One of the few out performers in country music, Orville Peck (a pseudonym) has a tremendous baritone voice and a repertoire of rusticated songs that sound at once out of step with modern stylings and yet timeless in their painful honestly about loneliness and loss; a true antithesis to modern pop country.
Self taught on guitar and keyboards, he released his self-produced debut album Pony in 2019 and an EP (Show Pony) and follow-up album Bronco since then, alas well as a tremendous assortment of well-produced music videos.
Bronco got played through a few times while we camped out ot Whitney Lakes at the end of July, but Glory had already bought her first Folk Fest ticket well before then. I met her near the gate a little after 7 pm and enjoyed watching her take in the spectacle of one of Western Canada's largest music festivals.
We enjoyed Trinidadian ex-pats Kobo Town on a side stage before settling in on The Hill to watch The War on Drugs, the lantern parade and finally, Orville Peck himself.
Resplendent in a classic cowboy ensemble featuring a barbed wire motif in addition to his signatuire fringed mask, he captivated the thousands in attendance for over an hour. His deep, powerful voice seemed to strengthen with every song, hitting incredible sustained notes on C'mon Baby, Cry and The Curse of the Blackened Eye. His 4-piece band are a solid bunch of accompanists as well.
Staying until the end of his set shortly after midnight was not the brightest move for either Glory or myself, with her needing to drive an hour out of town immediately afterwards to meet some friends for a visit, and my volunteer shift needing me back on-site at 6:30. But it was a wonderful and joyous performance (despite the innate sadness of many of the songs, like Kalahari Down) and neither of us had any regrets.
In fact, I am pretty confident that the next time Orville rolls through town, the whole family may be in attendance.
If you don't like country, Orville Peck probably isn't going to change your mind. But if you have any appreciation for tremendous vocals, passionate songwriting and a bold showman who has hollowed out an incredible space in that thin overlap between sincerity and irony, he is certainly worth checking out, and his videos are top-notch.
Daytona Sand - weirdest, funnest, does his own stunts including surfing an 18-wheeler
C'mon Baby, Cry - live on Jimmy Kimmel
The Curse of the Blackened Eye - twangiest, strong contender for weirdest, Norman Reedus guests
Let Me Drown - amazing vocal showcase
Legends Never Die - duet with Shania Twain (!)
No Glory in the West - stripped down melancholia and brilliant scenery
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