Margo Price - 9:30 Club

Margo Price put on one hell of a show Thursday night at the sold out 9:30 Club. The evolution of Price’s music career was on full display as she touched on songs from each album she’s released in her seven years as a solo artist.

Opening with the fantastic lead song, “Been to the Mountain” off her latest release, Strays, it was clear we were in for something special. The sonic boom that was produced was felt throughout the venue. Price led the way for her spectacular and tight backing band (that includes her husband Jeremy Ivey)...and nobody since Will Ferrell has played the cowbell as well as Price.

Price has roots as a country artist but has expanded her sound on each record, incorporating elements of pop, rock and even a little R&B. All those sounds came through in concert. Ripping through song after song, you could tell this band and Price were in step all night.

I really enjoyed her new take on the song “All American Made” which she had performed at her 2016 Tiny Desk concert (the day after the 2016 election). As beautiful as the original is, the live version was fiery and forceful.

I can’t stop thinking about Price’s presence on stage. She commanded the room through her singing, guitar playing, drumming (and yes, cowbell playing). There’s such confidence in her work that shows. It was inspiring.

Other highlights were “Light Me Up”, “Tennessee Song” and the fiery new unreleased track “Shelter Me”. She closed the show with a cover of “White Rabbit” and a trio of drinking tracks, her own “Hurtin’ (On the Bottle)”, Merle Haggard’s “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink” and Willie Nelson’s “Whiskey River”.

Her songs feel so personal, but touch on all our lives in some way or another. I feel so lucky to have seen Margo Price in such an intimate setting as the 9:30 Club. If you get a chance to see her live, please go.