Margo Price at Lafayette

Margo Price

Tommy Prine

Lafayette, 25 August 2023 

It feels like forever since Margo Price last hit these shores, but in fact it's been six years since she last played a headline show here. Since then she's actually released three more gloriously beautiful and eclectic albums, the latest of which, Strays, is easily one of the best of 2023 so far. So when she finally announced her return to London, I was excited to say the least.

I've never actually been to Lafayette before, situated not far from King's Cross station (although I still managed to get a little lost getting there despite it being about five minutes away!) and much smaller than I anticipated: probably similar in size to the Scala (where I first saw her) with only a small space in front of the stage and a balcony that went all around the room. Not surprisingly the show was sold out and I think Price could probably have played a larger venue but I was thankful to see her again in such a nice space, even managing to secure a cool spot by the stage (among the usual grey-haired men who seem to always snag the front spots at most Americana/country gigs I notice).

First up though a rather unflashy chap came smiling, shyly onto the stage armed with his acoustic guitar and began singing some sweet, acoustic tunes all about his life, inspired by everything from Lord Of The Rings to a rescue pup that won his heart. Turns out that this unassuming fellow is Tommy Prine, the son of songwriting legend John Prine. I twice had tickets to see John Prine, and twice the gigs were cancelled due to ill health, so I never got to see him live before his death sadly but it was certainly nice to at least get to see his son play some tunes. While Tommy Prine hasn't quite the storytelling and musical chops of his dad (yet!) it was certainly nice to see that the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.

In complete contrast, when Margo Price finally took to the stage (entering after the full band had taken their places and started playing of course), every inch of her exuded superstar vibes. My first thought upon seeing her emerge in her white fringed dress and golden, flower crown, was "what a queen!" But I think I felt that even the first time I saw her although now she seems even more assured and took full command of the band and the audience from the moment she stepped on stage. She looked incredible, she was full of charisma and her voice sounded better than ever. I knew from the start this was going to be a special show and I wasn't disappointed.

She starts the show with the opening track from her most recent album Strays, Been To The Mountain, and it's clear this is a bonafide rock n' roll band, able of taking a song to new heights live. Backed by her husband Jeremy Ivey on guitar, a bassist, a lead guitarist (a pretty looking cool dude, who even jumps out of the way for me to take a photo of Price and apologises!), a keyboardist and drummer, this is a set-up that really deserves a much bigger stage and venue instead of the sold-out 600 full Lafayette. Not that I'm complaining, it's a dream to see a band that would be easily capable of rocking the rafters of Hammersmith Apollo in such a small venue and getting up close to such an iconic character as Price.

Although the show is to promote Strays, as she hasn't been here in such a long time, it's great to hear tracks from the previous two albums, such as Letting Me Down, Twinkle Twinkle, Heartless Mind and the title track from That's How Rumors Get Started, although there is only one track from All American Made, Don't Say It, but it's a good rollicking country moment.

More cowbell!

For her 40th birthday she tells us she got a dulcimer as a present and tells us that despite the old adage "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" she goes full Joni and ably strums her way through a cover of The Band's Evangeline (in tribute to the recently departed Robbie Robertson). It turns out that Price doesn't just play guitar and dulcimer though. There is a second drumkit set up on stage and that's because Price is also a badass drummer, and she showcasing this skill on a couple of songs, particularly when the band start jamming. If I had been a teen seeing Price for the first time, after seeing her play tonight, I would have gone away and started saving for a drumkit, she is that damn cool. It's truly inspirational stuff.

In fact, three quarters of the way through, the band starts jamming at the end of Paper Cowboy, giving Price a chance to leave the stage and do a costume change into a red, sparkly showgirl number, and she arrives back on stage and jumps behind the kit, proving she is a first-rate drummer as well as a top front woman. 

Elsewhere we are given a preview of a new track from the forthcoming Strays II (two albums in one year!),  the actual song Strays, the story of how she met Ivey all those years ago (as detailed in her brilliant memoir Maybe We'll Make It - an absolutely essential story of how talent and determination is necessary to make it in the music business) and if the rest of the record is as good as this song, it's one to get excited by.

Due to time constraints, the band come back on stage almost straight away to fit in the encore, with Price coming back on stage with an armful of roses which she throws out to members of the audience (sadly I didn't manage to catch one!). I'm not a massive fan of the band Wings, but Price and the band give us a sizzling version of the song Let Me Roll It, so no complaints there whatsoever. 

I left the venue on a high, feeling I had seen something incredible and a true musical superstar, capable of going from folk to country to blues to rock, completely effortlessly and with so much charm, humour and charisma. I'm just thrilled I was there to witness it.