Margo Price-Honky Tonkin’ Rock and Rollin’
The Factory Theatre-Marrickville 16 October 2018
This being the 3rd evening this night owl was out on the tiles, Margo Price was going to have to truly deliver to keep me from calling it an early night. My thought was that anyone who has a duet with Willie Nelson on her album was worth shaking my ass out the door for no matter that it was a Tuesday evening.
Arriving as she hit the stage, I was immediately sucked in by her voice and the opening notes of “Nowhere Fast”. Her voice was as clear as a bell and the flavouring of pedal steel echoed through the Factory Theatre. This opener and “Loner” were mesmerizingly beautiful.
Having heard her records I was expecting a somewhat straight-ahead night of country and honky tonk. Price and her band took me on a journey that brought back memories of seeing bands like the New Riders of The Purple Sage. That band could do country, but man, could they rock. The same goes for Price and her cohorts.
“Loner” was mesmerizingly beautiful. Price played her political left hook to Trump on a solo version of “American Made” where she accompanied herself on piano. Not a lot of country artists coming out against the orange monkey, because damn, you don’t want to impact those redneck record sales!
“Don’t Say It” turned into a great little rocking country groove and “A Little Pain” truly put Price’s vocals on show. When she and her band rocked out though, they really put on a display. The interplay of solos between the guitar and Luke Schneider’s well-oiled pedal steel really brought me back to the county rock gigs of the ‘70’s that stay with me to today. With the addition of the superb keyboard playing of Micah Hulscher on keys, she has one fine-sounding band in tow.
Price is no overnight sensation. She may reflect a bit of Tammy and Loretta but after seeing her performance she is definitely no copycat. I don’t think I ever saw Wynette or Lynn on drums like Price grooved out on this night. Simply, it was a whole lot of fun on and off the stage.
Finishing off with the Dolly Parton song “9-5” we all wandered off knowing it was back to the day job tomorrow with a shit-eating grin to help us make it through hump day.
Courtney Marie Andrews was reportedly very good in support of Margo. I don’t doubt that.
