ORVILLE PECK AND CO. TURN HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM INTO SPARKLING HOEDOWN FOR TWO SOLD-OUT SHOWS
The rodeo has come to town, and it's looking quite fabulous. Well, it's not precisely a rodeo, but the Orville Peck Stampede tour made a two-night stop at the Hollywood Palladium, and bedazzled cowboy boots were all the rage. Peck was initially scheduled to play the Palladium earlier this month but canceled hours before showtime due to losing his voice. Luckily, he could reschedule just a few days before Halloween, and the wait was certainly worth it.
Taking the stage before Peck were two Nashville-based country stars who got people slow dancing under the Palladium disco ball and throwing cowboy hats in the air, respectfully. The first act, Emily Nenni, played a more stripped-back set with only her acoustic guitar and one guitarist accompanying her. Dressed in hot pink and white cowboy boots, Nenni had a sultry twang that felt soulful and sweet. Her second song, "Gates of Hell," was, in her own words, "a good country song [because] it's a real bummer." A fan in the crowd yelled, "Oh yes!" enthusiastically, so no one minded. Several couples towards the back of the venue partnered off and slow-danced to Nenni’s soulful ballads underneath the Palladium disco ball.
After Emily, Outlaw Country singer-songwriter Nikki Lane brought out five band members, a voice that could shake mountains, and a lively country-meets-rock-n-roll sensibility to the lineup. Her energy and sound immediately felt like they could fill a stadium; it makes sense why an artist like Lana Del Rey would have Nikki Lane support her tour and collaborate with her on her hit record, Chemtrails Over the Country Club. The LA crowd took to Lane well, notably after she remarked that she wrote her first-ever song sitting in traffic on the 101. As a little treat, she sang the bridge and chorus of that song acapella between songs, prompting the audience to stomp-clap along. Lane and her band put on a show worthy of a headlining spot, so keep an eye on them when they come to town; you won't be disappointed.
Just as the Palladium was filled to the brim with guys and gals dressed in rhinestone cowboy boots, fringe masks, and embellished cowboy hats, Orville Peck took the stage to a roaring, sold-out room. Opening with big hits “Big Sky,” “Turn to Hate,” and “The Hurtin’ Kind,” Peck set the tone for the show quite quickly, delicately crooning into his gold microphone and flicking his wrist with each delicate lyric. Peck's trademark mask, bedazzled hat, and flashy white suit sparkled beneath the lights as his deep baritone voice trembled during particularly emotional lines. His stage setup mirrored a desert landscape with a soft perpetual-setting sun and a bit of sass, like the snake tattoo on his arm, a giant sparkly snake wrapped around Orville's name in lights, floating above the stage.
Just before “C’mon Baby, Cry,” Peck polled the room to see who had not seen the band before. Most people hadn’t, so he explained the three essential rules for an Orville Peck show: 1. Sing along even if you don’t know the words, 2. Please dance if you’re able to, and 3. If you feel compelled to cry, then cry. This moment felt very on-brand for Peck, who has both been very open about his mental health struggles in the past and mental health advocacy. In his intro to what he described as his favorite song off the 2022 record Bronco, “Hexie Mountains,” Peck reflected on canceling his entire 2023 tour during a mental health crisis in which he never felt lower. He spoke about how far he’s come now, claiming he’ll be one year sober in a couple of days and how he’s never felt healthier and happier in his life. Peck’s vulnerability in these moments is perhaps the most touching thing about him and certainly affects the audience too; during delicate songs like “How Far Will We Take It?”, the crowd kept their hands raised, singing along with a passion and vigor you might find in a church.
For those looking to do more dancing than crying, Stampede collaborator Beck made a surprise appearance for the infectious and disco-esque “Death Valley High.” The encore wasn’t complete without a rousing cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” cementing the night as an unforgettable one for the books for Orville Peck fans.
Orville Peck's reconfiguring of old-fashioned country sensibilities in lyrics, fashion, and openness about his mental health marks only a few reasons why his live performances feel so special. His ability to mix the traditional with the radical in country music feels groundbreaking and exciting, while his vulnerability and sensitivity feel relatable and honest. When watching him perform live, it's impossible not to root for him and everything he's doing. Orville Peck feels like the living embodiment of how deeply music can heal us all.