A disguise might be necessary when you’re this multi-dimensionally charming. And what an accessible charm that was, at Orville Peck’s sold out show at The Foundry (Brisbane, 14 January).
It was a swell time, of affectionate advancement through the atmosphere, graced by folks of the senior-age bracket, the avocado-smashing persuasion and the rainbow brigade.Despite only bursting on to the scene a year ago, demurely veiled though he may be – he’s a connectable human, breaching barriers and bringing folks together with his community-minded lone-rangerness. You read that right.
His mystery outranks even his twang, and his twang is tighter than the crowd straining to see him and his band plait a whipped rope of solemn and/ or fun tales for self-examination – as an entire culture.
This is a guy who’s reported to have received letters from folks in Middle America thanking him for making country great again. Even though he’s Canadian.
One particular audience attire stood out – a denim top-half-extravaganza of fringes to match Mr Peck on top of (well actually, reverse side to) an actual sewn-on tributary motif of the man, the mask, the legend himself. When the owner/ wearer, Kel was asked to describe a highlight, the response was: “The entire performance. He far exceeded expectations.”
Others expected his voice may lack a little of the dark ferocity on the records, but were impressed with the real deal campfire-coal-soaked voice like a deep ravine.
Got FOMO? I should think so. You just better grab your boot-scootin’ boogies, strap them inside your rhinestone pleathers and get yourself to an Orville Peck show pronto, Tonto! Next time he graces our shores.
