Margo Price

Thursday 1st September. Scala. Andrew Combs and Margo Price. It’s a great double header tonight with Ms Margo Price headlining supported by the excellent Andrew Combs. It’s me and the missus tonight at the Scala a compact venue with good sight lines although terrible accessibility and bottle necks.

Texan Combs has a couple of fine albums under his belt and has been namechecked at a couple of gigs I have been to over the past year or so. ‘Fresh’ from his transatlantic plane he rattles though 45 minutes of new songs and a few oldies accompanied by his acoustic guitar. He’s a real talent, the songs sounds great and the crowd are warmly appreciative.

It’s then onto the main act. It’s fair to say that life has dealt a bum hand to Margo Price over the years. Hers is the classic country tale of life, loss, love, heartbreaks, booze, and jail but thankfully she draws on all of this to have produced one the finest country albums in years.

I was expecting a sedate laid back classic country gig but what we got was a powerhouse show from the tightest band I have seen since Sturgill last year. Price has a commanding presence on stage unleashing her impressive voice though a set of originals and covers. There’s a real warmth and connection between her and the audience and she is genuinely happy to be playing here for us tonight.

But it’s not all bombast and there’s some lighter moments none more so than when it’s just her and her husband duetting around a single microphone.

There’s a suitable dig at country’s establishment the CMAs where she has been shamefully overlooked for any the awards. Price’s future is assured in spite of this if she continues to produces albums and shows of this quality.

In a set full of highlights ‘Hands of Time’ and ‘Hurtin on the bottle’ really nail it for me. The band are joined on stage for the encore by album producer Alex Munoz who has just received the all clear from cancer that day where they proceed to blow the lights in the venue but they carry on illuminated by the crowd’s phones and end the night with Gram Parsons ‘Ooh las Vegas’.

After the Avett Brothers the night before its two five star gigs in a row. Let’s see if Drew Holcomb and the Jayhawks can match that next week.

Keep on rockin y’all.

Far from sold-out, with tickets being given away out front, Price may not have packed the house like some of the artists she’s been associated with, but that didn’t stop her from performing as if she were headlining the Ryman herself.

After showcasing his incredible guitar skills from the comfort on a stool center stage, William Tyler made way for the headliner, but not before giving thanks to his Nashville neighbor. “She’s saving country music one night at a time…it means a lot that she asked me to come out with her.”

Following an age-old tradition, the men set the stage for their female lead. “Ladies and gentlemen, Margo Price.” Walking out with her own guitar that looked as worn and seasoned as Tyler’s did before, Price joined her five-piece backing band. Consisting of guitar, bass, steel pedal, keyboard, drums, and the occasional piano accordion, they presented a tight knit group who gave the impression they had been playing together much longer than they truly had.

With a voice, reminiscent of those who found fame before she was born, Price can channel Loretta Lynn, but her stories are the real draw. Even without all the publicity around her (almost too perfect for country music) history, there would be no doubt that she’d lived the songs she sings.

“Hands of Time”, which came mid-set, provided the cliff notes (her father lost the farm, so she went to the big city to try to make money to buy it back, only to find heartache and pain along the way), but songs like “Since You Put Me Down”, “This Town Gets Around”, and “Weekender” provided the much-needed color to flesh out the traditional rags-to-middle-class tale. The stage banter just added more depth to each life event…

see more at http://ilistensoyoudonthaveto.com/2016/10/26/margo-price-bluebird-theater-10-24-16/

Brilliant gig! Went having never heard any of Margo Price's recordings, purely on the merit I understood her to be be an exciting new artist.

Turns out the hype wasn't wrong. Brilliantly sweet voice and excellent leading lady and show-woman with a superb band. She and her band provided a storming set that I would happily watch all over again

Waited to get a signed CD after the performance and got to chat with her briefly and she was as delightful as as had shone through during the gig, a truly lovely lady!

Highly recommended

Margo was amazing! My husband introduced me to her music and although it took me awhile to get more into it, the show was the final "YES" for me. I took him to her concert for his birthday and we loved it. She is actually such a good entertainer, with such raw talent who really knows how to engage the crowd. It was one of the best concerts I've been to and I'm so happy we went.

Very small venue for Margo which created for a fantastic atmosphere.
Plenty of new songs from the current album with just a view older songs.
Hope she does another solo tour real soon...

Once again Margo Price delivered a fantastic show belting out songs from her album sounding better than ever and as a treat we got Jolene and me and Bobby Magee. Brilliant night all round

Amazing! I'm a fan for life! First time I had heard of her and the first time I seen her live. Hope to hear more from and about her. Unowned follow her on social media.