Review by Val Tapia
Photos by Fred Kuhlman
For the third installment of Extra Innings, the majority of the two-day festival was, since its 2024 inception, dedicated to modern day country music. Of course, that’s for better or worse, depending on the kind (of country) fan one is conversing with.
Yes, it was “record heat” both days. However, it’s still winter and both nights were more than ideal. The best part? No wind, therefore no dust! Well, except when people were walking back and forth between all three stages of the festival. But I digress.
On Friday February 27th, the crowd grew a bit by 4:25 p.m. when Poison’s lead singer Bret Michaels took the stage with his solo band. Commencing the 1-hour, 10-song set with “Talk Dirty To Me” (from Poison’s 1986 debut album Look What The Cat Dragged In), it seemed to be played at a slightly slower tempo than one might be used to hearing.
Not sure why it was necessary to perform Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama”, one of the most overplayed and overrated singles of the 1970s. Talk about playing it safe and predictable with that one. But again, I digress.
Editor’s Note: “Brett added “Sweet Home Alabama” because he said that he got together with Lynyrd Skynyrd survivors and rerecorded the song. Also, it was a huge hit with the audience.”
While Michaels was as enthusiastic and personable as ever with the audience, he said something prior to his version of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” (originally written and recorded by Mentor Williams) that I was in complete agreement with. The overall feeling in the crowd was something Michaels equated to being at a “karaoke, backyard drinking party”. Which, in this writer’s humble opinion, was nothing to brag about.
Let’s be candid here. That was exactly the problem with his solo band— it was indeed akin to a *karaoke act* playing (mostly) Poison songs. In short order, it’s absolutely fair to say that most of his fans would prefer seeing Michaels on stage with his Poison bandmates (bassist Bobby Dall, lead guitarist C.C. DeVille and drummer Rikki Rockett, respectively) celebrating Poison’s 40th anniversary in 2026. Sorry, the truth hurts.
After another mediocre cover of Sublime’s “What I Got”, Michaels and Co. closed the set with (Poison’s) “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Nothin’ But A Good Time”. Shortly thereafter, he then chatted with Ryan Dempster at Left Field for his “Off The Mound” talk show.
Speaking of Left Field, fans once again enjoyed hanging out and meeting various MLB stars like Tim Salmon and Johnny Gomes at the “Speed Pitch”. At the “Batting Cage” there was Kerry Wood, Jermaine Dye and Kenny Lofton. At times, the fans at the booths were screaming louder than the fans were watching “Off The Mound”, which made it a bit difficult to hear Dempster’s questions to his guests.
It seems like the organizers of both Innings Fest and Extra Innings do their best to have a hometown, or at least Arizona-connected, artist on either bill. This year, it happened to be Dierks Bentley. In fact, there used to be a Bentley restaurant/bar literally south of Tempe Beach Park on Mill Ave. According to a couple in attendance that I met Friday night, that particular location had been long gone “for a few years now” they said.
Songs like “Burning Man”, “I Hold On” and “Gold” were highlights. As well as Bentley reminiscing about moving from Phoenix to Nashville, in addition to opening for George Strait as his first major show here in the Valley. I suppose “Drunk On A Plane” was arguably the “theme” of the night for many a fan as well.
I suppose nobody can accuse Bentley of taking himself “too seriously”, given the quick wardrobe change that he and his band made prior to becoming the Hot Country Knights. It was sort of a tribute to the “80s country” scene, or at least, that’s what it seemed like. They concluded the set with an eight-song(?) medley that included snippets of “T-R-O-U-B-L-E, I Like It”, “I Love It”, “Brand New Man” and his take on “Friends In Low Places” to name a few of them.
But the night wasn’t over yet. I’m sure that some fans in the crowd thought that Bentley would be a tough act to follow. Whether that’s true or not, headliner Luke Bryan didn’t let that stop him. Kicking off his 90-minute, 23-song set with “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye”, the hits just kept coming. There were plenty of sing-alongs to songs like “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset”, “What Makes You Country” and “Country Song Came On”.
Seeing Bryan’s face on the video screen was priceless as he rightly complained about “all these damn bugs flying around here. I’ve had about 12 of them fly into my mouth while I’m singing!”
It was the most memorable quote he said all night. All in all, both Bentley and Bryan were just plain old modern-day country. Take that for what it’s worth.
On Saturday. February 28th, I was surprised to see the long lines getting into the park upon my arrival. In fact, this particular day was the only day it happened. That said, the staff was very efficient in getting people checked in relatively quickly.
I’ll start off with the most pleasant surprise of the afternoon, if not the entire Extra Innings weekend: Shaboozey. In point of fact, there were more people on the “field” for his set than Bret Michaels had the day before. With radio-friendly songs like “Last Of My Kind”, “Annabelle” and “Blink Twice”, he won the crowd over early on in his set.
He also displayed plenty of gratitude for where he’s at in his career so far. He mentioned winning a Grammy as a “surreal experience” and shed a few tears by acknowledging that “this is a tough business at times, especially for someone who looks like me.”
And talk about doing justice to an all-time classic. Shaboozey (and his excellent band) did a faithful rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”. Needless to say, rousing applause followed.
Of course, it was the final song of the set, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, that the majority of the audience was waiting for. In my view, that song doesn’t do justice to his talent. In fact, the first four songs he played were far better. Hopefully, we’ll hear more good things from this “rising star” as the years go on.
I’m not sure I’d call Hardy “country” in the strict sense. In fact, his music is arguably more “suited” for 93.3 ALT AZ than it is for KMLE or KNIX (both country music radio stations here in Phoenix). Unless that’s what “modern country” is becoming. I certainly wouldn’t call it alt-country either. I’ll concede that I was wondering, as Hardy was playing, if the late Buck Owens or Johnny Cash would’ve accepted Hardy as a country artist? Good readers out there, you tell me.
If nothing else, Hardy was certainly the *loudest* artist of Saturday night. If not the entire Innings weekends. Songs like “Unapologetically Country As Hell, Boots”, “Favorite Country Song” and “Girl With A Gun” went down a storm with the predominantly 20 and 30-somethings in the crowd. They also gravitated toward “Give Heaven Some Hell” and “Rednecker” as well.
By the way, regarding the country tag, I would say something similar about the Right Stage closer, Jessie Murph. Her music is seemingly derived from a hybrid of country, pop and even a bit of hip-hop. “While You’re At It” is an example of that. But again, I can’t picture country radio (at least in AZ.) playing songs like “Sex Hysteria”, “Bad As The Rest” or “Criminal”.
Having said that, one thing was clear though. Both Murph and Hardy pretty much stole the show at Extra Innings. I have to give credit where it’s due.
Closing out the night was Kane Brown. Again, it’s mainstream country. “Short Skirt Weather, Woman” and “Good As You” are all a “sign of the times”, if nothing else. “Backseat Driver”, “I Need A Beer” and “Famous Friends” were highlights for the fans as well.
The final verdict? Extra Innings also gets 3.5 out of five stars as a whole. It’s gaining traction without question. It’s just a matter of time when it catches up to, dare I say, Country Thunder. But that’s another conversation for another day.
