanding tent; you wouldn't pick them for a pair until you realize they are, in fact, perfectly paired

By Mike Seely March 23, 2017

0317_Stapleton

It’s fitting that Chris Stapleton and Maren Morris’ KeyArena tour stop coincides with the box-office dominance of Beauty & the Beast. The Beast has a soulfulness which eventually translates into sexiness, while Belle boasts an engine that’s just as attractive as her pretty little hood. You wouldn’t pick them for a pair until you realize they are, in fact, perfectly paired.

Such is the dynamic between Stapleton and Morris, who occupy opposite poles in country music’s ever-expanding tent. Stapleton’s got a smoky voice like vintage Gregg Allman and is hirsute to the point where he doesn’t need to buy a costume to dress as Chewbacca on Halloween. Meanwhile, Morris—five feet tall on stilts with shiny, brown hair—tacks far closer to Beyonce than Boeciphus on her smash-hit debut album, Hero. With a very public assist from Justin Timberlake, Stapleton experienced a meteoric rise from respected Nashville songwriter to star performer in 2015, and Morris was the Stapleton of 2016.

Purists who point to Stapleton and say, “Yeah, that’s what REAL coun-tray music sounds like,” might be apt to dismiss Morris’ R&B spin on the genre as a form of noise pollution. But as one of those purists who’s smitten with Hero, I bet she’ll win them over. Sassy and profane, Morris tends to scoff at love—unless it involves an old car (an ‘80s Mercedes is her rig of choice)—and her contribution to the lead track of X-rated satirist Wheeler Walker Jr.’s forthcoming sophomore album proves it’s no pose.

Last time Stapleton swung through town, he played the Showbox. KeyArena, suffice it to say, is a considerably larger venue. But both Stapleton and Morris are powerful vocalists whose compositions challenge them to reach the top of their range. If Squatch descends from the Key’s rafters whilst hanging from on a disco ball on the 28th, this ascendant duo will know they’ve reached yet another summit.

Follow Us

Little Ways to December in Seattle

Little Ways to December in Seattle

A few (mostly) local things worth picking up, wandering through, or falling into as the year wraps.

December always sneaks up on me even though every year I convince myself I’m going to be organized (I’m not). So I’ve been collecting these simple outings and local spots that feel like unwrapped gifts. If you’re looking for a way to escape or lean in, here are some recommendations. A sip of history You…

Back to Gander

Back to Gander

Seattle Rep revisits its original world premiere with a new staging that pulls you straight into the heart of the story.

When you walk into the theater, the cast is already onstage in what looks like a Gander high school gym—setting out dishes for a potluck, chatting, and then cleaning up. It feels like you’ve arrived in the middle of a reunion, which is the point. This run marks 10 years since Come From Away first…

Seattle’s Big Holiday Arts Guide

Seattle’s Big Holiday Arts Guide

A full lineup of seasonal performances across local theaters and venues.

In the words of William Shakespeare, “All’s well that ends well.”  Local theater and arts organizations are hoping for exactly that. Holiday productions often account for as much as half of their annual ticket sales. A 2018 Dance/USA survey found that The Nutcracker alone represented 48% of yearly revenue for many companies producing the Tchaikovsky…

Outside the Frame

Outside the Frame

In their first solo museum exhibition in Seattle, artist Camille Trautman uses photography to reclaim history, narrative, and self-expression.

You have probably seen Camille Trautman’s work without even realizing it. A huge photograph—20 feet wide—is currently hanging across the exterior of the Frye Art Museum, visible to passersby driving along Boren Avenue. The image is of a wooded landscape in black and white. Its edges are vacuous, with trees swallowed by darkness, but the…