Concert Review: Kacey Musgraves – Auckland Town Hall May 17, 2019

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Multiple Gammy winner Kacey Musgraves brought her Oh What A World Tour to Auckland, performing in New Zealand for the very first time.

Musgraves country-pop songs often address issues of inclusion, empowerment and acceptance, themes that don’t necessarily fit in to what constitutes Country music  these day, which is why she noted during the show, “They don’t play me a lot on the radio”.

But it was obvious that those themes resonate with her fans who showed up to pack out the Auckland Town Hall.

This wasn’t just a concert, it was a celebration, with the audience singing along with every song throughout the 90 minute show.

It was certainly surprising to see so many young woman (and a few guys) dressing up in cowboy hats and sparkles. I noticed that there were also quite a few mothers with daughters sharing the show together.

There were screams of anticipation right from the beginning as Kacey’s 6-piece band took the stage, playing a slow synth line waiting for the star to appear.

And appear she did, as if by magic, as she and her faithful followers all began singing Slow Burn immediately.

More screams were heard as the beat kicked in to Wonder Woman and the group singalong continued.

“Auckland, how ya doin?”

Musgraves greeted her fans, saying hello to various sections of the venue while noting that it was her first time in New Zealand and, “”I’m probably not leaving”.

After encouraging everyone to “Have a great time, make some new friends”  and hi-fiving their neighbours, she continued with another favourite from Golden Hour, Butterflies.

After five new songs, Kacey reached back to her debut album, 2013’s Same Trailer Different Park and her breakthrough single, Merry Go ‘Round, still a fantastic song.

The pedal steel took the spotlight during High Time, then it was on to the more reflective title song from Golden Hour…a love letter to her husband Ruston Kelly and then on to Die Fun which included a rousing coda that sounded quite a bit like Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain.

Kudos to Kacey’s band…drummer Scott Quintana, Kai Welch on guitar and keys, bass player Adam Keefer, Nathaniel Smith on keys and cello, guitarist and banjo player Kyle Ryan and pedal steel master Smokin’ Brett Resnick.

In addition to playing beautiful country pop, they moved through Western Swing, rock, electronica and disco effortlessly.

The acoustic section was especially cool, with all the bandmembers up front performing intimate versions of Mother and Family Is Family.

The mood became more upbeat as the show got closer to the end with Kacey and her band turning in a feisty cover of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive. After Space Cowboy, the crowd was clapping in anticipation of another early hit, Follow Your Arrow and the singalong got even louder.

Kacey was quick to return for an encore, starting with the moody Rainbows and then wrapping with the disco-infused High Horse.

See an artist of Kacey Musgraves’ calibre in such an intimate setting was really something special. The lighting, the sound and the performances were about perfect. I’m so glad I was there!

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Chris Zwaagdyk:

Kacey Musgraves set list:

  1. Slow Burn
  2. Wonder Woman
  3. Butterflies
  4. Lonely Weekend
  5. Happy & Sad
  6. Merry Go ‘Round
  7. High Time
  8. Golden Hour
  9. Die Fun
  10. Mother
  11. Oh What A World
  12. Family Is Family
  13. Love Is A Wild Thi8ng
  14. Velvet Elvis
  15. I Will Survive
  16. Space Cowboy
  17. Follow Your Arrow
  18. Rainbow
  19. High Horse

 

 

 

Marty Duda
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