Kacey Musgraves delivers a spellbinding whimsical country display at The Roundhouse in London
Kacey Musgraves has always been a spellbinding performer – from her performers at Hampton Court Palace and C2C Festival in London – she has the ability to bewitch her audience through a relatively simple set and performance, allowing the songs to speak for themselves and her lyricism to shine through. At The Roundhouse, Musgraves after an evocative sea shanty-esque intro, replete with weather effects and mist, before diving straight into the opener ‘Cardinal.’
The live reenactment of the Deeper Well record was largely faithful to the record, replete with lush arrangements from her double-denim suited band. What was remarkable about the concert arrangements were how some of the weaker moments on the record were strengthened in their live iteration – from ‘Jade Green’s sonorous enactment replete with a thunderstorm and strobe lights to ‘Sway’ accompanied by the crowd enactment of the same. Standout moments were, of course, provided by her hits, including the heart-wrenching ‘Rainbow,’ the title track itself and ‘High Horse’ but there was room in the tour for her deeper cuts and a slowed down version of ‘Follow Your Arrow.’
Throughout, Musgraves – her vocal and her witty and shrewd lyrics take centre stage, enrapturing her audience that have followed her journey, some since her Same Trailer, Different Park days. She broke into some witty repartee with her audience, but not allowing that to dominate, more as an enhancement and proof of the intimate connection she formed with the crowds in front of her – including a lengthy food poisoning story.
In many ways, this tour has felt like a return for Musgraves, both to the live circuit and to the core of who she is as an artist and performer. She hoped that her audience had a deeper well after the gig, and it was evident that that hope was founded in the intimate connection she forged with her fans – old and new.
Set List
Cardinal
Moving Out
Deeper Well
Sway
Too Good to Be True
Butterflies
Happy & Sad
Lonely Weekend
Lonely Millionaire
Follow Your Arrow
The Architect
Nothing to Be Scared Of’
Heaven Is
Jade Green
Rainbow
Golden Hour
Anime Eyes
Don’t Do Me Good
Justified
Breadwinner
High Horse
Slow Burn
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover)
Easier Said
