Oh, What a World and Oh, What a Concert! The Best Singer You Haven’t Heard Of: Kacey Musgraves!

Hey you guys! Tidesiren here, coming at you from another musical event I just HAD to write a review on! You’ve heard country and you’ve heard what’s on the radio. What you haven’t heard is the musical talent of Kacey Musgraves! After her four Grammy wins, one being Album of the Year, her view count tripled and we started wondering why we haven’t heard her music before?

Monday was not only the start of the week for me, but the beginning of a renewed appreciation  of country music. An opportunity came up to see Kacey in concert here in Phoenix Wednesday evening at the Van Buren, and I decided to go for it. I hadn’t heard her music before, so I let YouTube do the influencing and I was quickly made a fan. The classic instruments mixed with modern guitar and her calming voice together create completely satisfying and totally addicting songs, giving classic country some competition. I listened to her on a loop so when Wednesday night came, I would be familiar with the music. I thought I was prepared and knew what was coming.

The 2019 Grammys were held Sunday, February 10th, in the Staples Center of Los Angeles, California. That night, Kacey went home with Best Country Solo Performance, Best Country Song, Best Country Album, and Best Album of the Year! So you can bet she was on a winner-high and that was definitely not gone when she came through Phoenix, her first show after the Grammys.

Natalie Prass and Soccer Mommy opened and we heard eight of their songs before Kacey took to the stage among a screaming crowd. Just a silhouette in front of a spotlight, she began the concert with one of her singles, Slow Burn, on the guitar. Her first words to the crowd were, “Album of the year, bitches.” The audience laughed with her when she spoke of the memes from her reaction at the awards ceremony, cheered when she said she was glad to come to Phoenix first thing after the Grammys, and screamed for her so loudly that I had to cover my ears.

I was prepared for a night of good music, and a spectacle of lights on the stage to the beat are a must in any concert. What I was not prepared for was this crowd. Crowds push forward to get a good view and shove through people to get closer. This crowd packed in to the auditorium and even with a sold out show, everyone was courteous to those behind them and making sure everyone had a good view. I left having made several new friends. I’ve only ever heard of a crowd singing part of a song at a concert in the movies, but when Kacey sang Merry Go ‘Round, she took a break for an entire verse and held the microphone out to all of us. In that moment, when the crowd was singing in unison, calm, and swaying, I teared up. I realized these people are just as moved as I am.

Kacey Musgraves has written and performed a number of emotional, encouraging, and inspirational songs, but something you don’t find very often in a concert was that this wasn’t just a show. She encouraged love, happiness, being true to yourself, and she not only spoke of, but sang of family- even telling the crowd to take a moment and text those closest to them and, of course, everyone turned to their phones. Kacey Musgraves is more than an influential musician. She is a woman, a wife, an American, a country girl, and she is human. I think, in a lot of music today, we lose relatability and importance in an effort to be catchy. She reminds us what is important in both music and life and I think that is what makes her and what she has to say worth recognition. Kacey Musgraves is not only refreshing and encouraging to listen to, but well-deserving of the Grammys she has won.

Personally, I found Rainbow, Follow Your Arrow, Butterflies, and Biscuits were the most relatable and my favorites. When she was performing them, I couldn’t help but let the lyrics carry me away.

Kacey Musgraves‘ next visit to Phoenix, Arizona won’t be until August, and that show is already half sold out! If you can, I highly encourage attending. If you are unable to, you can pick up one of her three albums, check it out on Youtube, or tune in to your radio. You won’t regret it.